((((((Valentine's Day Hugs to All)))))) ~
agate ~
Thank you for your suggestions. I have heard of both techniques, however, I haven't tried the handkerchief over the glass of water.
Here's what we do: immediately after a hiccup, breathe in, take 10 small sips of water without breathing, then breathe. It usually works. The option we used with Jonathan and Michael was a 1/2 tsp of sugar on the back of the tongue, which also usually worked.
My main concern was preventing hiccups. Without straws and with drinking water from a glass instead of the bottle, we seem to have conquered the cause of excess gas. Jim stopped hiccuping yesterday afternoon. I'm still working on getting him to put in his dentures.
funnylegs4 ~
The only thing about the bed is that sitting upright in it can cause pressure on Jim's distended gut. If Jim is too reclined, with his head flatter than elevated, he tends to sleep with his mouth open more.
Jim did sit in Jon's recliner, but he still woke up hiccuping. He does move to go from bed to bathroom, several times day and night. He isn't immobile.
I completely understand your concerns and fears about your friend. I send you both healing, strengthening prayers.
TODAY'S STATUS
Jim took his Lasix in the evening, so we were up all night going to/from the bathroom. I went to bed about 2 a.m. At 4, he paged me. He had missed his urinal peed a little on the floor. After cleaning up, I went back to bed, but I didn't sleep. I checked Jim at 5:30, and he was asleep, so I went back to bed again, and I didn't sleep.
Mid-morning, Jim announced that he wanted to have a bowl of oatmeal, with applesauce and a dollop of strawberry preserves on top. He ate it all. He also said he wanted to try the apple pie from John. He waited awhile after the oatmeal, took a couple of bites and said he was too full to enjoy it.
I think that he has acid reflux now, so we'll have to ask Dr. K and Nancy how we can address that.
I'd really love to get Jim stronger, so that he could tolerate having his gut drained. Of course, we know that it won't last, but it might bring him temporary relief.
His urine is a beautiful color, so we know Amoxicillin is working. That can only be helpful to Jim.
Grooming and Hygiene
Jim wanted to shave today! Yay! First, I had to recharge his electric razor. Then, clean it out. Then Jim started shaving his neck and chin, and there's just too much there. He took a rest. I have offered to shave him with his straight razor many times, but he declines. Apparently, I don't do it correctly. Jonathan and Michael never complained about the way I shaved them. Perhaps that is because they had never shaved themselves and didn't know the difference.
One way or the other, we have to remove Jim's scraggy beard. He doesn't wear it well. I want to cut his hair, bathe him, keep him fresh. I may just mention to him that his appearance reflects poorly on me as a caregiver. As in ... I'm not doing my job. We could call in all of the aides in the agency, and I guarantee you that if Jim isn't up to a shower, bath, haircut, or shave, it won't happen.
Gardening Is Good For The Soul
In between watching Senior Golf and Bowling with Jim (yawn ... yes, that's exactly what I did the entire time), I got up to do housecleaning and gardening. Yes, gardening!
I cleaned out Michael's pond and refilled it. Cleaned out leaves and debris surrounding it. Then I cleaned out Jonathan's memorial garden, which is just temporary, until I can have everything in it removed and replanted. I made sure that all of the solar angels and white roses were sturdy and upright. They give such a lovely glow at night. I pulled weeds, and I watered what is left of our plants in the backyard.
Jim watched me from Jon's picture window. When I came in to check on him, he said, "You're back must be hurting, honey. Please sit down and rest."
"I needed to do it," I replied.
"I know you did. I know."
I also gathered the indoor plants, albeit few, and watered them. I finally decided to find nicer pots for them than the plastic ones they came in. So, I gathered some from the backyard, cleaned them thoroughly and placed the plants in them and on our dining room table.
So many of our plants in and out have been lost due to my neglect. It is depressing to me to see them wilting, when all they need is for me to take a few minutes to water them. We have jade plants everywhere in our front and backyards, because that is the one plant I knew would survive my neglect. With the rain we've had, they are all blooming now, and they look so pretty. Some of them are 40 years old.
Although I am aching from the stooping, bending, pulling, standing, I feel better spiritually and emotionally for working with the plants and Jon's and Michael's gardens today. As I told Jim, I needed to do this. I'll probably have a sunburn, because I forgot to put on a hat. It was an impulsive thing, as I sat in Jon's room watching golf and bowling and looking out at the backyard.
The poster above Jonathan's bed is a photograph of Native Americans on a hill overlooking their land. The poster reads: "Earthly Reverence: Every Living Thing Is Our Relation". Jonathan often pointed to the poster, and as we read it to him, he repeated every word.
TOMORROW?
Who knows what awaits? Today, we made progress. Today was a better day than yesterday, so we have hope for tomorrow.
We love you and pray for you and your loved ones, and we thank you for your love, prayers, and continuing support.
Love & Light,
Rose
agate ~
Thank you for your suggestions. I have heard of both techniques, however, I haven't tried the handkerchief over the glass of water.
Here's what we do: immediately after a hiccup, breathe in, take 10 small sips of water without breathing, then breathe. It usually works. The option we used with Jonathan and Michael was a 1/2 tsp of sugar on the back of the tongue, which also usually worked.
My main concern was preventing hiccups. Without straws and with drinking water from a glass instead of the bottle, we seem to have conquered the cause of excess gas. Jim stopped hiccuping yesterday afternoon. I'm still working on getting him to put in his dentures.
funnylegs4 ~
The only thing about the bed is that sitting upright in it can cause pressure on Jim's distended gut. If Jim is too reclined, with his head flatter than elevated, he tends to sleep with his mouth open more.
Jim did sit in Jon's recliner, but he still woke up hiccuping. He does move to go from bed to bathroom, several times day and night. He isn't immobile.
I completely understand your concerns and fears about your friend. I send you both healing, strengthening prayers.
TODAY'S STATUS
Jim took his Lasix in the evening, so we were up all night going to/from the bathroom. I went to bed about 2 a.m. At 4, he paged me. He had missed his urinal peed a little on the floor. After cleaning up, I went back to bed, but I didn't sleep. I checked Jim at 5:30, and he was asleep, so I went back to bed again, and I didn't sleep.
Mid-morning, Jim announced that he wanted to have a bowl of oatmeal, with applesauce and a dollop of strawberry preserves on top. He ate it all. He also said he wanted to try the apple pie from John. He waited awhile after the oatmeal, took a couple of bites and said he was too full to enjoy it.
I think that he has acid reflux now, so we'll have to ask Dr. K and Nancy how we can address that.
I'd really love to get Jim stronger, so that he could tolerate having his gut drained. Of course, we know that it won't last, but it might bring him temporary relief.
His urine is a beautiful color, so we know Amoxicillin is working. That can only be helpful to Jim.
Grooming and Hygiene
Jim wanted to shave today! Yay! First, I had to recharge his electric razor. Then, clean it out. Then Jim started shaving his neck and chin, and there's just too much there. He took a rest. I have offered to shave him with his straight razor many times, but he declines. Apparently, I don't do it correctly. Jonathan and Michael never complained about the way I shaved them. Perhaps that is because they had never shaved themselves and didn't know the difference.
One way or the other, we have to remove Jim's scraggy beard. He doesn't wear it well. I want to cut his hair, bathe him, keep him fresh. I may just mention to him that his appearance reflects poorly on me as a caregiver. As in ... I'm not doing my job. We could call in all of the aides in the agency, and I guarantee you that if Jim isn't up to a shower, bath, haircut, or shave, it won't happen.
Gardening Is Good For The Soul
In between watching Senior Golf and Bowling with Jim (yawn ... yes, that's exactly what I did the entire time), I got up to do housecleaning and gardening. Yes, gardening!
I cleaned out Michael's pond and refilled it. Cleaned out leaves and debris surrounding it. Then I cleaned out Jonathan's memorial garden, which is just temporary, until I can have everything in it removed and replanted. I made sure that all of the solar angels and white roses were sturdy and upright. They give such a lovely glow at night. I pulled weeds, and I watered what is left of our plants in the backyard.
Jim watched me from Jon's picture window. When I came in to check on him, he said, "You're back must be hurting, honey. Please sit down and rest."
"I needed to do it," I replied.
"I know you did. I know."
I also gathered the indoor plants, albeit few, and watered them. I finally decided to find nicer pots for them than the plastic ones they came in. So, I gathered some from the backyard, cleaned them thoroughly and placed the plants in them and on our dining room table.
So many of our plants in and out have been lost due to my neglect. It is depressing to me to see them wilting, when all they need is for me to take a few minutes to water them. We have jade plants everywhere in our front and backyards, because that is the one plant I knew would survive my neglect. With the rain we've had, they are all blooming now, and they look so pretty. Some of them are 40 years old.
Although I am aching from the stooping, bending, pulling, standing, I feel better spiritually and emotionally for working with the plants and Jon's and Michael's gardens today. As I told Jim, I needed to do this. I'll probably have a sunburn, because I forgot to put on a hat. It was an impulsive thing, as I sat in Jon's room watching golf and bowling and looking out at the backyard.
The poster above Jonathan's bed is a photograph of Native Americans on a hill overlooking their land. The poster reads: "Earthly Reverence: Every Living Thing Is Our Relation". Jonathan often pointed to the poster, and as we read it to him, he repeated every word.
TOMORROW?
Who knows what awaits? Today, we made progress. Today was a better day than yesterday, so we have hope for tomorrow.
We love you and pray for you and your loved ones, and we thank you for your love, prayers, and continuing support.
Love & Light,
Rose
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