Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1313     Reading:  114

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1324     BP:  111/59     Pulse:  63

    This time, I let her sleep. I went to Costco early, intending to be home by 1100. I got caught up in The Search for the Discontinued Toothbrush which delayed my return home until noon. What happened was that I found on one of the shelves an electric toothbrush with two bodies and one charger, exactly what I wanted to replace Mom's and my toothbrushes. The chargers finally gave out on ours. Although we can replace the batteries, the brushes are so old we can no longer replace those. Anyway, I found exactly what I wanted at Costco, didn't have to buy two because the kit contained two, but it was the only one of its kind and didn't have a price listed on the shelf. When I went to Customer Service to price it, they couldn't find it on their computer and the damned thing didn't scan at the cash register. I was determined, though. I didn't want any of the other models. None of them came with two brush bodies. Being a Saturday, it took them a full hour to contact "Central", get the information necessary AND learn how to enter an item that the cash register wouldn't recognize! Whew!
    Anyway, after I returned home, unloaded the car and put everything away, I still hadn't had my coffee nor had I set things up for Mom's arising nor had I done all the cat maintenance necessary (clean food, clean water, clean litter box). By the time I got to the place where I could face getting Mom up and feel good about it, it was 1300. So, it was my fault. She didn't mind. Of course she didn't mind. I felt bad, though.
    Anyway, we had a rather unusual breakfast. I picked up some blueberry/lemon sweet rolls that were advertised as having "half the sugar" of regular sweet rolls, whatever that means, and no artificial sweeteners. I thought those would be good to try, just to see how her blood handles them. I also bought some Canadian uncured ham. So, with her egg she had the ham and a sweet roll. She was thrilled.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2033     Reading:  159

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2034     BP:  117/56     Pulse:  62

    Just pickles and olives for lunch today. When she ate those, about 1730, she wasn't that hungry. She said, and I believe her, that she was still full from breakfast. That was okay with me. I had bought one of Costco's chicken pot pies for dinner. Since she didn't eat breakfast and get her first round of pills until 1400, I wanted to make sure that there was at least 6 hours between her morning and evening doses. She received her pills about 2045. We ate around 2100. That worked.
    I am pleased to note that the sweet roll, big and delicious and it was, apparently lives up to its advertising. With a regular sweet roll I would expect her blood sugar, after 6.5 hours to be close to 200. 159 is good, and respectable.
    Costco's chicken pot pie continues to be extremely salty, although good. Although the sodium doesn't hurt Mom, is probably good for her, in fact, since she flushes water so readily and her blood pressure is nice and low, I put a dollop of sour cream on both our pieces to cut the salty flavor. It did the trick.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 2345 as she was preparing for bed: Volume, fair; consistency, very good with a few shit rocks; elimination, very easy; clean-up, very easy.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1217     Reading:  134

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1218     BP:  127/58     Pulse:  61

    We're moving her back, again, from a late awakening and a mostly sleep day yesterday. As it turned out, she was headinginto the bathroom as I was headed in to awaken her. I think her blood glucose is still savoring the brownie from last night.
    Normal breakfast today, except we had home made 100% whole wheat bread. The weather is such that we'll mostly be using the bread machine, again, instead of buying ready made bread, until summer next year. She loves home made bread, so she had two slices. I'm curious to see what this does to her later day blood sugar readings. I suppose I could just go back and study last spring's readings. Maybe I will.

BM Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1701     BP:  121/53     Pulse:  69

    Good, good, good. For lunch she had six green pimiento stuffed olives wraped in thin slices of honey ham and 8 oz lemon yoghurt with about 1.5 teaspoons wheat germ.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1650: Good volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; very easy clean-up.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Forgot to take it

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2056     BP:  144/64     Pulse:  59

    We'd just finished watching a good movie and in my surprise over her blood pressure I completely forgot to take her blood sugar. Oh well. I'm sure it's fine, although I was curious.
    We had leftover's tonight: A little curried beef with vegetables; a little mac & cheese with vegetables and meat; a little sauerkraut with polish sausage. Mom's still working her way through hers. She likes these kinds of meals and likes to make them last as long as possible.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  I forgot to take it.

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1348     BP:  119/64     Pulse:  65

    Yes, she really slept in this morning. I started calling her at 1130; then at noon, then she asked for another hour, then at 1300 she said, "Wait until it stops raining." It rained all morning until 1330. I called her as soon as the sun broke through into her bedroom, even though it was still drizzling. She was ready to get up.
    I was so concerned about her blood pressure that I forgot to check her blood glucose, although I'm sure it was fine. As you can see, her blood pressure is fine, too.
    Although she is decidedly not retaining abdominal fluids, she's been having a small problem with her right foot being a little pudgy at all hours. Her left foot remains fine. I wonder if this indicates some further minor problems in the lower left quadrant of her brain. Otherwise, she seems to be doing fine and her right eye isn't floating like it does when she really doesn't feel good. She just hates the rain, so I gave her that, today.
    The chances are excellent that she'll only eat two meals today.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2039     Reading:  123

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2031     BP:  122/58     Pulse:  60

    Only two meals today. I think she subconsciously made up for her long night sleep by staying up until just after midnight. She did take a nap but wasn't able to "stay down" very long. Gee, I wonder why?!?
    For dinner she had our usual mac & cheese with all kinds of "good stuff" in it. Tonight I used three kinds of cheese, including Swiss. It was delicious! Although I had been pleased that we'd finished off all the sweet stuff in our house, last night I decided to try my amendation of the Honey Bear Brownie recipe so much later in the evening, around 2330, I guess, we each tried one. They turned out a little too cakey and a bit on the dry side, but they tasted good; not too sweet, very chocolatey. I'm going to try it again soon with a bit less flour.
    Although I forgot to record it when I noted her breakfast stats, her Bowel Movement occurred at 1345 which we were bathing her: Poor volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; very easy clean-up.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1101     Reading:  110

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1119     BP:  123/61     Pulse:  61

    She was unusually easy to awaken this morning. As you can see, she was in the bathroom, seated on the toilet, relaxed enough to have her blood pressure taken 19 minutes after I called her. She seemed to feel good, said she did. Stats look good.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1716     BP:  108/58     Pulse:  69

    Blood pressure looks good, but after a promising arising she started to go downhill. Neither of us could put our finger on the problem, even describe its symptoms, and she continued to insist she was feeling good. Then, at 1330, eyes red and watering (not from crying; my mother's not a cryer) she said she felt "awfully tired" and was going to take a nap "whether I wanted her to or not". I didn't stop her.
    I did, however, keep an anxious eye on her during her nap, which lasted three and a half hours until I figured I'd better awaken her just to get some fluids down her gullet. During her nap she slept hard. She breathed hard. She ended up flung onto her back, which is a sure sign that she's not feeling well.
    When I awoke her and was finally able to coax her into a sitting position she said, in a very stuffed up voice, "I think I've got a cold." It's funny; I don't know how many times I've thought she had a cold but was wrong. She definitely has a cold today. I don't think it's just allergies. She was moving like a ton of bricks was attached to her body. She is dehydrated but because her throat is "scratchy", it's hard to get her to drink liquids. I'm performing water torture on her at necessary intervals. She has no interest in TV, she just wants to read her magazines. This is unusual. She ate a light lunch, her usual yoghurt, green pimiento stuffed olives and V-8 juice, after which she announced that she didn't think she wanted dinner tonight. I'll feed her something, probably soup. The marinara I'm simmering can be frozen. We can have it some other time.
    She's staying up. Although she sounds, well, like she has a cold, she says she feels better sitting up than laying down. I imagine it's easier for her to breathe sitting up.
    I offered her aspirin. She refused it.
    Since she's been in a good mood, I joked with her that isn't it funny that she gets a cold the day after we start exercising and walkering again.     Her eyes twinkled. "You know, isn't it interesting how that works out?!?"
    Funny, funny woman.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2049     Reading:  113

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2053     BP:  144/67     Pulse:  67

    Yes, I'll be taking her blood pressure again this evening before she retires.
    For dinner we had home made marinara with lots of basil, sauteed chopped yellow onions, celery, green pepper and fresh garlic and bulk sausage over cheese/garlic ravioli sprinkled with lots of fresh grated parmesan. Her appetite was hearty. She ate a lot. I was very pleased to see this.

Bedtime

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2230     BP:  123/74     Pulse:  63

    This was actually taken about 45 minutes before she retired and another 15 minutes before her light turned off. I decided, though, if she needed a third lisinopril, it might be a good idea to give it to her before she headed for bed in order to keep her from retaining water. Which, actually, she isn't doing more than normal, but I wanted to keep it down. And, yes, she got a third lisinopril tonight.

Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1041     Reading:  112

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1117     BP:  130/56     Pulse:  56

    Systolic is a little high, although there are no signs of fluid retention. I'll keep my eye on it.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1100 while we were preparing for her bath: poor volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; very easy clean-up.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1623     BP:  135/68     Pulse:  59

    Everything looks fine except her systolic. I'm continuing to keep an eye on it. No other indications of a CHF episode. She's having no problems breathing, either. She's been taking the oxygen cannula of voluntarily and isn't mouth breathing. We had an exercise session today and she did well (on oxygen).
    She was "ravenous" at lunch. I prepared a ham and cheese sandwich on an onion bun for her with mustard and about 1/8 cup MCS's Bread & Butter pickles with 11.5 oz V-8 juice.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2006     Reading:  198

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2005     BP:  134/66     Pulse:  71

    I see the ham sandwich she had for lunch is checking in. Regarding her blood pressure, before she retired, without taking her blood pressure I gave her a third lisinopril. She had moderate feet swelling but nothing else.
    Her second Bowel Movement of the day was the cleaner outer: Volume, good; consistency, excellent; elimination; very easy; clean-up, very easy.
    For dinner she had 8 oz marinated, grilled rib-eye and 1/2 a baked potato with butter, sour cream and chives.
    She retired at 2300.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1107     Reading:  110

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1123     BP:  126/67     Pulse:  60

    I'm not concerned about her slightly high blood pressure. She was clearly more dehydrated than hydrated, not retaining fluids; I think she was just annoyed that, here I was again, awakening her before she was "ready".
    Breakfast consisted of two buckwheat berry pancakes I'd frozen from the last batch, three pieces of bacon, pure maple syrup and lots of butter.

BM Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1649     BP:  109/50     Pulse:  70

    Her nap lasted awhile. I think she was sugared over from the maple syrup, but we got rid of the pancakes. That was good.
    Lunch was her usual: Yoghurt, five green pimiento stuffed olives, about 1/3 cup of MCS's Bread & Butter pickles and 11.5 oz V-8 juice.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1310: Volume, poor; consistency, excellent; elimination, very easy; clean-up, very easy. I was a little disturbed by the volume. There is the slight possibility that quite a bit of it headed down the pipes before she arose from the seat: Her iron and fiber laden shit sinks like a stone. Just in case, though, yesterday and this morning I been rounding that teaspoon of Benefiber® up to about two teaspoons. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2005     Reading:  163

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2003     BP:  132/60     Pulse:  61

    The blood glucose is still reflecting the pancakes and syrup. We're just about done with all sugar in our house, now, except for raw sugar and Mom doesn't eat that, thank the gods. I'm not concerned about her blood pressure. She was closely focused on a movie when I took her blood pressure and was mildly annoyed that I insisted on taking it. If her diastolic had been higher I would be concerned, but I think her blood pressure just reflects her annoyance.
    My stomach is bothering me again so I ate very blandly. Mom was more interested in something with more bulk. We still had some stuff left from the KFC we had the other day so she ate her last thigh, some KFC mac & cheese and green beans. She was statisfied.
    I won't be taking her blood pressure again tonight. I expect it to be fine tomorrow.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1138     Reading:  129

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1156     BP:  134/63     Pulse:  57

    When I awoke Mom this morning, once again inching her rising moment a little earlier, she wasn't having any. I served anyway. She wasn't pleased. I think that's why her blood pressure was a touch high. Even though she enjoyed an abbreviated bath because, amazingly, she hadn't leaked last night after a good twelve hour sleep, thus it wasn't necessary to hose her completely down, and she had a hearty brakfast including 1.5 eggs with MPBIL's home made Southwestern Fire Seasoning and her requested two pieces of toast, she remained in a slight snit all "morning". She remained up, though, reading and doing crossword puzzles at the dinette table for some hours until her nap while I worked my way through boxes in the back bedroom and checked on her frequently. I think she laid down about 1500.

BM Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Time:  Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1627     BP:  128/61     Pulse:  69

    Well, that's not too bad. I noticed that she tightened her arm, though, while I was taking her pressure. I tried not to bark at her but wasn't completely successful.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at about 1610: Poor volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; very easy clean-up.
    Lunch was her usual yoghurt, MCS's Bread & Butter pickles (about 1/2 cup) and 5 green pimiento stuffed olives.
    Just want to mention, although her fluid intake hasn't been stellar, she doesn't appear to be either dehydrated nor unnaturally retaining fluids.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1911     Reading:  131

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1905     BP:  138/69     Pulse:  71

    Dinner was a surprise to me. I expected that we probably wouldn't eat untiil somewhere between 2000 and 2030. At 1830 Mom told me she was "salivating" while watching a commercial on TV and asked me if dinner was ready. I reminded her that it hadn't been long since lunch but she persisted.
    It took me a half hour to finish the home made chicken noodle soup with vegetables and grilled garlic cheese wheat French bread I'd planned, but I hurried it to her table as fast as I could. Lo and behold, she only ate about a quarter of her soup, even though she raved over it. She just wasn't hungry.
    I decided I was going to lay down a couple of laws. First, I don't listen to her any more if she decides she wants dinner less than three hours after she's finished lunch. Second, I was upfront about my reinsitituted strategy of keeping her up more, in part to increase her appetite and make sure she is up enough to remain hydrated. Third, She isn't going to bed before 2200 tonight.
    I know. We've all heard it all before. Who knows how long I'll insist on my rules until I become irasible trying to change her behavior and give in. Anyone taking any bets?
    She hasn't looked either dehydrated or unnaturally retaining fluids today. When she's been up she's seemed pretty perky, although, as usual, not moving much. She's remained up and able to entertain herself more than usual today. Her mood has been very good.
    So, I'm not going to take her blood pressure tonight. I think she may just be reacting to me. And, for some reason, she's finding it harder than usual today to keep her arm completely relaxed when I take her blood pressure. She has a problem, anyway, with this and, unfortunately, the wrist monitor demands a completely relaxed arm.
    Well, it'll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. At this point she's still up and glued to her usual evening series of M*A*S*H episodes, drinking her decaf instant coffee without being hounded; she hasn't been exhibiting that dry hacking of CHF. In fact, for most of the day, again, she's gone without oxygen because she hasn't been mouth breathing or out of breath. I don't know, maybe we're in for another "up" period, for awhile. The only thing I don't love about these periods is that it's harder to get a clear fix on her blood pressure because her muscles are actually tensed for movement, the way younger people's usually are.