My Beautiful Wonderful Exville Peeps,
Happy New Year, Merry Christmas - I miss you all.
I have been involved in a personal medical nightmare with both my parents since 12/23/13. I witnessed my mom having a seizure which I thought was a stroke and I also thought she stopped breathing. I called 911 and she was taken to the ER. My mom has COPD and emphazyma (sorry for the spelling). She is in a nursing home right now. She never told any of us kids that my dad had serious demential. We should have saw the signs. I have been taking care of my dad since she went in and he went for surgery on 1/9/14 to have a portion of his colon removed. He is now at the nursing home.
I didn't smoke! Seeing my mom has scared me to death about the smoking thing. She has oxygen in all the time and a big green bottle. I couldn't even transport her from the hospital to the aftercare facility due to the oxygen issue. It is horrible and I do not think her condition will get better. She is turning 80 today in a nursing home rooming with my dad who has dementia and has not been diagnosed. This whole thing is a NIGHTMARE! I am going to see my mom and bring her what she wishes - her corn puffs, potatoe chips, and duncan donuts coffee. All my dad wants is his letter from the secretary of state so he can drive again. He has been after me every day for the past 50 days to take him for his driving test.
Previous to all these medical issues I had helped them during December both learn about their supplemental medicare plans and thank God I did because God knew I would be helping them with their health care matters.
I am fearful that the nursing home is going to kick my dad out as he is stubborn and doesn't think he needs to be in the aftercare facility. He keeps telling my mom to pay the bill and drive him home. He doesn't get that she is fragile and needs breathing treatments and on top of all that she fractured her foot and is in a walking boot.
I have gone through a range of emotions on a daily basis. I am sad, depressed, angry, tired, stressed, crying, laughing, feeling abandoned and everything in between those mentioned. My girls were scared to leave me alone last weekend. I was ok. In all this craziness I managed to take care of our house in Chicago during the snowstorm and 50 below day where my pipes froze (I got them unthawed) my dad was going to go outside and fix my mom's car. He insisted on getting the paper and mail outside, fell and totally drove my sister crazy until she drove him to get his lottery tickets at Butera. Between my angel sister and me we managed to get my dad in one piece to his surgery and thought we could catch a break when he went into the hospital. The hospital called me as he was agitated and trying to pull his iv and drainage tube out and had to restrain him. All this happened while my husband was in Florida helping a friend move.
During all this hoopla I still have to work and take care of daily things but just wanted to come on and tell you guys THANK YOU for a year's worth of support so I don't end up in a nursing home with tubes in my nose and a large green oxygen bottle that will be with me while I'm sitting in a wheel chair stubborn, crabby and bossy.
I love my parents but I will be in a mental ward soon if I do not detach for a bit. By the way all the coping skills that we learn in the beginning to not smoke have worked for me during all this insanity.
I love you all and just know I've wanted to come on but too many things have been in the way.
Just remember N.O..P. E. I will never ever think about putting a cancer stick in my mouth again after what I have seen and witnessed. It is not worth it people.
All my Love and best wishes for a good 2014. I figure all this crap that's hit the fan and tried to kick me out of the game is not going to happen. What goes down must come up and I'm looking forward to the mountain. Thank God I got both knees fixed so I can run after these two.
Hugs and Kisses
Judy
