Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1338     Reading:  132

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1338     BP:  109/59     Pulse:  57

    She definitely has a cold. She was up and down, up and down all morning because of continued stuffiness in her nose. She'd go to the bathroom, I'd get ready to bathe her and she'd announce, in a voice curdled with clogged sinuses and probably a scratchy throat but she wouldn't cop to this, "No, I'm going back to bed," and off she'd go. She finally resolved to stay up "for awhile" at 1330.
    Her stats look good and her arterial temperature was 99.8°F which is well within normal range, there's and her's. She was exceedingly stiff when she arose from the toilet for the standing part of her bath, though, and was clearing her throat a lot.
    At breakfast I gave her yet another extra strength acetaminophen. I'm expecting elevated blood pressures for the rest of the day so I imagine I'll be giving her a third lisinopril this evening.
    I was, though, able to keep her up until a little after 1700 with a movie that she surprised herself by enjoying.

Non-stat Lunch
    She was down for a nap only about an hour. When she arose she wasn't hungry. She was clearing her throat a lot again, though, and blowing her nose a lot. I talked her into eating a banana with some coffee and gave her yet another acetaminophen. I'd planned on taking her temperature but forgot.
    Between "lunch" and dinner I suggested doing her hair. She declined, even though this takes no effort on her part and she normally enjoys the relaxation of having her hair and scalp manipulated. "My skin feels funny," she said, touching her head lightly. "Let's do it tomorrow." I know that "cold" feeling where your skin feels just this side of unpleasantly sensitive, so I let her be.

BM Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2049     Reading:  127

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2053     BP:  153/67     Pulse:  52

    You can see both the acetaminophen and the banana swimming in her bloodstream. I'm sure I'll be giving her a third lisinopril tonight but I'll take her blood pressure just before bed to make sure.
    One good sign, though: I'd planned a Cobb salad, small version, and maybe some soup for dinner since her appetite isn't very good. When I announced I was heading into the kitchen to begin the start the salad she said, "I'm awfully hungry. Do you think we could have something besides salad?"
    We talked about what she'd like and ended up having KFC. Because of a mistake at the franchise for which I forgot to check when I received our order (I usually check), she ate an extra crispy breast (I'd ordered two original recipe thighs and breasts; I always get an extra piece for each of us for the next day and usually end up shredding it and putting it in soup or something; or throwing them away after they've sat in the refrigerator for a week or so, although sometimes Mom eats both her thighs); a healthy helping of KFC green beans with bacon, peppers and onions and some butterfly pasta salad with squash, onions and feta I'd purchased yesterday at one of the groceries.
    Overall, she seemed somewhat livelier. I suggested, again, doing her hair. Again she put it off until tomorrow. We watched yet another movie. It was a movie she has been known to enjoy but about 15 minutes before the end she announced she was "going to bed". I suggested that she stay up for the end. When it was over she was glad I'd prodded her into staying up.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 2020: Very good volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; slightly less easy clean-up but only slightly.

Bedtime

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2252     BP:  146/69     Pulse:  53

    I gave her a third lisinopril, wondering if I should also be giving her a fourth, knowing that it will probably take about 24 hours for the acetaminophen to work it's way out of her system. I think she'll be okay, though. She is not showing any signs of fluid retention. Of course, she's had the minimum acceptable amount of liquids today, too, since she hasn't been up much. She was sitting on the edge of her bed ready to read herself into proper relaxation for sleep at 2315. Her light went out at 2330.
    As I write this it is actually Sunday morning, the day after the day noted in the time stamp. This time I picked up her cold, something that rarely happens. I can't remember the last time I had a cold. I was awakened this morning by a runny nose and constant swallowing down a very scratchy throat. I'm hoping Mom feels a little better than I do, today. Tomorrow's blood draw day and it is imperative to her spirit that we do her hair. Mom feeling better automatically lifts my mood and my energy level.

Today's Stats:

BM Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1204     Reading:  107

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1250     BP:  123/58     Pulse:  53

    When I entered her bedroom this morning she was already awake and agitated, complaining that she was cold in the night. The batteries in the arterial thermometer chose last night to stop so I wasn't able to get a temperature but her head felt cooler than it did last night. I noticed that her bed was more soaked than usual. She was complaining about that, too. Maybe she sweated out a low grade fever last night. She still doesn't seem up to par. I'm expecting her to be low key today. She also complained about her knees hurting, about which she hardly ever complains unless I ask her, then, if they don't she's upfront about it. I ask her, in fact, every morning, "How are your knees...how's your back?" and, lately, they've been fine.
    I cut her back to one piece of "white bread toast" this morning. I also gave her one extra-strength acetaminophen for her knees, which seemed to do the trick. When she arose to take a nap at 1530 she didn't complain about them. When I asked, she acted as though I was out of my mind and said, "Well, fine, thank you, how are your knees?!?" As I expected, though, she was only up for 3.5 hours before she decided she needed a nap. She looked like she needed one, too.
    Just before she laid down it appeared as though her face was a bit puffy. I didn't do anything about it, like take her blood pressure. I notice she's been using a lot of Kleenex, though, today, much more than usual on her nose, so maybe she did have a cold. If so, the puffiness will subside pretty soon and I won't need to give her furosemide. Her belly looked fine before she laid down. Her blood pressure may be a little high when she awakens because of the acetaminophen. Come to think of it, that also causes her to retain fluids. We'll just wait it out.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred while we were bathing her at 1240: Good volume, excellent consistency, very easy elimination, fairly easy clean-up.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1828     BP:  121/62     Pulse:  58

    Well, her BP still looks good, despite the acetaminophen. She looked noticeably pudgy, though, when she awoke, even though she'd shed quite a bit of water.
    Lunch was very light, as I was roasting a boneless pork loin, the smell of which awoke her from her nap, and she wanted to wait for that. She had 8 oz non fat yoghurt, 6 pimiento stuffed green olives and 5 mini-dills. That's all she wanted. Sometimes the smell of roasting dinner is more filling than actually eating lunch. We were out of V-8 juice, so she had a large cup of her decidedly non-lethal instant decaf coffee.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2121     Reading:  92

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2121     BP:  147/74     Pulse:  64

    Yes, her blood pressure concerns me a little, but I'll bet it's the acetaminophen finally speaking it's piece. I'll check it at bedtime again and probably give her a third lisinopril.
    Dinner was delicious. The boneless pork loin, marinated for about 24 hours in a lemon/lime/pepper concoction, was incredible, tender and well seasoned. I made a type of gravy/sauce out of the dripping with MPBIL's Southwestern Fire spice and some extra ground ancho chiles in it and served mashed potatoes and peas with sauteed onion, celery and bacon seasoned with Greek feta dressing. She ate happily while watching The Last Samurai.

Bedtime

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2307     BP:  158/76     Pulse:  64

    This blood pressure definitely rated a third lisinopril tonight. I think she'll be okay in the morning. She was definitely retaining fluid tonight but I'm going to hold off on the furosemide. I'm expecting that once the acetaminophen is out of her system the fluid will follow.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1333     Reading:  119

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1344     BP:  124/63     Pulse:  62

    We're getting our hours screwed up again but I don't mind; we had such a good time in the early hours this morning. She had a really hearty appetite when she arose this morning. Before I asked she announced she wanted "three pieces of white bread toast, please." Her wish was granted.

BM Non-stat Lunch
    I didn't take stats because she ended up sleeping through what would have been her "lunch hour" so we went straight to dinner. Probably a good idea when you see what her dinner glucose was.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1545: Fair volume; excellent consistency; easy elimination; easy clean-up.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1946     Reading:  176

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1915     BP:  113/54     Pulse:  68

    There is a big gap between her BP and her BG because I was concerned that she slept for so long so I took her BP about 15 minutes after she awoke. You'll notice that third piece of white bread toast swimming in her blood stream. I was surprised but not worried. Her blood sugar was probably much higher than this when she headed in for a nap at 1600. I was, frankly, concerned that it was a little too early for her to be going back to bed but she was adamant; I could not dissuade her. I took her arterial temperature, too, after she arose. It was 100.3°F, which is a couple of tenths above the stated "normal" readings in the literature and a good degree above what she usually runs when she's normal arterially. Maybe she's got a bit of a cold, although I see no outward signs.
    For dinner we finally had the potato soup with chopped celery, green pepper, yellow onion, garlic and defatted crumbled sausage accompanied with grilled garlic Parmesan bread on whole wheat french bread slices. She was ravenous and appreciative, complimenting both the soup and the grilled bread.
    She started to sag at what I would consider an early time, considering our hours, lately, so I took her temperature again about 2000. It was, again, 100.3°F. I asked her how she felt and she said, "Oh, not 100%". Something must be going on but I'll wait it out and see how she feels tomorrow.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1243     Reading:  111

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1304     BP:  126/63     Pulse:  60

    Everything looks good. I'll keep an eye on her blood pressure but I don't think there's a problem. She shed an incredible amount of water last night and looks good today, although she's tired. The humidity is way up, although it's not raining. She's not having problems breathing, though, nor is phlegm gathering in her bronchial tubes.

Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1814     BP:  111/53     Pulse:  64

    Looking good again. Frankly, I'm surprised, because I expected the humidity to affect her as it did during the monsoon, but maybe she needs a humidity build-up to do that.
    For lunch she had about 3/4 cup 4% milkfat cottage cheese, 6 pimiento stuffed green olives, about 1/3 cup MCS's Bread & Butter Pickles and, yes, a banana.
    I should mention, though, she's ravenous now, as I post this, despite her lunch. Actually, what she's ravenous for is "cake". "I want some cake," she's been saying. So, I think I'll pull out the frozen brownies and ice cream and give her that for dinner. I won't be taking any more stats tonight. I know they'll be fine. She's getting ready to watch Mildred Pierce. With sweets. I think she'll enjoy tonight.

Non-stat Dinner
    As I mentioned earlier, I gave her brownies and ice cream for dinner tonight and didn't take stats. She enjoyed herself immensely, especially appreciating a Just Desserts dinner and a movie. She had such a good time, in fact, that she was loathe to go to bed. About a half hour after retiring at 2330 she was up again and we stayed up and talked until almost 0200. I enjoy evenings like this with her. Sometimes I wonder if maybe a mega-dose of sugar doesn't do her good every once in awhile; or, maybe more often.

Today's Stats:

Breakfast

Blood Glucose:     Time:  1057     Reading:  103

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1114     BP:  133/65     Pulse:  58

    Her systolic is a little high but I was still cruisin' to bruise this morning. I tried to cover it by simply keeping quiet but, of course, being quiet is not my nature. I'm sure my mother took note and reacted by feeling a bit stressed. She didn't seem to be retaining fluids or anything and her diastolic is picture perfect, so I'm sure she's not having a CHF episode. I'll keep an eye on it, though. The humidity's up today: I can feel it and the loaf of bread I baked today testifies to it.

BM Lunch

Blood Glucose:     Not taken

Blood Pressure:     Time:  1640     BP:  111/52     Pulse:  64

    Needless to say, I was beginning to recover my normal unstressed self by the time she awoke from her nap. When I took her blood pressure it was fine, so I must have appeared to be okay to her, too. I've still got a few wrinkles to iron out but they're not as treacherous as those I've had to work on over the last 36 hours.
    Her lunch was exactly the same today as yesterday.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1630: Good volume; excellent consistency; very easy elimination; very easy clean-up.
    Yes, I'll be taking stats tonight at dinner. I'll be curious to see how she's doing, actually.

Dinner

Blood Glucose:     Time:  2019     Reading:  91

Blood Pressure:     Time:  2018     BP:  125/68     Pulse:  66

    Although her systolic is higher than her normal range, it's not that much higher. She's been drinking a lot of fluids today by choice, heading into the kitchen for a glass of water here and there, which she almost never does. I've been drinking more than usual, too. I think it's this sudden and surprising hot spell combined with the humidity, which causes both of us to sweat more than we've been sweating in awhile. I finally attempted some fairly unsuccessful rationing this evening on her.
    I noticed, too, when I rubbed her legs and feet down before she retired, that her feet were more swollen than usual. Yes, I've begun this again. After spending almost a year considering medical advice not to do this and discussing it with my mother, we both decided, ahhh, what the hell. There's no evidence that her mini-stroke was caused by a clot, she has had none since and she's taking plenty of anti-coagulants, anyway, in supplement form, besides her 81 mg aspirin a day. When I was rubbing her legs up tonight in order to encourage her body to pull up the fluid build up and eliminate it, she joked, "That's right, get those clots circulating...mmmm, that feels good." If we are taking a clot moving risk with her, which I doubt, it's worth it, I think, considering that the same procedure seems to keep her blood pressure lower without additional medication, acts as anti-atrophy therapy for her legs and relaxes her as it pleasures her.
    For dinner I was going to make potato soup with additional chopped vegetables and crumbled, fried, defatted sausage but she asked for mac & cheese. Besides all the usual stuff I put in I added lots of minced, sauteed garlic, tonight, and chopped sun dried tomatoes. When we were kids, before we took over the cooking, I have memories of her making mac & cheese with hamburger and ketchup. Wasn't my favorite dish, I've never cared for ketchup, but I thought, because of her preference, she might like the addition of the sun dried tomatoes. She did, even as she joked about them being raw meat courtesy of my fingers, and ate a hearty helping.
    I decided, after checking with her tonight, to start adding bananas to her diet again. For a long time we avoided them because of their affect on her blood glucose. Since her PCP wants to raise her A1c, though, and her body continues to do a good job of regulating potassium, it occurred to me that it's time to reinstate bananas. She loves them, too, and, maybe with an added banana a day I can cut back even further with the Benefiber®. That would be nice.
    Although the time stamp is corrected on this to coincide with the date of her stats, it's actually 0036 as I finish this. A few minutes ago Mom woke up and headed into the bathroom. Her doubled paper underwear was already soaked and she was peeing. Her feet looked good. I swear, rubbing her legs and feet has so many benefits, not the least of which is that I don't have to depend on occasional furosemide to pull excess water off her when I rub her legs and feet regularly.

Combined Stats: 9/18 - 9/19/05

9/18/05: BM Non-stat Day
    That's right, as I decided last night, I took no stats. I'm not sure if Mom felt any more relaxed, but it was nice for both of us that meals were not preceded with the usual medical device rummage. Mom mentioned that a "no pill day" would be nice, too. I agreed but told her I don't think that's possible. She just sighed.
    Lunch was light, as usual: A piece of home made 100% whole wheat toast with margarine and cinnamon; 11.5 oz V-8 juice; six green pimiento stuffed olives.
    Dinner was the "delicious" last of the home made marinara (bolstered with sauteed celery, green pepper, onion and fried, defatted sausage) over grilled chicken ravioli.
    Her Bowel Movement occurred at 1535. This one was a cleaner-outer: Volume, extraordinary, considering the last several movements; consistency, excellent; elimination, very easy; clean-up, easy. I think this one was triggered by the "accidental overdose" of a tablespoon of Benefiber® a few days ago. Although I've returned to a rounded teaspoon of the stuff in the morning, after a run of merely adequate bowel movements I'll probably administer a tablespoon of it just to clean her out every three or four days, if necessary. It seems as though it took the supplement about 48 hours to work.

9/18/05: Non-stat Day, and Just As Well
    Bad Day at Black Rock again. Damn. I'm having some bad times, here. Although I knew my mood wouldn't affect her blood sugar, I knew is would surely affect our blood pressure routine. In order to make sure I didn't excite it, too much, I simply didn't take it and administered her pills normally.
    For lunch she had cottage cheese, 4% milk fat, about 1/2 cup; six green pimiento stuffed olives; about 1/3 cup of MCS's Bread & Butter pickles; 11.5 oz V-8 juice.
    For dinner we had chili polish sausages with chopped onions, grated sharp yellow cheddar on buns. It was the easiest thing I could think of to make.