Things Move Fast - Mom's Already Back at Maryville

Just got word from Dad that Mom was discharged and transported to Maryville within the last hour. So she's likely getting settled there and we'll just bring the boxes of clothes and such that were packed out of Maryville back to her tonight or tomorrow. Not sure what room she's in, but I'll post that as soon as I find out.

Going With the Flow

Dad and I stopped by Tuality to see Mom this morning, not knowing what to expect as far as her condition or her prospects for discharge. Fortunately the former was good--she was not injured seriously by either fall and she was in pretty good spirits, all things considered--but unfortunately, they would not let her out today, and in fact are recommending that she return to Maryville for a two week stay.

This came as a shock to Mom and she is understandably upset, but we recognize the need for more rehabilitation. However, two weeks is more than she can stand (especially since "two weeks" in Maryville terms is well over a month), so we have offered the compromise of one week at Maryville, then a transfer home with in-home staff ready and waiting.

So now begins the process of finding and interviewing home care personnel. We got a pretty decent list from Tuality and I'm going to go through and try to whittle the list down to something more manageable. In the meantime, Mom is still at Tuality, room 504 for tonight at the very least, so if you'd like to stop by and visit, please do; I know she would appreciate the company.

A Bump In the Road

Mom fell twice last night, and the second time she was taken to Tuality Hospital. She was taken by paramedics at 3:00 AM and was checked into room 504 at around 6.

We are looking to hire some in-home assistance for coverage evening through the morning. If you have any information, please email or call me ASAP.

The Day Has Finally Come

Mom and Dad, home at last.

It's been a long long day, but as of about 3:00 PM, Mom is officially home.

I got up to the Homestead around 9:30 this morning, unsure of how the day would unfold. Ron, Janet, Kathleen and Beverly stopped by yesterday and did an amazing job of cleaning, organizing and moving things around inside the house, and out of all the activity came the idea to replace the aged king-size bed with something newer and more rational like a queen-size Posturepedic. So a few afternoon phone calls later and the deal was made...but delivery was not going to happen until this morning.

This made for some drama since Mom was set to come home at 11 AM and as of a phone call from Mattress World (where it really ISN'T too late to sleep like a baby) last night at around 9:05 PM, the delivery folk would be at the house in the morning between--you guessed it--10:30 and 12:30.

So I planned to spend the morning finishing the railing, cleaning the path, putting in mini-ramps around thresholds and basically busying myself until the mattress had been delivered and we could go get Mom. Well, time passed, around 11:30 we got a call saying that the delivery would happen close to 1 PM.

This made for a tighter and tougher pick up window, and there was no time to run down and get Mom in between, but long story short, it all worked out in the end (and with some delicious cheeseburgers for lunch to boot!). The mattress guys came and dropped off the fancy new bed, but best of all, they took away the old one, making for a clean swap.

With the house ready we scampered to Maryville, got Mom's stuff together, signed some paperwork and headed for door. Mom seemed so surprised that so many people came up to hug her and say goodbye, but I reminded her that she's a pretty neat lady, the kind of person you miss.


It was kinda rough getting Mom from the car to the ramp (since it's still rocky and we need to level that area a lot), but once on the ramp and the chair, it was smooth sailing. She was amazed at all the changes around the house and kept thanking us for getting her home (as if we were just going to leave her there...come on, Mom! :) ), and after making the bed and vacuuming and picking up a little, I bid them adieu for the afternoon to let them settle in.

If you get a chance, call or stop by and say hi.

And, apropos of nothing, some final pictures of the end of the ramp and the new parking place for the Chevy Celebrity:

We're Through the Looking Glass, People

Ramp: DONE*
Driveway: DONE**

BRING ON THE NEXT CHALLENGE!

Seriously though, we are practically done. The end result is a sturdy, wheelchair-ready platform that is level as can be, and a driveway that will allow full motion up and around the property. Just as Paul and I were finishing up the plywood portions and bracing at the bends, Guy arrived on the scene with his giant tractor, ready to tear into the long-forgotten circular driveway. A quick move to clear the path of wood and he was off, scraping and digging and moving earth far swifter than it seems God should allow.


HUGE thanks to Paul and Guy for powering through the end of what has been a loooooooooooong project.

Stopped by and saw Mom before hitting the Homestead and gave her a squeeze, reminding that she had just two more days at Maryville. She keeps saying "now I just need to make sure I don't screw it up," but I reassured her that there is NO way she is NOT coming home on Wednesday. After she scolded me for the double negative, she seemed to be at ease about the whole thing. There was talk at one time of having her come home for a few hours on Tuesday in advance of the return on Wednesday, but everyone agreed that was sort of an unnecessary tease, so she will just be coming home on Wednesday.

Janet, Ron and Kathleen are coming by today to help Dad get the house ready for Mom, and I'll check in with them this evening. Hoping to move the dresser and maybe get the Queen boxspring downstairs, but I'm sure I'll be involved in at least the latter.

* "DONE" in this case means walkable and solid, but lacking "pretty" elements like a railing. Beginning that effort today.

** "DONE" in this case means flat and lacking obstruction, but still just dirt and miscellaneous gravel. Our plan is to get it graveled before the rains come (i.e. within the next week or two).

So Close You Can Taste It...

If Dad can walk on it, you know it's almost done. AND IT IS!

One more afternoon's effort to lay down some plywood here and there and the "ramp" will be done. I can't express what a weight off it will be to finally be done, and Paul's assistance today was absolutely critical. Dad meanwhile was cutting some supports that we later screwed beneath the 2x6 rails, and later with Tasha's assistance he trimmed out the ramp inside the front door to make for smooth wheel transport into the house.

Guy came by and offered to finish out the circular driveway, and half was done earlier this week when he pulled the Polara and Ford flatbed down the hill to the meadow by the shed. Once we move the lumber out of the way (tomorrow evening), he'll be able to smooth out the rest of the circle and the approach will be completely ready for Mom's Wednesday homecoming. There is talk of having her come home for a couple hours on Tuesday for a "test visit", but we talked about it and it seems silly to go to all that trouble just to have her go back to Maryville for another night. Thus, Dad's going to call and ask that she either be able to come home for good on Tuesday or skip the Tuesday visit and just come home for good on Wednesday. At this rate all will be ready for her tomorrow night so either option should work from our end.

Days Away From Freedom

The final two posts went up last night and we took measurements for trimming out the tricky bends in the platform. Laid down the plywood sheets and prepped the final rails. And I tried firing up the Celebrity, which has a dead battery, but with the power of gravity and the gear of neutral, I was able to ease it down to the flat portion of the drive, freeing up space behind the Polara and Ford. Guy will be dragging those to the lower area (by the shed) and flattening the circular drive to make for a clear path for Mom's dropoff.

Mom is still set to come home next Wednesday, and provided we can get the ramp and driveway done (which I think we can on Sunday), she will come home for a few hours on Tuesday as a "test run" with her therapists.

Dad is still looking well and keeping busy around the house. He's as anxious to get Mom home as she is to get out of Maryville.

If you're available on Sunday, I'd appreciate the help to close the ramp up completely.

Thanks!