Day 3 of January

Just so we're clear De, my new year's resolution wasn't to get a blog out before you and Alisa started your taunting......
Todays blog was going to be written yesterday. And yesterday's blog was going to be about some health changes I am making in my life. But around 9:30 am yesterday morning, that story got put on the back burner (as they say in the newspaper industry) Todays topics: 88 year old mothers, and should they be handled and monitored with kit gloves?
I'm sure this could be a very hotted, and lenghthy debate, but honestly, it's my blog and we're going to hear my opinion. And the answer to that question: Should 88 year old mothers be handled and monitored with kit gloves? is ........... I don't know. Frankly I would never make it as a debated. Maybe that's because I have a split personality. One part of me says, "leave them alone and let them experience life - don't treat them like babies." The other part of me says "You don't need to do that, someone can come in and do it for you." Where does that fine line between dependance and independance cross. So I'm going to leave that for you to ponder while I go one with the story that brought up the debate.
Friday morning, Mom was cleaning and rearranging a few items. She received a tall, plastic storage unit and wanted to get all of her CD's put in it. Well she accomplished that feat without incident. Then of course, the cd tower wasn't where she'd like it and it needed to be moved. She lifted up the tower, the bottom came off, and Mom lost her balance and down she went. Or as mom likes to embelish the story, she went "Ass over tea kettle" - technical term "knee over CD Tower."
Well I got a call at work around 10:00/10:30 from Robin. Seems the Manor had contacted Robin and it was decided she should go to a walk in clinic(minus the walking) Robin and her "gang" headed to a clinic where mom was seen, but told she'd need an xray and then if anything was broke, she'd have to go to the hospital. Robin being the smarty pants she is, skipped the xray and went right to the hospital. That was around 11:00. I joined the "party around 5:00 pm and gave Robin and Sharry, a much needed break.
Without going through all the details of the night, like the misdiagnosis, the missed bedpan, and the missing doctors; here's the short result version. Seems Mom has two fractures. But apparently they are good fractures; they are not out of place and should heal correctly. Good news is she won't need surgery, but will have to wear a knee brace (from her ankle to her hip) So once that was in place, it was decided that maybe she could go home......like back to the manor home.........REALLY. All mom had to do was get out of bed (after the morphine, no food for 12 hours) lean on a walker (with no wheels) Life up her non weight bearing leg (don't stand on it Mom) put Sam on her shoulder (her air buddy) and move her walker ahead of her and hop on her good leg! I have to pee just thinking of it. This was the doctors suggestions, but everyone of those nurses expressed their doubts. They were even wondering if she went back to the manor, that the workers there would be able to help her.....20:1 ratio - I'd be worring about the bathroom breaks. Finally the young Irish admitting doctor came over and concluded that Mom would have to be admitted until they could find a transition bed or a rehabilitation center where she could go to get her strength back.
Finally around 2:00 am they got mom admitted and put in her new room. Its a very special room; 4 occupants and there are even 2 correctional officers guarding outside the room. (mom must have a repitation or maybe it's the guy next to her in the shackles) So that's how I spent my Saturday.
When I left mom was in good spirits, tired. I hope she got a good nights sleep (she didn't know about the guy next to her, so she didn't have to sleep with one eye open) ;
So I will save my health blog for the next time.
Off to have a quick nap and head back to the hospital!
Stacey