Monday, January 19th
I was supposed to have my catheter changed today, but since it was a holiday, the doctor didn’t come in. My regular morning CNA is very good, and we have worked together for three years now, and we get along well. I like to play small pranks on my helpers, mostly by saying ‘ow’ and then immediately telling them that I am not hurt. It didn't take long for M to understand my sense of humor, and then she joined in. Like today.
I have a false tooth where the baby tooth that took 42 years to fall out used to be. I have always had great anxiety over losing dental fixtures like the tooth or my night guard. My tooth was in a case, and I asked M if it was there just to check. She looked back and told me it wasn't there. It was completely believable to me that it wasn't, and it was somewhere loose in the bed. I immediately started feeling anxious, and M, not wanting to take the joke too far, told me she was playing with me.
Then I had a choice. I might have gotten mad at her for making me feel silly, but instead, I started laughing. “You did get me!” No harm, no foul. I was very glad the tooth was not missing. Another possible dental crisis averted.
In the afternoon, Mom, M, and I had a lot of trouble deciding on a movie. Then, since we were starting so late, we were trying to think of a short movie. We eventually landed on this not-short-at-all movie from 1970 starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Seberg, George Kennedy, and Dean Martin. BL plays the manager of an international airport on the night it is discovered that one plane has a bomb on it. Mom and M had to leave with an hour to go. It was good, but I didn’t choose to rewatch it. I then thought of a way we can choose movies that will take a lot quicker.
Tuesday, January 20th
D came and gave me another fabulous massage. She asked how my call went last week. I forgot that I had told her I had a Zoom call with the Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota last Tuesday. My computer guy also goes to my church and had sent me a link for an online virtual meeting with people all over the country from the Episcopal Church.
With all that's going on in Minnesota, I was eager to hear what he said, and he did not disappoint. He was very realistic, but also very upbeat. He said that as Christians, we do not want to answer anger with anger. We know that the most powerful force is love, and no matter how hard it is, we are called to love everyone, including our enemies. Not to condone what they do, but see them as beings worthy of love. No small task.
Another priest gave a talk about prayer and works. If you pray but have no works, the prayer is never put into action. It doesn't go anywhere. If you have works without prayer, you will get burnt out. The prayer gives the works meaning, and you come from a deep place that gives you strength. Another very good point, I thought. During the call, people from all over the country commented, and it was very heartening. I was very glad I had joined.
Wednesday, January 21st
Today was my catheter change, and I was supposed to get a suppository, but I didn’t. There was just too much going on. The doctor pushed the new catheter in too far again, but I yelled a little bit and asked him to pull it out, and he did. I could still feel it, and I asked the nurse to pull it out a little bit more, and she did! I wasn't sure if that was enough, but it was draining, so everything was good.
Then I got a shower and was eventually put in my wheelchair so I could attend the resident council meeting. That was good, and they gave us all poi doughnuts at the end. A doughnut made with poi instead of flour? Fabulous! It probably had flour and poi, but I considered it gluten-free and ate the whole thing. Yum!
My sister‘s trial had been canceled, so she was unexpectedly in town and free, so she stopped by for lunch and a nice, long visit. Of course, she brought sushi, and we argued over expense categories because that's the most important thing right now. Not really, but we both hold strong to our positions. When she left, I went out to the hall, and the podiatrist came and clipped my toenails! Excellent! She does come every month for some people, and when I said my toes hurt because my nails get so long, she said she could clip them.
Thursday, January 22nd
I had wanted to write something so that I could read it to Dr. R. Turns out, I spit out an entire essay by the time she showed up. It wasn't bad, but of course, I haven't posted it yet. It was supposed to be for January, but it will be February's essay.
I have some fleece blankets, and Dr. R will spread one of them out on the bed because Freddie likes to lie on it. We discovered today that we can drape the blanket over the arm of the stand to create a tent that makes Freddie much calmer and able to lie on the bed for a while. I guess he didn't like being so exposed, and the tent solves that problem. Great! Dr. R also gave me a white orchid lei that I hung from my trapeze and looked good even days later.
Friday, January 23rd
A brought her neighbor M with her when she came this morning. I chatted with both of them while A worked on my hand. Mom showed up before they left so she got to say hi to everyone, then she gave me lunch. She mentioned that she wanted to find a site for brain games, so I went to Lumosity.com and signed her up. She started playing some games and then got to a game I really enjoyed, so I started playing it. Then I realized I really should not play on her account, so I stopped. I may have to sign up again myself.
Saturday, January 24th
My sister came to me earlier than she usually does. I think she meant to get here even earlier than she did, but there you go. She brought the usual sushi, which was fabulous, and I ended up getting some crucial things completed. She left to join some friends who were going to the other side of the island for an overnight trip. Before she left, we called an older relative just to say hi! (which was very thoughtful of us, if I do say so myself.)
Sunday, January 25th
Mom came by early at 11 AM, and we hung out before lunch got here. I told her my idea for picking a movie on Mondays. Mom, M, and I would rotate choosing movies. Whosever Monday it was would bring three choices to the other two, and they would select one. She liked that idea, and I had texted M already, so I told her she would be the first to pick movies. I ate some sushi for lunch, and she left soon after for a symphony that afternoon.
The photo is one Dr. R took of Freddie in his makeshift blanket tent. I'm so glad we discovered a way for him to hang out on my bed and relax! I will work on figuring out how to make it a little bit more sturdy. It doesn't need much since it only has to last an hour. Have a great week!
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