5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Sandy and Rose were in the bathroom and Dr. Vesper in the living room watching TV.  As always, Sandy updated me on the day’s events before leaving.  I took Rose to the living room and propped her feet on the ottoman while I set the table and began dinner prep.  She was very quiet and leaned to her left, requiring a pillow as a prop.  She dozed lightly as dinner was being cooked.  Jessica had planned a delicious dinner with steaks marinating in the fridge.  I put together the side dishes while she and Tyler manned the grill.  It was a fun, collaborative effort and we had them seated and eating by 6:30.

7:00-9:00     Rose and Dr. Vesper both ate very well, though it was very slow going for Rose.  I think having Tyler around cooing and chirping helps her focus a bit more on the task at hand.  Jessica was kind enough to help me with clean up before it was time to get Tyler ready for bed.  I returned Rose to the living room to sit with Doctor while I finished 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.  She was very unfocused and leaning heavily, so I turned on some music, which seemed to help.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed her teeth.  She was rigid while putting on her pajamas and getting her into the lift.  Her Depends was saturated, and she urinated while seated.  There was no BM.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily before saying goodnight.  Dr. Vesper was on his way to bed when I said good night to him.  He assured me that he had used his glucose monitor.

Dinner:     Salad, steak, corn on the cob, steamed broccoli, carrots, and rice.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  Rose had a very small scoop of ice cream for dessert.  Dr. Vesper declined, but I am unsure if he ate anything later.

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler

3:00-6:00     When I arrived, Dr. Vesper and Rose were at the dining room table enjoying a luncheon with their extended family.  Jessica reintroduced me to everyone while Sandy was giving Rose her afternoon medications.  Sandy spent a few minutes bringing me up to speed before leaving for the day.  Rose appeared to be getting sleepy, so I brought her into the living room and put her feet up in the ottoman.  I sat with her as she dozed off and on.  She made an obvious effort to stay awake and was fairly alert when the guests started leaving.  At 4:00 I fed Kemper and at 4:30 I took Rose to the bathroom for her 4:30 toileting.  Her Depends were wet and she produced a large BM while on the commode.  I returned her to the living room to sit with Dr. Vesper while he watched TV.  She fell into a deeper sleep once all the excitement was over.

6:00-9:00     Because lunch was late and substantial, Dr. Vesper requested I make a very light dinner to be served later than usual.  I spent the time taking out garbage, loading the dishwasher, and readying the bathroom for Rose’s night time routine.  I set the table, then prepped the salad that Doctor requested.  I brought Rose to the table at 7:00 in the interest of maintaining her schedule and Dr. Vesper joined us shortly after.  They both ate more than I anticipated given the large lunch.  After dinner, they returned to living room while I finished cleaning the kitchen and setting out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them their evening medications before taking Rose for her night time toilette.  Rose remained fairly alert and a bit chatty while I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed her teeth.  Her Depends were damp and she produced another moderate BM while seated.  I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was in the living room enjoying the Olympics when I said good night to him.

Dinner:  Large tossed salads with fruit.  Rose had a protein drink and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  She also had cake and ice cream for dessert.  Dr. Vesper declined, stating he was too full.

Visitors:  Dr. Vesper’s sibs and their spouses, cousins, Jessica, and Tyler

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, I was greeted in the driveway by Jessica, Tyler, and the dogs, and then by Rose and Sandy in the kitchen.  Quite the welcoming committee!  I passed Dr. Vesper in the lane as he was on his way to church.  Sandy, Jessica, Rose, and I spent a few minutes chatting before everyone left.  Rose accompanied me in the kitchen while I set the table, unloaded the dishwasher, and began dinner prep.  She was not particularly alert and dozed much of the time until dinner.  When Dr. Vesper came home, I had them seated and eating by 6:30.

7:00-9:00     Dr. Vesper enjoyed his usual hearty appetite.  Rose was fairly alert, but needed coaxing throughout her meal.  She did not eat it all, but consumed a variety.  After dinner, they returned to the living room to watch the Olympics while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them their evening medications before taking Rose for her night time toilette.  Things ran in routine fashion beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing her teeth.  She was rigid while changing her clothes, but fatigued and offered little resistance.   Her Depends were wet and she urinated and produced a moderate, normal BM while on the commode.  After we finished, I took her to bed where I applied her eye drops easily.  She was more alert, but quiet as I said good night.  Dr. Vesper was still watching TV as I was leaving.  He assured me he would use his glucose monitor before going to bed.  I checked to be sure I was correct as to the schedule and noted that he missed the last couple of readings.

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

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose and Mossy were finishing in the bathroom and Dr. Vesper at church.  Mossy had set the table and done most of the dinner prep before I came, which cut back on much of the busy work.  She also spent a few minutes filling me in on recent events before leaving.  Jessica and Tyler joined Rose and me in the kitchen while I commenced cooking.  Rose was quiet, but fairly alert and I believe we all enjoyed each other’s company and good conversation.  Dinner was almost ready when Dr. Vesper got home, and I had them seated and eating around 6:45.

7:00-9:00     Dr. Vesper ate with his usual gusto, and seemed to enjoy his meal.  Rose ate fairly well, but slowly, and was unable to finish her meal.  At first I thought perhaps she didn’t enjoy the menu, but she also struggled to eat her ice cream  That suggested to me that she was very full.  After dinner, I cleaned the kitchen, loaded and ran the dishwasher, took out the trash, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave Rose and Dr. Vesper their evening medications before taking Rose for her night time toilette.  She was fading fast and leaning forward significantly by the time we got to the bathroom.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed her teeth.  She would not let me floss, but I was able to do a thorough brushing.  Putting on her pajamas was challenging as she was very rigid and kept her head in her lap, but we finally managed.  Once on the lift I changed her saturated Depends, and she urinated while seated.  There was no bowel movement.  Once we were finished, I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  She seemed very relieved to be lying down and appeared to be sleeping almost immediately.  Dr. Vesper was at the dining room table using his glucose monitor per my earlier reminder when I said good night to him.  It wasn’t until I got home that I remembered that this was an “off” Saturday (I filled in for Mossy), and he probably was not scheduled to use it!  Sorry, Dr. Vesper!!

Dinner:     Salad, grilled tilapia with vegetables, and couscous.  Rose drank a chocolate protein drink and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler

5:00-7:00     It was quite peaceful in the Vesper household when I arrived.  Sandy and Rose were in the kitchen, and Dr. Vesper in his room napping.  Even the dogs were quiet as they were in the east wing of the house with Jessica and the baby.  Sandy spent a few minutes updating me before leaving.  She also helped me get Rose’s feet on the ottoman as everyone else was making his way to the living room to say hello.  Jessica had put together a delicious menu for dinner, and together we began prepping and cooking.  Rose was quiet, but remained alert with only slight leaning at this time.  She and Dr. Vesper were seated and eating by 6:30.  Dr. Vesper enjoyed his usual hearty appetite.  Rose ate well, but at a much slower pace.

7:00-9:00     After dinner Dr. Vesper returned to the living room and Jessica cleared the table while I continued helping Rose with dessert.  When everyone was finished, I washed the dishes, took out the garbage, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave Rose and Dr. Vesper their evening medications before taking Rose to the bathroom for her night time toilette.  We followed our usual routine beginning with me washing her face and hands, then brushing and flossing her teeth.  The leaning to her left became more severe, but she wasn’t terribly rigid while I changed her clothes and got her on the lift.  Her Depends were saturated, and she produced one small, hard stool while on the commode.  It seems she is getting constipated again, but is not cramping.  Once I got her to bed, I applied her eye drops easily and said good night.  Dr. Vesper was just turning off the  TV and lights in the living room.  I reminded him twice that he should use his glucose monitor, but I am doubtful that he did.

Dinner:     Salad, grilled salmon, wild rice, and grilled yellow squash.  Rose drank kefir milk and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Rose was in the bathroom with Mossy finishing her 4:30 toileting and Dr. Vesper  in the living room.  Mossy brought me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving while Rose assisted me in the kitchen with setting the table and prepping the dinner salad.  She began dozing, so I propped her head on a pillow.  After a very brief nap, she awakened with a chuckle.  I asked her if she had a good dream about her “knight in shining armor.”   She responded, “Yes!” and began kissing her pillow.  We had a good laugh and I wheeled her into the living room to sit with Dr. Vesper while I finished cooking.

7:00-9:00     Rose and Dr. Vesper both enjoyed hearty appetites tonight.  Doctor ate rapidly and went outside a couple of times to water plants and fill the bird feeders while Rose completed her meal.  Jessica and Tyler joined Rose and me and this seemed to keep Rose engaged.  Though she ate slowly, she remained fairly upright and finished her entire meal.  The remainder of my shift was quite routine.  After dinner, Rose and Doctor watched TV while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  I gave them their night time medications and took Rose to the bathroom for her evening toilette.  I washed her face and hands, then brushed and flossed (all!) her teeth.  She began to fade a bit and was leaning left into her wheelchair.  However, she was not particularly rigid while changing her clothes.  I did notice a small, light colored bruise and a separate red spot on her right forearm.  I am unsure of the etiology and it seemed to cause Rose no pain.  I got her onto the commode and changed her saturated Depends.  She urinated and produced a very small stool while seated.  When we were finished, I got her to bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was still watching TV when I said good night to him.

Dinner:     Salad, crab cakes, corn on the cob, and green beans with red potatoes.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler

5:00-7:00     When I arrived, Sandy was with Rose in the bathroom finishing her 4:30 toileting and Dr. Vesper at church.  As always, Sandy brought me up to speed on the day’s events before leaving.  Rose joined me in the kitchen while I set the table and began prepping for dinner.  She was quiet, but  alert and remained fairly upright throughout my shift.  Jessica and Tyler joined us for a few minutes before leaving to meet some friends.  Dr. Vesper arrived home just before 6:30 and I had them seated and eating shortly after.

7:00-9:00     Rose and Dr. Vesper both enjoyed hearty appetites, with Rose eating more slowly, but consistently, until she finished about 90% of the food on her plate.  She and Doctor returned to the living room while I cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and set out breakfast items and morning medications.  Stephanie and Lily arrived to return the truck, maintain the pool, and visit.   Jessica and Tyler also came home around this time.  Rose remained alert and somewhat interactive, especially whenever Lily spoke.  As bedtime approached, I gave both Dr. Vesper and Rose their night time medications, 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 (most!) her teeth.  I put on her pajamas and got her on the lift with little resistance.  Her Depends were only damp and she produced a very small stool while seated.  When we were finished, I got her into bed and applied her eye drops easily.  Dr. Vesper was already in bed reading.  I reminded him that he needed to use his glucose monitor and he promised he would when he got back up.

Dinner:     Salad, baked lemon pepper chicken breasts, corn on the cob, green beans with red potatoes.  Rose drank kefir milk, and Dr. Vesper had diet cherry 7up.  They both had ice cream (Lactaid) for dessert.

Visitors:     Jessica and Tyler.  Stephanie and Lily.