Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2009. Mattie was home between hospital stays and that weekend we decided to scrape paint off our deck and repaint it. As you can see, Mattie wanted to be a part of the process! He put the paint brush into "Curious George." That was the name we gave Mattie's left leg. Why? Because it was the only intact limb that had received no surgery and Mattie used his left left and foot almost like a arm and hand! He would take that foot and go into his nurses' pockets! So it was no surprise to me that if Mattie wanted to paint, he wasn't going to use his hands!
Quote of the day: In order to move on, you have to want to let go. ~ Kevin Darné
Though my dad's memory care center was closed today for the fourth of July holiday weekend, his nurse came over at 10am. Which meant in order to get my dad up and downstairs for that appointment I had to get up at 6am. Medicare plans on discharging the nurse next week, but keep in mind that my dad's pressure sores are not healed. In fact, it is a vicious cycle of the sores closing up and then re-opening again. So as of next week, I will be on my own managing these never ending pressure sores. I can't tell you how many hundreds of dollars I have spent on pressure sore foam bandages. Medicare's supply is ridiculous. They think one bandage is good for an entire week, as they deem them water proof bandages. All I know is no matter how well I apply the bandage, it constantly moves and comes off. So on a good day I can go through four bandages and on a bad day, try 8 in one day! So this one bandage allotment is insane.
Once the nurse left, I got my dad situated in his recliner, and I proceeded to do laundry, write checks for the Foundation, and then I started a continuing education course on dementia that will count toward my licensure renewal. I live dementia care 24/7, but I wanted to see what the educational content looked like and to learn more about the stages, the causes of dementia and the psychosocial interventions that can be used to help relate to a person with dementia. I got to reading up to page 10 and then that infamous 1-800 number flashed on my phone. This has become a number I absolutely can't tolerate! If you haven't been following along on the blog, then let me clue you in. The 1-800 number I am referring to belongs to my mortgage agent.
I have been at this mortgage assumption since May. I am stressed out beyond belief and some times I wonder if the left hand of this company talks to the right hand. Yesterday, I received another email from the company, demanding more information. I supplied it and left my mortgage agent a detailed voicemail, along with a detailed email. NO ONE READS of LISTENS TO THEIR MESSAGES. Today he called me going through the same stuff I supplied yesterday, except with a bit of a twist. My patience is dwindling and yet I have to keep it together because I have to assume this mortgage if I want to continue living in my house. Moving with two 90-year-olds would be truly impossible and bordering on inhumane, as change especially for my dad is confusing.
If you read yesterday's blog, then you know I am losing my health insurance. Cigna is no longer offering individual plans in the state of Virginia. The way Cigna explained it to me is that they are covering NO ONE in Virginia as of December, so not just people with individual plans, but everyone! I made the mistake yesterday on searching on the exchange, like Cigna recommended I do! BIG BIG MISTAKE. Some how just trying to get information triggered a cascade of phone calls with healthcare insurance agents. Yesterday I received 40 cold calls and today 30! I am not answering the phone, after talking to one agent yesterday. I am beginning to hate the phone altogether.
This afternoon, I took my parents out to lunch. It was another winner of bathroom day with my dad. The restaurant was crowded, as everyone was inside in air conditioning trying to avoid the 100 degree temperatures outside. I had no choice but to take my dad to the ladies room with me. While in there, I ran into another woman, who was a caregiver at one time to her in-laws. She was very patient as we were taking up a lot of space by the sinks, but we concluded that we are both unique people, as not every child cares for a parent 24/7. It is fascinating how caregivers just get one another!
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