What Do you DO All Day?
Now that I’m here in Florida, that is a great question!
We started out by putting the bed in this direction in the living room. Later we moved it 90 degrees.
Things have been a little bit crazy- but let me share with you some of what I do. I know that many of you are or have been caregivers to another adult - either a parent or spouse or possibly an adult child.
Mom still isn’t up from the bed yet without help, so I bring her food to her bed, and I take care of the dishes afterwards. I make sure she has water and is comfortable.
She isn’t able to get up yet, so I have to change her adult diaper- as often as needed. That was a new skill I had to learn. That involves changing the bed and other things as well.
Then you have to take care of the trash generated by such things.
I do about a load of laundry a day. Possibly more. It isn’t a large load, however, usually.
If someone else is here, I might be able to get out and run over to the Quilted Twins store - I was able to get out last Saturday and go help for a few hours at which time I am a normal person cutting fabric or answering questions, giving my opinion about someone’s backing.
(If you know my blog, you realize that I will piece my backings from whatever I have - Don’t tell them, but I really am not picky about my backings - I’m probably the worst person to give advice about what color your backing should be!)
The washing machine likes to walk when it’s in the spin mode. I call it mom’s walking washing machine!
I decided to force it into submission!
I also have to keep removing my sewing machine to use the table if a group of people decide to come over for pizza or something else we decide to do as a family so mom can be surrounded by people she knows and loves. Then after the people come over, I will need to make sure everything is cleaned up and the food scraps are gone as this is Florida and bugs like it here!
Having various family members here has been an important part of what I am doing here. Mom really likes it!
Sometimes mom just wants me to sit and talk with her.
We are trying to do some physical therapy with mom, so while I’ve not done the majority of that, I have done some - and am available to help my husband when he needs help moving mom! Rachael and I tried to do some on our own - but my husband took over once he landed in the states.
I should be watering mom’s plants - if they are going to live! At first I felt so discombobulated I never even thought about them. Now, I’m at the point where I’m thinking about them, even if I keep hoping for rain so they will live.
I need to take out the trash as often as needed! There’s a dumpster that is a few minutes away. We have a trash can outside the front door where I can put bags of not-so-nice things to keep the smell out of the house.
Checking the mail is important to mom now that she is more aware! That’s a nice walk down the lane.
If mom needs water because she’s thirsty, she asks—I keep trying to push water down her. When she first came home, she didn’t want to eat much, so that was a big deal to try to get her to eat and drink. Thankfully her appetite has increased, so that isn’t a problem anymore. If she needs her glasses, I’ll get those for her. If she wants ice in her water, I’ll get it.
We taught her how to use her bed adjuster so we don’t have to move her head or feet like we used to have to do when she first came home.
I have to answer the phone and be a secretary to the many phone calls mom’s home phone gets every day. It was worse at the beginning when we were getting her out of the hospital and set up.
I use the round table for my sewing area so I can be very close to mom’s bed.
When possible, I need to get some supplies like trash bags or diaper rash ointment. On Saturday I had an hour to get several errands done - including buying some things for my own breakfast and necessaries for mom. Thankfully most things are quite close!
We are trying to document the situation with mom and keep the other siblings updated as to what is going on with her. What’s the latest thing she has done or said? I really need to let the others know.
In all of this, I am trying to get some sewing done. Some days I get more than others. And that is understandable. Oh, and write some patterns. So far, they are way down on the list, but they are on the list!
Through all of this I have developed a new appreciation for those of you are caregivers for your parents or other adults! We need some fabrics that celebrate you! We have nurse, firefighters, doctor, first responder, and various other people who help others fabrics - we need fabric to celebrate YOU. I hope and pray that our situation is temporary but I know that for many of you, your ‘caretaker’ status is long - often years and years! You have my highest regard!
And there you go - my life right now! We really need mom to be able to get up and be about before anyone can leave her alone for any length of time.d
Have a great day wherever you are reading this! Stay safe!
Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!
Here’s one of the interesting fabrics we have! Most of the time I say “beautiful”. I am not sure this one is beautiful, but certainly it must appeal to someone!
