Saturday 28 May

Noni had a roommate on Friday night, but by the end of Saturday she chose to go solo and sent me home, said she was fine, fine just fine. So a day of great progress for her.

Linda was there for the early morning house as she had stayed over. We had. Few phone calls from Noni for things she wanted but mostly she was keen to see what the breakfast offerings were. Not sure if Linda went with her or if she went alone. But by the time we arrived around 9 she was full of praise for the breakfast offerings. We had message  that Krista was coming with Santino so we just hung about with Noni, did a bit of rearranging and storing of small things she had asked us to being over, some small items, but also a whole pile of other clothing items. This is noteworthy as all up to the move she said she was not bringing very many things over, but she has probably doubled her wardrobe after one day. 

Krista and Greg and Santino arrived shortly after Linda and Mike and so it was visit and at home Santino explore the room, he has a special fascination for the canes. Next was going up to see Gramps, mike Linda Jerry me and Noni. Linda had been up to see him in the morning and said he did not look good. So we were  prepared for a very weak and a bit incoherent gramps. However doctor spoke to us briefly and said he had seemed quite stable and coherent in the morning and aTe all his breakfast. We did not stay long as he wanted to sleep. Noni was keen to get back for the 2pm Roasry but we gave that the slip and did lunch instead. Dad and I did a run back to Miller ave to do some jobs but got back in time to go down to happy hour with Noni Linda and Krista. Dad got to miss out and watch the Giants game in the room.

Happy hour is an hour of an entertainer, usually a singer, today was Shona who is everyone's favourite. This was pretty cheesy and we had but it was also touching and kind of sweet. there was wine and beer available and one guy Patrick who was doing the rounds asking ladies to dance. Noni said boy I hope he does not come and ask me, but of course he did but she finally got him to accept her no but then he moved on to Linda and then to me, we had already I discussed our excuses when he started to do the rounds but of course it would have lbeeni bad form to say no, he was running out of partners. 

We were very good during this whole things but nearly wet our pants going up in the elevator afterwards. Linda and Krista and Noni took a run up  to see Gramps and found him much improved. Jerry and I did Noni duty for dinner and Noni suggested we join a lady that was sitting on her own and this proved to be a good move, Mildrid Vejmola and a one soon realised they had many connections, Joe and Bertha Iskra very good friends of theirs and also the Ferkos. So they talked easily through dinner. Mildrid especially was so excited to meet Noni. 

Once back in her room Jerry was fully into the Warriors game and Noni was more than happy to watch with him. But once game was over Noni said there was absolutely no reason for me to stay overnight, she was fine and happy to stay on her own. This is great progress for being only the second night. Very proud of her.

R available 

Thursday Friday catch up

Dad has kept all of you up on the last few days with emails Thursday and Friday, so this will be a recap and fill in. 

Thursday morning and Dad was no better. So Atria move in was off the agenda. We spent a lot of phone time either seeking information or receiving information, all around our concern that the insulin regime was not working, for whatever reason. We also spent some time making sure his small home meter he uses for blood sugar was reading correctly. Information from so many sources was not that useful and gramps was continuing to feel poorly. He made a try to write some checks in the evening and that was a complete disaster. I had to dive in and sort those out once he had gone to bed. 

So really on Thursday night We were not looking forward to Friday morning with much hope, but the plan to move them was still in place. Mom had bags everywhere ready for departure. And miraculously dad woke up much improved, got up early, wanted to know what the plan was, what the schedule was. He was still moving pretty slowly but was fully intending to be ready to go. He had early breakfast, then got washed, shaved and dressed. He wanted to check his bills from the evening before and was a bit devasted by his effort from the night before. But we got that sorted and prepared a few things for mailing. Noni went up with Linda and Dad and I had charge of Gramps. Arrival at Attria you will see in the photos, Noni was waiting in the lobby for him to go up to the room. He was overwhelemed walking into the sitting room, said it looked like a hotel.  Noni was very proud. He immediately found his spot in one of the Chairs and was more than happy to watch the golf. 

So Dad and I eventually went down to lunch with Noni. She nearly knows her way around the menu and the wait staff are very attentive do kind. We brought a salad back to the room for Gramps and then Dad and I took off to bring over the last few bags from the house. 

When we got back Gramps was asleep, he had eaten his salad but had wanted to lay down. He was fully asleep and really hot, we woke him up to get some water and food into him but he was incredibly weak and confused, kept just falling back on the the bed. Linda and Noni have seen this sort of thing many times, this quick decline. So the call was made to Paramedics and within a short time in they came to work their magic. The had the regular series of questions for Dad all of which he was able to answer, what's your name, what day is it, where are you? But he had a very high temp and they said straight away which hospital because he is going to ER. So poor gramps off to the hospital again. NOni seemed calm and not surprised, really more relieved than anything. Linda followed them up to Seaton and Dad and I sat with Noni

She did not seem so worried to say on her own and really wanted us to go get some food. It was still daylight so we dashed out for something. Once we got back to Noni we heard from Linda that she was heading back to do the overnight with Noni so we spent about an hour with Noni, who was all ready for bed, hairnet and all, and then we returned to A very quiet Miller avenue at the end of a very big, very emotional day.

Wednesday 25 May

Wednesday was early wake up for Gramps as we had a phone visit at 8.30 between Gramps, me and his primary care nurse Anna using speaker phone. He was to go in for an appt but Linda changed it to a phone hook up. Gramps seemed well and in charge. 

We went through his slide backwards over the weekend and the impact this had on him after feeling so great on Friday when she saw him. It is hard not to think that this has something to do with the introduction of insulin on Friday night, but we are not the specialists. We talked though as much as we could and I had to explain it all to gramps afterwards as his hearing aid has not been repaired yet. He seemed a bit down afterwards and said that he would like to stay home and warm as long as possible today and only go up to Stria at the end. He was also cold so stayed up only an Hour or so and then went back to bed. 

Meanwhile Dad and mike were going back and forth with last items, including two mattresses dad and I have been using.

Noni is definitely imagining herself at Atrai, talking all the time about what she will do in the mornings, packing more small things that she might need. She got serious about her tools yesterday and got those selected and packed. She has a small cutting board that needs mending and she wants to send this to Sam  Bonanno so she had me write a note to Sam and tape it on the board. This is the same Sam that will hopefully make her a shelf for the small table. "Sam is so good, he can do anything". But meanwhile she is lobbying for a piece of cRdboard to serve as the shelf until Sam delivers. She has the "carboard" and I suspect I will be drafted to cut the right size. 

During the day gramps did not seem to want to get up. He and Noni had several small conversations and she began to worry that he was sliding backwards further and that he would not be well enough to go up today. This was confirmed when gramps finally got up for lunch. as he was sitting at the table he had severe tremors and was only just able to get his food to his mouth. As these continued I got concerned that it was a low blood sugar event, I had seen this happen before to Carolyn, my workmate. So we hit him with a couple of small sweet drinks and wrapped him up in den and the tremors eventually passed. A couple of efforts to call for advice to VA and we got one of the nurses who took notes and said she would pass it onto Anna. He took his blood sugar reading with great difficulty and ended up going back to bed one he was warm. 

Noni made a great simple pasta with some some small help from me and as we were sitting down gramps came in, had some pasta a banana and two of his fortified milk drinks and then did all j

His medication. He seemed in slightly better spirits, no tremors, but clearly he would not have been able to have done the move today. 

Tomorrow morning we will see how it goes. Just a bit sad we did not do move last week when he was so well. But just have to look forwRd 

As Dad and I were no mattress less mike arrived with. Euro bed type affair. Martinellis and gramps and non feeling very bad about this but we said no worries we were OK. dad went out for some alcohol so we had drinks and a game of cards once our housemates were all tucked in. Dad thrashed me, so nothing new there.

Tuesday 24 May

This is a little new to me as mum has nominated me to start the blog for Tuesday while she is in moving morning mode. So yesterday was going to be a " lay day " to Dgive gramps a little more time to build up his strength for the move. 

Early in the morning while non is watching her non mass ( the t v is gone ) , mum and I headed out for our daily ritual of latte (for me) and a " Mexican mocha " for mum at Antigua, our favourite coffee shop/restaurant down on Grand ave. usually mum does her blog there over coffee and we also pick up some fruit to take back for the day. That's when we get the oranges etc. to cut up for non and gramps. 

Then it was time to wait for Lindy to come by and we were going to meet Mike up there to take another load of small furniture up to Atria. First we hauled out another small table which we think will be suitable for the small fridge and micro which she wants for the room.

 When gramps got up, the first thing he asked about was the Giants game. They played last night but we had already taken the t v up to Atria. It was another Giant win, which we had checked on line, so he was happy about that. But his focus today was to stay warm and rest and not do too much too soon.

Overall, that was/is a good strategy as he is definitely still in recovery mode and needs to continue to take it easy for at least another month. 

So Lindy and mum and I took a load and since it all didn't fit in Lindy's Murano, I took gramps' Ford Focus with a few more things. Also, mum got a chance to go up anD check out how things were fitting in to their rooms. Surprisingly, when we first looked at the empty rooms,with bathroom in between, the Atria people said that  " it will look bigger with the furniture in it ". We thought it was " a line " that they all say but actually it DOES look roomier with the furniture in.

Of course, there will be changes made in what we have brought - that is inevitable - and we will shuttle whatever back and forth. At this point, I think that non will eventually want her sewing machine,which-should   be okay, but they DO have limited space so maybe some shifting will be required. 

Once again, Lindy spoke positively about the place but the proof will come to them as they spend more time themselves there. Some of the " safety features " are pretty impressive up there. Both non and gramps will have a button that they wear all the time which they can press whenever and wherever  they might need help. If they fall etc. in their room staff will respond to the button. I think it is actually good for about 5 miles away. 

Of course, we will be bringing gramp's oxygen machine with him and a few other necessary items like a wedge for his bed to help him stay a little upright when he is sleeping. There are also a couple of " walkers " - one with wheels and a seat - in the basement and I think the " new one " which mum and I put together will be going up. At this point, gramps and non don't seem to be using it around the house, but their room at Atria is a fair walk from the lift and it could come in handy for either of them. 

Later, we came back to the house and gramps decided to take a nap.....going with the lay day instructions...while mum continued to sort through the so many things that need sorting. 

Later, Lindy came by in the arvo to take Noni to the viewing (think Grandma Moser) in advance of the rosary  for one of her friends Maria Patari who died a few days ago. After the mortuary, Lindy and non were stopping to bring back Chinese for dinner. It is significant that there is not a lot of cooking going on here in the house. Non will probably appreciate having their meals laid on at Atria. 

After dinner, Lindy went home and fairly soon after that, non and gramps got into going to bed mode. 

One other thing happened during dinner, non produced some fortune cookies and you can see one of the fortunes was pretty appropriate. That is in the pictures with me and 

Lindy holding it up. 

Mom here, had to say a bit more about the fortunes as although Dad has done a great job the significance of the fortunes deserves more words. Although gramps is a fussy eater, he has always had a thing about taking the family out for Chinese. This has become a tradition  although the favoured Chinese restaurant has changed over the years. The current fVourite is close to the Martinellis so this is where they went to pick up a few dishes. One of the dishes is spicy beans, another is honey chicken and then chow me in So City style is always included. At the finish the fortune cookies are always given great attention.  Gramps really likes them so he took 2. Our dad opened up his first and was a bit stunned by the fortune as it was so relevant to the moment. He and Linda were looking at one another meaningfully so Gramps wanted to know what it said. I brought it over and he was quiet for a moment and then said "very true". Then gramps opened up his two fortunes and especially the second one was also a bit too relevant to the moment. A lighter note was delivered by the introduction of Nonis old dusters, which I had washed. These were a standby of our mothers and grandmothers in South City and if you were old enough you could wear them out in public and no one would blink.You will see I am wearing one in one of the photos. She is taking one to Atria. Speak out if you want to see photos of the other available dusters.

Monday 23 May

about Gramps, he did not have a great weekend. Saturday he really slid back and was having some breathlessness and coughing during the day. This cast a cloud over the house and a definite cloud over him. So on Sunday morning I had a chance to talk him through it, to remind him of how much he had done in the past week, getting up and getting dressed most days,  three outings, no naps, pushing the boundaries re time off the oxygen machine. Too many tests in too short a time. So he was paying the price! Losing recovery gains that he had made during the week before. He took this on board and deduced to stay in his pyjamas for the whole day. MOnday was a repeat of this plan. Jane was coming on Monday so he was looking forward to seeing her. Greatfully she said the same things to him. She said "you are like a flower now, anything can knock you over". She recommended a back to basics approach, warm, rest, sleep eat drink, oxygen. This was exactly what he needed to hear and he followed this to the letter on Monday and was feeling better and talking freely by the end of the day.

Because of this backward slide Linda put forward the suggestion to delay the move to Atria to Wednesday. Noni was quick to agree to that and while I think there is some risk in delaying the inevitable, there is still a lot to be moved up before they can operate out of their rooms and another day for gramps will be useful. 

I am still making bowls of cut fresh fruit each morning. Yesterday I introduced a mango as these are everywhere at the Mexican markets. Noni watched me cut it and I showed her the cut and flip method as well as the slices method. She enjoyed that, always so fascinated and interested in food that is new to her, I honestly think she would taste anything. 

Noni has been worried about her best knives, certain that no one will be able to tell the difference between the good ones among the many knives she has. So we pulled out the 5 best and I made cardboard sleeves and put these together in a labeled envelope. Who knows what their future will be. 

Noni had another visit from her knitting friend Joanne so there is a picture here, always difficult in the front room as you are looking into the light. JOanne is from Texas but arrived in CA at age 15 and went to Mission HS. She just loves Mom and has a totally different relationship with mom than the people she has known for so many years. It is refreshing really, she is really up front and mom really responds.

Linda and Noni spent Monday morning up at the rooms, organising furniture, unpacking the stuff that has already gone up, getting ideas for other things they want. There have been some small discoveries that have added delight to the move, things that  Noni has found that will be useful to her. One is a small crystal lamp that was sitting on something in the sewing room covered with dust and no longer working. This has been cleaned and bulb replaced and it now has a new life at Ateia. They stayed for lunch and she came back very positive, sharing with Dad how the rooms were shaping up and the schedule for Atria for this week. 

I finally got the chance to help Noni select her tools yesterday and although we did not finish the job she had a ball looking through all of her many tools. One of my current projects is to collect all of the recipes that are free floating around the house, with the main two locations being a small pile near the fridge and some envelopes in the dining room drawers. But then there are many cookbooks with stuff shoved inside as well. This exercise has shown that Nonis favourite things either to make or to eat are Amaretti (Italian macaroons) Delias chocolate sheath cake, rice pudding, bread pudding, rice torta and of course her ravioli and her pasta sauce. Recipes for these items are everywhere.  In among the envelopes of recipes was this wonderful photograph of Noni and her Dubuque work line crew with their supervisor Mary Helen, the tough looking one. These ladies all remained Nonis friends and there is a picture of them in later years. Note Nonis hairnet required to cover the bouffant hairdos of the day. Only she and Evelyn Martin are wearing the fancy ones. This hairnet is the same as the one Noni wears to bed each night, down to the tissue you can see wrapped Round her hair under the net, this has been a lifelong routine.

Sunday 22 May

Today was discovery day, Linda was over from midday dive into Nonis hope chests and her closet. Noni of course remembers where she got each thing and where she wore it. The first shawl is one she made and she was very excited to find it, has not worn it for years. Next treasure was one of her St John knits of which she had many suits and dresses. Linda is modelling the one she wore to my wedding. I was relieved that the dress discovery did not spark too much rehashing of past events.

Linda loves fur, Noni does too but understands that fur is not so popular these days, so rarely wears it but she has kept all fur items, even those that have belonged to others. So we found lots of those, hats, collars, cuffs and some of those items are to be released from storage. Speak up any fur lovers out there.

There were many shoes but noni's feet are pretty small, luckily some fit Linda and she was excited about the ones in the picture. 

Lots of notes everywhere, these on the inside of her closet door have been there for some time. 

While this activity was going on I was busy making two new heat pillows for Atria. They are sharing one at the moment that had done its dash and Noni still had some of the fabric she had used to make it, so Dad took off to the Dollar Tree to get the rice for the inside and I made two new pillows, one for each of them.

Dad and I spent the afternoon and evening at the Giants game with Mike and Noah. We got there early so Mike could get his favourite park for quick getaway. Noah is totally into the park, the players, the team etc. all of Gregs team and Uncle Mikes workmates are all over Mr Noah and many came over to say hello or bring small presents, one gum which oath said he did not want, he does not like gum, and the next a baseball, which he was very happy to receive. 

Half way through the game Greg arrived with 4 passes to Club level and this is also a routine Noah loves, he and Mike head straight to Noah's  favourite seat in the park, the highest seat o. The Southern end of Club level right next to the fence. He likes it because he can see everything at the same time.