Dog Days of Summer

The weather in Texas has been in the high 90’s and some days as high as 104 degrees. Thank goodness for air-conditioned homes, cars and a swimming pool.

Fran stays inside most of the time at the nursing home. Occasionally we can get her out in the garden area on the gazebo in the mornings before it gets up in the 90’s. She prefers to stay in bed and be lazy but we encourage her to get up in her chair a couple times a day.

Her therapy has been discontinued except for chair exercises a few times a week. Her potassium levels are back to normal with no more severe leg cramps. Her appetite is so-so but she is showing some interest in her sugar free chocolates again.

She has lost some of her get-up and go and just stares a good bit. We can get her to smile now and then. She really enjoys and seems to relax when she is read to. Philip reads the Bible to her and I read from the book, “Simple Abundance”.

Continue to keep Fran in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy Birthday, Frances May

Yesterday my one and only “favorite” mother-in-law celebrated her 84th Birthday. She received greetings from family in Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, friends from Virginia and friends from here in Texas. She had requested Pizza Hut Pizza earlier in the week and even washed it down with a few sips of white wine followed by a big glass of ice tea.

Since Fran was brought back to Pleasant Manor from Baylor Medical Center last Thursday, there have been a few ups and downs. The doctors are attempting to change her meds around a bit and with that comes times of confusion for her. Philip and I are spending longer visits with her during these times to help her through them.

On Tuesday she woke up and was stating she was very tired and hurt all over. Blood work was ordered that morning, and we were told late afternoon yesterday that her potassium level was extremely low and was contributing to her leg cramps and weakness and some of her confusion. The doctor has doubled her potassium tablets and bananas will accompany each meal and snack time.

Fran has her good days and her down days. Her sense of humor still shines from time to time but there are times of frustration and depression. She wishes she could walk and live back at the farm yet she understands that is something that is not doable. She receives therapy 3 days a week that consists of leg lifts and arm lifts and a few other exercises. Fran is not walking in her “Merry Walker” because of her recent hospital stay and onset of weakness. It’s hard to say at this point if and when she will return to walking therapy.

We thank you for all your cards, calls and prayers.
~~Maribeth May

Southern Lady, Still Witty

Phil and Maribeth have observed that Mother is a favorite around Pleasant Manor. Her Southern lady aura and her quick, dry sense of humor has charmed everyone in the place. Phil said that last evening, (even though she was feeling a bit poorly) when they took her a birthday pizza, she was still saying some funny things.

A Few Days in the Hospital

Philip and I visited Fran this morning and found her to be weak and sleepy. The doctor on call for her regular physician (who happens to be on vacation) wants to watch her for a few days or so here at our local hospital where Philip works.

Her downslide began about 2 weeks ago when we noticed Fran was weepy and a bit confused. We have seen the signs before of what a UTI can do to the elderly. A test was given and showed positive for a UTI. Antibiotics were started and Fran started to feel better for a few days. Again the same symptoms and yet another antibiotic started.

Three mornings in a row Fran was described by her nurse as “unresponsive” and extremely difficult to wake. Yesterday was the third morning and Philip felt she needed to be transferred to the hospital for further testing. Could it be seizures??? Maybe but Phil says not likely. Most likely this is a result of a progressive UTI that has invaded the blood and caused mental changes and total body fatigue. It could also be due to Mom’s response to her medications, which are periodically adjusted for a variety of reasons.

We are glad she is in the hospital for a more intensive evaluation and IV antibiotic therapy.

We will keep you all posted everyday or so of Fran’s progress. Continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Maribeth

Non-Responsive Morning, Better Afternoon

Phil and Maribeth got a call from Mom's nursing home this morning around 5 a.m. that Mother was having another one of her episodes and was non-responsive. They went over and she was slightly better but Phil decided a trip to the hospital would be a good idea. He called me several times today and all her tests were coming out OK. She "woke up" this afternoon and was able to talk, etc.

I just called her and she was totally "with it" and spoke clearly. Phil thinks they might adjust her meds and she might go back to her nursing home tomorrow. He has said before that he and her doctor think these episodes might be a type of seizure but none of the tests in the past have shown this specifically so there has been no official diagnosis.

The good news is that she has no pain and is mentally alert. It's amazing how the human body can bounce back after a downturn, isn't it?

Posted by MaryMay Angelil, the eldest child who now lives in Virginia