Mom and Dad will be moving to Portland this Thursday, 2/23. Sorry for the late notice - things are moving quickly these days.
Dad and I will be in Bend tonight through Thursday. We will pick up Mom on Thursday morning and drive to Portland by early afternoon.
Bend friends:
If you have a chance to visit Mom at Harmony House tomorrow, please do. If you would like to visit, but can't drive yourself, call me and maybe I can pick you up. 503.880.2341 cell.
I'll post their new mailing address very soon.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Assisted Living
Mom continues to recover at Harmony House Skilled Nursing and Rehab in Bend. She is going very well and is very upbeat. She is still a little weak and battling yet another infection. They keep extending her stay there, which has worked out well.
Dad is staying with us in Portland for the time being.
Given the amount of care and attention Mom and Dad both need, we've all decided that it's time to move them into assisted living in Portland. I've been doing a lot of research and touring of facilities. We'd like to have them close to my family (they want that too) and feel lucky that there are some nice places close by.
The move will have to happen pretty quickly upon Mom's release from Harmony House.
Dad is in Bend this weekend with some friends. My brother, Jeff, and Uncle Doug will be in Bend this weekend, too. They are working on packing up some obvious items for the move. We will get their house on the market soon.
It'll be a big change and there's a lot of stress right now, but even Dad is getting excited for the move and the comfort of extra attention and help.
Dad is staying with us in Portland for the time being.
Given the amount of care and attention Mom and Dad both need, we've all decided that it's time to move them into assisted living in Portland. I've been doing a lot of research and touring of facilities. We'd like to have them close to my family (they want that too) and feel lucky that there are some nice places close by.
The move will have to happen pretty quickly upon Mom's release from Harmony House.
Dad is in Bend this weekend with some friends. My brother, Jeff, and Uncle Doug will be in Bend this weekend, too. They are working on packing up some obvious items for the move. We will get their house on the market soon.
It'll be a big change and there's a lot of stress right now, but even Dad is getting excited for the move and the comfort of extra attention and help.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
After a great start at home in Bend, Mom is currently in St. Charles hospital recovering from infected kidney stones and other complications.
Mom went into the ER on Thursday morning with what turned out to be kidney stones. They admitted her and by Thursday afternoon they were infected. They installed a stent and moved her to ICU to keep close tabs on her. By Friday morning, she was battling sepsis and put back on a vent to help her "bridge through the recovery." On Sunday we learned she also has MRSA (a severe staph infection). She is "sick as snot," to quote the doctor. By Monday morning, she was strong enough to get off the vent and continues to make good progress.
In a couple days, Mom will be moved to a rehab facility for a week or so before she can go back home. She is still very tired and sick.
Dad spends most of the day with her in the hospital.
My family and I were down there last weekend and I'll be heading back down this weekend.
Please send your thoughts and prayers for her continued recovery.
Thank you.
Mom went into the ER on Thursday morning with what turned out to be kidney stones. They admitted her and by Thursday afternoon they were infected. They installed a stent and moved her to ICU to keep close tabs on her. By Friday morning, she was battling sepsis and put back on a vent to help her "bridge through the recovery." On Sunday we learned she also has MRSA (a severe staph infection). She is "sick as snot," to quote the doctor. By Monday morning, she was strong enough to get off the vent and continues to make good progress.
In a couple days, Mom will be moved to a rehab facility for a week or so before she can go back home. She is still very tired and sick.
Dad spends most of the day with her in the hospital.
My family and I were down there last weekend and I'll be heading back down this weekend.
Please send your thoughts and prayers for her continued recovery.
Thank you.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Homeward Bound
The big day is tomorrow. Marlene and Bob should be in their house tomorrow afternoon.
People have asked if they can bring food, and what Marlene can eat. Marlene has no dietary restrictions, but she does currently have a sensitivity to "dry" foods- bread, crackers, etc.., and she doesn't eat large amounts. Her sensitivity is getting better, but for the time being, think "nothing dry" if you would like to contribute food. Casseroles, things with sauces, meats, those are a good start, but hey, go nuts! And by the way, Bob eats anything.
Marlene continues to get stronger, and we're so excited to see them in their home. It's the beginning of a new chapter.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Release Date
We're expecting Mom to leave PacSpec on 1/20/12. My family and I will go down to Bend with Mom and Dad to help them get settled in over that weekend. She will have a nurse visit the house 2-3 times a week for a while just to make sure all is well. We're working on a PT/rehab schedule for Bend too.
If you are in Bend and have the time/energy/means to drop off a meal for their freezer or help with a task or just say hello, they would love it and all of us would be so grateful.
Mom had her g-tube removed yesterday. She was pushing to get that out early and is happy to have it out. She is eating well and food finally tastes good to her.
PT continues to work with her, although they say they've taken her as far as they can. She continues to progress though. Earlier this week, she practiced walking without any assistance: no walker, no helper, no cane. She managed a few laps around the small rehab room. She's also working on stairs: practicing holding Dad's arm to go up and down a few stairs.
Mom has had a couple outings over the past month and has enjoyed it a lot. My son's 4th birthday is this weekend and Mom might be coming over to help him celebrate on Sunday. If she's not up for that (afterall, it's a bunch of silly 2-6 year olds in one small living room, which is exhausting just thinking about it), we may take her for a drive to Multnomah Falls and the Old Columbia River Highway or something like that.
If you are in Bend and have the time/energy/means to drop off a meal for their freezer or help with a task or just say hello, they would love it and all of us would be so grateful.
Mom had her g-tube removed yesterday. She was pushing to get that out early and is happy to have it out. She is eating well and food finally tastes good to her.
PT continues to work with her, although they say they've taken her as far as they can. She continues to progress though. Earlier this week, she practiced walking without any assistance: no walker, no helper, no cane. She managed a few laps around the small rehab room. She's also working on stairs: practicing holding Dad's arm to go up and down a few stairs.
Mom has had a couple outings over the past month and has enjoyed it a lot. My son's 4th birthday is this weekend and Mom might be coming over to help him celebrate on Sunday. If she's not up for that (afterall, it's a bunch of silly 2-6 year olds in one small living room, which is exhausting just thinking about it), we may take her for a drive to Multnomah Falls and the Old Columbia River Highway or something like that.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
GREAT NEWS!
Mom will be released from Pacific Specialties in three weeks or so!
The plan is to have her and Dad move back to their house in Bend for a few months, then they will probably move to an assisted living facility close to us here in Portland.
There is a little work to be done to get their house ready, but we are all very excited. We are looking into getting some additional nursing or home care - at least someone stopping by daily to check in.
The staff is pushing her to spend the next few weeks living there as if she's at home: bed flat all the time, can't use the bars to help her get up from bed, resist using the nurse call button, administer her own meds as necessary, etc.
Mom is barely using her g-tube and eating all her meals normally. They have only been using the g-tube to give her some formula after meals to help stretch her stomach. She will probably have it removed completely after she gets to Bend.
Her physical therapy will continue after Pac Spec. We anticipate her strength and endurance will continue to grow and her fatigue to lessen.
More great news: Mom will be coming over to my house to spend Christmas morning with us. She'll stay as long as she feels up to it, although I'm sure the kids will wear her out quickly. We are excited to have her out on this fun 'field trip.'
The plan is to have her and Dad move back to their house in Bend for a few months, then they will probably move to an assisted living facility close to us here in Portland.
There is a little work to be done to get their house ready, but we are all very excited. We are looking into getting some additional nursing or home care - at least someone stopping by daily to check in.
The staff is pushing her to spend the next few weeks living there as if she's at home: bed flat all the time, can't use the bars to help her get up from bed, resist using the nurse call button, administer her own meds as necessary, etc.
Mom is barely using her g-tube and eating all her meals normally. They have only been using the g-tube to give her some formula after meals to help stretch her stomach. She will probably have it removed completely after she gets to Bend.
Her physical therapy will continue after Pac Spec. We anticipate her strength and endurance will continue to grow and her fatigue to lessen.
More great news: Mom will be coming over to my house to spend Christmas morning with us. She'll stay as long as she feels up to it, although I'm sure the kids will wear her out quickly. We are excited to have her out on this fun 'field trip.'
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Happy Holidays
Things are continuing to go well. Mom has recovered from an infection and a little cellulitis, which was caught fairly early and not at all as bad as past infections. Throughout that recovery, she was active and keeping busy. She's in good spirits and getting stronger and stronger.
Her voice sounds much better, as her throat continues to recover from all the irritation from tubes being down there for so long. She's also eating a lot more and getting a lot less formula through the peg tube. She's taking most of her medications via mouth instead of tube now too.
PT keeps pushing her along, too. She's been practicing her balance and rotating with out any assistance or walker (no hands). She's walking longer distances with the walker. Her endurance also continues to improve in all her exercises in the rehab room.
OT made her go down to the employee break room and make a pot of coffee. She said she put in an extra scoop and it was too strong. I'm sure she'll be happy to do it again until she "gets it right." They also took her down to one of the computers so she could play a little solitaire.
She's still knitting, doing crosswords, and passing time watching more TV than she ever has before.
She enjoys your cards and letters. Thank you so much for keeping them coming. Your love is helping her get through. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Her voice sounds much better, as her throat continues to recover from all the irritation from tubes being down there for so long. She's also eating a lot more and getting a lot less formula through the peg tube. She's taking most of her medications via mouth instead of tube now too.
PT keeps pushing her along, too. She's been practicing her balance and rotating with out any assistance or walker (no hands). She's walking longer distances with the walker. Her endurance also continues to improve in all her exercises in the rehab room.
OT made her go down to the employee break room and make a pot of coffee. She said she put in an extra scoop and it was too strong. I'm sure she'll be happy to do it again until she "gets it right." They also took her down to one of the computers so she could play a little solitaire.
She's still knitting, doing crosswords, and passing time watching more TV than she ever has before.
She enjoys your cards and letters. Thank you so much for keeping them coming. Your love is helping her get through. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
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