Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Finally a fully sunny day here on Cape Cod. The beach is in the plans, though I may do some errands ahead of time.

I am feeling discouraged about my weight, but not doing anything about it. I am okay during most of the day but from late afternoon on I'm in trouble. Living with DS who cooks all the time is not helping. But it is my responsibility!

The friend who had a coronary is still getting stronger. He needs a cardiac catheterization which will probably happen in the next few days once they feel he is fully stable. We all continue to support his wife who is really lost without him (literally - she won't drive).

Have a safe and healthy Tuesday!

Good morning all ! Still maintaining in my range, but I could do with less wine. C (Thanks, Peps, NOT DC) is still in NY. It is so nice being able to relax. My therapist connected me with a court advocate, so I can reapply for an Order of Protection with the expectation of a different outcome. We have been having real gully washers each afternoon, so the lawn is green and growing. Today's big project will be spraying weeds in my mulch with my magic vinegar, epsom salt, Dawn mixture. The Covid variant is explosive in NE Florida. I am being very cautious. Canada is supposed to let US citizens who have been vaccinated cross the boarder in early August. The current surge could impact my ability to see DD.

I think caution is good. When I fly next week, I'm glad masks are required when we are crammed into together for hours. I feel lucky that where I'm living has a pretty high vaccination rate, so I don't worry when I'm out shopping etc.

I do so hope the border does open so you can see your daughter.

I saw the news about the border opening and hope it really happens for you and everyone. I have a friend in the US whose serious girlfriend is in Canada.

Oh my gosh Liz, your friend is entering a difficult time. She is going to have to expand on what she can do. Back in the 1970s, my friends Grandpa died suddenly. Her Grandma had to be taught how to write a check. Seriously. In our little town, you could have an account at the stores, and pay it monthly. She had never paid for groceries etc. She was in her 60s and lived to be 90, it was a steep learning curve.

The visit with my parents was good, but difficult too. I have to brace myself that my Mom is probably going to cry a lot when I'm with her. It's like when Mom comes to pick up her toddler who has been holding it together until she sees Mom. My mother has always reversed our roles since I was young, and this is just increasing as she grows more frail. She is now in a palliative program, and talking with the doctor about moving to hospice. She has another lung scan in August, besides scans, she is not receiving treatment, no chemo, radiation or drugs for lung cancer, just pain medication. So she could transition to Hospice and receive some services, like in home nurse visits. It's a difficult word:Hospice, but it's what is needed I think.

Eating was not great yesterday. I brought them lunch, and they wanted cake from the fancy grocery store. I feel like I did okay with the portion sizes though. Not tempted to abandon my lower carb, so back at it. :)

So sorry your Mom (and you) have to deal with this. Yes, calling in hospice is REALLY difficult but they can make things so much easier. It is partially because of that that the average time in at-home hospice used to be 2 weeks (might still be). Eldest DD was on it for 13 days and DH for exactly 2 weeks. A friends husband had it for almost 6 months and it was such a help for my friend who has MS.

My Mom seems to me could go months still. There is a small spot on her femer that looked like cancer according to her last pet scan. If it is, she has moved into Stage IV. Her care is very very strange to me, everything is always so ambiguous. I have to surmise her team believes it's now terminal cancer, or they wouldn't have suggested hospice? I sometimes believe my Mom will die from something other than cancer. There are a lot of systems in her body that aren't doing well: stage III kidney failure, high blood pressure, blood clots, heart electrical issues... but she does keep going.

I believe a recommendation for hospice requires a diagnosis that the individual likely has 6 months or less. Not a 100% definite 6 months, but that it could happen. That's why it is difficult when to know when it is appropriate with dementia patients such as DH because it is really difficult to ascertain when it might happen so they have to use criteria like weight loss or inability to walk.