Training Log Archive: CharlieIn the 1 days ending Sep 6, 2010:
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| Mo |
Monday Sep 6, 2010 #
Note
Rhonda and I went down to see my mom, Virginia on Thursday. We had just returned home Monday, and even on Wednesday I was able to talk with her on the phone, although she lamented feeling confused. When I talked with the nurse on Thursday, though, it was clear that things had been changing rapidly. When we got there she was asleep and looked pretty wiped out. Then the phone rang and startled her and she woke up and recognized us right away. She was very happy to see us, but pretty weak and not able to say much.
She had had a couple of rough days, with bouts of pain and agitation. A few days earlier we had been able to take her for a short walk, and to take her out quite a bit in the wheelchair. Now she was hooked up to a catheter, nasal cannula and at first one and then two ports to administer different meds, as she was increasingly unable to swallow even liquid meds.
Each day she has lost a bit more ground. On Friday she drank a can of Ensure. Saturday she was able to eat a bit of chocolate ice cream, but nothing to drink, and by Sunday nothing to eat either. She had a few bouts of anxiety when she was trying to pull the cannula off, pull her gown off, and climb over the bed rail. More meds left her apparently more relaxed and sleeping. She has also been having bouts of breathing trouble, but various meds and treatments have been keeping that under control.
Our tickets home were for Sunday. Rhonda couldn’t stand to leave her like this, so I came home to help Zack as he is getting ready for school, and to try to catch up on work. Rhonda will follow in a few days. Virginia’s color is generally good, which may mean that, while the end is near, it is not imminent. Likely to be a few more days. Rhonda is hanging out with her pretty much all day, every day.
At this point it is not clear how much she knows about what is going on. There have been occasional moments where there seems to be a flicker of understanding, like when my cousin Matt called the other day and I held the phone to her ear.
At this point, a few words about hospice nurses. Wow! What kind and compassionate women! They have certainly become a very important part of not only my mom’s life, but ours as well.
She had had a couple of rough days, with bouts of pain and agitation. A few days earlier we had been able to take her for a short walk, and to take her out quite a bit in the wheelchair. Now she was hooked up to a catheter, nasal cannula and at first one and then two ports to administer different meds, as she was increasingly unable to swallow even liquid meds.
Each day she has lost a bit more ground. On Friday she drank a can of Ensure. Saturday she was able to eat a bit of chocolate ice cream, but nothing to drink, and by Sunday nothing to eat either. She had a few bouts of anxiety when she was trying to pull the cannula off, pull her gown off, and climb over the bed rail. More meds left her apparently more relaxed and sleeping. She has also been having bouts of breathing trouble, but various meds and treatments have been keeping that under control.
Our tickets home were for Sunday. Rhonda couldn’t stand to leave her like this, so I came home to help Zack as he is getting ready for school, and to try to catch up on work. Rhonda will follow in a few days. Virginia’s color is generally good, which may mean that, while the end is near, it is not imminent. Likely to be a few more days. Rhonda is hanging out with her pretty much all day, every day.
At this point it is not clear how much she knows about what is going on. There have been occasional moments where there seems to be a flicker of understanding, like when my cousin Matt called the other day and I held the phone to her ear.
At this point, a few words about hospice nurses. Wow! What kind and compassionate women! They have certainly become a very important part of not only my mom’s life, but ours as well.
4 PM
Note
AOWN
A dead bird at the bottom of a window, and strangely enough, the same species as the last one I found near a window, maybe a month ago. Ironic that these poor little fellows are coming a cropper just as school is starting up.
A dead bird at the bottom of a window, and strangely enough, the same species as the last one I found near a window, maybe a month ago. Ironic that these poor little fellows are coming a cropper just as school is starting up.
6 PM
Running race 23:36 2.94 mi (8:01 / mi) +19m 7:52 / mi
ahr:166 max:174 weight:162lbs (sick) shoes: 2010 NB MT840
Stanley Park 3 miles, with Zack. Zack was 2nd today, in 18:09. Nice weather, but feeling a little punk with my cold and didn't push too hard.