Cody Updates by Mom

First of all, thank you so much for all of the prayers and thoughts that have been sent our way over the last couple months.  I cannot thank you enough!

It wasn’t tears of sadness though.  It was tears of relief.

Finally, the first bit of good news and then a little more.  Today was a typical Thursday at work.  Meetings, emails, work, emails, meetings and so much more fun things that I cannot even express.

THEN

Megan called this morning and left a voicemail.  She said that the memory care center in Cottage Grove, White Pine, called and they were reviewing mom’s file.  She would know more later today and would call.  Then I got another voicemail from her to call her back this afternoon.

White Pine in Cottage Grove has accepted mom to move to their memory care center.  This is the same home that Jim’s mother was in.  It is clean and the help is caring.  We were very happy with the care that they gave to my mother in law and I cannot even explain the relief that I felt when Megan told me about the acceptance.

The room is a shared room and Megan really thinks that mom having someone with her will be helpful.  This place is literally 5 minutes from my house and we know it.  Even now the relief washes over me with emotion that I have been struggling to hold in.

Megan also was able to give me an update on mom.  Mostly good.  Last night, mom did have a fall in her room.  She slid to the floor and when the worker asked her what happened she said “Oh, that f***ing hurt”.  She got up, brushed herself off and looked around like nothing happened.  They took vitals and all and checked her out.  She is fine and there was nothing to worry about.

She only got up once in the night and went right back to bed.  They have been letting her sleep in and that seems to be helping.  During the day today she did participate a bit in both group activities.  The one that Megan runs, mom was laughing a bit.  Mostly, when it was appropriate and sometimes when something may have been funny in her head.  She sat in the groups, made good eye contact and was having more “meaningful” interactions.

I talked with Ann tonight (White Pine director) and we have a plan.  I have a new set of paperwork to fill out and picked up part of it tonight.  I will meet Ann at the memory care center on Tuesday morning.  I will fill out the rest of the paperwork and get moms room set up.  Ann is calling Megan tomorrow to set up transportation for mom and work to see if we can get mom at the new place by noon so she can have lunch and I can help her get settled.

This weekend is going to be getting ready for the change weekend.  I need to get bedding (twin sheets) with a bedspread, clothes and some of moms belongings put together.  Ann wants me to make it comfortable for mom and to give her some little pieces of home that can help her adapt.

Also, since the county has decided not to take the truck, I have to get it down to my house so I can deal with it.  I need to figure out if it makes sense to sell it or continue to pay for it.  There are financial implications to both.  Getting that and mom’s stuff here I can start to get things straightened out and ready for mom and get the finances under control.

In the end, today was a good day.  Even with the tears.  These last weeks have felt like months of stress and unsureness.  I am happy that we are finally on the other side and working on the next step.