Times and Places

Her funeral service will be 10 am Tuesday, May 29 at Zion Lutheran Church in Peoria. Joanne ashes will be buried sometime in the future at her grave site between my father's and Russell's.

The visitation will be 5 to 8 pm on Monday, May 28 at the Wilton Mortuary.

The Last Day or Let the Celebration Begin

My mother died at 10 pm Tuesday, May 22, 2012.

Most of you probable know that already but a blog should be faithful to its subject.

While at Methodist, and at my home, and at Three Pillars mom had long hours of being non-responsive. She ate little and drank little.


Monday night I came to visit her 5:30 and left at 7:15 and she never acknowledged my presence. This continue to Tuesday. When Esther and I visited that night, we knew her new life would begin before dawn.


I did have the presence of mind to ask my church to have someone give her communion Tuesday afternoon.

There was no indication of pain in her last days.

As her executor, I have a lot of squirrels to get rid of. I plan to bring a selection to the service and ask each of you to take one. Every squirrel helps, one less to put on a table at a garage sale.

Ralph

Day +8

Came over because family night. but Mom really does not have any interest. I am in dining room with her and so far aside has not said a word. I guess I need to be a drip on a rock. Takes time but will crack it.

Day +7

One week!

Saw mom Sunday about 2 pm. 

Mom looked good. What I noticed most is all the swelling in her legs has mostly gone away.

Still eats like a bird, likes breakfast best.

Tonight is Family Night so I plan to get there about 5. Have no idea what Family Night is at this home, so bringing a book. :)
 

Day +5

Put your right leg in a cast and the brake becomes too close to the gas pedal. I can't go any where without Esther. Two weeks and two days.

Saw Mom Friday night and this morning and she was tired both times. She says all the stuff going on gets her tired.


But I think she needs people taking her to the dining room and  physical therapy. Otherwise she would a little more tired.


The best news is Mom is talking in sentences.  That is the biggest improvement Esther and I see.

What she needs the most are prayers for an appetite. That will be the start of all healing. 


Ralph

Day +3

Not much to say, things made us late as Esther has to drive 70 miles to pick me up and get back to home. I almost ready to cut this cast off.

We did not get to the nursing home till 7:30. Mom already in bed, said she had a busy day and "they tired her out". Getting a little more color in her face.

Saturday I am bring a iPad and letting Mom read her emails and this blog.

Ralph

Her Address Is!!!

Joanne Stamerjohn
Three Pillars Masonic Center for Health and Rehab
400 N Main Street
Dousman, WI 53118

Reading the Blogging Manual

I notice the time was set for California. Fix that.


Also noticed that was not allowing anyone and everyone to comment. Fixed that. Anyone can now comment.


Added Esther to list of those who can write to the Blog.

Anyone see anything else wrong or annoying.

Ralph

Day +2.

Its 6:12 pm and I planned to be at Mom's an hour ago. But we are having some severe thunderstorms and you can smell the lightning. Will go when it quits.

When Esther and I saw Mom, you could see a little improvement. Esther's comment was that this was the first time Mom talk in sentences to her instead of 'yes' and 'no'.

The nursing home staff got her to go to the dining room for lunch (the big meal) and supper (small meal). She has a assigned table so hopefully over time she will start to socialize with the others. 

We plan to go again tonight and will skip Thursday as someone sometime has to mow the grass.

I got her address. And left it at home (I am at work). I promise tonight.

Day +1

First day in Three Pillars.

Mom is pretty much very quiet and not very hungry. Staff says this is typical for someone being in two nursing homes and five different hospital wards in the last two months. She needs to learn to know and trust where she is at.

And I still owe everyone the address of Three Pillars. I try to get it tonight.

Betty Leggott wins the prize for the first one to write to mj.stamerjohn@gmail.com.

Who is going to win the prize for first to comment on a blog entry.

Ralph

-1 Day

Tomorrow Mom goes to Three Pillars, a community for the elderly in Dousman Wisconsin.

Some things about this blog

1. I am going to use a large, bold font cause some of the readers will see it better if I do. I am not shouting.
2. Fell free to comment back on any post, especially questions cause this give me more to write about.
3. Until I figure a good way to tell us apart you don't know whether Mom and Ralph talking (Ralph until further notice).

Its been adventure. It's my Mother and Esther is doing all the work - cause my right leg is in a cast. Mom was discharged on Friday so the night before Esther and a little bit of me looked through her house for what things we needed to bring to Wisconsin.

Obviously the first was her chair. While I was in the bathroom, Esther loaded into all by herself into our pickup.

Truck was full - but its a toy pickup as one of my nephews me.

Friday morning was the classic hurry and wait. We got on the road at 12:50 and got to Wisconsin at 4:30.  Because the nursing home could not take her Friday, we had to go to our home. Then Esther had to scramble around to find a pharmacy that 1) could fill 12 prescriptions for 3 days of medicine and 2) took a Caterpillar insurance card and 3) understood Methodist Hospitals writing.


We (Esther) pretty much have things down to a rhythm. My job is mostly to hang around where every Mom is and get Esther whenever there is work to do. She is already doing work but not inside.


Tomorrow I will get you all about the move to Three Pillars.


Ralph

-5 days

Five days till Mom crosses the border to north and goes into Three Pillars.


Creating this blog so Ralph (and hopefully Joanne later) can keep friends and family up to date with events in Wisconsin.