Got up early and went to the gardening place, which was I guess useful? We talked to the guy about what we want, and he explained why we hadn't heard from the person who's actually doing the work - she graduated from college last week. But he says she's great and he's hiring her full-time now, not even seasonal, so that's all good. Then out to breakfast, and now I basically feel like I've had a full day already.

It has been a long week. My Mom was in the hospital all week so I made 3 round trips to Naples (280 miles RT) to check on her. She had pneumonia again. They got it under control, but it will continue to be an issue because she has swallowing issues which cause her to aspirate stuff into her lungs. They released her yesterday to rehab where various therapy people will teach her tips and tricks to talk, eat, and swallow more effectively. Short version, being really old is tricky business. She turns 95 this summer.

Work continues to be burdensome so they were brief day trips, but really she didn't want a whole lot of fuss. Her husband never left her side so they had a nice recliner for him to sleep next to her. My brother and sister also live nearby so she had lots of love.

Then to top off the week I had to take DH to the ER yesterday. He had a hernia, which got to be painful enough for him to have his doctor look at it. Hence being sent to the ER. They gave him dilaudid in an IV and pushed stuff back where it belonged and released him. He needs to see a surgeon, but we know from experience that a surgeon will recommend surgery, so holding off. We are flying Wednesday to spend a week in Otter Lake and the plan is to keep him as inactive as possible until we get back June 1. Hahahaha, any of you that have met DH know that keeping him inactive is a serious challenge. Playing health care worker here, which mostly is picking up things he drops. This has happened maybe 4 times and he just stares at the object way down there on the floor and admits that getting down there isn't an option.

Yikes, Laura! That's a crappy week indeed.

They got it under control, but it will continue to be an issue because she has swallowing issues which cause her to aspirate stuff into her lungs.

That's exactly the situation with my dad. And because he has dementia, he won't remember to eat slowly etc. So we're supposed to have someone with him at every meal, which the facility isn't able to provide. I'm kind of at a loss: do we go back to 24-hour personal care? If Dad knew what this costs, he would certainly say no.

Argh.

And today I'm getting new tires for the Jeep. Fortunately I have a credit card with the garage but this has been a very expensive week.

Apparently aspirating pneumonia is a common issue with aging. The speech therapist was saying part of the issue is that the person doesn't even know they are getting particles in the lungs because the reflexes are not as alert. Also, they don't necessarily have normal symptoms like a younger patient. No fever or that kind of thing. So without a chest x-ray you may not even know. Very tricky.

Seriously, I am so very grateful that Mom married my step-dad. He is 15 years younger and completely devoted to her. Holds her hand non-stop and is a constant loving protector. When my sibs criticize him I just want to smack them.

Apparently aspirating pneumonia is a common issue with aging.

Yeah, it was an issue with my grandfather and great-aunt.

Timelies all!

Made my monthly trip to the comic book store. Otherwise, a quiet day.

You guys, I just saw a Target ad that was (a) in Spanish, (b) had women of various colors and sizes and abilities. In the middle of The Catch! Kind of cool. (Why I didn't fast-forward through the commercials is a different question.)

So I meant to go see Jon performing for PorchFest, but I got the time wrong and missed him. This is a city-wide thing where people and bands perform (guess where!) on porches, and it's really taken off. Crowds of people just walking around with beers going from show to show. I mostly stayed on my own block, which was plenty.

I'm sitting along the river walk, eating bao on my dinner break. There are a lot of people down here. I'm trying to guess all the languages.

Target has had a few print ads lately with kids with disabilities. They got a lot of good press last Halloween for showing a girl with an Elsa costume and crutches. There's a group that's been advocating for getting kids with disabilities into ads, and having a lot of success with it, though I've seen fewer adults with disabilities in ads.