Tuesday, 09/02/2003 Entry: "A 5 Bag Night"

I've learned that common plastic bags from the grocery store aren't very effective. I have to put two on. Since I worked Labor Day, that was a learning experience, when the bottom of the bag I wore to work didn't exist a block from the office. I see today taking 5 bags: two in the morning, one to rush to the corner for lunch, and 2 to get home. If it rains tomorrow, it'll be a 7 bag night going to the podiatrist!

In other news: Dad contested and won when the notoriously sucky HIP tried to throw Mom out of the institution to save money (Dad: I told you about HIP! That's their rep - they act like they don't give a shit about treatment beyond a quick prescription or a bandaid.) and now the Doctors make the call. They crack me up. "Oh she has Dementia. She's delirious. There's nothing we can do." Hello? Mom was delirious without medication even thirty years ago. Medication has maintained her. In the fall she suddenly lost use of her body from the waist down from something called Haldol. It took two months and her lack of will to resume walking with a cane, and with it the disappearance of incontinence which had set on over the years. The news that Haldol was being reintroduced last week caused Dad to make another ultimatum to the hospital. I told Dad in no uncertain terms if incontinence recurs, he MUST take that as an early side effect of the drug and decide accordingly. Of course to make things interesting, mom slipped Sunday evening and is now with a 24 hour aide in the adjoining hospital with stitches in her head.