I just back back from NC about 3:10 EST and wasn't able to access the forum due to her old XP OS and not keeping up wit anti virus software. I tried and it was slow as dial up.
I have to say this, I was touched to the bone to see all these well wishes from so many. My heart felt thanks to all for responding and for knowing and having been there many of you, yourself. This was not a good visit-the worse yet. I had trouble understanding her and many times as the day went on it got worse. She would say things that made absolutely no sense at all and other times when you ask her something she responded about another topic. For the most part, it was just her and me there most of the time although Hospice a a few girl friends came by and stayed and brought food for the both of us. I fixed her what was brought and put it in a small bowl and she may have eaten a spoonful and very little liquid.
Several different occasions I would ask her if she could hold the bowl and she'd say of course but ended up dumping it on either the floor or herself or both. The same way with liquids. Several times I had to clean her and the floor up. It was heart wrenching to watch her not to be able to even hold a spoon. It was like giving a spoon to a week old baby. I was afraid to let her get up and go into the kitchen or bathroom by herself for fear of her falling. The entire time I was there I don't think she went to pee more than twice and not at all yesterday.
As I pondered at night after I got her in bed, which was the couch, I couldn't believe how just two years ago she could out work me in the yard and walk circles around me in Gatlinburg. Now she can barely stand. She has to to a morphine pill along with some other one in the morning and again at night and she couldn't hold the pills to get them in her mouth so I made her open her mouth and I put it in and held the water for her to drink. She insisted she could do it herself but after twice seeing I had to dig for the pill where she dropped it in the chair and spilled the water on her I started doing it myself...despite her fussing.
My poor dog had a rough time as well. He knew something was wrong and would circle the coffee table and look at her and do this several times and then come over and sniff her legs and feet. Her half Cocker/King Charles Spaniel wasn't good to Bubba and growled and nipped at him twice even though he had done nothing. Bubba would just go in the back bedroom where we slept and lie down on his bed. I felt sorry for him. He never made a sound the whole time we were there.
I feel like I'm in another world being home. It's like my head is spinning and part of me is still there. Well, I don't want to keep going on but again, it was not a pleasant trip. I thank each of you so very much for even taking the time to respond to this and hope your weekend was much better.