CAREGIVING: Christmas Eve. Well I managed to get Kathy into her Christmas pajamas and into bed, but once again it was touch and go. I guess touch and stumble is more like it. She didn’t fall but it takes all of our collective strength to keep her upright and somewhat mobile. She does better when she gets plenty of resting time for her trunk muscles. But if she sits up normally, or stays in the car too long, she tends to arch over — usually to her right side. Sometimes she droops straight forward and every once in a while it is to her left side. I’ve started using a gait belt to strap her upright in her chair when she eats or when I am trying to help her swallow her meds. Her body gets really stiff and I can’t figure out a way to straighten her. Her balance becomes off-center. I need to research other movement disorders to see if there are tips for dealing with this balancing act. I’m worried about when I can no longer move her by myself.
Tonight we were watching TV. When it was over I looked over at her and her head was almost upside down. Not really, but I felt guilty that I hadn’t noticed sooner. I had asked her if she should lie down after dinner but she said she wanted to sit up. I guess I should just go with my instincts next time. She isn’t in pain and she doesn’t feel uncomfortable. I’m afraid she is not aware of her posture until it is time for her to stand up or to move into her chair.
It ended up being a nice fairly relaxing day until bedtime. Melissa came and gave Kathy her shower. We were out of food but I couldn’t face going to a big store. (And my bank account was running on fumes). So I went down to the Village Food Market in Hampden. I was glad I did. We really needed some fresh vegetables and the prices on produce there were as low as the big places we shop. I picked up a blueberry pie for tomorrow. It is an IGA market and reminds me a tiny bit of Mazzola’s Market, my grandfather’s grocery store in Willimantic, CT. Except that it is much busier than Papa’s store ever was.
I also had to stop at the atm, to transfer some money, so the check at the little store would clear. Then we stopped at the post office so I could drop my belated Christmas cards in the mail. I don’t know if it is “proper” but maybe it will be a new tradition for procrastinators. So if you happen to be reading this after Christmas accept my belated best.
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