Nana Celebrates Birthday #96!

September 15, 2019 Nana celebrated her 96th Birthday! We made the celebration last two days because, well, why not? 

In the morning of the day-before-birthday, Lori and Nate and Ollie and Sid made a visit to shower Nana with early birthday wishes and KitKats. They got an amazing picture - look at that beautiful Nana smile!

Nana and Sharon and Lori and Ollie and Sid

When we arrived Saturday, Nana looked so pretty in her blue sweatshirt top. She looks way younger than her 96 years. 
We started the visit with birthday cupcakes I had special ordered from Walmart. We propped her '96' candles for the pictures. (By the time you're 96, you don't have to blow out candles anymore.)  

Nana and her 96th Candles

Sharon and Jan and I gave Nana a new, cozy blue comforter for her bed. She'll be warm this winter! Gifts also included her KitKats and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's for snacks.

Saturday, in addition to Jan and I, Sharon and Bill and Cindy all came for a day-before-birthday visit. 

Nana and Diane and Jan

Nana and Bill and Diane and Sharon

Nana and Cindy

On the day of her actual birthday, we arrived early and met Nana at breakfast. On the way back to her room, we saw Rebecca, Nana's nurse and she gave Nana a big hug and said, "Happy Birthday Deanie." Next she received a Happy Birthday balloon from the nursing home to put on her wheel chair. She was a celebrity for the day.

Nana and her nurse Rebecca

Later that day, after we'd left, she got more visitors. Wayne and Missi and Mark and Megan came and later Sharon was there again. That evening, Jeff surprised Nana with a visit. 

Nana and Sharon and Jeff

Nana and Wayne

Megan and Missi and Mark

Nana and Wayne

Nana's 96th Birthday was a huge success. Nana and I agreed she's on her way to triple digits - 100!

Nana Update June 2019

Although it's hard to believe, Nana has been in Watsontown Nursing and Rehab for almost a year. It's been harder for me to write the Nana Blogs for a while. I was still feeling sad that Nana had to go to a nursing home, but I'm finally at peace that Nana is in the best place for her care. For a long time we were vague when talking to her about her apartment, but I finally told her we had to give it up but Sharon and I have all her stuff. She was upset but seems to forget I told her because she does occasionally ask Sharon about going home and worrying about the rent. We just tell her everything is fine and change the subject.

I talk to Nana every morning and, on most days, she's in good spirits. Jan and I visit in person every 4-6 weeks. She enjoys our visits and likes the treats we bring - KitKats, M&M's and Frosted Sugar Cookies. In addition to our visits, Sharon visits or calls most days, Bill stops in to see her, and Missi comes also. Missi even brought Wayne one time. Lori and Nate and Ollie and Sid visit as often as they can and she really loves seeing them. Plus, Lori calls and chats with Nana frequently. People from the church bring Nana church bulletins and cookies. In addition to family and church, we have Nana's care-giver Cindy check on her almost every day. Cindy is a treasure and we consider her one of the family. She loves and knows Nana so well and also understands nursing homes so her help and insight is invaluable. Nana's fortunate as there's a lot of residents there who don't get many visitors.

Nana loves her daily newspapers. We subscribe to the Sun Gazette, the Standard Journal and The Luminary for her. Nana is a thorough reader of news and that's the highlight of her day. She also gets Country Magazine and the Readers Digest. I'm so grateful that she can still read and enjoys it so much. She does still watch her game shows but doesn't seem as laser focused on them as when she was in her apartment.

Nana has some dementia so sometimes she harkens back to things she's done in the past, like going to the Weis store, as if they were in the present. As long as she's happy, it's not important to correct her memory.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Nana has a sweet roommate named Ruth. It was a bit rocky at first for Nana to accept someone in her room, but now I think she enjoys the company. Although neither of them hear very well, they still manage to communicate. Ruth gets the Daily Item every day and also loves to read books. She doesn't have a TV and it doesn't seem to bother her, although she can see Nana's when it's on. Nana always wants us to share her treats with 'her roommate' and we bring Ruth treats and books when we visit. I'm grateful for Ruth, not only because she's such a nice lady, but because she walks. When Nana can't reach the phone, she gives it to her. I don't know if she hears the ringer or if she sees the red light, but it helps me so I can talk to Nana everyday. 

Nana doesn't walk or use her walker, but she propels herself with her feet in her wheelchair. I can't believe how fast she goes down the hall! It's good exercise and the staff encourages her to go on her own. Most days, she goes upstairs to the Main Dining Room for her meals. That means going down the hall, on the elevator, and down another hall. I have noticed she's not too patient with any slow pokes in her way!

This spring, Nana was sick with a respiratory infection, had to be isolated and was on strong medications for 10 days. She didn't do well and I was afraid she couldn't survive it, especially since the nursing home lost a number of residents during that time to illness. But she's tough and fought her way back to health. Now, in two and a half months, Nana will turn 96! She's truly amazing!

During our last visit together, Nana looked at the Classified Section of the newspaper and said, "I don't need a job." I replied, "You're right, Nana, you've worked hard enough in your life." Her response was, "My job everyday now is to stay alive."
The coolest thing is that she didn't say it in a morbid way, just a matter-of-fact statement - a task she has to do.

Yes, Nana, we want you to stay alive and be happy and healthy every day that we are blessed to have you with us!. 

Nana with Pip the Beach Cat June 15, 2019

Nana with her newspaper June 16, 2019