What did you say?
Life is getting just a bit trickier, these days. One of many issues, Mom either physically cannot hear well (say "what" and smile...I know!), or she is so unfocused there is no concentration. One of her favorite phrases: "What are you talking about?" Dad wants to get her hearing tested, and at first I thought that was a good thing, but the more I think about it, I see problems.
First, the testing. She's good with that part of things, but it will be confusing ("What are we here for? I can hear just fine...").
Second, hearing aids? If she needs them, who will be "in charge"? Dad has very expensive VA provided aids...can't remember where he puts them (Jeremiah and I went to Florida to get them...they were here in Stratford ON HIS BUREAU the whole time)...and right now the batteries are dead ("I have to order them...Oh...I forgot to order them"). So, will she wear them if she has to? What about feedback and the beeping noises? Can she turn them up or down? AND, Medicare doesn't pay at all for them. That astonished me...they only cost upwards of $10K!
Dad goes tomorrow for an ultrasound of his arteries, including his carotid. He claims to have gone "blind" a few weeks ago for anywhere from 3 to 12 minutes. Despite our repeated requests for him to get to the doctor, he dilly dallied all over and finally went to get the approval for an ultrasound. Given what happened to Mom last year with blockages and blindness, you can understand our extreme irritation with Dad. Yes, I will be accompanying him...the real story is really important here.
Mom was visiting with long lost relatives last night, as she walked up and down memory lane. Dad had her pee in a cup this morning and dropped it at the doctor's lab. Another fun few weeks ahead! "No, Ma, it's alright...those kids can be out there playing in the middle of the road...Wow, that's cool, Ma, with the dogs running in a pack through the sky...Wait, I'll get the spray bottle and kill those crazy bugs on the wall." It really is easier to agree and get along. Dad argues and says "There's NO ONE OUT THERE, IRENE!" That doesn't work. She just keeps repeating what she sees. Easier to nod and say, "Yup".
For some reason, I keep remembering when the school year was closing down, when we were kids. Mom set us up when it started getting warm. "Got your pennies saved for the playground?" "You're not going to hang out here, you know." "Once you are out for the day, don't expect to be coming in and out of the house." Mom talked a lot, but she always let us back in. If we didn't bother her about anything, it was cool. She'd pretend not to hear us in the house, and we would get what we wanted and get out, back to sit on the porch, climb the tree, or hang out on someone else's porch.
She probably heard us every time we popped in, but never acknowledged we were there. She probably practiced that. Maybe she's just tired of pretending not to hear, and doesn't care anymore.
First, the testing. She's good with that part of things, but it will be confusing ("What are we here for? I can hear just fine...").
Second, hearing aids? If she needs them, who will be "in charge"? Dad has very expensive VA provided aids...can't remember where he puts them (Jeremiah and I went to Florida to get them...they were here in Stratford ON HIS BUREAU the whole time)...and right now the batteries are dead ("I have to order them...Oh...I forgot to order them"). So, will she wear them if she has to? What about feedback and the beeping noises? Can she turn them up or down? AND, Medicare doesn't pay at all for them. That astonished me...they only cost upwards of $10K!
Dad goes tomorrow for an ultrasound of his arteries, including his carotid. He claims to have gone "blind" a few weeks ago for anywhere from 3 to 12 minutes. Despite our repeated requests for him to get to the doctor, he dilly dallied all over and finally went to get the approval for an ultrasound. Given what happened to Mom last year with blockages and blindness, you can understand our extreme irritation with Dad. Yes, I will be accompanying him...the real story is really important here.
Mom was visiting with long lost relatives last night, as she walked up and down memory lane. Dad had her pee in a cup this morning and dropped it at the doctor's lab. Another fun few weeks ahead! "No, Ma, it's alright...those kids can be out there playing in the middle of the road...Wow, that's cool, Ma, with the dogs running in a pack through the sky...Wait, I'll get the spray bottle and kill those crazy bugs on the wall." It really is easier to agree and get along. Dad argues and says "There's NO ONE OUT THERE, IRENE!" That doesn't work. She just keeps repeating what she sees. Easier to nod and say, "Yup".
For some reason, I keep remembering when the school year was closing down, when we were kids. Mom set us up when it started getting warm. "Got your pennies saved for the playground?" "You're not going to hang out here, you know." "Once you are out for the day, don't expect to be coming in and out of the house." Mom talked a lot, but she always let us back in. If we didn't bother her about anything, it was cool. She'd pretend not to hear us in the house, and we would get what we wanted and get out, back to sit on the porch, climb the tree, or hang out on someone else's porch.
She probably heard us every time we popped in, but never acknowledged we were there. She probably practiced that. Maybe she's just tired of pretending not to hear, and doesn't care anymore.
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