I think my Nana is getting worse. The June 28 email made me laugh. She answered a cup of coffee. I could see my Nana doing this in my mind but it is very sad at the same time.
You may have noticed that my Nana gets her hair done pretty frequently. She's always done this. These days most of us wash our hair every day sometimes twice depending on our activities. My Nana is from a time where a lady had her hair done at the beauty parlor and spent the week keeping the hairdo tidy. I remember her sleeping in a cap and rollers. I cannot imagine but I suspect the sameness of this ritual brings her comfort.
June 2
After several weeks of finding the living room door wide open each morning, I finally locked the door and removed the key. Talking to Nana about the importance of keeping the door closed, especially at night, did not help at all. Both M and A2 do have keys in case of an emergency. It won’t stop Nana from going out the kitchen door, but my chances of hearing the door opening are better in the kitchen.
June 4
Last night I couldn’t find the scissors that I have kept in the bathroom for years. I kept them in the top drawer of the plastic dresser underneath a towel. This morning I asked M to keep an eye out for the scissors. She found them right away in Nana’s room. I have no idea what Nana planned to do with the scissors. But I am a bit concerned that she was going through my drawer. I have put the scissors away in a more secure place. I plan to put away some other scissors that I have in my bedroom. I wonder if I should put away the knives in the kitchen. Each day brings new questions.
June 8
A took Nana out for dinner tonight. Nana said that she had a good time, but she was very tired when she got home. She must also have done more walking than usual because she said that her legs ached. After a short nap she felt fine again.
Tuesday night Nana’s friend R2 called to ask if she could come to visit. Nana knew who she was as soon as they spoke on the phone. R2 came a short time later, and Nana was glad to see her. They had a nice visit. So Nana has had two very good days this week.
June 9
Last night when I told you that Nana had a good day, I spoke too soon. She stayed up all night. At 4:30 AM she came into my room and asked me where BS was. BS was my best friend when I was growing up. She often stayed here over night. But she has lived in Kentucky for thirty years.
On the good news side, A2 took Nana to get her hair done today and also out for dinner. Nana was so happy that A2 took her to visit her daughter L. I have not met L, but Nana really liked her. She was very happy when she came home tonight.
June 13
Today Nana has been more confused than ever before. First she told me that she had taken Fluffy for a ride in her car. Then she told me that she had taken her two cats to her house at the shore and left them there. Then she asked me where Cliff (Pop, her deceased husband) was. I told her that he had been gone a long time. She said that he just came home from work. Then she tried to go upstairs to find him. It is nearly two AM and she is still wandering around telling me things that do not make any sense. I have tried to get her to go to sleep. But so far I have not been successful.
June 17
A few nights ago, Nana’s front tooth fell out. It is a post and crown that has been glued back on several times. The last time, the dentist said that when it fell out the next time, it would need to be replaced. A took Nana yesterday to have the old post removed. On Tuesday Nana will see the dentist for the next step in the process. M and A2 are preparing food that will not irritate the gum. Nana does not seem to be in any distress about the problem. She went to get her hair done yesterday and then went out for dinner with A2.
June 20
Tonight Nana was very confused. But she did eat a good dinner. She can still walk well. She is not in pain. Usually in the morning she is less confused than she is in the evening.
June 28
Nana has been very confused lately. Neither one of us has been getting much sleep. Nana has been wandering around asking me questions until 6:00 AM, 4:00 AM, 3:00 AM, and last night 4:00 AM. I think that she is more confused when she does not sleep. But I do not know how to make her go to sleep. Tonight when the phone rang, she picked up her coffee cup and said hello. I was not able to get to the phone in time to answer it for her.
We are having a heat wave. Yesterday it was 95 degrees. Today it was closer to 100, and it was humid. Thank goodness the AC is still working.
