Yesterday I went to a ceremony at the Texas Academy of Math and Science called the Rosecutting and Student Life Awards. It was very symbolic and I enjoyed it very much. The best part to me of course was that my oldest received the Staff Choice award and was nominated for the World Citizen award (which his roommate actually won.)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I Took a Turtle to the Vet
This morning I did something I said I would never do ... I took a turtle to the vet.
Our biggest Red Eared Slider, Winnie Hall, has a raw neck. She was a rescue turtle that had a damaged shell. As she has grown, her neck scrapes on the shell as she moves her head in and out. We thought she has an abscess, but the Dr. did not think so. He wants us to give her sulfa baths, and he gave her a shot of antibiotic in her rear. She has to have 2 more shots this week. She also has to be quarantined for a few days.
Sitting in the vet's office was harrowing because they have office cats. Two of the office cats seemed to think Winnie Hall would make a really nice meal. It was funny at first, but it got very annoying trying to keep the cats from jumping in our tank.
Now that I am home, I am miserable. My eyes are swollen, my throat is scratchy. Way too much cat and dog hair for my allergies.
Winnie Hall is unhappy because she is not in her giant tank. I feel bad because she is going to have a problem until she can build up a callous on her neck.
There was another side issue that came up from the trip to the vet. We are picking up two more turtles tomorrow. There was a woman there that said she had been raising two turtles for the last three years. She got them as babies. She said she can no longer care for the turtles and that if she did not find someone to take them she would put them in the lake. Well, even though my youngest said I was crazy, I said we would take them. I could not stand the idea of turtles that have been babied dumped into the lake. So tomorrow morning, we go pick up two more turtles. She has named them Chompers and Little Foot so she obviously has seen one or two "Land Before Time" movies.
I took a turtle to the vet, and came away with two more.
Our biggest Red Eared Slider, Winnie Hall, has a raw neck. She was a rescue turtle that had a damaged shell. As she has grown, her neck scrapes on the shell as she moves her head in and out. We thought she has an abscess, but the Dr. did not think so. He wants us to give her sulfa baths, and he gave her a shot of antibiotic in her rear. She has to have 2 more shots this week. She also has to be quarantined for a few days.
Sitting in the vet's office was harrowing because they have office cats. Two of the office cats seemed to think Winnie Hall would make a really nice meal. It was funny at first, but it got very annoying trying to keep the cats from jumping in our tank.
Now that I am home, I am miserable. My eyes are swollen, my throat is scratchy. Way too much cat and dog hair for my allergies.
Winnie Hall is unhappy because she is not in her giant tank. I feel bad because she is going to have a problem until she can build up a callous on her neck.
There was another side issue that came up from the trip to the vet. We are picking up two more turtles tomorrow. There was a woman there that said she had been raising two turtles for the last three years. She got them as babies. She said she can no longer care for the turtles and that if she did not find someone to take them she would put them in the lake. Well, even though my youngest said I was crazy, I said we would take them. I could not stand the idea of turtles that have been babied dumped into the lake. So tomorrow morning, we go pick up two more turtles. She has named them Chompers and Little Foot so she obviously has seen one or two "Land Before Time" movies.
I took a turtle to the vet, and came away with two more.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Freaking Out (a Little)
This morning mom came in with her purse and told me that she was going to walk "home" today. I asked her which direction she would turn going out of the driveway and she told me that "she knew the way but could not tell me." I was really worried because I needed to go to work and I was afraid she would try to leave the house. I stayed around until her "court shows" came on and then I felt it was okay to leave because I knew she would stay in her chair and watch them all day.
Tonight when I went to put her purse up I realized it was extremely bulky. When I opened it she had filled it with a change of clothes. So my mind starts racing. Was she really going to leave the house today? My dad never ran away from the home, but he did run away from daycare and the hospital. Of course, the problem I have is that Mom does not consider this "home."
The nurse was here today and she asked me what I was going to do as things continue to go downhill. My Pastor, who is also my boss, asked me what I was going to do. Unfortunately, my answer was the same to both. I don't know.
I really cannot imagine putting my Mom in a nursing home. I feel like I would be signing her death warrant. However, I cannot do this all myself, and I know it.
I really was not ready to start dealing with all of this at this point in my life, but we do not get to pick and choose when our loved ones need us.
I hope I am strong enough to do this. I also hope I can stop freaking out, even a little.
Tonight when I went to put her purse up I realized it was extremely bulky. When I opened it she had filled it with a change of clothes. So my mind starts racing. Was she really going to leave the house today? My dad never ran away from the home, but he did run away from daycare and the hospital. Of course, the problem I have is that Mom does not consider this "home."
The nurse was here today and she asked me what I was going to do as things continue to go downhill. My Pastor, who is also my boss, asked me what I was going to do. Unfortunately, my answer was the same to both. I don't know.
I really cannot imagine putting my Mom in a nursing home. I feel like I would be signing her death warrant. However, I cannot do this all myself, and I know it.
I really was not ready to start dealing with all of this at this point in my life, but we do not get to pick and choose when our loved ones need us.
I hope I am strong enough to do this. I also hope I can stop freaking out, even a little.
Really Need to Wrap My Mind Around This
Mom's sudden changes are really throwing me for a loop.
Last night I was irritated because it was 11:30 p.m. and she was still up. Part of the irritation was that I was irritated, the other part was I am used to everyone getting to bed by 11:00 p.m. and having just a few minutes by myself.
I finally told Mom that I needed to go to bed and that is when she asked me if she was going to spend the night with me. DUH! I knew she was having trouble remembering that she lived here (she thinks she lives in Cincinnati), so I should have asked her if she needed me to help her go to her room, but instead I was sitting here thinking about how asking her that would be like pushing her to go to bed.
Everyday something else has changed or something else is lost in her mind.
I need to wrap my mind around the fact that Mom is probably not coming back to me as the Mom she used to be and get used to this new person.
The only thing that comes to mind is:
"oy"
Last night I was irritated because it was 11:30 p.m. and she was still up. Part of the irritation was that I was irritated, the other part was I am used to everyone getting to bed by 11:00 p.m. and having just a few minutes by myself.
I finally told Mom that I needed to go to bed and that is when she asked me if she was going to spend the night with me. DUH! I knew she was having trouble remembering that she lived here (she thinks she lives in Cincinnati), so I should have asked her if she needed me to help her go to her room, but instead I was sitting here thinking about how asking her that would be like pushing her to go to bed.
Everyday something else has changed or something else is lost in her mind.
I need to wrap my mind around the fact that Mom is probably not coming back to me as the Mom she used to be and get used to this new person.
The only thing that comes to mind is:
"oy"
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Always Good, Yet Very Eye Opening
It is always good when you can go into your oldest son's closet of left behind clothes and find the perfect outfit that your youngest needs for a special school event. It saves money, and your sanity because shopping with the youngest for clothes is sheer torture.
However, when your youngest goes through three suits, each one a size up and finally figures out that the largest one fits the best, well that is a real eye opener. The youngest is growing up. It is really easy to ignore when he just wears t-shirts and athletic pants to school everyday, but when he puts on a black suit that his brother was wearing when he was 2 years older than what the youngest is now...well, it choked me up.
It won't be long and I will be on my own.
However, when your youngest goes through three suits, each one a size up and finally figures out that the largest one fits the best, well that is a real eye opener. The youngest is growing up. It is really easy to ignore when he just wears t-shirts and athletic pants to school everyday, but when he puts on a black suit that his brother was wearing when he was 2 years older than what the youngest is now...well, it choked me up.
It won't be long and I will be on my own.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
My Present from the Boys Arrived!!!
I have wanted this alarm clock for years, and this year the boys got it for me for my birthday. I hope it works. I hate resetting my alarm clock every night because I like to get up at different times during the week. http://tinyurl.com/2hyggh
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)