We came home from Florida about six weeks early because Mama was having strokes. My brother works downtown Nashville so he couldn't stay with her day and night. So from the day we arrived home, that's what I have been doing.
In the senior living apartment complex where she lived, guests were not allowed to stay with a tenant full time. Mr. Lynn, the administrator, was very nice. I kept him informed of what was going on and he never said anything to me about staying with Mama. But I couldn't move in, I have a home with my husband. She didn't want to live with us because we are too far away from help if she needed an ambulance. So we all decided to move her into assisted living.
It just so happened (of course, we realize it was God's work) that Richland Place in Portland had a nice vacancy. We were able to move her right in last weekend. She spent her first night alone in her new apartment Tuesday of this week.
The first night there, she managed to spray water from the huge walk in shower all over her bathroom floor and then proceed to fall down in it. Thank God, she didn't hurt herself. Then Wednesday night, we received a call between midnight and 1:00 A.M. that she was having another stroke and they were taking her to the hospital. So Mike and I drove to Gallatin and sat there until after 5:00 AM when they decided they were doing all they can for her and this may happen now and then or maybe not. No way of telling. She will just have to live with it. They sent her home. So we got home around 6:00 AM.
I have to be really sick to sleep in the day time. So yesterday was a bummer day and on top of that I had a headache from the rain. So her first two days in her new home she had two incidents. We did not receive a call last night so I hope all went well. Yesterday, afternoon when we stopped in to see her, she seemed to be doing well.
Her apartment is smaller and she had to get rid of quite a few things. But her apartment is so cozy and warm and looks so inviting. She was able to keep her sofa, recliner, some small end tables, and a small chest for her clothes. We did have to put a twin size bed in there for her but it's wrought iron and looks very pretty. Everything looks very nice. She even has French doors that walk out onto a huge covered patio which she will share with the lady who lives next door to her. So we put a small iron table out there and she has a couple chairs to put out there. Nice.
This place is wonderful. They have a large dining room where Mama can go eat all her meals. No more cooking! They actually come in three times a day to give her her medicines. AWESOME! I was worrying about whether she was taking it right. They come in and check on her every two hours day and night (because she said they could). They wouldn't do that if she didn't need them to. But how nice that they do for the present. She says that she never knows they come in during the night.
She can keep her apartment locked, which is very nice. That makes us all feel safe and secure. They have a large recreation room downstairs with activities going on all day every day. Every morning at 9:30 she goes to exercise class. YAY! On Sundays they have church in there. They even have Bible studies during the week. They have a beautiful library but she can't see well enough to read books so she gets audio books from the blind institute. I, though, would love this library if I was living there.
The laundry is next door to her apartment and they will help her with her laundry. They even clean her apartment. All she has to do is live her life. No more worries about meals, cleaning, anything. She had quit cooking her meals after her stroke. So if we didn't cook for her or take her out, she didn't get a good meal. That's one reason I had to stay with her to make sure she ate. Then, again, the stroke scared her to the point she was afraid to be alone.
This place even has a salon in it where she can walk into and pay someone to cut, color, or perm her hair. Maybe, even do manicures and pedicures.
We still haven't yet had a day when we didn't have to go over there to do something for her (like wait for the phone guy to get her phone hooked up) or take her personal items needed from the store, or something like that. I'm waiting for the day when I can stay at home all day and actually get something done here without having to run into Portland. That hasn't happened yet. But, there's today. Maybe.
Our house is a mess. I need to clean. We came home and put the motorhome under cover and haven't even yet unloaded it except for some clothes and the food. We still have that to do. I have all my paperwork from 2015 to complete for taxes to be filed. After being home for over two weeks, we just, day before yesterday, had the opportunity to go to the grocery store. I need some "us at home" time. Mike's been awesome. He has been right there with me every step of the way. What a wonderful husband God has blessed me with. Thank you Father!
This is the first opportunity I have had to turn on this computer. When we do come home, we are pooped and it's usually late. So for now, that's all I have to say and I'm ready for my morning cup of tea. so
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