Helping Grandma

I've been absent from blogging for several days, because my days have been busy here.

I've spent the past several days helping Grandma prepare her room for winter. She loves to change her bedding, curtains, shower curtains, and rugs for the seasons.

Thursday, I stripped the bed clear down to the dust ruffle. I washed the dust ruffle, mattress pad, sheets, blanket, and her summer coverlet. I reached up in her closet and took down a different dust ruffle, heavy comforter, two winter blankets, accessory pillows and shams. I got the bed arranged so that she was pleased. I also took down the summer shower curtain and washed it.

Friday, I took down the curtains, and washed them and the window. I then hung the curtains that she likes for the winter. Then I did the bathroom rugs. She's all set!

I recently took Grandma to the dermatologist. Her legs swell terribly. She sits most of the time, causing poor circulation. The dermatologist suggested that the rash on her legs was being caused by the swelling, and suggested that she start to wear support hose. Grandma argued, saying that she wouldn't be able to tolerate them, and the dermatologist argued back that she was going to have more problems if she didn't heed his advice. After we left, I talked to her and explained that while the stockings might be uncomfortable at first, she would get used to them, and she would start to see positive results. She ordered stockings.

The stockings arrived, but Grandma wanted to wait to wear them until she got to the podiatrist. We went a few days later. Have you ever worn support stockings? Do you know how un-elastic they are? How hard they are to put on? Now imagine trying to put them on someone else! Oh dear.

The first day, I don't know who had it worse, Grandma or me. Grandma is 83, and I know that she aches, and I try to be gentle, but truly, these things are very difficult to manage. I really have to push to get these up to her knee, and with each nudge, she would moan. I feel bad because I know that it's uncomfortable, but the slower I go, the longer the pain lasts. It's really a lose/lose situation. The good news is that they are helping to keep the swelling in her legs down. I notice a very big difference. The bad news is that we have to go through this EVERY day.

So, that's what's been happening around here. What have you been up to?