Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[Pea-n-Me]

Could your daughter have a capsaicin allergy? I have trouble with capsaicin, too -- ingested and topical use -- it's in so many things now and is getting harder to avoid. Benadryl and Pepcid (usually one or the other) can help if taken right away.

I think so! That’s what we figured was the culprit. I was surprised the doctor didn’t bring it up.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think this one fits the bill. Under 20”, hand brakes on sides lock rear wheels, lightweight, etc. Much like Mom’s. Quick delivery.

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-Ultralight-Transport-Wheelchair-Desk-Length/dp/B001MBCS6K/ref=sw_ttl_d_ci_mcx_mr_huc_d_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001MBCS6K&pd_rd_w=cgNPj&content-id=amzn1.sym.0a6e51f2-008f-425d-8b90-5228cbaa5e01:amzn1.symc.d1771efd-fd48-4c97-98bd-6116be42ae36&pf_rd_p=0a6e51f2-008f-425d-8b90-5228cbaa5e01&pf_rd_r=HHXD68RA9DHDXQ6EJNAT&pd_rd_wg=LQnc1&pd_rd_r=6aeef05d-ee53-4b68-8687-a7d08694516d&th=1

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good very early morning friends. About half an hour ago, I woke up to a loud ringing out in the hallway, the fire alarm. I also heard someone say, "fire." Thank God, everything is fine. As far as I know, there was no fire. False alarm. I did see a fireman in the hallway near my room. Whatever happened, it's long over (I think) now.

Not surprising, no one has come to check on me or say anything. My roommate M was just changed. Her male nurse agreed with me that it was a false alarm and kept saying, "good night." The female nurse I asked if the noise was indeed a fire alarm when I first went out of my room to find out what was going on, repeated, "fire," and moved on. That's that!

A month or so ago, some staff including my friend and CNA E, attended a long fire safety meeting. A similar meeting was scheduled for Tuesday aftenoon for those employees not at the first class. I learned yesterday that class got cancelled and will be held another time.

No, no one here has ever gone over this facility's fire procedure with me. I am so blessed to be mobile even via a wheelchsir, I could have gone out front if need be. A lot of folks here (including my roommate) couldn't or wouldn't know to do that. I will ask someone I better know later what happened.

The above is why I find myself typing this now. I will try to at least get more rest. Definitely an extra reason for me to get home!

Extra hug dear Pea and prayers your daughter has a much mote restful day today. Of course, sending extra care to you. Thank you for the link. I actually saw some Medline chairs on Amazon yesterday and will look again later today. I would for sure need wheelchair front or hand brakes. Amazon sure is handy!

Dad will be reaching out to Sonia again this morning. I am going to go ahead and call my insurance to ask about getting my therapy benefit reinstated for as long as I am here. I will also ask them about switching from my current HMO to a PPO. It's free to ask God willing I will have an update later.

Hug, Luckyrabbit and great to see you!

All is quiet (for here) now. Extra blessing. I'm shortly going to try and get a little more rest. Be safe friends and have a great Thursday.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Mona, those early morning fire alarms are often related to toast in the toaster that overcooks and the rising smoke goes right to the detectors which trigger the alarms. We have it happen often very early in the hospital, too. Even very, very early, patients wake up and want something to eat and all we have available for them is toast and jello until the big kitchen opens, etc. I’ve seen firemen running down our hallways with axes out and it can be scary. But in all the years I’ve worked in nursing facilities (almost 50 now, believe it or not), I’ve never once seen a real fire in any of them, thankfully. Fire regulations are very stringent. Hope that brings you some assurance. Good luck with the chair.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks, dear Pea. I quickly realized thank God that there was no emergency. It was just unexpected. Huge hug and extra appreciation to you for your many years of compassionate care. You make such a difference! Thank you also on the chair. I am PMing you

 

[lynxstch]

Good sunny morning, with temps heading for 76. Slight chance of showers late in the day.

Mona, that chair that Pea found looks like a perfect solution for your needs.

Shopping went smoothly yesterday, Aldi's was almost empty as was Walmart. I'm starting to see what the finished remodel will look like, and other than discontinuing a lot of things I have always used, it should be nice once when done. The only thing I don't like are the U Scans now made shorter and more of them all bunched together, but I'll get used to it. I spoke to the store manager and he's going to try and get hold of someone in corporate to ask why my issue isn't being resolved. Summer tells me to put a neighbors address as mine, and then in the notes box put the correct address, but I've been told by drivers that they don't even look at the notes, they just go by the GPS, so that wouldn't work either. She was upset yesterday when she accepted an order to deliver to someone that was a 'small' order, and when she got to the store to pick the items, the customer had changed it and there were over 200 items, Customers are finding a way around even that these days.

Going to take a ride down to the first farmers market of the season and see what they have. Not sure what else I'll get into today.

Have a good day everyone

 

[bobbiwoz]

@lynxstch, we have passed some local farm stands, but all they seem to have is flowers. Haven’t seen a sign for NJ asparagus yet.

We finally got new sheets for our beds, but not green or yellow. For what we needed all they had was Dolphin! Yes, for those not at a shore town, it’s gray! Oh well.

Enjoy Thursday!

 

[lynxstch]

@lynxstch, we have passed some local farm stands, but all they seem to have is flowers. Haven’t seen a sign for NJ asparagus yet.

We finally got new sheets for our beds, but not green or yellow. For what we needed all they had was Dolphin! Yes, for those not at a shore town, it’s gray! Oh well.

Enjoy Thursday!

One just over the PA line here had fresh local asparagus, one of my favorite veggies

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dear Lynn and dear Bobbi, I hope you both find bargains on what you need at the farmer's market. The famous (touristy and locals) Farmer's Market is near me. Should either of you ever come out here, which you know would make me so happy, I will take you there. Of course this goes for all of my Quacker family. A certain mouse lives about 45 minutes to an hour from me. Naturally we would have to pay him and his friends a visit, too

 

[bobbiwoz]

OK, so the first produce stand that we pass today has New Jersey asparagus. Well, we bought them and we will enjoy them for lunch!

Mona, I would love to visit you, and someday I hope it happens!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Me too, dear Bobbi!

Good late afternoon and early evening friends. Dad left about an hour ago. I would appreciate extra prayers for him. He does so much and needs to take better care of himself.

Dad is also taking the very real possibility that I will still be here on my birthday hard. Of course, I would LOVE to be free from this place and all the more so on my birthday. But, the situation is what it is. To me what will make my birthday special is I pray being able to as always witness and serve in some way.

Birthdays like Thanksgiving are also a time in for me to also give God thanks anew for those He has trusted me to love and care for. To serve and grow in faith with. Dad, of course, first and foremost and also all of you my Quacker family.

Hugs to all always.

 

[Snowysmom]

Mona I hope you are home before your birthday. You are making progress. If not home by your birthday it will be soon after. I like the chair that Pea listed. I hope that would work for you.

Lynn That is strange about Walmart. I hope they can resolve the issue so you can get deliveries.

Good morning. Another dreary day. It poured like crazy last night. The sky was so dark and rumbles of thunder. Rain today and tomorrow. The office trip wasn't too bad. I always like to see everyone but I did miss my wonderful coworker who was let go. My dentist appt went well. The new hygienist is OK. It will just take getting used to a new one after so many years with the same one. Kenny is in Dallas for a work conference. Sunday Jeff and the kids are going to Kenny's and we are getting together there. Unfortunately Kenny does not have his kids this weekend. But Jeff's kids love the dog and the toys and the video games and Uncle Kenny.

Have a good Friday.

 

[lynxstch]

Good cloudy morning. Started raining after dinner last night and rained all night. Calling for showers today also, high temp will only be 62. Then we start warming up again. We need the rain, but come June and July we'll need it more and we won't get any again. By August it will be like the Sahara Desert and everyone's lawns will be brown.

I started making a diamond painting yesterday just for something to do besides watch tv. My old eyes can only do so much at one time, so it may take me a while to finish it.

Have a nice day

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good morning It's supposed to reach 90 here today and 93 tomorrow. Sunday, is when the temperature should go back down. I'm very grateful there were no fire (or other) alarms last night or in the early hours this morning. I slept well and truly hope each of you did, too.

I am still here. I have not spoken to R from social services since Tuesday. We had left our last conversation with the promise to update each other when we had new information to share.

Dad did finally talk with Sonia yesterday. He said she was very empathetic to my/our situation. However, not surprisingly, the owner has refused to make any bathroom modifications. Dad and I will talk more about the CA law links dear Pea kindly posted later.

Dad did say Sonia asked him to email her our request for new flooring. I will help him with that later this morning, too. We will remind Sonia and the owner of our City's renter's rights flooring stipulation that owners are required every 7 years to update apartment flooring. It has been 11 years for us. We will include a link to this!

In our email request, we will also include that we would like new level laminate floors that this time have shock absorption material underneath them. Our current awful floors are directly on top of concrete. Lack of any cushioning support is why both dad and I have feet that have been hurt by the unforgiving hard surface.

We will make clear the urgency of getting the new floors asap as that will allow me to be safer and healthier at home. Dad, of course will also benefit from being able to walk on even supported floors.

When we got the current laminate installed the entire process took two days. At that tine in 2014, we were going from ancient carpet to laminate. Dad and I spent one night at a hotel. Workers moved our furniture out of the way and laid the laminate in pieces which is how it would need to be done again. When all was said and done we had new floors and our furniture was back in place where the workers had put it. The big job for dad and I was clearing off the tops of our kitchen table and bookcases for example so that they could be moved. This time I wouldn't be there to help him We can figure that out.

I have been praying and thinking about whether to go see R today or wait until my birthday on Monday when I may have a floor update to give him. Since he has not come to me, it's fairly certain that he has still not gotten a chair. This could also be cost/insurance related, I don't know.

I had my last covered therapy session with Jessica last Saturday. Jessica set a raised thick mat in the therapy room at toilet height. I worked on walking with a walker (and Jessica beside me) a short distance to the mat to similuate what my walk at home would be from the bedroom to the toilet. Sitting down was the hard part for me of this exercise and why at this moment I would need a chair at home in the bathroom. I did okay using the walker to stand up from the mat and also my wheelchair. It's safely sitting down that I really need to work on.

Jessica felt with practice and God willing my keeping up the improvement pace I'm on right now, becoming bathroom safe using only a walker should happen within a few weeks. Susan felt the same the last time we discussed this.

It looks as though I will still be here on my birthday. Yes, it is a bit disappointing but look how far God has taken me through His amazing grace. As I said yesterday what will make Monday special to me is I pray being able to make a faithful and kind difference however called. I will reflect on and give God extra appreciation for all those He has entrusted me to love and care for, my dad being at the top of course. All of you will be among by added thanks, too. Being able to just spend time with my dad albeit here will still be a gift. I know by God's mercy and love I will be home soon.

I have made the decision to ask R if I can stay here a few more weeks. That will ideally allow us to get new flooring installed and most importantly me to be truly safe to be home. The last thing I want is to go home and have a setback that would find me right back here, no thanks!

I can either borrow a walker from the therapy room or have dad bring my walker that Susan kindly adjusted back for me. He took it home because of lack of space here. I didn't want to have something so bulky for him to have to carry among my regular stuff when I go home.

Anyway we can measure the height of the toilet and set my bed here to match. I can practice getting up and sitting down with my bed right behind me. While dad is here I could also try walking from the bathroom door to my bed and sitting down. I would never (I promise) try this on my own right now. Should a therapist be willing and have the time to even spend five minutes with me, I could do this same thing in the bathroom. Becoming bathroom safe with only a walker is my short term, 2-3 week goal with my focus being going home a lot stronger and safer than I am now during the first week of June which is about three or so weeks from now.

Toward the end of May, I would re-evaluate where I am with R. At that point, should I still need a wheelchair or transport chair, a regular size of either would work fine. There would no longer be a special size or bathroom door modification need. God willing, I would only need the chair for another month or so after that through the end of June at the latest. The main thing is I would be home and much more ready physically to be there then I am now.

The above is what I'm thinking makes the most safe sense long term. I will update again later. Thank you all always for listening and your loving prayers. Have a great Friday!

 

[Judique]

Sharing a moment - I've been driving to my son's house several times a week to help out with new baby boy and my 2 and 1/2 year old granddaughter. Son is now on family leave and DIL has returned to teaching. Son will return to work mid June when school is out.

Anyway, Son sings to the kids, includes many genres. Sitting with him on the couch, darling granddaughter requested he sing a country song, 'Riding with Private Malone'.

Caught me by surprise as he always wanted to change the station or the CD on our many trips when I would play country. Wish I could have recorded a video. He sings very well, and I can't even carry a tune.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Go your son dear Judique, thank you for sharing. He has a great voice. God Bless your grandkids. May you enjoy a wonderful Mother's Day with your family.

I do have an update that took a lot of thought and prayer to arrive at. Since I am going to still be here on my birthday, I decided better peace of mind would be a wonderful long term gift to give myself.

I sent R, the social services director, a long but clear email with updates and my request to stay a couple more weeks. R said this is fine. Believe me, staying here is the last thing I voluntarily would ever want to do but it's the smartest long term choice. I told R how committed I am to continuing to do my exercises that my therapists have taught me. I will also practice every day standing from and sitting back down (harder for me) on my bed when it is at toilet height (we have a soft measuring tape that dad can bring). When dad is here, I can also use a walker to go the very short distance from my bed to the bathroom door and back.

My therapists have said in their opinion within a few weeks I should be safe in the bathroom at home only using a walker. The last thing I would want, it would absolutely devastate me, would be to go home only to end up back here. Much smarter to invest a little more recovery time here and go home truly knowing I am safe to do so. R even said he wants me to be safe at home.

I told R I will update him just as soon as I have a floor update from the owner of our building. Uneven floors that are also unforgiving and cause feet problems is the last thing I need! Dad either, of course. We pray the owner will agree to follow our City's Renter's Rights Maintenance Standards which say every 7 years flooring is to be updated. Since this is more important now than ever, it's worth asking. I will update when we know something.

I am targeting being home by Monday June 2nd at the latest. I sure will give my all each day and extra during this birthday month of mine to getting stronger. An emotionally difficult decision to stay 2 or 3 more weeks but I believe that this is God's will for me. Of course, He wants me to go home strong. By His mercy alone I sure will.

Big hugs and love to all.