Life is a combination of magic and pasta.

Had the phone appointment with the GP and to try to get the A1c and glucose readings down a bit, we're going to try metformin again. I looked it up and it's been 10 years since I took it and the reason I stopped is that my pharmacy changed the formulation and it was like starting day 1 for months with stomach upset. I'm at a different pharmacy and chances are things have changed again so we'll see how it goes. If I don't tolerate it well or if it starts the menstrual cycle back up with a vengeance, we'll consider something else. She suggested possibly jardiance. Thoughts? I don't know other meds that well.

We're going to hold off on any meds for the depression/anxiety since Pristiq was a fail. If we consider it again, she loved the idea of doing the genesight testing first (thanks threecee!). Right now I want to focus on the physical and I should check and see if my talk therapist has any openings. It was Dec 2020 last time I checked and as we all know, that was prime COVID freakout period and she was overbooked. I've also been trying out some of the AARP tai chi and qi gong classes which I like a couple of them. I should see if they have some guided meditation at a convenient time.

Dad's not been feeling too hot and the symptoms sound like long covid ones. Poor old dude. I'm sure that the Sis/BIL church stress doesn't help. Crossing fingers for another bounceback there.

Yesterday JuneBug was onto my plans and hid under the bed so I had to reschedule her appointment for next week. She's not sneezing as much at the moment but when I say that, she starts in again.

Not a shock that Sis isn't doing well enough after gallbladder surgery to pick Dad up from the nursing home to celebrate with them. But then I got a call from Dad about half an hour ago that he has bright bloody diarrhea, though fortunately he told the nurse so they will probably have to take him to the hospital. I texted Sis and BIL to keep them in the loop and obviously they are about done with life and everything. I get you, guys, I really do. No point in trying to contact the brother - he probably has me blocked anyway.

My back is still not cooperating much so while I'll try to cook the turkey thighs I bought so I don't have to throw them away, not exactly going to be doing much today except cramping the hell out of my fingers crossing them.

The sister, Mom's doctor, and I were finally able to convince Dad to call for transport to the hospital for Mom. Mom hasn't been wanting to talk for days and Dad is getting more and more mentally off as things went along. The emergency button didn't seem to be working for them today(they had them come twice and how I knew Dad was in bad mental shape is that he was convinced that they'd keep coming to take Mom to the bathroom though Sis and I told him that wasn't how it worked).

The sister is being well...her usual-ish self, but it sunk in that she needed to get the ball rolling since I could only do so much online (since traveling isn't an option for me) and we both agreed that our older brother is all kinds of delusional and useless. His first response at Mom not being able to stand and get from chair to wheelchair and such was to order her a chair that can lift. Dude, so what's that going to do? Dump her like a sack of potatoes on the floor? Dad is down to 135 pounds and frail (didn't know he had lost a lot of weight again). He also stopped responding to our texts when I was reaching back out that they needed more help. Asshole.

Anyway, since the sister is a stylist and has all kinds of clients and contacts, she was able to get hold of a client that is in the field of health care advocacy and sales (thank GOODNESS) and Sis and I got Mom's details so we could start with coordinating with her doctor's office. Her doctor was very happy that we were going to arrange to get her to the hospital. I had to walk Dad through how to call 911 and what to say as to where to take her and she's currently where she NEEDS to be. I'm hoping between the sister and I that we can get things sorted with finances and care and yes, it's time to get the both of them somewhere to get round the clock care and hopefully someplace decent. We know that they wanted to stay at home but things have gone downhill enough with both of their conditions that it's time.

Dad didn't go with her but when I talked very briefly to him and told him to get hold of the sister so she can have the advocate get the process started, he seemed FAR more alert and coherent now that what's needed has been done.

I also have the fears since Covid is surging again and neither one of them are vaccinated more than the original shot but we didn't have much choice in getting her there and soon arranging to get them someplace more permanent.

Taking a sit-up break since I need to make sure to try to be mobile now and then. Doing about the same but at least that's not worse and I hope things improve. Usually when the back goes, if I can't lie on my left side, I am usually comfortable on my right but last night was difficult to lie down much at all. I finally got an assortment of pillows and lying propped up on my back with my knees and calves propped seems to be the least problematic sleeping position so I napped on and off most of the day since it's difficult to do much else in that position.

Emily and I were going to go to Ikea tomorrow but not sure about my back and also, she needs to take her car back in because she spent over $2000 to get her AC replaced just last month and it stopped working while she was on vacation.

I called the parents to check in and according to Mom's new-ish kidney doctor, she needs to go on a low potassium diet. If anyone has had to deal with that and has recommendations, let me know. I read off things to avoid and things that are ok. She doesn't eat consistently, even with the meals on wheels and I know she snacks on things she shouldn't but sometimes if a doctor - especially one she likes and she likes this one - says to do something, she'll behave for a while. Doing some quick research, I made some recommendations for snacks and other foods she likes like applesauce, hard boiled eggs (I had sent then this little egg cooker a while ago since I have it and really like it), carrot sticks. Also so that she's drinking less things like OJ and vegetable juice, she does like gatorade and unsweetened iced tea.

Evidently Mom's doctor's office was trying to get her in right away and also told her to make an appointment with a kidney doctor. From some screw ups with transportation, it sounds like they cancelled the Friday doc appointment and the doc ended up calling the sister (and pissing her off since golly gee, it was interrupting her umpteenth vacation prep!). They mentioned something about ER but said they'll delay and send the nurse out on Monday (today) to take more blood to test. It sounds like her kidneys are failing though she says she had no idea and doesn't feel different. Hopefully it was just a wonky test.

The first contact with the feds regarding the Audit of Doom is tomorrow. Bosslady is making minimal effort and had me try to write some stuff so yeah, that's going as poorly as expected.

In the meantime, found this going around Twitter - participate if you'd like. I'm curious to know how you'd answer:
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Food: Dim Sum
Drink: Coffee with Silk vanilla soy creamer (hot or cold)
Color: Sparkly
Season: Fall
Show: Ghost Files (don't watch TV atm)