Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1206     Reading:  82

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1229     BP:  169/76     Pulse:  53     Time:  1433     BP:  125/57     Pulse:  55

Breakfast:  1315  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 1 4 oz slice sugar cured lean ham 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    That's right, I took her blood pressure twice, today, once soon after she arose, which I'm beginning to think is always a mistake, and once about an hour after she'd eaten breakfast and had her lisinopril; and, I forgot to give her cranberry juice. We were trying to get ahold of some relatives to thank them for Christmas gifts. Otherwise, everything seems fine, especially now that I have evidence that the lisinopril works relatively well when she needs to take a blood pressure modified, which, apparently, she continues to need to do.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1813     Reading:  89

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1817     BP:  147/72     Pulse:  54

Lunch:  1845  & Meds What she ate:  grilled sandwich made with 2 pieces potato bread, approx 3/4 cup of the chicken salad from yesterday, approx 1 oz medium cheddar cheese and approx 1 Tbl butter for grilling 6 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine a bit less than a quarter cup of MCS's home made bread and butter pickles 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    Her blood pressure was a bit higher than I expected, but, again, I took it immediately after she arose from a long nap. She was still on oxygen but was puffing a bit. She ate a hearty lunch. I did this on purpose; it had been quite awhile since she'd eaten or drunk anything, longer than usual. I decided today would be a good day to have Just Desserts for dinner, since a hearty lunch seemed to be in order.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2211     Reading:  130

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2214     BP:  133/60     Pulse:  55

Dinner:  2230  & Meds What she ate:  1 jumbo Turtle dessert muffin
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
2 tsp Phillips Milkd of Magnesia	just before meal with a glass of water	administered in order to try to avoid constipation of the magnitude of yesterday, since she hadn't yet drunk much liquid, today.

    I picked blood pressure taking time carefully, tonight; purposely waited until after I'd washed, set and styled her hair, which always relaxes her. It looked good, especially considering that her last dose of lisinopril was at breakfast.
    Yes, it was a Just Desserts dinner, again tonight. She's really enjoying this aspect of the Christmas season, and I'm enjoying indulging her a little. She's like a child with candy when she gets sugar, now. It's a pleasure to give it to her.
    I was not at all put off by her blood sugar. Actually, with the potato bread at lunch and the bread and butter pickles, I expected it to be higher. I'm pleased it was where it was. Good show, today.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1217     Reading:  97

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1238     BP:  154/73     Pulse:  ?

Breakfast:  1345  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    If you've read my main journal, you already know that my mother was up in the middle of the night, for awhile, just enjoying herself, practicing an old habit. Thus, although I roused her at 1000, I can't actually say that she roused at all; she was dead to the world. At noon I finally decided, it's time. Everything looks good, she ate well, her blood sugar did just fine after last night's Just Desserts dinner. I'm going to have to figure out a better time and way to take her blood pressure so that it doesn't reflect her initial efforts to get her bod working, nor her annoyance with me when I'm taking her blood pressure.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1718     Reading:  147

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1722     BP:  141/64     Pulse:  58

Lunch:  1745  & Meds What she ate:  1/2 3 oz bag "lite" microwave popcorn 8 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    We're back to her regular lunch, mainly because she had an extremely challenging bowel movement, earlier, and I wanted to make sure she got lots of fiber, today. Not that she hasn't been getting lots of fiber, but, even though she's been getting plenty of olives, I think the added cheese and the lack of popcorn were somewhat contributory to the rocks of shit she had to eliminate, today.
    Considering the work she did in the bathroom, today, I'm pleased with her blood pressure, but I'm curious about her blood sugar. Not sure what's going on, there. Could simply be the interval wasn't as long as usual between breakfast and lunch.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2055     Reading:  119

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2059     BP:  156/80     Pulse:  54

Dinner:  2114  & Meds What she ate:  approx 3/4 home made chicken salad consisting of chopped white and dark meat chicken, chopped celery, chopped onion, chopped dill pickle, 1 large (not elephant) clove garlic, lemon zest, basil, freshly ground black pepper, celery salt to taste and enough mayonnaise to glue it all together on a bed of salad greens (not including iceberg lettuce). 1/8 slice ciabatta garlic bread with roasted garlic, margarine and parmesan
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    I'm pretty sure her elevated diastolic is because of all the liquids I've been feeding her since she finally expelled the rock shit. I gave her an antacid dose of Phillip's Milk of Magnesia immediately after the movement and worked hard on her to get enough liquid down to move the medicine through and help soften anything else she's got in her colon.
    Her blood sugar is still running higher than I expected. By this time, with the lunch I gave her, it's usually back into normal range, below 100. I should check back and see whether, on days when she's back up and expelling compacted shit, her blood sugar (and BP) run high. I wonder if I would even be able to find such days, if I've recorded them other than casually and occasionally. Perhaps, for awhile, it would be a good idea for me to record the days she has bowel movements and the quality of the elimination.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1145     Reading:  114

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1159     BP:  126/77     Pulse:  82

Breakfast:  1305  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Well, her blood pressure is showing a bit of improvement after one day of informal therapeutic exercise. If the diastolic of 77 and pulse rate of 82 is a little stunning, I chalk that up to the fact that she talked the whole time I took her blood pressure, this morning, while I told her not to. I think, though, it's begun looking better and better, with a few blips, to be sure.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1834     Reading:  87

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1839     BP:  130/62     Pulse:  55

Lunch:  1850  & Meds What she ate:  1 deviled egg 2 slice beef summer sausage and 2 slices each dofino, swiss and cheddar cheese may 1/4 cup of MCS's superb homemade bread and butter pickles 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    She ate late, for lunch, anyway. She also took a loooong nap today. The Little Girl was sleeping with her and it is always wonderful to sleep with a cat, so I let her be until she awoke on her own. We did a few exercises earlier today...fewer, actually, than yesterday. She seemed beneath the weather (there was a low going through), so I allowed her to set the pace for the day. Her blood pressure continues to regulate itself back to normal, I'm pleased to note.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2126     Reading:  118

Blood Pressure:     Time:  Not taken

Dinner:  2145  & Meds What she ate:  One large and luscious Lemon Cherry Pie Muffin, out of a box of twelve sent to us for Christmas by friends.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    That's right, I didn't bother with her blood pressure. Dinner followed lunch by only about 3 hours. I did want to see what her blood sugar would be like after the pickles for lunch (which contain a bit of sugar), especially since tonight's dinner was slated to be another Just Desserts dinner. 118 is great for 3 hours after lunch, especially because of the pickles. Since we are being sent sweets, and I know how much Mom loves them, I think this is the best way for her to enjoy the sweetest season of the year. It's working very well. I'm just hoping we aren't sent so many sweets that I'll have to throw some away.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1138     Reading:  91

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1156     BP:  157/74     Pulse:  56

Breakfast:  1310  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Still a late beginning, but, of course, it will be a late night. I've definitely decided that sweets need to be dealt at night. They seem to work well with her body chemistry, this way. She was a little agitated when I took her blood pressure this morning; I'm not sure why...just an argumentative streak that she sometimes shows, I think to reestablish her perception of her independence. I made a mental note to take her blood pressure, again, when she'd settled down but forgot, as we had other concerns on our community mind.

Lunch Non-Stats

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not Taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  Not Taken

Lunch:  1630  & Meds What she ate:  3 slices beef summer sausage, 6 slices of the cheese mentioned for lunch over the last few days 6 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    She is continuing to work our way through the meat and cheese box she received for Christmas some days ago, at her request and much to her delight. I didn't take her stats, today, because we were in the middle of doing her hair and she was deeply involved in another Deep Space Nine episode. I'm sure, though, that everything was fine. She's been particularly alert, today. A very good sign.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2026     Reading:  84

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2029     BP:  154/70     Pulse:  62

Dinner:  2055  & Meds What she ate:  Thigh and leg of a roast chicken approx 3/4 cup peas with bacon and sauteed onion approx 3/4 cup Uncle Ben's Brown and Wild Rice (Original Recipe) with added chopped celery, fresh garlic and green, pimiento stuffed olives
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    When I set my mother's plate in front of her, tonight, she said, "Mmmm...this looks like a restaurant meal." It did. She ate voraciously and happily (although this is not unusual).
    I'm a little taken aback by not only her blood pressure but her pulse rate, which were taken after she'd been sitting in her rocking chair for awhile, although I suddenly realized something, tonight. When she's sitting in her rocking chair, she leans toward her left. I need that side free when I take her pressure so I insist that she move to the right; not just slide to the right but rise off the chair and readjust her seat so her left side is completely free of obstructions. This always annoys her and she always lets fly a loud sigh. I imagine that her internal body reacts as well and this may be part of what is registering. Of course, she also needs to move a bit more. We started this today, which I'll detail in today's journal post.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1132     Reading:  97

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1155     BP:  149/77     Pulse:  55

Breakfast:  1255  & Meds What she ate:  1.5 eggs, heavily peppered, scrambled with 4 oz. lean sage sausage 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
acetaminaphen/500 mg	1 tab with breakfast	occasionally med if she's having pain or stiffness
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    You'll notice, she was moving extremely slow this morning: Witness the amount of time between taking her blood sugar and taking her BP, and I took both of them in her room before she headed into the bathroom for bathing. When she stretched after arising from the edge of the bed, she touched her back lightly and, after being asked, admitted that she was having some discomfort there, so I gave her acetaminophen at breakfast. Bathing was an unusually quiet experience for us, today. So was breakfast. Although we'd planned to do her hair immediately after breakfast, within an hour she wanted to go back to bed.
    Some of her underground level may be due to the fact that we've run out of lisinopril as of yesterday morning and I've been battling with the pharmacy and her doctor's office to have the prescription renewed. I'll explain that in my journal entry tonight.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1819     Reading:  114

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1822     BP:  124/54     Pulse:  52

Lunch:  1830  & Meds What she ate:  3 slices each beef summer sausage and garlic beef summer sausage; 3 slices each mild cheddar, dofino and swiss cheeses 6 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
lisinopril/1 mg	1 5 mg tab	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it; administered around 1615, then she went back to bed
acetaminophen/500 mg	1 tab with meal	given for back discomfort and headache; administered around 1615, then she went back to bed
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    When I got back from running some necessary errands around 1600 Mom was still in bed, but awake; she'd just gone to the bathroom. She wanted to sleep some more. By this time I figured part of the problem was the lack of lisinopril and one of my errands had been to wrest it from the hands of the pharmacy, in which I was successful. So, I let her go back to bed with 5 mg lisinopril and another acetaminophen tablet under her belt.
    She awoke on her own around 1800, and was "sort of" hungry, so I fed her a lunch and her usual lunch time medication. She perked up quantitatively after that.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2037     Reading:  120

Blood Pressure:     Not taken

Dinner:  2101  & Meds What she ate:  2 Costco oatmeal cookies and approx 6 oz Starbucks Mud Pie Ice Cream.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    That's right, folks, only dessert, tonight. She was still recovering her appetite after a low down day and wasn't really hungry, but I needed her to take her medications and knew she'd eat sweets. And, yes, I didn't bother with her blood pressure; I knew she could use the lisinopril, anyway and that her blood pressure wasn't too low. I also sensed that she'd be going to bed early tonight (for her), which she did, and I wanted to be sure and get her meds and some food in her before she headed down the hall. She was delighted, of course. I think we'll have a much better day tomorrow.
    She was feeling so much better, in fact, that when I asked her if she wanted some acetaminophen before bed she said, "No, I don't think I need it." Good for her.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast: Yes!

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1132     Reading:  78

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1136     BP:  140/58     Pulse:  52

Breakfast:  1235  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 1 4 oz slice lean sugar cured ham 1 pumpkin cranberry muffin w/1 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on muffin 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant

    It looks as though I've figured out how to treat my mother to sweets during the holidays: Serve sweets as the entire meal rather than dessert attached to a meal or as snacks in between meals. Despite this, I gave her the last of the pumpkin cranberry muffins this morning, so I expect her midday blood sugar will be a bit higher, but it's been under such good control lately, without any changes in routine (even without changes that would have been good, like therapy exercises), that I was curious, after taking her blood sugar this morning, if the pumpkin cranberry muffin would show up later today. We'll see, but, I'm excited. Her blood pressure looks halfway decent, too, so I'm satisfied.
    She hasn't had her "morning" cranberry juice, yet. We got busy, I forgot, and now she's taking a nap earlier than usual. We'll get at least one glass in, though, today.

Lunch: Oh no!

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1618     Reading:  211

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1617     BP:  132/64     Pulse:  55

Lunch:  1648  & Meds What she ate:  same as yesterday; meat and cheese in same amounts 6 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    Well, that's a big no on muffins for breakfast. So, it wasn't that her body was handling sugar better, last night, it's that it handles it best when she eats sugar as a meal, not as part of a meal. This works for me. That doesn't mean we'll not ever again have any sweets, it just means I'll be judicious as to when and how I give them to her.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2025     Reading:  99

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2027     BP:  139/65     Pulse:  55

Dinner:  2055  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 1 4 oz slice sugar cured lean ham 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water.
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
vitamin E/400 IU	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	given for anti-coagulant properties
calcium-vitamin D/500-200 mg	with meal	believed to be an osteoporosis preventative

    In case you think I made a mistake, yes, we had breakfast for dinner last night, too. We both just decided that's what we wanted, even though we had a roasted chicken in the frig.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1239     Reading:  95

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1253     BP:  140/58     Pulse:  51

Breakfast:  1415  & Meds What she ate:  1 hard over egg, heavily peppered 3 slices thick cut sugar cured lean bacon 1 slice toasted oat bran bread with 1.5 tbl Fleischmann's margarine 1/4 tsp cinnamon on bread 6 oz orange juice diluted w/8 oz water
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
Niferex-150 [150 mg elemental iron]	1 hour before breakfast	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with Niferex-150	helps the body metabolize iron
100% Aloe Vera gel/1 oz	just before meal	helps increase the cells' sensitivity to insulin when used with glipizide
Protonix/40 mg	1 pill at least 1/2 hour pre-meal	standard pre-breakfast med
glipizide ER/10 mg	1 pill with meal	standard breakfast and dinner med to increase cells' sensitivity to insulin
aspirin/81 mg	1 tab with breakfast	standard breakfast med - given for anti-coagulant properties
lisinopril/2.5 mg	1/2 of 5 mg tab with meal	given for kidney protection when her blood pressure can handle it
Daily Senior Multivitamin	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
folic acid/400 mcg	with breakfast	standard breakfast supplement
garlic/1250 mg	with meal	standard breakfast supplement; a natural antibiotic and anti-coagulant
1/2 cup pure cranberry juice w/12 oz water	with or after meal	standard twice a day supplement for kidney protection and enhancement of waste management

    I know, she was up very late this morning. My fault, my conscious fault. I'll explain in the Mom & Me Too journal for this date. Otherwise, she felt good, was in a good mood, and her blood pressure looked better than usual.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1841     Reading:  75

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1843     BP:  152/63     Pulse:  54

Lunch:  1900  & Meds What she ate:  3 slices beef summer sausage, 3 slices garlic beef summer sausage, 2 slices dofino cheese, 2 slices mild cheddar cheese, 2 slices swiss cheese 6 unpitted variety olives in a vinegar, olive oil, dill brine 11.5 oz V-8 juice with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Med/Dose	Administration	Explanation
36 mg Iron Protein Succinylate	2 18 mg tabs with meal	to pull her out of what I hope is her temporarily severely anemic state
vitamin C/500 mg	1/2 1000 mg tab with iron supplement	helps the body metabolize iron

    She took a short nap between 1730 and 1845. Had a good appetite, blood sugar looked good, wanted a hearty snack but not a meal.

Breakfast
    Tonight, I declined to take her stats on purpose. After lunch she mentioned that she'd "sure like to try" the cheesecake tartlets someone sent us for Christmas (she never forgets the sweets we receive), so I made a deal with her. I told her that if she could wait for a couple of hours until she could 'legally' take her blood sugar and blood pressure meds, we'd split the box (it contained twelve tartlets in 6 flavors) and that's all we'd have for dinner. She was delighted. I think, when I allow her sweets, this is the best way to deliver them, all sweets, nothing else, at a time when she can take her medication. She was so excited about eating the sweets that I couldn't see any reason to spoil the party by taking stats, so I didn't. I knew she'd probably be in normal range with her blood glucose and perhaps a bit high on her systolic bp. Either way, her meds would remain the same. So, at 2100, just as a repeat of the last episode of Sex and the City started, which she wanted very much to watch (it hasn't come out on DVD, yet), I plated our tartlets and we savored sweets with a sweet show.
    I am, of course, curious to see what her blood sugar is going to be like in the morning but, I'm not worried. It wouldn't surprise me if she was in normal or near normal range.