This is actually from Bev (update)

Hi ya all!

Hope everyone is doing well.  I have hardly had any time to write an update lately sorry.  I am so thrilled that Thelma and Wayne are back up here. Welcome back to two of the sweetest people.

 

Jeanne, Naomi, and I are still staying with mom, so she has someone here 24 hours a day.  The positive thing with mom is that she has gained about 12 pounds now. She eats fairly good most of the time.  She shakes pretty bad now most of the time (probably anxiety), and gets confused still. She mostly watches her shows on the Hallmark channel during the day and night.  We had to start giving her the anxiety medicine she takes a little more often because of her shaking, and because I have noticed a little obsessive/compulsive behavior, and because of the nightmares she has at times. Yesterday she took 4 showers, and gets confused as to what her body has to do sometimes. She also can not always express what she is trying to say because of the confusion.  Now I know that some of you will disagree with what I have said here about her behavior, and anxiety, yet we are here all the time, and no one else is,  to be able to observe what mom does. Mom does enjoy visits from relatives especially.  She doesn't talk much, yet she sure enjoyed seeing Evan, Thelma and Wayne when Thelma and Wayne first got here.  If any of you would like to visit with her, that would be great just as long as it is not a house full, and kids tend to make her more nervous.  She laughs at shows like Mash, Everybody Loves Raymond, and The Golden Girls, and does try (and does get some answers right) to answer questions on Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune when we all play it each night.  She is too anxious to go out of the house any where, so she is here all the time, except when we take her to the doctor. If you call and the phone doesn't get answered, it is either because I am away from the phone, or taking a nap, as I get so exhausted myself.  Sometimes mom answers the phone, yet she does tell me when she remembers, that she doesn't like to talk on the phone.  I do give the phone to her any way when especially relatives call, as she needs to talk to family -- it is good for her. 

 

Naomi, Jeanne, and I talked today, and I will be moving into the house here, and selling my house, as it is just too much for me to worry about both places, etc..  A friend of ours will help us build some kennels for my cats behind the house, and I will pay to have a chain link fence put up around mom's property in the back yard for my two dogs.  Jeanne and I are going to help our youngest sons (Andy and Chris) get their own apartment as well.  I fair better at mom's house any way, as there are not as many stairs to go up and down as at my house.  Jeanne sold her house already, and we wanted to get a place out in the country, yet we have to wait, as it all depends on mom, so we can be here for as long as she needs us.  We can always move out to the country another day.  So, within the next month we will be moving some of my stuff down here to store, and getting rid of the other stuff. I will be selling my house to my son Chris' boss, who is a contractor, who buys houses, fixes them up, and rents or sells them.  This will be good for my son, as then he will get $500.00 for finding them the house, and will get paid $10.00 an hour working for them, and fixing up the house.  It will be good for me as well, as I can't fix up anything, paint, etc. to the house myself, so now I won't have to -- just move.  I better run for now, and go home.  Take care all!!!!

I will try and write an update sooner than last time, this next time.

We love you all.

Take care, and you are all in our prayers.

Bev 

Spring has sprung!

Hi, hope you all had a great winter.  The old Wood farm is greening up, the crocus' are in bloom.  The Wood family is busy & healthy.

 

Thelma & Wayne are getting settled in Spokane. They left Reno because of all their flood problems.

It will be great being able to see them more often.

 

Della is slowly getting better. Please remember her & Betty in your prayers.  

                                               

 

 

Update & HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.

Hi Everyone,

I just first wanted to wish everyone the happiest of holidays. I hope your holiday season is a very blessed one.  God bless you all.

 

I also wanted to thank Debbie and Jan and Sheryl for coming to see me when I was in the hospital for a  day.  I sure wish we all lived closer so we could get together some times.  It meant so much to me to see their smiling faces, and made me realize how much I miss relatives.  Family is everything, and should be at the top of everyone's priority list.  Thank you so much again girls, and you are all in my prayers as well.

 

Our mom Della is at home now, as we decided she was not getting better where she was at, in fact she was getting worse.  She is going through some real rough times  mentally (as well as physically), as she thinks we are all out to get her.  She has some paranoia, which is very delicate to deal with.  We don't want her on anti-psychotic medicine, as we believe that would mess her up even more.  The nurses believe that she has gone into a fast Alzheimers because she remembers the past, and gets very confused about the present.  They also say that she  has Postraumatic Stress Disorder which stems from some incidents that happened when she was young.  She gets really nervous with a lot of confusion around, and doesn't seem to want to talk to anyone on the phone.  She will not let anyone turn on the TV or radio because she is afraid of them.  Jeanne, Naomi, and I  take shifts staying with her.  Jeanne and Naomi stay nights with her, and I stay with her during the day while Jeanne and Naomi are at work.  This is quite the learning experience.  I have learned that she does better when I make myself something to eat, and ask if she would like some, and that usually does the trick because she will refuse to take medicine or eat, so we have to find unique ways of making it so she thinks she is in control of what is going on around her.  Her medicines are layed out, and she is told that she is in control, and can take her medicines when she wants to, and is reminded daily of what the medicines are for, and that usually gets her to take them fairly soon.  We also found out that mothering her gets a bad reaction, so we just need to be her friend, and let her do what she can do on her own , and above all, not to argue, or correct her on anything, and that seems to work out so much better.  We are not putting Christmas up there, as that would put her in another state of panic (confusion).  She does best when everything is quiet, and there is not a lot going on around her.  I made up a therapy table, mainly for my sisters, with painting items, puzzles, and color books and crayons, yet also so that if mom feels like doing some of these things, they are there for her.  She used to love to build puzzles, etc., so we will see what happens.  If anyone wants to come see her then you should.  We just need to know ahead of time, and not have a big group of people all at once.  You also can call to find out how she is doing, yet if the phone is busy that means we have turned on the internet to keep the phone from rining if she is having an especially rough day. Plus, we check our email messages as well.  She is really good at sleeping through the night so far, as my sister Naomi sleeps with her each night, so she can hear if mom gets up, and that doesn't seem to bother mom.    She also gets her daily dose of many hugs, kisses, and I love you's from us.  We keep praying every day for mom, and for strength, and energy for ourselves to be able to continue to give her good quality of care. I will try and keep you updated if anything changes, etc., when I get a chance.  Thank you for your prayers as well.

We all wish all of you the best blessings of the holiday season, stay safe, stay healthy, love one another, and we love you.  :-)

Bev

*Please add your Holiday Greeting here!*

 

Here's hoping that the

Christmas season brings all of you

 

Peace, Love & Happiness

 

Remember to slow down & enjoy your family!

 

Sent With Love From The Wood Family

Please keep the prayers coming.

Hi everyone,

Thank you all so much for your prayers for our mom (Della).  She is at the Waterford for rehab, and full time nursing.  She is in room 280, and the Waterford's address is:

2929 S. Waterford Drive, Spokane, WA  99203, and the phone number to mom is (509)321-8408.  This phone number is right in mom's room if anyone wants to call and say hi, or send a card.  She is still not out of the woods yet.  She has a blood clot blocking the hole in her artery, where the ulcer ate through, which we are praying that does not dislodge, as she could bleed to death.  She is on stomach medicine to heal the ulcers as well because she is too fragile for surgery.  She will be having some physical therapy because her heart isn't fully keeping the fluid out of her lungs.  They are also feeding her more food because she had lost so much weight.  She got down to 120 pounds.  She seems to be in fairly good spirits right now.  My son Chris is staying at her house, and taking care of it for her, and he and I will be going to see mom in a little while here.  Please keep the prayers going for mom because every day is a miracle for her, and a miracle that she survived the initial internal bleeding episode.

I am sure she would love to hear from you as well, as it will help keep her spirits up.

Thank you again, and I hope you all have a great day.

Love,

Bev (Della's oldest daughter)

New Members

A big welcome to our newest members. None of you filled out the member information form. Please do so & add a message to our message board telling us how you fit into our families.  We would like to welcome you personally but we have no idea who you are.  leslie

Della Ann needs prayers

Della Ann Binder was taken to the hospital by ambulance yesterday. They are giving her tests today. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Leslie