Sunday
I’m not sure how to assess today. Mom was up when I arrived. (I suspect she’d been up all night—-her bed was turned down, but it didn’t look like anyone had slept in it.) There were piles of clothes on her bed, and her clothes basket was on the floor with clean clothes on top of the dirty ones. I found Mom in the bathroom with everything pulled out from under her sink. She seemed cheerful, and told me she was straightening out the cupboard. She actually did a pretty good job of it. I was afraid to look inside any other cupboards or drawers—-I suspect she’d been ‘cleaning’ all night long! Eventually Mom joined me in the living room, and seemed really upbeat. I guess I was just grateful she wasn’t angry or upset about something. We talked all morning, Mom telling me a familiar set of stories, over and over again. She finally dozed off about 11:15, and slept soundly until it was time to go to lunch. The only things she said all morning that belied her lucidity were slips about putting on some coffee and wondering when Dad would get home. She seemed fine when I left her at noon.
Monday
Did you know today was National Pie Day? One of our grocery stores had all their Tippins Pie Slices on sale for $1.00! That’s somewhere between two and three dollars savings per slice! Knowing how much Mom loves pie, I stopped by and picked her up several pieces, and took an apple and a cherry slice in for her. She had just eaten breakfast, but was looking forward to having a slice this afternoon. Mom was reading a magazine when I came this morning, and seemed to be upbeat and connected all morning. We talked continually until lunchtime, and Mom seemed happy and contented when I left at noon.
Tuesday
When I arrived today, I stopped on my way in to talk to some of the staff. When I got to Mom’s room, she was on the phone, so I sat and waited for her to finish. I asked her who she was talking to, and she told me Lynn called her long distance to find out if she still worked at Westclox 
I don’t know what was really said to be interpreted that way, but regardless Mom seemed to be in good spirits and pretty sharp again today. We talked a little, and then I went in to change her linens so I was sure she had clean sheets and towels. She wanted to help me, so I got on one side of the bed and she got on the other, and it only took twice the time to make the bed half as well as normal!! But it obviously made her happy to be useful, so I’d gladly let her help me every time if she wishes. She was really chatty, and we talked all morning. She was in the same clothes as yesterday, so I again question if she ever went to bed. About 11, she started to wear down, and actually fell asleep in her wheelchair, so I let her sleep until it was time to go to lunch. She was very contented and cheerful when I left her at noon.
I don’t know what was really said to be interpreted that way, but regardless Mom seemed to be in good spirits and pretty sharp again today. We talked a little, and then I went in to change her linens so I was sure she had clean sheets and towels. She wanted to help me, so I got on one side of the bed and she got on the other, and it only took twice the time to make the bed half as well as normal!! But it obviously made her happy to be useful, so I’d gladly let her help me every time if she wishes. She was really chatty, and we talked all morning. She was in the same clothes as yesterday, so I again question if she ever went to bed. About 11, she started to wear down, and actually fell asleep in her wheelchair, so I let her sleep until it was time to go to lunch. She was very contented and cheerful when I left her at noon.Wednesday
As expected, Mom ran out of her good mornings. Mom was sleeping when I arrived, but woke up with a start. She told me she was scared, but wasn’t sure of what. Then she started to complain—-everything hurt. She refused to move, using every excuse you can imagine: the nurse told her she’d had a stroke, she’s broken her hip, her legs were already dead, she didn’t know how to move, she didn’t have anything to move for, and I couldn’t make her move! She kept telling me to give her more time, but almost two hours after I walked in the door she was still complaining and refusing to help herself. Every time I touched her, or even stood by the bed, she’d scream out that I was hurting her, or burning her, or freezing her. She didn’t want to get up, and insisted she couldn’t get up. I eventually left her in bed, and told her I’d see her tomorrow. I don’t know what else to do when she gets like this.
Thursday
Today was almost a repeat from yesterday, except Mom wouldn’t even respond to me when I talked to her. She had been up yesterday, and the staff told me she’d been ‘angry’ most of the day. She was dry and sleeping soundly, so I just left her alone. I laid out clothes for her if she every did get up, but chose not to try to make her get up, since she’s normally not persuaded to do anything she doesn’t want to do. I left her sleeping when I left shortly before lunch.
Friday
I guess most would say today was an improvement from yesterday. Mom was finishing up her shower when I arrived. The staff told me she was in a pretty good mood, and hadn’t fought getting up or showered this morning. When they left, we talked companionably for about 20 minutes, and then Mom dozed off. For the rest of the morning, the only things Mom said to me were dream-induced and made no practical sense to me (ie, ‘don’t separate those, they need to stay together’, and ‘they’ll be back in about 20 minutes’.) I woke her up to go to lunch, and she went willingly, but still kind of groggy. She also seems to have developed a pretty good-sized cold over the last few days. I hope this afternoon is better for her.
Saturday
Mom was sleeping in her wheelchair when I arrived this morning. she woke up when I went in, and seemed cheerful and friendly. She was sniffling constantly, so her cold seemed to be getting worse. Her apartment was plenty warm, though—-I was uncomfortably warm. I noticed her violets, again, were very dry, so I gave them a quick watering while we chatted. Mom seemed very tired, and kept dropping off. I noticed her bed was neatly turned down, and her fresh nightgown was across the foot of her bed, so I don’t think she actually went to bed last night. I noticed (as did the morning staff) Mom was in the same clothes as yesterday, and we all assumed she’d just never taken them off as opposed to putting them back on this morning. Mom was coughing, and I asked her if she’d like a cup of coffee. She thought that sounded wonderful, so I went to get her the coffee and a banana from the dining room. When I returned, Mom thanked me, but set it down and never touched it. (first it was too hot, then too full, and, eventually, too cold. She told me that was okay, she’d had coffee and toast for breakfast. (I doubt she’d been out of her room.) I do worry that she’s just not eating, whether she’s too tired or just doesn’t remember. There doesn’t seem to be much of an appetite, and the only thing she eagerly accepts seems to be sweets. I don’t want her to eat just junk. I talked to the staff, and they said they’d try to get her down for an actual nap this afternoon, but I doubt they’ll be able to convince her. Mom doesn’t believe she EVER sleeps during the day! She seemed sleepy and groggy when I took her down to the dining room for lunch. She asked me 5 times this morning what I was going to do this afternoon, and that was about the only rational thing she actual said. I’m not sure what I’ll find tomorrow.
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