My mother in law is still insisting that she can go live at home by herself instead of at the hospice. I thought we had settled this argument. She can't cook for herself, or even make a snack for herself. She gets exhausted very suddenly and can't even manage to sit up in a chair. She needs assistance to walk to the bathroom, or anywhere, really. She gets confused about her medication and has, at various times, either insisted that it was not time for her medication or that she hadn't had any medication at all that day.
And yet she's convinced she can manage at home. Never mind that she isn't capable of feeding or bathing herself. Or cleaning her house or going grocery shopping. Never mind that the steroids she's on could stop working at any second and she could find herself paralyzed or unable to speak or totally incoherent. Never mind that the doctor told her in writing that she needs 24 hour supervision. Never mind that the burden on John and I would triple with her 40 miles away instead of 12 miles away. Never mind that at the hospice they cook for her and clean for her and keep her company when John and I can't be there, and provide reliable medical care 24 hours a day, with back up medical care on top of that.
I am so sick of having this argument. I don't want to be angry and frustrated with Nora, but she just won't listen. I know part of it is the cancer making her confused and forgetful. And part of it is her natural stubbornness. She's got it in her head that hospice care is too expensive. Of course, we'd be criminally negligent, not to mention hideously immoral to let her go home on her own when she is this ill, and home health care isn't any cheaper than the hospice.
And my sister-in-law isn't helping. Some part of her wants her mom to go home, I think because in her mind that means Nora isn't really dying. Or something. She was telling me yesterday that we should really get Nora in to the doctor to be reassessed because maybe the doctors were wrong and she had longer to live and the hospice is expensive. She knows - somewhere in her heart of hearts, she knows - that the hospice is the best place for Nora, and there is NO WAY Nora could live on her own at home. Which means at the very least, a home health aide, and that costs as much if not more than the hospice.
There are all of these people I want to shout at, and I can't yell at any of them. So far, I'm just being firm, rational and unyielding, but I have my limits. On top of that, I'm not getting to exercise as much as I should...I'm always exhausted...I have a ton of work to do...my house is a messy, filthy pit...there is so much laundry that it could stage a coup...I have to get ready to go to Vegas for work next week...and I still haven't bought my mom a Mother's Day gift.
So, heard any good (or bad) jokes lately? Puns or knock-knock jokes, maybe?
I'm not the best commenter lately, sorry. But you and this situation you and your husband are in has been on my mind lately. I'm thinking good thoughts and sending them your way. That probably doesn't help much - so here is a favorite joke of mine from when I was a kid - before P/C too:
What did the Indian say when his horse came over the hill?
Here comes my horse.
(Duh - :) )
Hope that at least made you smile a little.
let's see...
Q: What´s black and white and goes round and around?
A: A Penguin in a revolving door.
Q: Why don´t you see Penguins in Britain?
A: Because they´re afraid of Wales.
Q: Who is a Penguin´s favourite pop star?
A: Seal.
Q: What kind of fish do Penguins catch at night?
A: Starfish.
Q: Why don´t Penguins like rock music?
A: They only like sole.
Q: Why do Penguins carry fish in their beaks?
A: Because they haven´t got any pockets.
Q: What do Penguins sing on a birthday?
A: Freeze a jolly good fellow.
Q: What do you call a penguin in the desert?
A: Lost.
Q: What´s black & white, black & white, black & white and black & white?
A: A penguin rolling down the hill.
Ouch. That's tough. And frustrating for all involved, I'd imagine. Independence is so hard to lose.