August 18, 2002
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I spoke too soon in regards to Tana. She wasn’t well after all. She had one day where she appeared to be better, but then went right back to the intestinal problems. I was able to get an appointment for 5:20 Friday evening. I was very shocked to learn that Tana had lost 3 pounds in a week! Since she only weighs 19 pounds normally, this was a serious weight loss. The vet said she had blood in her stool, but he wasn’t sure what was wrong. He said it could be one of three things.
1. An adverse reaction to table scraps. I have a really hard time believing my cooking would have caused her to be sick an entire week. Most people are well only a couple of days after eating here. In all seriousness, she barely gets any table scraps... just a bite here and there. I have never seen Tana eating dead animals, either. She chases animals, catches animals, plays with them, even accidentally kills them at times, but chowing them down? Nope, never seen that. In fact, she has brought me a dead mouse. This is not to say that it’s impossible, but I have my doubts. I suspect she caught something while she was there Wednesday. It is an animal hospital and there are sick animals there. According to the vet, the treatment would be the same no matter what the cause, so I suppose we’ll never know. He gave her antibiotics and special prescription dog food. She’s not allowed to eat anything but this special food for ten days. Anyway, the very next day Tana had a normal bowel movement and seems fine now. She’s a little disappointed that we’re not giving her dog biscuits at the predetermined times, but we’re rubbing her lots extra so she’ll at least know we’re not mad at her. I came out of the vet’s a hundred bucks lighter, but I’m very glad Tana is on the mend.
 The Johnson boys are here. Well, they’re leaving in a couple of hours to go home. The first evening at dinner time, Mom entertained us all with her antics and had us all laughing so hard! She was so excited to have the company, it was wonderful. Charles sat next to her and at one point she tried to stab him with her fork (she was being playful). Then she shoved her plate toward him and asked him if he wanted some of her ‘dig’. There was already such a jovial air, we couldn’t restrain our laughter. Mom laughed right along with us and we all had fun. Unfortunately that was the end of her high-spirited mood and she slept most of the rest of the time they were here. She was very quiet at dinner the next night. She is sleeping now and I need to get her cleaned up and changed. I have to wait for everyone to leave to try that because she is so violently opposed. I hope it’s not too hard. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was talking with an aide at the VA and she was commenting on Mom. Apparently there is another lady who is very difficult to care for that hangs around with Mom when they are there together on respite. Whenever one of them is on the warpath it sets the other one off and she joins in. The aide said they sit in the corner talking or perhaps conspiring. We had a good laugh over that thought. I’m glad she can laugh at the difficult behaviors. I know taking care of people with Alzheimer’s Disease is not easy.
Psalm 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
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