General Update #254 - Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Dusty arrived to farmhouse ~8:50 a.m., found Joyce asleep, hunched over in her recliner. Oxygen line was in place this time. All lights in the hallway had been turned off, kitchen lights were all on. Joyce given the day's newspaper and and a Christmas card from her sister Kathy and brother-in-law Bob to read to "help wake her up." Joyce reported that Craig had been in earlier in the morning to have breakfast.

9:10 a.m. - BP 157/80, pulse 75. BGL @ 141.

Joyce informed Dusty that she was not feeling very hungry this morning. Negotiations over food began.

9:22 a.m. - Breakfast (1 slice whole wheat toast with peanut butter, 1/2 banana, nutritional shake). Morning medication. Breakfast finished by 9:48 a.m. Joyce requested Earl Grey tea for a post-breakfast treat for herself.

10:10 a.m. - Craig stopped by to visit. Kitchen's electric space heater filter cleaned. Dusty updated Craig on Joyce's medication and the appointment with Dr. Collins back on December 16.

10:23 a.m. - Bathroom trip. Urinary incontinence. Diaper pad insert replaced. Remainder of urine passed. PT walk to living room. 

Joyce mentioned to Dusty on her return walk to the kitchen that she had felt like sleeping in her bed last night and had attempted to clear it off. She said that there was just too much stuff on it for her to move off last night so she "resigned herself to sleeping in her chair." Dusty confirmed he would clear the bed off for her so it was available as an option if she wanted to sleep in there this evening. Joyce stated she did not know what she would end up feeling like for her sleeping arrangements this evening. 

Joyce declined upper body PT exercises declined, citing fatigue. Dusty negotiated for working on them in the afternoon to which Joyce said she would consider it.

Craig departed farmhouse at 10:38 a.m., Joyce began napping.

12:05 p.m. - Joyce woke herself up from napping and began talking to Dusty. She commented that her knee had started hurting again last night. She thought how strange it was she had told the nurse yesterday it was fine and then it went and acted up on her in the night. Joyce joked that she should have told the nurse that "it was killing her" and then the knee would probably have remained fine.

Dusty asked Joyce if she was hungry for lunch. Joyce said that she ought to be because she had skipped breakfast. Dusty reminded Joyce that she had breakfast and Joyce sat perplexed before stating that she was weird. Lunch declined, napping resumed.

2:13 p.m. - Joyce roused herself from napping. Lunch declined. Napping resumed.

3:10 p.m. - Bathroom trip. Urinary incontinence. Joyce released her bladder early. Mess cleaned up, shoes sanitized. Joyce strongly refused to be showered. New diaper and diaper pad insert. Bathroom seat riser, floor, and sink sanitized. PT walk to living room before returning to recliner.

3:30 p.m. - Lunch (leftover clam chowder and 2 saltine crackers). 2 Tylenol.

4:15 p.m. - Joyce became concerned over what day it was and how the house was not completely ready for Christmas. Dusty confirmed that it would be finished tomorrow when he was not working remotely for his job and could devote more time to working on the last few items. Joyce spent time examining her calendar "trying to figure out what day it was" and grew concerned over how close Christmas was and what she could do for the family for Christmas gifts. Dusty reassured her that it had already been taken care of by him and Jess, homemade cookies prepared and put into tins for Joyce to give out to family members. Joyce then expressed concern over the cookie tins/tubs that Jess and Dusty prepped for her to give to family on Christmas day, exclaiming that she had been studying them (and gotten into a few) and that they were only half full. Dusty reassured her that they were fine. Dust spent time calming Joyce.

Upper body PT/OT declined.

4:55 p.m. - Bathroom trip declined. BP 153/73, pulse 66. BGL @ 133.

Dusty departing farmhouse ~5:05 p.m. to pickup remaining supplies in Moscow for Christmas baking needs. 

Carol arriving to provide evening care for Joyce.


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