Mon's Going Home

There was a care conference (staffing) at Manor Care on Wednesday afternoon. It was decided that mom is ready to go home and will do so on Saturday. Dad will be arranging for extra help and in the picture is looking over the brochures with one of the Manor Care staff members.

Manor food, 75 degrees, and some snow

Lunch today looked and smelled quite good: biscuit, ham, sweet potatoes, and cabbage (I thought it was sauerkraut.) I put this in particularly for Julie! Saturday was quite warm -- 75 degrees -- so we had mom walk a bit outside. It was so nice. But the snow scene was what we woke up to on Sunday morning. Ahhh.........good old Boulder. You just have to be prepared for every kind of weather at all times!

Past Couple Days at the Manor

There's mom and Kathie walking down to dinner. It's quite a walk, but mom made it there and back with just a walker! A guess Kathie felt the need to relax afterwards, though. Doesn't she look like a queen? All she needs is the crown. Bottom photo shows some of the therapy dogs who visit the Manor routinely. I can't remember the big dog's name, but she weighs 130 pounds. The smaller dog behind mom is Katie. They were both really sweet dogs and mom just loved talking to them and giving them lots of love.

Wednesday morning

When delivering mom's clean clothes this morning, I got to sit in on Speech Therapy and a bit of Physical Therapy. Mom's doing so well with her speech therapy but she needs to keep conversing with others so she can maintain! And PT is doing good as well as she apparently got up to go to the bathroom on her own. Of course, that set off an alarm, but nonetheless, she's much stronger!! She loved the email from Michael (he's in Iraq) so if anyone wants to email her, you can send them to me and I will take them to her.

Monday at the Manor

I forgot to take any pictures Monday. Sorry.

I got there about 5PM, right after Kathie and Bryan. We all played Chronology and Bryan beat the ladies, but only by one card. Mom, Kathie and I each won 7 cards, but Bryan won 8 even though he kept getting sports questions! Sure had fun.

Then we all moved down to the dining room. They had barbecued pork which actually was quite good. Good enough for Mom to turn down the food I brought for her! Kathie and Bryan enjoyed their Subway sandwiches and I snuck some of Kathie's Fritos. "Yummo," as Rachael Ray would say.

After Kathie and Bryan left, mom got ready for bed. She is so much stronger that she does a lot by herself now! Even walked a bit without any assistance, not even a walker or cane. I left her warm and snug in bed with her call button attached near her head and her TV remote in hand.

By the way, her roommate, Miss Evelyn, is back in the hospital. Mom has the room to herself for awhile.

Sunday Fun day.......

Such a beautiful day. Sunshine and fun. Mom was feeling pretty good today and I think she enjoyed all the visitors.

Saturday at the Manor and something more

A couple scenes from the Manor on Saturday: Arianna and Bryan comparing their red hair--with Mallory laughing in the background and Kathie, Mom, and Bryan playing UNO in the game room. The third picture: Who is the handsome man in the Texas Burnt Orange standing next to Barack Obama? Bobby's political science degree is paying off! Is there a vice-presidency in the future? And Bobby, why didn't you get him at least a UT hat? Change is coming!

More photos from Manor Care

A few more photos from Manor Care on Friday: Mom with wonderful Rachel, the speech therapist, working with a communication board. Mom also practiced sentence completions and she did great! She should practice a couple times a day, ten minutes or so. Practicing verbal skills will help her with her speech. There's little Gracie so happy to be sitting with Grama and watching and listening to the little finches. Aren't those blue ones beautiful? And yes, Pat, little Gracie did say "Mama." Mom, Grama, and Aunt Colleen all witnessed the event!!

What a wonderful discovery...........

The women a few doors down from Mom at Manor care is none other than Mrs Gonderzack, well, now Mrs Ackerman. The Gonderzack's lived down the street from the Kennedy's while we were all growing up in Boulder. They had 13 children, the Kennedy's had 8- that pretty much makes up a city street with 21 kids.........but no, the Langhart's lived down on the other side of the street and they had 9 kids. WOW!!!!!!!!!!
Mom is getting stronger, and I think having her friend there makes it a bit more bearable. Please pray for the both of them. Mrs Ackerman has cancer.
Peace, Trish

Out of her room for dinner and some other activities

Here are pictures, from Wednesday and Thursday, of mom at Manor Care. You'll notice she's in her own clothes now rather than that awful hospital gown. Tricia was visiting with her and dad in a community room and she and Tricia were looking over the Newsletter to see whose birthdays were coming up. Last night she was reading her Good Housekeeping magazine after dinner, which she shared with two very nice ladies in the dining room.

She clearly does not want to be there but we're trying to remind her that she needs the therapies there so she can return home.

Mom's First Day at Manor Care

Here are a few photos from Mom's first day at Manor Care for rehab. She has a lovely room mate, Miss Evelyn, who told her that even though she herself couldn't get out of bed to help mom, she could use her voice!

Mom's waving to all her fans. Opposite her bed is a nice picture, her TV, and a bulletin board for photos, cards, etc. Her bed is nearest the door and the nurse's station is right out her door. Behind the closet is her bathroom.

Big Tree in Washington

Mallory and Arianna at the base of the world's largest spruce tree in Washington state. January, 2008.