Stress Management...

I spoke with Dad this morning.  His voice was so soft I could barely hear him.  I had to keep asking him to put the phone closer to his mouth.  His voice was very garbled, so maybe he was tired.  He knew he had eaten breakfast.  I asked how Doctor-Doctor was, and I could hear him smile as he told me "she is wonderful!".

He sounded very tired so it was a short conversation.  I told him I was coming to see him very soon with lots of hugs and kisses.  That make him smile again.  I told him I loved him, and he told me he loves me too....
I hung up and I always worry when he sounds the way he did...time with him is so very precious....

                                                   ***********************

I usually post stuff like this on my other blog, http://discoveringthepurposeofyourlife.blogspot.com/ , but I decided to share it on this one...

****I did not write this, I received it in an email.  I researched it and it appears to be written by the modest and elusive author, Unknown Anonymous.****

A lecturer, while explaining Stress Management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked :

"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20mg to 500mg. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.

So, my friend, why not take a while to just simply RELAX.

Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Life is short.

Enjoy it!"

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

* Never buy a car you can't push.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,

because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,

but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons...Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

What a wonderful day...

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful birthday wishes!  I felt very warm and fuzzy with all my phone calls.

My youngest daughter was the first to call  early this morning, (unless I count my sister's "Happy Birthday Eve" phone call last night...) followed by a serenade from my two grandsons and eldest daughter.  My sister sent me a b'day text and email.  More phone calls and emails from dear friends in California, and my Mom.  All my Facebook friends, plus two of my brothers wished me a happy 29th... :}

My daughter in law called me on my way to meet my husband for lunch.  He came home tonight with my beautiful card and gifts...plus, took me out to dinner and then a little gambling.  Another girlfriend from California called me during dinner. What a spoiled gal am I....

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all my blogging friends for remembering me. You all, are the icing on my cupcake!

Hey, I'm a versatile blogger!!!

What a wonderful surprise I received today! 

Debra at

http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/

bestowed this wonderful award to me.

Thank you so much Deb!

The rules are:

1. Thank the person who gave the Award to you and link to their blog.

2. Share 7 things about yourself that others may not know.

3. Nominate up to 15 other versatile bloggers who you recently discovered and who you think are fantastic (and link to their blogs too).

4. Let them know about the Award!

(Rules are flexible, in case you're not good with rules!)

7 Things You May Not Know About Me are:

1.  I once worked as a Go Go Dancer in a cage. I worked in a dental office during the day, in the late 60's and I needed a raise, but my chintzy employer would not give me one.  One night while scanning the ads for a part time night job, I ran across the job for Go Go Dancers.  My room mate and I had a good laugh, until she dared me to apply.  I went, I exaggerated and I got the job.  My room mate and I went to Frederick's of Hollywood and bought me a couple glow in the dark bikinis, and then to the yardage store for some snazzy add ons to the bikinis, and scrounged up some body jewelry. The ad offered $3-$5 dollars an hour, depending on experience (that's where the exaggerations came in) and I was paid $5 an hour!  That was a lot of money back in the day!  One of our patients noticed me and my night time work was discovered by my employer, who after raising a fuss, gave me my raise.

2. I am ambidextrous.

3. I absolutely, positively, LOVE going to the movies.  I still get excited when I am waiting for the movie to start.

4. I used to be able to "give the toe" with my middle toe, but now I can't due to foot cramping.

5. I will be 63 years young tomorrow.

6. I can wiggle my ears.

7. I LOVED and was obsessed with horses as a child.  Until I bought one as a teenager with my babysitting money, I had an imaginary Palomino horse with white mane and tail that I would ride home from school. I have always had a vivid and active imagination, but when my Mother was "coffee clutching" on the front porch with some neighbors, and suddenly saw me in full gallop, leaving trails of dust behind me; they began to wonder if it was a bit more than imagination... It was not until I pulled the reins, dismounted, tied my horse up on the porch post and went in the house to get him a carrot, that everyone, including my Mother, knew for sure.

My nominees are: (not in any particular order)

Betty at http://bossybetty.blogspot.com/

Kelly (September Mom) at http://myvoicemyview.blogspot.com/

betty at http://acorgiinsoutherncalifornia.blogspot.com/

Penny at http://penjandrum.wordpress.com/

John at http://ridemymind.blogspot.com/

Caroline at http://whimsywispers.blogspot.com/ 

(Constantly Evolving)

Carol at http://curlywillowsranch.blogspot.com/

Tabitha at http://www.ichoosebliss.net/

Betty at http://glimpseintomidlife.blogspot.com/

Cmom at http://frombeginningtoendandbackagain.blogspot.com/

Laoch at http://checkraise2.blogspot.com/

(counterintuitivity)

Pat at http://pat-aviewfromtheedge.blogspot.com/

Holly at http://hollyallisoncrafts.blogspot.com/

(Allison Wonderland)

Bella at http://belladellasfarm.blogspot.com/

Sandie at http://chattycrone.blogspot.com/

Teresa at http://themiddlesideoflife.blogspot.com/

Oops, I went over by one...but you did say the rules were flexible, right?

A visit from an old friend...

My sister Holly took her Father in Law with her today to visit Dad.  They have always enjoyed one another but have not seen one another since their grandson's (my sister's son) wedding mid May of last year.

Holly had her FIL wait on the patio.  She went in and found Dad in the dining room, with his back to her.  She told Dad she had a big surprise for him and wheeled him out to the patio.

When Dad saw him, his voice filled with joy as he called to him by name!  He even asked how his wife was! 

His friend remembered when Dad had showed him some flower seeds Dad wrapped in newspaper, had watered them and was so impressed with the resulting beautiful flowers. 

Dad smiled as he remembered too.

His friend went on to tell Dad how he had actually seen some similar product on TV for sale...

Dad told him he was not surprised...

My sister snapped a picture of both of them, and one of my Dad wearing his wrist alarm on his left arm.

Their conversation stayed fairly normal for some time, and then Dad became confused and began talking about the battle at Tarawa, where Dad fought during WW II, as a Marine.  Dad would switch from the War to living in Chicago as a child and traveling the world.

Both Dad and his friend are hard of hearing and Dad talks in a soft voice most of the time, unless he is excited.  I remember we all were laughing with them the last time we were together at the wedding.  Both of them were face to face talking a mile a minute but each of them hearing a different conversation than the one they were actually having.  We over heard the correct conversation and then the responses they each had to the wrong conversation.  It was funny...and they even laughed when one of us would help them out.

They visited about an hour and it was getting a bit warm outside.  They wheeled Dad back to the dining room where all the residents were having fun tossing a large, soft rubber, bouncy ball around to one another.  The ball bounced over to Dad and he whacked it hard, sending it across the table to another resident's lap.  He laughed and slapped it to another.  My sister said it was the most active she had ever seen all the residents.  It was like a scene out of Cocoon.

And I'll tell you again...

I called the DON this morning and she immediately reassured me she would talk to the nurse and explain why Dad would be wearing the guard on his wrist.  I sure hope they are diligent with it, otherwise we will NOT be so forgiving if it would happen again!!

Mom went to visit Dad and got there as they served him his lunch.  She fed him fish, stewed tomatoes, carrot salad, bread, 3 glasses of milk, coffee and Doctor-Doctor brought him a fruit plate with cantaloupe, watermelon, orange slices and cottage cheese.  Dad wolfed that down too.

It was such a warm, beautiful day, Mom suggested they go visit out on the patio.  Dad was thrilled to be outside.  He so enjoys the colorful flowers.  Dad always considered himself a Farmer, because he loved toiling in the earth.  He and Mom would plant a garden every season.  Nothing like those fresh veggies...yum!

Dad spoke softly and flitted from topic to topic like a bee pollinating flowers.  Mom sat, smiled and nodded her head in agreement.  While they were visiting, one of Dad's fellow Pastor friends, he used to work with, stopped by to visit with Dad.  Dad was so happy to see him.  Dad and he worked as volunteer Chaplains and visited the hospital and nursing home where Dad was first admitted with his pneumonia.

His friend gave Dad all the updates on some of their mutual friends and gave him messages from various friends, patients and co-workers who asked about Dad.  Doctor-Doctor stopped in and Dad introduced her as his wife.  The Pastor's eyes widened as he quickly glanced to Mom to check her expression.  Mom smiled and told him Dad had several wives.  He winked at Mom letting her know he understood.

The Pastor left and the Social Worker walked up to them and asked if they would each like some soda with ice.  Dad guzzled it down without blinking.  Mom was getting sleepy sitting outside, despite being under a nice shady umbrella.  She asked if Dad was tired and he told her he would like to take a nap.

Mom wheeled Dad inside back to his room.  The CNA was in the process of getting Dad's room mate into bed.  She had just finished showering him.  Mom and Dad sat in the hallway while she was taking care of his room mate.  Dad told Mom how well they take care of them there and how much he enjoyed his room mate. 

When Mom could move Dad into his room, Dad pointed to the large cabbage roses on the wall border, lining his room.  He told Mom he talks to them and they give him so much peace.  Mom asked if the larger roses represented the Caregivers, and Dad perked up with a big smile, as if Mom really understood what he was referring to.

As Mom tucked Dad in, asking if he was comfortable, he looked up at her, telling her she was "still gorgeous".  She thanked him as she gave him a kiss and told him, "You've told me that before..."  Dad touched her face and said, "And I'll tell you again..."

Say what???

This morning, I went to Social Security to apply for my benefits, in preparation for my husband's retirement.  Afterward, I went to the Hallmark store at the District, for upcoming birthday cards. Fourteen, of our friends and family were born in June. I popped in Flea Bag's Barkery for some Bully Bones for Izzy and then stopped in Crazy Pita to grab a salad to go.  While standing in line, my cell rang...

It was one of the nurses at the nursing home.  She mentioned Dad's "history" of "trying to escape" and told me he had not tried in the past two weeks, so they would be discontinuing his Wander Guard on his wrist.  SAY WHAT???

I told her we had a problem with that...  She began to pontificate about the health department and some kind of compliance...  I told her I did not care about the compliance, I cared about Dad, and did not want a repeat performance of the fall he had May 7th.  She didn't seemed informed, because she brushed right over my comment, and assured me they would call me before they discontinued it.

I told her I would look into this and expected his alarm bracelet to be checked daily as I was told it was being done.  Obviously, she had other calls to make or duties to perform, because she repeated herself telling me they would call before they discontinued it.

I will be called the Director of Nursing to get to the bottom of THIS!!!  I tried several times today and the DON was in meetings...first thing tomorrow, I will give her a call...

One Year Blog Anniversary

One year ago tonight, I posted my first words on my blog. 

Some celebrate with  give aways

 been chosen to write in magazines

 profiled on other blogs

 become published

promoted

and made money.

This last year

I have become closer with my family.

I chronicled the first year

of our Father's battle

with Dementia/Alzheimer's

living away from the family

in a nursing home.

I have received wonderful support

from total strangers

who have become

loyal friends

who come to visit me daily

bringing humor, advice, prayers and support.

Generous nurses,

helping me understand.

Interesting writers,

those seeking to be

and published ones.

Writers who have become friends

and encouraged me.

Creative and talented people

who are crafty,

ingenious,

take beautiful photographs,

paint beautiful paintings,

share delicious recipes

and poetry

that makes me cry.

 Share their life stories,

bear their souls

and give me

perspective.

They share stories of

spouses, children

and pets.

Thank you to all

who have

inspired

touched

helped

prayed

influenced

shared

befriended

shared meals

shared secrets

shared grief

shared joy

shared births

shared triumphs

shared challenges,

knowledge

humor

frugality

and fun.

I look forward to

another year

with all of you.

Thank you

from the bottom

of my heart.