Sunday, August 13, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV as Stephanie tidied the kitchen.  Though it’s been a few years, Stephanie and I worked together with other clients and it was nice getting reacquainted.  She took a moment to bring me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  Dr. Vesper was expecting Joan to pick him up for church and while he was in the bedroom getting dressed, I started a load of laundry, set the table, and began prepping salad for dinner.  Joan arrived early, so she came in and joined him and Rose in the living room for a chat.  After they left, Rose fell asleep and napped while I took inventory of  perishable food supplies and began cooking.  She awakened just as dinner was finished.

7:00-9:00     Dr. Vesper was a bit later than I expected, but arrived home just as I was starting to feed Rose her salad.  He had a good appetite and his energy levels seemed high.  They both ate well, finishing their entire meals.  After dinner, they returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them both their evening medications and Dr. Vesper received his eye drops throughout my shift as directed.  I took Rose for her evening toilette and we followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing (50%) her teeth.  Once on the commode, she urinated, passed a lot of gas, and had a large BM, which started in her Depends.  After clean up, I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  I waited a few minutes while Dr. Vesper got ready for bed to make sure he was safely tucked in as well, then said good night to them both.

Dinner:     Salad, crab cakes, peas, and toaster corn bread rounds.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  Rose had ice cream for dessert, but Dr. Vesper declined.

Visitors:     Joan

Saturday, August 12, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were watching TV in the living room as Michele finished writing her blog.  Andrew was outside at the pool with Sophie and a couple of her friends preparing for a small evening pool party.  Michele brought me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  I touched up the bathroom,  set the table, took Doctor’s dinner order, and began cooking.  Andrew came back inside and kept Dr. Vesper company until it was time to eat.  I have not seen him since shortly after his fall and dermatological surgery, and it was quite nice to see the improvement he has made!  Rose was quiet, but awake the entire time.  They both enjoyed hearty appetites and ate well once dinner was served.

7:00-9:00     While they were eating, Stephanie arrived with pizza, drinks, and dessert for the kids.  She chatted with us for a while, then went outside to join them.  After dinner, Rose and Dr. Vesper returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen and microwave, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them both their evening medications, and Dr. Vesper received all his eye drops as directed.  I took Rose to the bathroom for her night time toilette where we followed our usual routine.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed (about 75%) her teeth.  Her Depends was fairly dry, but she urinated while seated.  She also passed a lot of gas and produced a very small bowel movement.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was just starting to get into bed as well and I reminded him that it was “glucose monitoring night”.   We discussed it earlier and I offered to bring the monitor to him, but he wasn’t up to using it.  Once they were both tucked in, I said good night.  Stephanie was still there with the kids.  We enjoyed a nice talk before I said good night to her.

Dinner:     Salad, sweet and sour chicken, rice, and croissant rolls.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  Rose had ice cream for dessert, but Dr. Vesper declined.

Visitors:     Stephanie, Andrew, and kids.

Monday, July 17, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Mossy were in the kitchen area.  Mossy was busy packing a few things for Dr. Vesper’s overnight hospital stay.  Together we changed the bed and folded a few clothes before she left.  I stopped at Frisch’s on the way in as a little treat for Rose and I to enjoy for dinner.  After Mossy left, we began eating, and though the going was slow, Rose enjoyed a hearty appetite.  She was upbeat and fairly verbal from the beginning till the end of my shift.

7:00-9:00     After dinner, I washed the few dishes used and gave Rose her evening medications.  Stephanie and girls came for an evening swim just as I was taking Rose for her night time toilette.  We followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing her teeth.  Once on the commode, she faded fast, eyes closed and leaned severely to her left.  She passed a lot of gas and produced a medium BM, which took a while to complete.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily before saying good night.  I was saying good bye to Stephanie when Mossy arrived.  The three of us chatted briefly before I left.

Dinner:     Buddy Boy sandwich, fries, tossed salad, and kefir milk.  Small scoop of ice cream for dessert.

Visitors:     Stephanie and kids

Sunday, July 16, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose was in the living room and Dr. Vesper in his bedroom.  I was greeted by our new caregiver, Vicki, and we spent a few minutes making our acquaintances and getting caught up on the day.  Dr. Vesper  emerged from his bedroom dressed in his pajamas just as she was leaving.  He said he was feeling fine and his gait was a bit steadier than the night before.  I still encouraged him to use Rose’s transport chair as a walker, which he did some, but not all, of the time.  He sat on the couch next to Rose while I set the table and began cooking.  Once dinner was served, he and Rose both ate well, but Dr. Vesper was still not up for much conversation.  He seemed fairly confused and found my questions difficult to answer.  Rose was very quiet, but fairly focused.

7:00-9:00     After dinner Rose and Dr. Vesper returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I cleaned and dressed Doctor’s wound, then gave them both their night time medications, which included 2 OTC  Tylenol (not Tylenol 3 w/codeine), per Stephanie.   Dr. Vesper did receive his eye drops throughout my shift as directed.  I then took Rose for her evening toilette.  We followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing (50%) her teeth.  She urinated and produced a very small BM while seated on the commode.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Though very fatigued, she still puckered up for a good night kiss!  I then made sure Dr. Vesper got to bed safely before saying good night to him.

Dinner:     Salad, crab cakes, peas, and corn bread toaster rounds.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  Rose had strawberry rhubarb crumb cake a la mode for dessert.  Dr. Vesper declined dessert.

Visitors:     Stephanie

Saturday, July 15, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV.  Michelle spent a few minutes bringing me up to speed on things before leaving for the day.  Rose dozed lightly as I set the table and began dinner prep.  Dr. Vesper stated he was comfortable and having no pain, but did not engage in much conversation.  Michelle reported that he slept most of the day and ate nothing, so by dinner time he and Rose enjoyed very hearty appetites.

7:00-9:00     After dinner, Doctor and Rose returned to the living room to watch TV while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, cleaned the microwave, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them both their evening medication including Dr. Vesper’s eye drops as directed.  I cleaned and dressed Dr. Vesper’s incision per the instructions left, then took Rose to the bathroom for her evening toilette.  We followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing (about 75%) her teeth.  She was fatigued, but somewhat verbal as I got her on the commode.  I changed her wet Depends and she passed a lot gas and produced a small bowel movement while seated.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper’s gait has been unsteady all evening, so he waited for me to get Rose to bed before getting himself ready.  He used Rose’s transport chair as a walker while I made sure he got into the bathroom, and then bed, safely.  I did give him 1 Tylenol with codeine before he fully reclined.

Dinner:     Salad, rotisserie chicken, stuffing, peas, and garlic bread.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  For dessert, they both had strawberry rhubarb crumb cake (Panera) a la mode (Lactaid)

Visitors:     Mossy with groceries and tonight’s entrée.

Monday, June 19, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Dr. Vesper was in the living room watching TV and Rose with Mona in the bathroom finishing her afternoon toileting.  I spent a few minutes with Mona discussing the day’s events before she left.  I then touched up the bathroom, set the dinner table, took Doctor’s dinner order, and began cooking.  Rose was quiet, but awake at this time and throughout my shift.  I did offer additional water (about 6 ounces), as Mona indicated she was a bit behind on that.   At dinner time, she and Dr. Vesper both enjoyed hearty appetites.

7:00-9:00     The remainder of my shift ran in very quiet, routine fashion.  After dinner, Rose and Dr. Vesper returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them both their evening medications and Dr. Vesper received his eye drops as directed.  I took Rose for her night time toilette and we followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing her teeth.  She became very tight lipped and I was unable to floss.  Once on the commode, she urinated only.  She seemed more comfortable tonight with less leaning.  I took her to bed, then  applied her eye drops easily before saying goodnight.  Dr. Vesper was still watching TV when I said good night to him.  I reminded him to use his glucose monitor and offered to bring it to him.  He declined, but promised he would not forget.

Dinner:     Salad, crab cakes, leftover peas and carrots, and garlic bread.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  Rose had a Servatii  pastry for dessert, and Dr. Vesper had ice cream (Lactaid).

Visitors:     None

Sunday, June 18, 2017

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Dr. Vesper was in the living room while Rose and Mossy were on their way to the bathroom for Rose’s afternoon toileting.  Mossy had much of the dinner prep finished for me, making a special Father’s Day dinner an easy task.  While they finished in the bathroom, I set the table and began prepping the salad.  Before Mossy left, she brought me up to speed on the day’s events, and we both spent a few minutes watching Dr. Vesper open his cards and gifts.  I think he enjoyed it as much as we did!  Rose observed quietly and remained sleepy throughout my shift.  At dinner time they both ate well.

7:00-9:00     After dinner, Rose and Doctor returned to the living room while my shift continued in routine fashion.  I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning meds.  I gave them both their evening medications (including Dr. Vesper’s eye drops), then took Rose for her evening toilette.  Though still seemingly very sleepy, she was quite rigid while changing her clothes.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed her teeth (again, fairly good access tonight).  While on the lift, I changed her wet Depends, and she urinated while seated (no BM).  She leaned heavily to her left, and though I had the lift to support her, I still had to straighten her several times to seat her properly.  Once she was in bed, she seemed much more comfortable and offered a good night kiss after I applied her eye drops.  Stephanie arrived to fill the pill machine while I was busy in the bathroom.  She and I chatted briefly before I said good night to her and Dr. Vesper.

Dinner:     Salad, grilled ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, and artisan bread.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had  pastries from Servatii’s for dessert.

Visitors:     Stephanie