Remembering Grandma Ida's latkes
We had a warm and pleasant evening with our good friends; the weekend drew to a close on a positive yet sentimental note.
We had a visit from Josée-Marie of the Association D’Entraide Ville-Marie (similar to the Victorian Order of Nurses). She is yet another nurse who possesses a wealth of information. She explained that this association will provide someone to bathe Gilly 3 times a week (so including the CSSS, we are covered for 5 baths a week). We are entitled to 6 hours of volunteer service; someone to sit with Gilly if I have to go out or take a nap, let’s say. The nurse will visit twice a week.
She examined Gilly and found his blood pressure and pulse to be normal. She placed a medicated patch where Gilly is developing what she considers a tiny bedsore. She claims it will disappear in a few days and ‘poo-pooed’ it as nothing at all. I was relieved; I thought I had caused him pain by not caring for him properly. I try so hard to be thorough, but it is a challenge.
She feels we are set up properly, except that there is a mattress even better than the one we have that sends air through it electronically. She has ordered this for Gilly. She feels we do not need a ramp, because it is not safe for us to take him anywhere in a car, due to his inability to stand on his own. He must be transported professionally if we need to go anywhere; not an ambulance exactly, but something of this nature. She could not think of the word for the service in English, but will let me know.
She provided me with emergency numbers to call for a nurse to visit our home in case we have the need, additional to the number I already have from the CSSS for Garde Medicale.
The Jewish called to set a January 10th appointment for the swallowing test just as the nurse was leaving. I explained the situation to the secretary and admitted that we may not bother to come; we’ll need to use our own judgment and take extra care, using the package of information given to us on this topic by Christina, the nutritionist from the CNR program. It’s a good thing she chased me down last time we were at the hospital to give us this information. Now I know what to look for and how to avoid problems.
I realize that juicy fruit pieces (like watermelon and pineapple) cause coughing spells… I mentioned this to Josée-Marie, and shared my discomfort with having to take away Gilly’s greatest pleasure (food-wise) by grinding up the fruit all the time. She reminded me of the balance in terms of choices we make; quality of life is the key component in deciding what to do about a problem. I found her advice to be compassionate and wise. She suggested I try cutting the fruit up into smaller pieces, but watch to make certain he does not shovel many small pieces into his mouth at once and cause a worse problem.
Gilly spent a quiet day with Elizabeth; her last day with us. I was home for part of the time; she is undoubtedly much more interested in cleaning my house than overseeing Gilly. She left him to eat breakfast alone in his bed. I left my office and peeked in to find him fast asleep with his food tray on his lap. I called her into the room and reminded her that he should be watched while eating to ensure he doesn’t choke. I had mentioned what Josée-Marie had warned me of, but she felt my floors needed more attention than my husband. Boy, does she have her priorities in the wrong order.
I went to work this afternoon; I felt as if I was drifting on a cloud, nowhere near earth. I have a couple more visits to my office (and more grading of papers to finish than I should at this stage of the game) and then I’m done for the term. I’m tossing about the idea of taking some time off, but I haven’t made a decision as yet. As long as the situation remains on an even keel, I can work from home until the second week of January…everything feels up in the air, hence the billowy cushion I’m resting on (in limbo of sorts).
I have given up on making plans of any nature too far in advance. We’ve set our sights upon the first couple of nights of Chanukah, and we’ll improvise from that point on. I love making my version of Grandma Ida’s latkes…She used to whip me up a batch and serve me like a queen whenever I stopped in for lunch (which was often; wouldn't you?). I didn't have to wait for Chanukah.
We’ll make double sure that the weekend celebrations will be more magical than ever.
We had a visit from Josée-Marie of the Association D’Entraide Ville-Marie (similar to the Victorian Order of Nurses). She is yet another nurse who possesses a wealth of information. She explained that this association will provide someone to bathe Gilly 3 times a week (so including the CSSS, we are covered for 5 baths a week). We are entitled to 6 hours of volunteer service; someone to sit with Gilly if I have to go out or take a nap, let’s say. The nurse will visit twice a week.
She examined Gilly and found his blood pressure and pulse to be normal. She placed a medicated patch where Gilly is developing what she considers a tiny bedsore. She claims it will disappear in a few days and ‘poo-pooed’ it as nothing at all. I was relieved; I thought I had caused him pain by not caring for him properly. I try so hard to be thorough, but it is a challenge.
She feels we are set up properly, except that there is a mattress even better than the one we have that sends air through it electronically. She has ordered this for Gilly. She feels we do not need a ramp, because it is not safe for us to take him anywhere in a car, due to his inability to stand on his own. He must be transported professionally if we need to go anywhere; not an ambulance exactly, but something of this nature. She could not think of the word for the service in English, but will let me know.
She provided me with emergency numbers to call for a nurse to visit our home in case we have the need, additional to the number I already have from the CSSS for Garde Medicale.
The Jewish called to set a January 10th appointment for the swallowing test just as the nurse was leaving. I explained the situation to the secretary and admitted that we may not bother to come; we’ll need to use our own judgment and take extra care, using the package of information given to us on this topic by Christina, the nutritionist from the CNR program. It’s a good thing she chased me down last time we were at the hospital to give us this information. Now I know what to look for and how to avoid problems.
I realize that juicy fruit pieces (like watermelon and pineapple) cause coughing spells… I mentioned this to Josée-Marie, and shared my discomfort with having to take away Gilly’s greatest pleasure (food-wise) by grinding up the fruit all the time. She reminded me of the balance in terms of choices we make; quality of life is the key component in deciding what to do about a problem. I found her advice to be compassionate and wise. She suggested I try cutting the fruit up into smaller pieces, but watch to make certain he does not shovel many small pieces into his mouth at once and cause a worse problem.
Gilly spent a quiet day with Elizabeth; her last day with us. I was home for part of the time; she is undoubtedly much more interested in cleaning my house than overseeing Gilly. She left him to eat breakfast alone in his bed. I left my office and peeked in to find him fast asleep with his food tray on his lap. I called her into the room and reminded her that he should be watched while eating to ensure he doesn’t choke. I had mentioned what Josée-Marie had warned me of, but she felt my floors needed more attention than my husband. Boy, does she have her priorities in the wrong order.
I went to work this afternoon; I felt as if I was drifting on a cloud, nowhere near earth. I have a couple more visits to my office (and more grading of papers to finish than I should at this stage of the game) and then I’m done for the term. I’m tossing about the idea of taking some time off, but I haven’t made a decision as yet. As long as the situation remains on an even keel, I can work from home until the second week of January…everything feels up in the air, hence the billowy cushion I’m resting on (in limbo of sorts).
I have given up on making plans of any nature too far in advance. We’ve set our sights upon the first couple of nights of Chanukah, and we’ll improvise from that point on. I love making my version of Grandma Ida’s latkes…She used to whip me up a batch and serve me like a queen whenever I stopped in for lunch (which was often; wouldn't you?). I didn't have to wait for Chanukah.
We’ll make double sure that the weekend celebrations will be more magical than ever.
posted by Gilly at 7:16 PM
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