Wednesday, March 29, 2006

We saw the mean-hearted, sarcastic primary doctor at Fort Dix yesterday, and finally--I hope--got the damn medications straightened out. Pat goes back next week to see the nurse about his blood sugar, then in a month, back to the n-h, s. doctor. He also has appointments within a few weeks with the pulmonologist (?),cardiologist, podiatrist, and kidney doctor, some in Philly, some at Fort Dix. I'll take him to all of them--not only do I not mind, I actually look forward to it just to get away from the house.
The visiting nurse and physical therapist are coming today, so I hope there'll be some kind of help. Pat had a bad night last night and this morning, fell asleep in the living room after having his nebulizer treatment. He's now checking his sugar.
Yesterday, lovely friends Frank and Barbara from next door stopped in. Pat was taking a nap, but they asked if they could bring over a pasta dinner for us. Hey, they didn't have to ask twice, and I invited them to come with it, all with the understanding, of course, that if Pat didn't feel up to it, the invitation was regretfully rescinded.
Well, he did feel up to it, and F. and B. came with a lovely dinner in an old-fashioned market basket: pasta boulenese, salad, wholemade bread, a lovely bottle of wine (pinot grigio, but pink), and pound cake and truffles for dessert. We supplied only soda, and the tableware--what a nice time we had!
Lots of calls yesterday, my brothers, Jim and Frank, sister Betty, and Pat's brother, Bill, as well as daughter Alison, friend Dennis, and son Patrick, who has called every day since Pat went in the hospital.
I told Susan I didn't want to go to exercise, as I don't want to leave Pat alone. Hope I can resume before too long.
We saw the mean-hearted, sarcastic primary doctor at Fort Dix yesterday, and finally--I hope--got the damn medications straightened out. Pat goes back next week to see the nurse about his blood sugar, then in a month, back to the n-h, s. doctor. He also has appointments within a few weeks with the pulmonologist (?),cardiologist, podiatrist, and kidney doctor, some in Philly, some at Fort Dix. I'll take him to all of them--not only do I not mind, I actually look forward to it just to get away from the house.
The visiting nurse and physical therapist are coming today, so I hope there'll be some kind of help. Pat had a bad night last night and this morning, fell asleep in the living room after having his nebulizer treatment. He's now checking his sugar.
Yesterday, lovely friends Frank and Barbara from next door stopped in. Pat was taking a nap, but they asked if they could bring over a pasta dinner for us. Hey, they didn't have to ask twice, and I invited them to come with it, all with the understanding, of course, that if Pat didn't feel up to it, the invitation was regretfully rescinded.
Well, he did feel up to it, and F. and B. came with a lovely dinner in an old-fashioned market basket: pasta boulenese, salad, wholemade bread, a lovely bottle of wine (pinot grigio, but pink), and pound cake and truffles for dessert. We supplied only soda, and the tableware--what a nice time we had!
Lots of calls yesterday, my brothers, Jim and Frank, sister Betty, and Pat's brother, Bill, as well as daughter Alison, friend Dennis, and son Patrick, who has called every day since Pat went in the hospital.
I told Susan I didn't want to go to exercise, as I don't want to leave Pat alone. Hope I can resume before too long.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Taking Pat to his own doctor today, to try to get his medication confusion cleared up. Visiting nurse rep was nice, but I wasn't entirely happy with her assessment: The entire time she was here, Pat was sitting down and had the oxygen on. She asked him to walk a few feet, then said, "Oh, that was good--you did it in 15 seconds. If it's over 30, we're concerned." She then commented, as if surprised, "You're out of breath." Well, duh! Anyway, she thinks he doesn't need a physical therapist (but she said she'd have one come in for an assessment), nor a home health aide. Pat assured her she was right, yet he hadn't taken a shower by himself for a full month. He did today, and could barely manage. I took his socks off, dried his back, and mostly dressed him, but when I mentioned he was entitled to a home health aide, he said he didn't want one.
Jimmy and Frank both called today, and yesterday Jack B. came in for a visit. The day before, Monday, Donna came to bring a nebulizer.
I have a stomach ache myself, since yesterday. It feels the way my gall bladder flareup did years ago. Hope it goes away.
Will probably have spaghetti and meatballs today.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Brought Pat home from rehab yesterday. Short a day, he's been away (first at the hospital, then at rehab) an entire month. He's doing well, and is settled in, but still has a long road ahead. The visiting nurse comes today to do an assessment, then he'll have therapists, etc. come here.
I made a beef stew in the crockpot for dinner last night--it was very good--and will look at chicken or something for tonight. Think I'd better skip exercise today, as he should still be sleeping, but will try to do it on Wednesday.
Am continuing, I'm afraid, to just ignore any restraint when it comes to eating. I missed weighing in last week of necessity--haven't decided whether to go tomorrow, or just give it up as a bad job.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

I went so nuts late in the day yesterday that I'm not even going to record it. Enough to say that my debauch involved liver, onions, and Easter peeps...agh!
Anyway, I pigged out, then was so exhausted I went to bed early (even earlier than usual). I woke up about 3 with acid reflux or something and had to chew some Tums before I could go back to sleep. Served me right, and I'm not going to do that again.
Today, I'm feeling good. Will await Susan for our walk, then finish last-minute preparations for Pat's homecoming tomorrow. Now I'm anxious to get back to our old routine, if possible.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Oh, good grief, I blew it again yesterday! Our friend, Joan, from NC came about noon and we went out to lunch. Had Caesar salad with chicken, which we shared, believe it or not--neither of us was very hungry. Went to see Pat, Joan left, then I drove to Manahawkin on errands. Stopped at Subway and got a Caribbean chicken with lime sandwich (cheese bread), took it home and ate it with a Coors Lite beer at about 5 o'clock. Boy, was that good! Had some of the beer left, so ate several cheese and peanut butter crackers, later pretzels, then ice cream--I just overdid it to the max. Fell asleep on the coach, woke up at 10:30, staggered to bed, then couldn't sleep. Got up, sat at the computer, and finally went back to bed about 1:00. Now I feel groggy, but will dress and expect Susan for exercise at the clubhouse at 8. Hope I get through the day!
I guess the only bright spot is that I bought a lot of veggies yesterday--squash, carrots with green tops, etc., and will eat them soon. However, I want to have lunch with Pat today, so it will probably have to be for dinner.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

It occurred to me that, because this is a food/weight blog (notice I didn't write "weight loss blog"--sigh...), I'll list my weird choices for food yesterday. After my usual breakfast of cottage cheese on WW bread toast, o.j., and coffee, I cleaned up in preparation for the cleaning service people, then had leftover pasta, a bowl of broccoli, and half a spaghetti squash for lunch. I followed that with a handful of pretzels.
You know how people say, "Well, the cleaning people did an okay job, but not as good as I do..." Hey, these three women did a much better job than I ever dreamed of--yay! After they left, I brought the spice cake Susan so kindly donated for Pat, over to Seacrest and he and I each enjoyed a piece. I left before dinner, stopped at Acme, and bought a package of six large, ready-made meatballs. Had two of them for dinner, followed by pretzels and ice cream.
Today, I'm expecting Joan H., a friend who's visiting from North Carolina, and we'll go over to see Pat. Hope she's up to go out to lunch, too--maybe I'll suggest Panini Bay.
Didn't get to exercise yesterday, and probably won't today, but will resume as soon as things settle down.

WEDNESDAY

The Uber guy, courtesy of my health insurane, SCAN, picked me up at 7:20 and took me to Quest for my blood test. As often happens, I was ver...