5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were relaxing in the living room, while Crystal finished her blog.  Crystal spent a few minutes bringing me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  Dr. Vesper stated he was hungry, so I set the table and began cooking.  As is often the case, Rose napped lightly during this time, but was wide awake when dinner was served.  She was quiet through the meal, but she and Doctor both enjoyed hearty appetites.

7:00-9:00      The remainder of the shift ran in routine fashion with very little to report.  After dinner I washed the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave Rose, Dr. Vesper, and Hillary their evening medications before taking Rose to the bathroom for her night time toilette.  Rose was more alert, focused, and less rigid  than usual during this time.  She was also quite chatty, at one point even asking me if I prayed (played?).  I brushed and flossed (most) of her teeth, then got her on the lift.  Her Depends was only damp, and she produced a small bowel movement while seated.  There is a small break in her skin near the tailbone, which appears to be healing.  I applied  triple antibiotic cream to the area.  After we were finished, I took her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Before leaving, I took a moment and reset the kitchen clocks and helped Dr. Vesper with his watch.  I also reminded him to use his glucose monitor before he got ready for bed.

Dinner:     Salad, crab cakes, wild rice, peas, and toaster corn cake rounds.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both enjoyed ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV and Rhonda at the table finishing her blog.  This was the first  we’ve met so we spent a few minutes making our acquaintances and discussing the day’s events.  After she left, I took Doctor’s dinner request, set the table, and began prepping the salad for dinner.  Rose napped through the early part of my shift, but was awake and alert when dinner was served.  She and Dr. Vesper both enjoyed hearty appetites.  She was also more verbal than usual, occasionally interjecting an “Oh, yes!” while Dr. Vesper entertained us with tales of their past.

7:00-9:00     After dinner, Rose and Dr. Vesper returned to the living room and the remainder of my shift ran in very routine fashion.  I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them both their evening medications, then took Rose to the bathroom for her night time toilette.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed (most) her teeth.  While on the lift, I removed her saturated Depends into which she started a moderate bowel movement, but completed while on the commode.  She continued to remain verbal and bright, thanking me several times along the way.  When we were finished, I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  I was the lucky recipient of a kiss as I said good night to her.  I’ve been missing that!  Dr. Vesper was preparing to use his glucose monitor when I said good night to him.

Dinner:     Salad, sweet and sour chicken, and peas.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV, and Crystal at the table finishing her blog.  We spent a few minutes going over the day before she left.  I then took Doctor’s dinner order, set the table, and began cooking.  Rose was quiet and napped lightly until dinner time.  She and Doctor both ate well, though her appetite was not as hearty as I’ve seen in the past.

7:00-9:00     The remainder of my shift ran in 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 then took Rose to the bathroom for her night time toilette.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed (most) her teeth.  She was somewhat less rigid and fairly chatty, thanking me several times.  Once on the commode she urinated quite a bit and produced a small stool.  When we were finished, I took her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  She was quiet when I said good night to her.  Dr. Vesper was just turning off the TV when I said good night to him.

Dinner:     Salad, baked salmon, peas, steamed broccoli, 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 dessert tonight.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were relaxing in the living room watching TV while Crystal was finishing her blog.  Crystal spent a few minutes bringing me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  I took Doctor’s dinner order, set the table, took out the garbage, and began cooking.  Rose napped lightly while Dr. Vesper and I chatted  during commercial breaks.  When dinner was served, both Rose and Doctor enjoyed hearty appetites with Rose eating all of her meal.

7:00-9:00     After dinner, Rose and Doctor returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen and microwave, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  At bedtime I gave them both their evening medications, then took Rose for her evening toilette.  Things ran in routine fashion beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing her teeth.  She allowed a thorough brushing, but I was only able to floss about half her teeth.  As is common, she was alert and chatty at this time, but also rigid and bruxing furiously.  Once on the lift I removed her Depends, which contained a small stool.  She had a moderate BM while on the commode which took her a while to complete.  When we were finished, I took her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was already in his pajamas and in bed reading.  He got back up to use his glucose monitor and was brushing his teeth when I said good night.

Dinner:     Salad, stuffed chicken breasts (cordon bleu and broccoli cheddar), peas, carrots, and toaster cornbread rounds.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV as Crystal finished her blog.  I took Doctor’s dinner order, set the table, and began prepping the salad.  Because it was “leftovers” night, I had a few extra minutes to clean the microwave, touch up the bathroom, and re-vacuum the kitchen and dining areas.  I think Kemper may be shedding his winter coat early, and with the brilliant sun shining in, more hair was evident shortly after this second sweeping of the day!  Rose napped through the first part of my shift, but was awake and ready to eat by the time dinner was ready.

7:00-9:00     As usual, Rose and Dr. Vesper both ate well, though Rose seemed full early and required some coaxing toward the end of her meal.  She and Dr. Vesper returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  At bed time I gave them their evening medications, then took Rose for her night time toilette.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and (partially) flossed her teeth.  She was somewhat rigid while changing her and I had a sense that she was eager to get on the commode.  She had a moderate BM which started in her Depends and was completed while seated.  She passed a lot of gas, and her relief was audible.  She relaxed completely and made clean up a snap.  As is frequently the case, she became very bright and chatty as we finished and I got her to bed.  I applied her eye drops easily before saying good night to her.  Dr. Vesper was still watching TV when I said good night to him.  I reminded him twice to use his glucose monitor.  I offered to bring it to him, but he requested it be left on the table and promised to use it.

Dinner:     Rose and Dr. Vesper both had salad and garlic bread with cheese.  He ate spaghetti with marinara and sausage while Rose had tilapia, couscous, and carrots.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were in the living room watching TV as Crystal finished her blog.  She spent a few minutes bringing me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  I took Doctor’s dinner order, set the table, and began cooking.  Rose napped until it was time to eat.  She and Dr. Vesper both ate well, though Rose required a bit of coaxing tonight.

7:00-9:00     The remainder of my shift ran smoothly and in routine fashion.  After dinner, Rose and Doctor 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 before taking Rose for her night time toilette.  Other than a slightly raspy voice, Dr. Vesper exhibited no cold symptoms and no fatigue.  He declined all cold/cough medications.  Once in the bathroom, Rose and I followed our usual pattern beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing (approximately 75%) her teeth.  I removed her damp Depends and, while on the commode, she urinated and had a moderate bowel movement.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was still in the living room flipping back and forth between the Grammy Awards and other shows when I said good night to him.

Dinner:     Salad, chicken cordon bleu, glazed carrots, and toaster corn bread cakes.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Dr. Vesper were relaxing in front of the TV.  Crystal spent a few minutes bringing me up to date before leaving.  I took Doctor’s dinner order, set the table, and began dinner prep.  Though his voice was raspy, Dr. Vesper displayed no other cold symptoms and seemed comfortable.  He and Rose both napped lightly while I cooked.  When dinner was ready, they were awake and ready to eat.  He and Rose both enjoyed hearty appetites and finished all of their meal.  There were a couple of times that Rose moaned lightly and slid down in her chair, requiring me to adjust her position.  Her belt was on properly and I could find no reason for her discomfort at first.  I finally figured out that she may have been too warm as the moaning and sliding stopped whenever I took her blanket off!

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.  While completing these tasks, I noticed Dr. Vesper again napping lightly.  I gave them both their evening medications and asked him if he would like to get ready for bed before I began Rose’s evening toilette, but he declined.  I took Rose to the bathroom where we followed our usual routine.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed her teeth.  She allowed great access for brushing, but only minimal flossing.  Her arms were rigid  as I changed her clothes, but she was alert and chatty.   While on the lift I removed her wet Depends which contained a small stool.  She completed a large bowel movement while on the commode.  I got her into bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was already there, but got back up to brush his teeth.  I reminded him to use his glucose monitor, but he stated he doubted he would as he wanted to get back to bed.

Dinner:     Salad, lemon-pepper tilapia, glazed carrots, couscous, and toasted corn bread rounds.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     None

Note to caregivers:     The lift malfunctioned while lowering Rose onto the commode.  There appeared to be no power to the unit, no green lights.  I flipped the toggle switch a couple of times and unplugged then reinserted the cord.  After several attempts, it finally started working.  Once I got Rose to bed I inspected the unit further.  I believe the problem is not where the cord attaches to the unit, but where it goes into the remote.  The white sheath around the wires are cracked and I suspect the wires may be fraying as well.  It seems to be shorting out unless you hold the cord at the handle in such a way that it doesn’t bend.  I will notify Mossy of this development as it will need immediate attention.