Oct 18th 'not the best tasting'

I was able to feed my mother one of her pills in some apple sauce.....she still makes the same face as she did years ago when taking pills!!!!!!

She asked for more apple sauce though!

Time for bed!

Oct 18th 'The day after'

My mother was getting blood drawn by Kari (nurse). Kari asked her, do you know what date it is?

My mother replied, "the day after my surgery, October 18th".......WOW!

Kari continued, 'do you know who the current President is'?

My mother replied, 'yes George Bush'

Kari said, 'are you happy with that'

My mother replied, 'no but he won't be for long'!!!!!!

YOU GO MOM!

Oct 18th Proud Sun!

A continuation post from the last, as my mother fell asleep, I was in the hallway. She called for me. She was just making sure I was there.

At that point, I told her how proud I was of her and how well she went through therapy!

Another great point, my mother is very aware of her surroundings!

We are truly blessed!

Oct 18th First Therapy!

Ok, so here is the big moment.....how well will my mother take to her first therapy session?

There are 3 members of the therapy unit here (1 occupational therapist, 2 physical therapists). They are going to take 'base lines' of what my mother can and can not do.

They tested her LEFT arm/leg and both were ok. They did the same for her RIGHT arm/leg and there was little movement.

They assisted her to sit up on the edge of her bed. Her balance was not the best. She tended to lean toward her LEFT.

At the end of the session, my mother was worn out and asked if she could 'rest'!

GREAT JOB MOM!

Oct 18th Who are you talking to?

Apparently some of my mother's habits don't cease.....

Lynn (nurse) said my mother was talking to 'someone' when Lynn walked into her room. Lynn said, "there's no one in here, who are you talking to"?

My mother replied, "you now".......

Oct 18th Speech Therapy

The speech therapist was in to conduct a 'swallow' evaluation. This is done to see how well my mother's muscles are in her mouth and neck. The weaker the muscles the harder it is to chew and swallow your food.

After the surgery my mother underwent, it is typical that patients are fed through a tube (via the nose or directly into the stomach). I was very nervous during these few minutes.

However my mother demonstrated that she was able to swallow adequately enough!

It was determined that a puree (apple sauce/pudding) type diet is what my mother will be on for now.

Oct 18th ATTENTION!

Lynn (nurse) allowed my mother to sit up for the first time. Betty and I were also able to talk to her. Before, no one was really allowed to talk to her so that she did not get over stimulated.

I played a little Harry Connick Jr. for her.

Oct 18th Call from Heaven

I had left the ICU around 5:55am and fell asleep shortly after getting home. I knew Dr. Boyer was going to visit my mother sometime Saturday, so I requested he call me after he met with her.

At 7:36am, I woke to my cell phone ringing. Dr. Boyer was calling!

He said that her LEFT eye was still weak because the aneurysm was found sitting on top of her occular nerve. If this nerve is affected, it makes opening your eye difficult. He said with time it will heal and my mother should have no problem opening her LEFT eye.

He was also able to have my mother lift her RIGHT leg off the bed! As well as slightly moving her RIGHT arm. His advice to me was to KEEP HER CALM if she became frustrated because her brain could remain swollen for a few more days.

GREAT JOB MOM!

Oct 18th Holding hands

Sorry the lapse, I was trying to catch up on my sleep. I fell asleep holding my mother's hand.

After I woke, I fell asleep in the chair and woke about 4:23am. At that point I noticed that my mother had pulled her stocking, that was covering her head bandages, off. She had also pulled off her oxygen mask.