It’s varied a bit, over the past year or so, some things no longer need to be done, others get added in. This, then, is the current list of things to do to help mom get ready for bed:
1. Test her blood sugar level. This, because, as I’ve mentioned before, it helps eliminate those nighttime low-blood sugars. To do this requires a wet cloth, to wash her finger before doing the finger stick, then testing the blood, changing the needle so it’s clean next tim eshe has to do a finger stick, taking the fast-acting insulin if she needs it, and taking the slow-acting night insulin.
2. Test the blood-pressure. Good pressure is especially important when you have kidney disease.
3. There are two fingers being treated for a skin cancer — this involves a salve, a cream, then a bandaid.
4. There’s a bump on her toe. She has decided that she needs cream and a band-aid on that (no salve, though — that’s for the cancer.)
5. Taking a blood-pressure pill.
6. Cortisone ointment on a spot on her back. The dermatologist sees nothing there, but, it apparently itches, so it needs ointment, or it itches all night.
7. Changing the bandage on her face. She had two skin cancers burned off about 10 days ago, and these need to stay slathered in cream and covered with a bandage for two more weeks. The bandage is changed nightly, and the burned area is washed well, before being re-covered.
8. Placing salve in each eye, to help with the dryness that’s a result of the eye-lid surgery.
9. Putting Vitamin E oil on her eyelids, to help with the scars from the eye-lid surgery.
10. Making sure the phone is by the bed, in case she needs to call me during the night.
11. Making sure the tv is on, and the sleep-timer is set for 2 hours.
12. Saying “Good Night. I Love You.”
She’s very lucky to have you.
I would do the same for my father if he needed me. He has “new grandma” as we call her. I think I did a rant on her last summer around August.
You’re a good man, John! It doesn’t get any easier for us as time goes on; we all want/need someone to be there for us as we age.
I have to echo want the other two commenters have said. You’re a good son.
Also – unrelated note: I LOVE the look of Johnbalaya right now! And you have a Facebook page!! Cool.
Thanks Jolene!
Also — I’m glad you like the look. I know you were following me around on my old blg, and I was constantly changing the look. I think I was hoping that one of the looks would somehow make the blog into something …more? I dunno… But, I think that I’ve finally found the look that is right for what I envision the blog to be. It’s about words, and simple things, so it needs a look that’s simple, and allows the content to speak for itself. I am glad to know that you like it! Thanks for telling me!