Recovery at 104.

So on December 11th Nana got dizzy, fell, and hit her head on the wrought iron edge of the dining table. A head injury at any age can be serious, but at 104 years old, no one really knew what to expect. Full recovery? Partial recovery? No recovery? We have had to weigh all the options.

She has recovered though.We don't know how much she will, but it is remarkable that she has recovered as much as she has. Her short term memory loss is almost to pre-head injury levels again. (She does not have dementia, just age related short term memory loss according to the neurologist). After she hit her head, she did not enjoy any food, water tasted metallic, she had no idea what time of the day it was, and she was sleeping about 22 hours a day. Now, she loves food again, water tastes just like water, she is aware of the day, and she naps a lot, but is very awake and aware otherwise. And again is sassy. Very, very sassy.

And, remarkably, she started to use the TV remote 3 days ago. After 4 and a half months, she is finally changing the channels and powering it on and off, instead of asking us to do it for her. This is almost a bigger deal to me than food tasting good again. She is wanting and able to start doing little things for herself. My dad and sisters and I are all so happy!

Today I did some exercises with her. I still don't know if she will ever walk again, but she is happy to do some things to improve herself. She has always been an extremely active person, so sitting all the time does not please her mind, nor is it good for her body.

Oh! And yesterday our friend gave her a fancy new hair do! Such a great week!

Easter Sunday's Bed Time

Although yesterday was difficult... last night was classic Nana.

My boyfriend helped my father pick Nana up and put her into bed. Due to the arrangment of the bed near the wall, he ended up sort of laying down next to her while he gently lowered her into bed.

Without missing a beat she said, with a wicked smile on her face, "Is Danny going to stay in bed with me?"

Everyone busted up laughing. She has definitely read too many romance novels in her life. 

Then so sweetly, she asked my boyfriend "It is ok if I joke with you like that?"

Like he could say no!

No matter how difficult a day is, I'm glad she still has her sense of humor, and that we can all still laugh with her.

Easter Sunday

Yesterday was... difficult.

My dad was a mess. Very teary. I'm sure he was thinking that this very well could be his mother's last Easter, but it makes every little thing so difficult when he is so emotional. I have to be so careful about everything that I do so I don't upset him further. It is ridiculous that I feel that way, but hey, I should do the best I can to *best* communicate with him, right?

We were trying to get out to the California Poppy Reserve, but we only made it to our friends' house that was on the way. Nana was very car sick. I didn't think it was a great idea to take her out, my youngest sister got into a fight with my dad about it, but in the end, it is up to him. She ended up having a nice day besides all the nausea and vomiting. We aren't sure exactly why she is so nauseated. Could be residuals from the head injury she suffered in December 2013, but it could be something else. We really don't know.

And that is what frustrates me. No one knows what to do with a relatively healthy 104 year old. There are no answers or statistics because she is so far outside of the normal ranges.

My dad is doing a really good job with his mom, but I know he is overwhelmed. With everything that happens, he seems to wish more and more his brother and father were still here to help him. Even Nana reminded him that he can't wish for things that he can't change.

My youngest sister, my boyfriend, and I went to the Poppy Reserve today and took photos. I think we'll make some large prints to brighten up Nana's room.

Hello world.

My name is Nicole. I spend most of my days taking care of my grandmother who is 104 years old.

Tonight I fed her vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries with the two pills she needed to take. I sang "just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" to her, and she laughed about being spoiled.

She is a rad lady.