Weigh-In

I was there at the monthly weigh-in today. This project involves putting each of the residents into a wheelchair, pushing the chair onto a ramp, and noting the weight of the patient and chair. I was curious to see what mom weighs now, so I stuck around. She weighs 95 pounds (minus the chair).

This is the first month her weight stayed the same. She had been losing 1 to 1 1/2 pounds a month for a while, and then last month she lost 5 pounds which is probably what triggered the doctor to suggest hospice. So he took her off most of her medications and she is stabilizing, albeit a featherweight.

She is mentally clearer too, even though her vocabulary is minimal. She simply cannot find the words she wants, but she is no longer agitated - or at least I haven't seen it - and we are able to communicate in our own odd way. She says some verbal mishmash and I say Yes, or agree, or give her some words and a facial expression that validates her, and she's satisfied.

I'll be back over to see her in 2 days because I need to get her laundry back in her closet before we leave Friday morning. Our book is now out (on Amazon) and we started delivering book-based communication programs last week. We have another one tomorrow, and many more to market and deliver. My consulting work is gearing up in a good way, and needs my attention. We leave for Chicago on Friday - a conference and two book-signings. I'm glad to have hospice support while I'm moving around so much.