CYBER TRIP FOR REAL..

Photo by BECCA…

 

Stopped by BECCA’S BLOG this morning and boy

talk about taking us along on her trip to HAWAI!!

She and her hubby are there for REAL and she

is documenting it and taking us with her.

CLOSE your drapes, turn up the heat and

visit her blog and you will be sent to another

hawaiian get away. Granted she has been there

for a whole week so you will have to back track for

some fantastic photos. She still has a lot to show us

as she will be there for at least 10 more days.

It is a nice get away from all the white stuff and cold

winds that is for sure. Anyone can comment there, no signing

in or anything. Just thought you might enjoy the CYBER

GET AWAY!!    If you need to find me.. I will be there

looking at the sights!!  

 

SUPER BOWL MENU

I haven’t mentioned the SUPERBOWL here.. I just mostly

watch it for the ads. 

I heard things will be different this year with the ads.

They will be more "homey" and gentle and funny.

We will see. I welcome that.. I hope to see a fair and

exciting game that is not one-sided. I will be routing for

the underdog team THE CARDINALS.. after all.. Pittsburgh is

nice but have won so many times before it is time for

someone else to win. What a story for Arizona if

they win!!

###################################################

This year our menu will not be Chili and snacks but…

a turkey dinner like thanksgiving with all the trimmings.

I chose this sunday to have a celebration with much

thanks for great news about mom’s condition. Her doctor

has told us that she has reversed her illness from

severe to moderate now. ALL because of the diet set

up by the dietician and her willpower to stick with it.

It has been a struggle but we have been willing to

keep to it. She got through the holidays and came out the

winner. Her levels have held for 3 months now steady!

A real cause for a day off the diet and eating anything she

wants. The thing is …I HAVEN’T TOLD HER YET!

You know this special news before she does. My sis and I

intend to tell her during our special meal on sunday as a

surprise. OH she knows we are having a dinner of turkey

but not WHY, so shhhhhhhhhh don’t tell ! 

 

I will be off to the store today to get some little things to help

the meal be a very special one.  It is snowing here lightly,

mostly lake effect flurries. We are glad we are not closer as

they have nearly 6 inches of new snow over by the lake.

Saturday and sunday  we should have temps in the 30′s

and that is more cause for celebration around these parts.

Gas prices here now are 1.89 a gallon and milk is

holding at 3.79 in the stores here in town.

##########################################################

Hope you all have a super Saturday!!

 

SUPER BOWL MENU

I  haven’t mentioned the SUPERBOWL here.. I just mostlywatch it for the ads. 

I heard things will be different this year with the ads.

They will be more “homey” and gentle and funny.

We will see. I welcome that.. I hope to see a fair and

exciting game that is not one-sided. I will be routing for

the underdog team THE CARDINALS.. after all.. Pittsburgh is

nice but have won so many times before it is time for

someone else to win. What a story for Arizona if

they win!!

###################################################

This year our menu will not be Chili and snacks but…

a turkey dinner like thanksgiving with all the trimmings.

I chose this sunday to have a celebration with much

thanks for great news about mom’s condition. Her doctor

has told us that she has reversed her illness from

severe to moderate now. ALL because of the diet set

up by the dietician and her willpower to stick with it.

It has been a struggle but we have been willing to

keep to it. She got through the holidays and came out the

winner. Her levels have held for 3 months now steady!

A real cause for a day off the diet and eating anything she

wants. The thing is …I HAVEN’T TOLD HER YET!

You know this special news before she does. My sis and I

intend to tell her during our special meal on sunday as a

surprise. OH she knows we are having a dinner of turkey

but not WHY, so shhhhhhhhhh don’t tell ! 

 

I will be off to the store today to get some little things to help

the meal be a very special one.  It is snowing here lightly,

mostly lake effect flurries. We are glad we are not closer as

they have nearly 6 inches of new snow over by the lake.

Saturday and sunday  we should have temps in the 30′s

and that is more cause for celebration around these parts.

Gas prices here now are 1.89 a gallon and milk is

holding at 3.79 in the stores here in town.

##########################################################

Hope you all have a super Saturday!!

 

PART TWO.. 1985

Well after getting fired so abruptly I got unemployment right away, but I knew I would have to get some kind of work fast or lose my apartment.  I answered an ad for a caregiver position in someone’s home. When I was interviewed I found out that the man was keeping his elderly mother at home who had advanced Altzheimers disease. She had just been diagnosed with Cancer as well. One other woman was hired as well as myself to cover the 24 hour shifts. I would work days and she would work nights. I already worked night shift  before and didn’t want any part of that anymore.

The man had his whole family at home as well. He had 3 girls and 2 very feisty Pomeranians.  It was a full house! I had no idea that his mother was that advanced until I had taken the job.  She yelled at the top of her lungs all the time and was given strong drugs for the cancer so it did not seem she was in any pain at all. She was just kind of singing to herself only very LOUD.  I loved to cook, so the time I was not taking care of her, I was making the evenng meals for the family to help out. It did keep me very busy there.

When her condition seemed to get settled some, the man took a trip to MEXICO. I say out of the country! Yep you guessed it he took his wife and left for several days. I was in charge of three kids and a sick mother. The other woman came to stay in the house too. She helped when I was busy doing something else. We were paid very well so I really didn’t mind all that much.. U N T I L   The woman passed away..

The other woman and I frantically tried to save her. CPR,suctioning,intubation it was just useless. We called the hospice and the nurses came.. the sherriff came , the coroner came. They took pictures like it was a crime scene.  There was not a “FAMILY MEMBER” present on the scene with valid papers to state what to do and what  NOT to do. Her doctor knew she had a DNR (do not resusitate) order, but that did not matter.They lifted her out of the bed onto the hard floor. The paramedics started CPR despite our frantic calls to stop. Finally the hospice supervisor showed up and said.. STOP.. we have orders.

It still did not stop the sherriff from making us feel like criminals. They pulled a sheet over her and asked a MILLION questions.The other lady and I were so upset we could hardly speak. My head pounded and the hospice nurses took our blood pressure to see if we were all right.  That poor woman laid there on the floor for hours covered while their investigation went on.

And then THE KIDS CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL. Their grandmother laid on the floor of the den covered in a sheet with cops everywhere. Tryng to reach their parents who were “OUT OF THE COUNTRY!” was a nightmare. This was before cell phones and we had to call the Ca. Highway Patrol to help track them down. Seems they had left  Mexico, driving and were in route home. Highway patrol found them in a rest area and informed them to CALL HOME.

The children were sent to a neighbors and stayed until the parents arrived home. I left at about 6 pm exhausted and the other woman and a pastor stayed at the house until they came home. The next day we all met at the house and told the entire story to the parents. We made calls and made arrangements. The man asked if I could stay on as a housekeeper for the family for a little while. I said I would and I remained there for almost  four months. 

Trying to save a person’s life and watching them pass away in front of you is life changing. Being grilled like a criminal who has done a criminal act and not being guilty of anything is life changing also. I will never forget it as long as I live. 1985 was a real life changing year for me….

The lessons learned back then follow me every single day. I learned about  my own strength,compassion, patience and faith. 

LIFE: PART TWO

Well after getting fired so abruptly I got unemployment right away, but I knew I would have to get some kind of work fast or lose my apartment.  I answered an ad for a caregiver position in someone’s home. When I was interviewed I found out that the man was keeping his elderly mother at home who had advanced Altzheimers disease.
She had just been diagnosed with Cancer as well. One other
woman was hired as well as myself to cover the 24 hour shifts.
I would work days and she would work nights. I already worked night shift  before and didn’t want any part of that anymore.

The man had his whole family at home as well. He had 3 girls
and 2 very feisty Pomeranians.  It was a full house! I had no idea that his mother was that advanced until I had taken the job.  She yelled at the top of her lungs all the time and was given strong drugs for the cancer so it did not seem she was in any pain at all.  I loved to cook, so the time I was not taking care of her I was making the evenng meals for the family to help out. It did keep me very busy there.

When her condition seemed to get settled some, the man had to go out of town to a clinic in MEXICO. I say out of the country! Yep you guessed it he took his wife and left for several days. I was in charge of three kids and a sick mother. The other woman came to stay in the house too. She helped when I was busy doing something else. We were paid very well so I really didnt mind all that much.. U N T I L   The woman passed away..

The other woman and I frantically tried to save her. 911 calls and paramedic calls were useless. We called the hospice and the nurses came.. the sherriff came , the coroner came. They took pictures like it was a crime scene.  There was not a “FAMILY MEMBER” present on the scene with valid papers to state what to do and what  NOT to do. Her doctor knew she had a DNR (do not resusitate) order, but that did not matter.They lifted her out of the bed onto the hard floor. The paramedics started CPR despite our frantic calls to stop. Finally the hospice supervisor showed up and said.. STOP.. we have orders.

It still did not stop the sherriff from making us feel like criminals. They pulled a sheet over her and asked a MILLION questions.The other lady and I were so upset we could hardly speak. My head pounded and the hospice nurses took our blood pressure to see if we were all right. 

And then THE KIDS CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL. Their grandother laid on the floor of the den covered in a sheet with cops everywhere. Tryng to reach their parents who were “OUT OF THE COUNTRY!” was a nightmare. This was before cell phones and we had to call the Ca. Highway Patrol to help track them down. Seems they had left the resort to come home driving and were in route home. Highway patrol found them in a rest area and informed them to CALL HOME.

The children were sent to a neighbors and stayed until the parents arrived home. I left at about 6 pm exhausted and the other woman and a pastor stayed at the house until they came home. The next day we all met at the house and told the entire story to the parents. We made calls and made arrangements. The man asked if I could stay on as a housekeeper for the family for a little while. I said I would and I remained there for almost  four months. 

Trying to save a person’s life and watching them pass away in front of you is life changing. Being grilled like a criminal who has done a criminal act and not being guilty of anything is life changing also. I will never forget it as long as I live. 1985 was a real life changing year for me….