Taking Care Of Mom At Home

So the other day I was talking to someone about taking care of my mom. We are looking for a side table tray that will fit around her electric recliner. One that isn't a couple hundred dollars. Well, that got their curiosity up as to why.  They seemed shocked I have my mom living with me, and I'm taking care of her health needs. They said something to me like.... you know there are nursing homes for that.

Really?

Yeah. I know there are adult homes and assisted living homes. I know a lot about them. I have visited friends and loved ones living in assisted living homes many times.

Mom's insurance will help cover her living in an assisted living home. But this is our decision. As long as our family can take care of her, this is where she will be. 

I know my great aunt was in a private assisted living home for a few years, and her care was pretty good. The place was clean, and she seemed to have decent meals, and other seniors to visit with. Maybe it was best with her family circumstances. I'm not convinced.

So as long as it is possible for mom to live here, we are okay with wheel chairs, electric recliners, toilet seat risers, and the fresh clean scent of lysol in the air. 

I think the rewards are great in exchange for the inconvenience. Inconvenience?  For instance, a major lack of sleep, a special diet for her, so fixing meals for her and for the family, and a constant flow of requests for water, juice, ice, etc... that gets to me now and then. Twice a day sponge baths, and helping her dress and comb her long hair. Yes, it is a little inconvenient.

But even with the inconvenience of it all, I'm thankful I can be here at home, taking care of my mom.

Revive Your Marriage

Quickly linking to a series I don't want to forget about, but I do not have time to write about tonight... Revive Your Marriage Series  and this is the blog post where I first learned about the Revive Your Marriage Series. Pray for Your Husband

Considering the talks we've been having in our facebook chats, I thought I'd share...

Cleaning Day – The Front Load Washing Machine

A few years ago we bought a new front loading washing machine and matching dryer. I love it! It has a huge capacity, like triple load or something. I have a big family, and keeping up laundry for a family of 8 can be challenging. When I got the front load washing machine and matching dryer, my life in the laundry room changed for ever! I was no longer washing a full load of towels every single day. Every three days, yes.  Now there was a mountain of clean laundry to fold when they came out of the dryer. But at least they were clean and smelled good!

Well, about 3 months after we purchased the set, my washing machine started to smell really bad. Lucky for me, something went wrong with the thing, and I had to call out a repairman. It is the only time it has needed repaired. The repairman told me how to get rid of the smell and keep it from smelling in the future.

• Keep the door open when the washing machine is not in use.
• Run a load on the hot cycle at least once a week. Using a little bleach in the dispenser will help, but it isn’t necessary.
• Clean out the front of the machine, behind the rubber gasket.

So that is it, we’ve been stink free ever since.

However. Yep… there is a however.

I thought my washing machine was nice and clean, but the other day I noticed there was some dirt and grimey looking stuff up around the detergent dispenser. I thought it was strange. I cleaned it with a Clorox wipe. It looked okay. I thought maybe one of the boys hadn’t been careful when he was adding tide to the wash. Well, I took the dispenser thing out. It took a little tug and I realized there was a release button to push on…. I’m including photos to encourage you to check your own washing machine… this was no doubt a real big bad bacteria zone, and I had no idea, until I pulled this thing out to clean the detergent dispenser better.

 

The dispenser came out and oh my goodness!

I was so grossed out by what I saw in there behind the dispenser…

I am pretty sure that is some form of black mold. Can you imagine!!?  Yeah. Me either! I was completely grossed out!

So I gathered my supplies…

After I cleaned the dispenser with the wipes and even q-tips, I soaked it in a big tub of water with bleach added.

All clean and put back together.

Are you curious about my wall next to the washing machine? It is an old picket fence.

The white picket fence is cute with my laundry line wall paper.

Quirky? Maybe. But I love it! It makes me happy. Yep my picket fence and shiny clean washing machine make me happy. 

So now you should go check your washing machine… behind the laundry detergent / fabric softener / bleach dispenser. Even if you have a standard top loading washing machine… check it just to make sure you don’t have extra additives (bacteria and mold) going into your wash along with the soap.

Taking Care of Mom

My mom has breast cancer. There... I said it out loud.


She is 70+ years old.... but I always believed she would live to be 120. I remember her assuring me, as a young child she was going to live well into her 100s. Now that her condition is advancing... well. It doesn't seem fair.

Just a few months ago, we were running around town with my cousins and my aunts, having lunch dates and shopping. No signs of cancer...

Right now, I'm sitting at the dining table typing... she is walking slowly through the kitchen, toward the other end of the house... She will need my help in just about a minute...

Till next time...