9/11

 It seems just like it was yesterday when my daughter in NYC called screaming. I actually did not know who it was as I did not recognize her voice and had never heard that kind of anguish and fear in her voice. I did expect her to call me to say "Happy Birthday!"

The day is here again. Of course, there has been no mention of my birthday from Tommy. Nothing. Usually he sings "Happy Birthday" to me and does something for my birthday.  After midnight I will ask him if he forgot. He will be devastated he forgot.

As usual, I slept little, only 3 hours and could sleep no more. I have deliberately not napped since I was expecting cleaner. Nope. She said she called both of us and got no response. If she does not leave a message, there is no way she called. But, she will come Friday. She is wary of the weather on Thursday. 

At 7 pm, the weather this time of the year is still in 90s or high 80s. Right now, it is mid 70s, really mild. 

The weatherman was not precise as to when rain would arrive today. I awoke at noon, dressed and was ready for the car. Then, I announced I wanted a Whopper, Jr. We both had one. Then, we drove to three stores, collected ads and came home. 

I lost another pound.

I cannot believe I am 78. That is sooo old, sooo near 80-years-old.

Since I correctly told endo how Tommy's blood sugar was rising and falling precipitously, she changed how he takes insulin. His little Dexcom receiver rarely goes off. Plus, he was told to eat less cereal and milk, and more protein at breakfast. It is working. I am so happy to hear that. 

I have a new specialist--electrophysiologist. So, one more person to see. But, I am grateful. It seems my heart is beating all sorts of strange ways even stops/pauses. I have been complaining things weren't right.

I suppose I do deserve another expensive necklace from Jared's.

Have you ever had anyone just ignore your birthday? 

I Am Now Afraid to Go to Sleep

 This morning, I had little sleep but got up about 8 am to sit in living room as I put on ac. It was so stuffy in my bedroom, I could not sleep. When I came in the living room, Tommy was wadding up his blanket again and holding it up under his chin in a wad. Then, immediately he was looking at the edge of the blanket, holding with both hands. It appeared he was looking for something on the outer edges of the blanket, like a tag. 

He did not know his birthdate and could not understand what I wanted when talking about other things. I gave him a gentle "talking to." I explained he had to trust me to tell him the truth. He had to do what I said and eat what I said to eat. I told him I was going to make him a pb sandwich and give him a real Coke. He agreed and ate it. 

About thirty minutes later, he seemed okay. But, I was afraid to go to sleep. He did not want to take his insulin since it was sooner than usual in the morning. He did not say this, but I think that is why he would not. Finally, he took the insulin. Still, I was afraid to go to sleep. 

We went out for a check of flowers at Lowe's, a short drive-by for outside. Then, Tommy went inside Dollar General to find the cheap, terry cloth slides I love for house shoes. No luck. Back home, he had salad with chopped hamburger on top. I had tuna sandwich with salad. So, it has been a quiet low-key day, perfect. 

I did decide to go to sleep in my bedroom and left him in living room. I slept until about 2:30 pm. Now, 12 hours later, I am afraid to go to bed and leave him. 

I did arrange for new cleaner to come late one afternoon into evening--her idea, not mine. Plus, I emailed woman who wants to buy my car and delayed that. Tommy's car sounds like it is falling apart. So, he wants to have at least mine here. We must go car shopping soon! 

There is a list of calls for tomorrow morning. One is a potential Medicare fraud. Since when does nail-trimming cost $800 and lab tests which I was never told were going to happen. The clippings were vacuumed and doubtfully were sent for tests. Another doctor consistently bills me too much. Medicare said it was illegal. If he does not want to take Medicaid, he cannot bill me for the rest of the cost, what Medicaid would have paid him. I have fired him, so no problem for me. I dread these calls!

We are having temps in high 80s this week. Sounds good to me, but it will rain hard Monday and Tuesday and still rain Wednesday and Thursday. So, it should be steamy. At least Tommy won't need to water flowers. Oh, the watering system for pots and hanging baskets comes in this week. 

Tommy's Episode

 "Episode" is the only one word I can use to describe what happened.

I could not sleep last night, sort of back to my old ways. I went to bed a 1 am, rolled around, something I almost never do. I got up around 4:30 and turned on the living room lamp farthest from Tommy. This never bothers him. As I sat in my chair, Tommy roused and turned on his lamp. 

This was not concerning as I thought he needed to go to bathroom. No. He partially raised his chair, then sat there, laid it back a bit, then sat there. This went on for about ten minutes. Finally, I was exasperated and asked him what he was doing. He repeated the question several times. I was getting irritated and told him to go to sleep after almost an hour. He said okay and let his chair back and covered up. I thought maybe his blood sugar was off. 

Around 11:15 I had slept well and got up. I don't remember what started it, but he was strange. He took the sheet and blanket from him and just balled it up in his arms around his face and under his chin. Then, he started pulling the quilt from under him. He refused to stop and then started pushing his legs on the leg rest while I kept telling him he was going to break it. I asked him repeatedly what he was doing. He would repeat every question. Finally, he said, "I don't know."

I told him to put his little bone pillow down. I meant beside his chair. He took it and threw it onto me. I told him to put his blankets beside him. He gathered them sheet and blanket to throw to me. I was so exasperated. Only by talking to him in small words and pointing did I get him to put the blankets beside the chair. 

I questioned him for many minutes about his birthdate, his father's name, his brother's name, the president now. Finally, I asked him if he would drink a real Coke. He did. Then, I asked what else to eat. He tried to explain that Coke would make it all better. So, I explained in detail that was sugar/carb and how he needed protein and fiber or his blood sugar would plummet again. So, he sent me for cheese. 

Finally, he could remember his birthday, his father's name and birthday, president's name. I was exhausted and went to bed at 11:15 am and woke at 3:15 pm. He has seemed fine since then. 

He has never descended so far just out of the blue. But, he has walked around almost out of it and insisted he was okay. I have noticed he gets something to eat and is better. 

Our course, some days I have had to call 911 because of his actions. I still wonder what happened in the middle of the night and later in the morning. I am happy that he does not fall. 

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The type of onions may be part of my problem potato salad other than too many onions and chopped too coarsely. These were yellow onions. I might get white onions next time. At any rate, I picked out onions again tonight. This dish may last me another three days!

For dinner: ground beef with cheese melted on top, tomato, Miracle Whip, sort of a cheeseburger of chopped meat with no bread and potato salad. Tommy had ham, peas from a can, potatoes with onion in them, the potatoes with onions I used for potato salad. 

For some reason, I ate for the first time today at 5:30 pm. It is not often I got 19 hours between meals or snacks of some kind. When I ate dinner at 7 pm, it made me feel stuffed. Wonder why? 

A bit of decluttering has happened, just enough to call it decluttering. 

We are presently facing bad weather with a chance of tornadoes. 

It seems the storms are widespread. How is Tuesday and the night at your house? 

Have you ever had to deal with a person suffering a blood sugar problem that is sort of out of it? Tell me how bad it gets. How do you handle it? Especially if the person will not listen?