Mom and Me

Trying to Keep Up

Over the past several weeks Mom has made the decision to eat less and less.  I keep trying to offer various things but, because her physical activity is nearly zero...she just doesn't eat much.

Last night when I got home from the station we were talking about what to have for supper.  The conversation usually goes like this:

Mom, it's supper time.  What would you like?

"Well, let's see.  I don't know what I have in there."

That's OK.  Just give me a hint of what you would like and I can make it happen.

"Is that cupie stand open?"

(It's at this time, and it happens several times a day, where I start a mental search for what the heck is she talking about!?  Keep up Michael.)

What is a 'cupie stand'?

"You know that hamburger place where we got hamburgers."

(I have NO idea what she is talking about.)

Uhm, I don't think so but there is a McDonald's right up the street.

Her eyes light up. "Oh yes, a McDonald's hamburger!"

Would you like fries?

"Well of course!"

So, back out I go to the local McDonald's and deliver on a warmed plate.

"What's this?"

It's your McDonald's hamburger and fries.

"Doesn't look like McDonald's." (I show her the bag.)

She shrugs and starts on the fries.  Five minutes later, after eating five or six fries and half a hamburger...

"Look at this!" She is holding up a piece of burger. "This is terrible.  They call this meat?"

I guess.

"Take it away, I've had enough."

Would you like something else?

"Nope.  I can't understand why you would think I'd eat that in the first place."

And...so it goes.

 

 

Open For Business...

Meal times around here and our question about "What's to eat?" and the answers Mom gives contain some humor.  Here is how the usual conversation goes:

Mom, would you like to have breakfast?

"What have you got?"

Well, you can have eggs, toast, high-fiber cereal, oatmeal, some coffee...

"Do you have bananas?"

Yes

"That's good.  Do you have prunes, whole prunes?"

No, we don't have prunes.

"Hmmmm, let me think about that."

Twenty minutes later:  Hey, Mom would you like some banana?

"Banana? I don't think so they tend to bind me up.  No whole prunes huh?"

No, but we do have prune juice.

"Prune juice.  Hmmmm...let me think about that."

And...so it goes.

Mom Time

It seems, when you are Mom's age you have your own internal clock. Two weeks ago we went to the doctor for some tests.  Spent nearly an hour there and she says, "I'm hungry."

Knowing this might be the case I had packed, at her instruction, a couple of cereal bars.

"Do I have a bar in my purse?"

Yes,

"Good!  Let's eat."

So, there she was...taking her sweet time for a snack.  It's all on "Mom Time".

And...so it goes.

For those of you wondering...since our last post Mom has been in and back out of Hospice.  She is home now and seems to be doing the best she can.  Thanks for your thoughts...

Got Wine...For Christmas

Several days ago Mom asked me, "Michael, when is Christmas?"

Uhm...in about five days.  Why do you ask?

"I'm ready for all the damn Ho-Ho-Ho music to go away!"

I understand.

"No really, why do they have to play this stuff non-stop for months? It take the specialness of the holiday away."

I get it.

But, don't think Mom is a scrooge.  She was up for a party on Christmas Eve.  Michael and Jody and Tina came over to the house.  Michael cooked and Mom had some wine!

Not kidding!  Dressed in her holiday gear she had a great time clowning around with us.

Family, friends, good wine, great food...yep...we'll take this holiday.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

And...so it goes.

Mom & Her Kringle...

When I was a boy I remember the times we would travel from Detroit to  Racine, Wisconsin to gather at the ancestral home of my parents.  They both...smoked...so the drive during the winter months was, shall we say "foggy".  In the summer, because Mom thought air-conditioning was a waste of energy, the drive was hot and windy.

One of the treats we would get from my Danish grandmother was...kringle.  It came from Larsen's or Hansen's bakery in West Racine.

Last week I was in Grinnell visiting with my friend Dave Jones the president of the Grinnell State Bank and noticed this sign.  I asked Dave about the place and he said, "Gosh, that has been here for years.  I remember going there as a kid a loading up on all sorts of goodies." 

We walked over to the Danish Maid Bakery where I met Suzi Hansen and I told her my Racine story. She said, "That is where we're from.  My husband's grandfather started Hansen's Bakery in Racine."  Imagine my shock.  We talked about "the old days" and she shared with me the framed license her husband's grandfather got from the the State of Wisconsin to open the bakery in 1919.  The address was 1312 Washington Avenue very near to where my Mother once lived.

I tried to buy the last almond kringle she had but Suzi insisted that it was a gift for Mom.

When I got back to Des Moines, kringle in hand, and shared the story with Mom her eyes lit up and she said, "My, what a small world.  I remember them well. But, what in the world are they doing in Grinnell, Iowa?  That doesn't sound very Danish to me."

And...so it goes.

The Beets

"Are you going to the market?"

I sure can, Mom.  What do you need.

"Oh, I would love some fresh cooked beets."

OK.  Be glad to do that.

Off I go, but...I've never prepared beets...ever.  So, I asked how to do that an spent about an hour creating:

 

What you don't hear at the end is when I ask, "So how are they?"

"Well, they could have cooked a little longer but, they're alright."

Yes, I did laugh out loud...

And...so it goes.

Getting Out?

The voice on the phone was excited, "I think I'm getting out!", said Mom.

What?

"Yes, the nurse just told me I'm going to be released on the 17th and get to come home."

Wow...really?

"Yes, I've got some more work to do but they said they are kicking me out real soon.  I can tell that I'm getting stronger."

That's great.

"And it's about time.  The food started out to be really good but not now so much."

I thought you liked it.

"Well, some of it.  And, there are people in and out all the time.  Hard to sleep at night."

Mom:  Grumpy and Freedom...I think she is on the mend.

And...so it goes.

By the way...the image above was taken this past week.  I had not posted a photo for sometime because she is on blood thinner and it got whacked up.  She had a bleed in her right eye and it was scary to look at.  See...we saved you from that.

Waiting...

Today we are waiting go transfer Mom to Edgewater for skilled care and rehab.  We thought that was going to take place this morning but we've been pushed back a bit.

Mom is getting anxious

"Hurry up and wait!"

I know.  How are you feeling?

"They have been wonderful here at Mercy but in and out.  I've had people in and out of this room since six o'clock this morning.  Not sure what they are all doing but they have been busy."

But, how are you feeling?

"I'm getting tired of not being able to do what I want to do. This sitting around or laying around and waiting bugs me."

I understand

"And another thing.  They give me way too much food.  It's good but they keep on shoving stuff at me.  If this keeps up they'll need a winch to get me out of here!"

And...so it goes.

(Photo: Mom - Fall 2011 in her apartment.)

Mom, Chubby & Eating

The other day I learned my friend Chubby Checker is going to do a show at the Meskwaki Casino near Tama, Iowa.  We chatted a bit and decided to run up and see him.  The last time we were together was his daughters wedding five years ago in Aspen.

Mom doesn't get out much; other than the doctor (pick one of four) or the grocery store.  She says she hates going shopping but really loves it and the folks at the Urbandale HyVee.

So, I'm thinking...Why not ask if she wants to come along?

"Well, I don't know.  How far is it?"

From Des Moines to Tama is about ninety minutes.

"I'll have to pack a lunch."

I'm sure they have food there.

"I know but I need to eat every two hours and if it takes 90 minutes to get there I could start to shake."

OK but that would fit in nicely with The Twist.

"Sassy kid!  What should I take?"

I dunno.

"I won't take meatloaf because that crumbles.  I better not take crackers because they can get all over the place.  Maybe I should take a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

That would be good.

"Should I take two?"

Two?

"Well I might get hungry on the way home.  That is a very long drive.  And, I'll have to take my medicine with me too. And a couple of bottles of water and..."

And...so it goes.

What Do You Call That Stuff?

It was a nice day so following a doctor visit for some routine blood work I asked Mom if she would like to go into the grocery store. (She says she hates it...but she really loves to explore the 93,000 square feet of wonder at the Urbandale HyVee.)

We spent 20 minutes in the produce section and then on to the bakery:

Would you like to try some of these breads?

"What kind are they and don't you think they would dry out sitting out like that?"

I don't know but here is some raisin walnut bread.

"How much?"

It says $4.99.

"For a single loaf of bread?  No way! Besides I don't know how long they've been out there."

(About that time along comes Liza Hassevoort with some fresh pesto.  Seems Liza and her husband Kevin from Leon, Iowa make it and HyVee is going to carry it.)

Mom, would you like to try some pesto?

"Some what?"

Pesto.

"Oh, I can't have that.  It's green."

You don't eat the entire container just dip a little on a piece of bread.  (She tries it...)

"Oh, now that is good! I can taste some garlic.  Come here dear and tell me how you make it.  I might just have to cook some up later this afternoon."

Presto...a pesto lover.