Updates and hopefully positive changes to come

[missdiane]

First thing, Dad: Had a good talk with the head of the facility who I did feel reassured that she investigated thoroughly and has good insight. It sounds like that the "bullies" are likely old farts being grumpy old farts like him since she doesn't think things are malicious. The "setting fire" thing is also Dad hearing something and possibly twisting it. They actually had a fire drill that day and old people being old people, they got all weird and nervous. Also, the big dude is 1)a bit on the spectrum and 2)the other voice Dad heard was NOT someone conspiring with him but instead it was that guy's AIDE and he gets checked on every couple of hours so even if he had the intention of doing anything, things are watched too much for any of it to happen. I think with all the changes in his life lately, Dad's paranoia meter is ticked too high.

Now ol' Crusty Crotch. (The head of the facility denies any wham bam going on but let's be real, likely is some stuff going on). She's not currently at the facility but it has nothing to do with Dad or anything like that. She wasn't sleeping and was wandering the halls even before her husband died, after that, she was worse so the head of the facility let me know she's probably not coming back. So hopefully the folks she got riled up and Dad will be able to forget about that soon.

Interestingly, the big dude sat with Dad at bingo yesterday and they had a good talk about random stuff. So my gameplan is to keep everything positive, within realistic limitations. Also, the head of the facility is going to make sure Dad doesn't have any UTI weirdness since TBH, his hearing isn't good so how he could supposedly hear stuff in such detail is odd. She also wants to get him some PT help to try to improve his strength some. So feeling better about that.

JuneBug: Just got a call 15 minutes ago and it's the same as last time. Some sludge on the gallbladder and a bit of pancreatitis but nothing that should warrant more meds at this point. It's possible that the infection making her sneeze for so long was throwing off her old lady system. Also, I have the go ahead to let her get slightly chunky (not excessively so) since that might actually be good for her pancreas. She's close to 10 pounds which isn't huge anyway. It also might help to start both kitties on a hypoallergenic diet. They'd suggested prescription diets but I mentioned I'm going to do some research to try out some non-prescription foods since Picky Girl Is PICKY. Tomorrow's supposed to rain but perhaps Sunday I'll go on an excursion to some of the fancy-pants food stores near Princeton to get some new foods to audition.

Life in general: Emily's finally getting ready to get her Mom into nursing care but it'll be a small wait since she wants to get her into the awesome facility where her Mom already goes for adult daycare. Her Mom's brain thinks she's going to do there to "continue her research" (she's a retired physicist that did research at the Hospital for Special Surgery back when). Also, there's a kid daycare on site where the old folks can watch the kids and Emily loves that. When her Mom is admitted, Emily will start the process of getting the house she lives in ready to sell and will put the money in trust for her Mom's care.

Also, Emily's sister and family lives in a house that Emily bought (sister's credit stinks, divorce situation pre-covid, etc.). Her sister got remarried and had been stringing Emily along about buying the house from her. In fact, they said they were going to go buy a different house. Emily and I thought we'd try to get a place and start our own Golden Girls thing but instead, if her sister does go through with things and move, we might move into that house, which is literally two blocks from my apartment. House prices are high and Emily would make a little money if she sold it but also, interest rates SUCK right now and so buying a new house is far from ideal. Also, Emily is starting a list of things to fix (some a bit major like replacing the steps to the basement and doing mold removal and waterproofing and also upgrading the bathroom upstairs) once her sister moves out and before she (and I) move in. The good thing for me is the house only has a few stairs up onto the porch and also has a ramp. There's a bed and bathroom with walk-in bath on the first floor. Emily would have the bedrooms and bathroom on the second floor and we could gate it off from the kitties so she has her sanctuary from kitty allergies.

So decent news for now and I have some work to do.

Comments

[halfmoon_mollie1]

Yay! Before there were Golden Girls there was Kate and Allie. That would be so wonderful for you both!

[missdiane]

Heh, though Kate and Allie had kids and ain't no way Emily's nibblings are living with us.

I figure we'll just be Sophia (me) and Dorothy (her). The sassy mother-daughter duo.

[halfmoon_mollie1]

OMG of course not. NO KIDS.

[missdiane]

Emily's retirement dream is to be able to volunteer to hold babies somewhere. That's allllll her. lol

[halfmoon_mollie1]

Yes,and at the end of the day, she can put the babies down and come home.

[threecee]

Glad I don't have to have Vinnie da Bulldog threaten your dad's fellow residents. Being in a new place with a lot of strangers can be scary especially if he and your mom were pretty isolated for a few years.

Moon is jealous that Junie is allowed to gain weight. The vet wants him to stay at 16 lbs, or even better lose a pound of two. He is on starvation rations of three cans of food and 10 treats a day. He is certain that he needs at least five cans and 20 treats to have enough energy to pester me for food.

[missdiane]

Yeah, Dad's been through a lot of chaos in such a short time. I'm hoping that things get more on an even keel.

Starving I say! STARVING MOON. I wonder how much people feed their kitties since there really doesn't seem to be a standard. Junie is currently about 10 pounds but she's little. Both kitties eat less than two cans each and some crunchy and some squishy treats. JonJon hasn't been weighed in a while (overdue for an appointment but not feeling like that stress yet) but he's probably about 12 pounds but he also is tall and muscled.

I ordered a sample pack of this expensive stuff to try out.
https://www.smalls.com/
If they like it, I don't think it'll be served at every meal since it's expensive but even if half the meals are human-grade quality, that should help them both out. I'm hoping tomorrow's weather cooperates since a drive down to Princeton to get fancy kitty food to audition and maybe some stuff for me since the Whole Foods is in the same parking lot would be a nice little adventure.

[halfmoon_mollie1]

The Bon gets 1/6 of a cup of kibble for breakfast and lunch and 1/2 of a can of wet food for dinner. Her vet told me to take some of the kibble and use it for treats because he'd like her to lose weight. When I got her, he told me she "could lose a pound" and I didn't listen. Last summer when we were trying to figure out what was wrong with her butt (a bacterial infection), we figured out this plan for feeding her. But she is the laziest kitty. She doesn't like to play. I don't think she's lost any weight....

[missdiane]

Is it a 3oz can or a 5.5oz can? My two eat the same amount and now that I do the math more accurately, they eat maybe 3.5oz of wet food each per day. No kibble but some Blue crunchy treats and usually one Churu or Catit tube treat each

Looking it up, even though my two aren't as active as they were, that's actually not much food

EDIT, wait, I have it totally wrong. They get about maybe 4.35oz each per day. So it wouldn't hurt to give slightly more to each of them

[halfmoon_mollie1]

the smaller can. Doc calculated calories, and figured out that was what she needed. She is ALWAYS ready for her meals.

[halfmoon_mollie1]

the vet told me that Blue stuff tends to contain a lot of calories - I tried switching her to whatever their cat kibble is and she gained weight. I feel like a bad cat mom, I've never had a fat cat before. I've always been overweight but not my kitty, until the Bon

[spiffikins]

I'm glad the facility followed up with you on the situation with your Dad and that things don't seem quite so dire! And glad that they are going to check in on his health proactively - that's reassuring that they pick up on things like that!

Yeah, interest rates suck right now - if you guys can move into a place that Emily already owns - that is fabulous and sounds like it would work for you both - especially having one bedroom on the main level and one upstairs - that's a nice separation, while being in the same house!

Crossing my fingers that everything proceeds well on that side and that Emily's Mom gets into the place they want, and that move goes smoothly!

[missdiane]

Dad's looking forward to going for some walks this weekend since the weather is supposed to steadily improve. I hope that it calms him and he feels good. Dude needs to be chill so that his physical health also cooperates better.

Her youngest nibblings graduate so any shuffling around won't happen until a minimum of summer (not looking forward to another summer in this apartment but whatevs.) This is the previous listing on the house
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/117-S-2nd-Ave-Highland-Park-NJ-08904/39085007_zpid/

As it is when you buy a house that hasn't been completely upkept, there were some unexpected repairs - that EMILY paid for such as I think replacing the AC, not sure about the heat. There was a leak and so homeowners insurance needed to be used to do some repairs there. The sister bought new appliances but I'm assuming they'd leave them behind since they still owe Emily $20K for all the lawyer fees for their mom.

There are two upstairs bedroom as well as an attic that's usable as a bedroom that'll all be Emily's turf. That's fine because since we both have work from home times, we'd have our own separate space to do that (I'd likely have that space next to the kitchen as my office). That and she has a lot of books and trinkets and stuff and I'd MUCH prefer that all of it isn't crammed onto the first floor. As long as it isn't hoarder central, she can organize most of her bits and bobs in the multiple bedrooms up there and once the basement is remediated, we can both store extra/duplicate stuff there too.

[spiffikins]

Oh that's cute! Crossing my fingers that it all works out for you guys!