Sunday, January 31, 2016

Return to order (albeit slowly)

Mom was well enough and strong enough to return to her own home on Friday (after the doctor checked out her lungs).   She probably could have gone home earlier in the week health-wise, but strength-wise she was not altogether enough to drop right back into taking care of her house, 2 cats, food prep, bill paying, housecleaning, laundry, etc.  

I'd been taking care of her cats since the 13th (going over every 2nd day).  This past week I took Mom each time so she could spend an hour getting her ready for full return.  During those visits she would wash a load of dishes, maybe sweep the kitchen floor. We cleaned all the overaged food from the fridge and tidied up the place so she wouldn't have to hit the ground cleaning when she returned.

Then Friday, after the dr. appt I went and got her fresh groceries (fruits, veg, canned soup, bread, etc).  Since she was finally off all the Rx's (steroids, inhaler, antibiotics, probiotics, cough syrup), she only now has to take her usual Rx's (chronic conditions like osteoporosis, high blood pressure, glaucoma drops, brain surgery (from 1995) meds) and the normal vit/mineral supplement.

Since she insists on living alone and I cannot be in 2 places at 1 time, I've learned not to angst too much about her over there alone.  I see her 2-3 times a week, but I'm sure one day there will be tragedy to deal with, but she prefers that deal vs living with me.

Me?  I'm much better, thanks.  It's taken me longer to get well I'm sure from having to take care of Mom and thus getting little sleep for the duration.


Yesterday (Saturday) I spent nearly 7 hours washing bedding, linens, clothes, slipcovers, pillow cases, anything soft and washable.  Today there will be a lot of steam cleaning of kitchen & bathroom.  Finally, a general dust & vac of the main floor.   I do a little at a time.  I'm still not up to full speed.

This episode really frightened me.  Neither of us have EVER been this ill.  Ever.  And bronchitis?  Were did THAT come from?  One fevered night I dreampt I was reading Mother's obit in the paper.  Honestly, you just can't deal with someone so very ill when you yourself are so very ill.  This could have ended so badly.  

But we're bouncing back.  I'm not taking Mom to Fitness center in February.  Not during prime 'bug' season.  For both our sakes.

4 comments:

  1. I'm so happy to hear you're getting stronger.
    What a scary situation. I'm glad it turned out ok, but I think you're going to have to figure out a backup plan.....who knows when it might happen again.

    I know I contracted bronchitus that later morphed into pneumonia this past fall and I told hubby that was THE sickest I have ever been in my life. Sick enough to start showing him where what was, ya know. There's some WEIRD bugs going around nowadays. Let's blame Monsanto, cuz heck, it probably has something to do with it somewhere along the line.
    Anywho, enough yabbering. Glad you're better. I was worried.

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    1. Trouble is, I have no relative for backup, and not much anyone else. There was no one to ask for help with Mom. Honestly, I never felt so alone and vulnerable as tshis past month. And with a high fever, decision were not only difficult, sometimes impossible. And not all decisions ended up were good. Logic went out the window in some cases.

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  2. This was good news to hear. Recovery may be slower than you want but don't overdo. Sounds like you already did with the frenzied housecleaning.

    We are in the same place as you and your Mom. No relatives to fall back on unless we go to KC or St. Louis. You just keep plugging along and hope for the best.

    The sun is shining today so be happy.

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    1. No sun here. :-( But yeah, I seem to think I'll recover faster if I go gung-ho and clean the place. Go figure. I'm thinking of adopting a young family -- for support. LOL Actually made some sourdough pancakes this morning. Some normalcy creeping in. :-D

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