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I'm pretty sure I mentioned that we bought a new bed earlier this year.

Two and GGF inherited our old (less than two years old!) bed and mattress (which was a bit older).

I love love love love love our new bed.

I love its king sizedeness.  I love that Himself and I can sleep together yet apart.  I'm not overly loving that Tom STILL sleeps on my pillow (actually, he sleeps on me!).  But at least there is room to share.

 And I love the new furniture we bought to go with the new bed (seeing as the old(ish) furniture went with the old bed to Two's place).  The bedside tables match the dressing table.

Sheba, by the way, makes good use of any small patch of sun!

Today I spent with mother - took her to the doctor, was there when the aged care assessor came and then took her to see Dad.  Dad wasn't having a good day.  He was tired and this was reflected in his speech.  I tried to negotiate biscuits for Dad with his morning/afternoon tea.  He's managed to get some against the rules and I wanted a definitive decision - and for the speech pathologists to realise that when he gets home he will eat biscuits!  We have reached a compromise whereby if I or Dr Teacher or Other Brother are there he can have a biscuit and dunk it in his tea!

The aged care assessment hasn't changed the level of care but we now have paperwork which will enable us to list mum and dad for low level residential care as a back up plan ... well we will when Dad gets assessed.  The most important thing is that we keep mum and dad together hence the need to list them together with matching paperwork.

So much information over the past few weeks and so, so, so much conflicting information.

Diet and exercise ....

well ....

not really ...

but I keep turning up to my weight watchers meetings and hopping on the scales.  Soon it will all fall back into place.

And now I will read my book (Bill Bryson "At Home" - fabulous book) and toddle off to snuggle down in my gloriously comfortable bed.

Cya

Respite

As I think I've mentioned Other Brother is down and has taken over the mother runs.  He has also been delving into the parents' financials.

He has found some amazing things and we are confident that whatever happens they will be able to fund their lifestyle.

Today Mrs Other and I spent the day together.  We had A Ball!  We shopped.  And shopped.  And shopped.  And had lunch.  And shopped.  And had coffee.  And visited Dad.

Super dooper bonus?  SALES!!  We bought shoes ($330 reduced to $80).  Tops ($100+ reduced to just over $50)  Mrs Other bought a bag ($129 reduced to $40).  Lunch was delicious.  We went to the Oriental Tea House in Chadstone - why would you eat at the food halls with restaurants like these so readily available.  And the gastronomic highlight was coffee and cake at the Lindt shop.  And Mrs Other bought me some macarons (however you spell them) as a thank you.  I can't wait to try them.

Then we went to see Dad.  He was delighted to see me but was quick to point out how long it has been since I visited.  Nothing wrong with his brain!!

Mother is being assessed on Monday for aged care assistance.  Dad will be assessed either just before or just after his discharge.  This will give us the paperwork necessary to start looking at residential care options for the future although fingers firmly crossed that we won't need it.

So life trundles on.

Life rolls on

I have mentioned before that we have an abundance of bird life where we live.  This little fella is one of several that often visit.  Unfortunately this photo doesn't do his spectacular colours justice.

Dad remains in rehab.  He is slowly progressing and the plan is to get him home with increased support. If he can't manage then at least he's given it his best shot.  Other Brother is down and has been going through their financial stuff.  It is scary how little both parents seemed to know about their financial situation and it makes me realise how easy it is for crooks to rip off the vulnerable ones in our community.

Mum is doing OK.  She is trying hard to do more for herself.  I doubt we will ever truly know what she is capable of and what she has been capable of in the past.  She still fusses over food but my attitude is that we have made sure she has access to food (someone comes in every day to heat up her evening meal and there is bread and protein drinks and nuts available all the time) so if she chooses not to eat that is her decision.  We are not going to play those games again.

Two and GGF are in Japan.  We speak to them daily on Skype and they are having a wonderful time.

I am still not working and not sure what my plans are in this regard.

And on that note I shall go and clean out the pantry!  It's long overdue and will make me feel that I am contributing something to the house.

Dad and other news

Thanks for the kind thoughts re Dad.  He is OK.  Not brilliant but OK.  He is in rehab and we had a family meeting last Friday.  I had been lead to believe that the recommendation would be for high level residential care (nursing home) but the meeting turned out to be more positive.  The plan is to get him home but it is unlikely.  He still has great difficulty with word finding although he understands what is being said and read.  His cognitive and physical functions fluctuate dramatically which is of huge concern.  Other Brother was down over the weekend and has arranged for the three of us to assume powers of attorney with the parents' approval.  I now have to get someone to witness Dad's signature - Mum's been done.

In my book the best outcome would be for them both to be assessed for low level care and to get them to move into an appropriate residential facility.  My brothers agree and we are gently heading that way.  Our fears are that even if we can get Dad home, it won't take much to reduce his levels of function and we will be back to square one.

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Today is One's 26th birthday.  Where have the years gone?  He had a bbq at his and Ebz' new place (very close to us) on Saturday night.  We supplied the meat, the bread, the salads!  And gave him a patio heater for his birthday.  As he pointed out we gave him food and warmth for his birthday!!  And seeing as we have helped with the rent and bond on the new place we can add shelter to that as well!!

With everything that has happened I have decided to make myself unavailable for work for the foreseeable future.  I wasn't really happy with some aspects of the company I was working for; or to be more precise, one person in particular but this person wields a lot of clout.  Anyway, this way I can be available to take Mum in to see Dad every week day if necessary (Dr Teacher does weekends and Other Brother is down again next week so can do some of the running around then).  Also we can do the leg work to get things in place so, hopefully, we won't be caught on the back foot if/when something like this happens again.

Diet and exercise have taken a back seat of late.

Nuff said.