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Debated whether to post this, but I've been open about everything else since I started this blog, so here goes.

Mom's CT scan yesterday revealed a 7cm soft tissue mass surrounding the throat and an enlarged lymph node. Thus the eating issues. Lymphoma is suspected. Fluid and plaqueing in the right lung. Thus the breathing issues. I'll be contacting hospice today to get more information. The good thing is she hasn't shown signs of being in pain (yet), and is still smiling and laughing, although weakened. With help getting up, she is still walking. She seems to have recovered her appetite, and is eating and drinking with obvious enjoyment.

Yogurt Fluff

If you've been reading along lately, you know that Mom has been on antibiotics, has had some eating issues, and has lost a lot of weight. It has been a struggle for me to find food that she can and will eat. With all the antibiotics she has been taking, I've wanted to get some yogurt in her, but she didn't like it. Shoot. Yogurt would be perfect for her. In addition to the good bugs, it is high in protein and calcium. Plus, no chewing required, so the physical act of eating it is easy. I have found a way to get her to eat it, and thought I would share it in case there are other caregivers out there in the same boat.

I noticed a recipe for yogurt pie on the yogurt container. Add 1/2 a package of instant vanilla pudding to 12 oz of yogurt, and mix well. Fold in 6 oz of whipped topping. Pour into a graham cracker pie shell, and refrigerate six hours. Top with fruit or whatever. I didn't bother putting it in a pie shell, I didn't want her to have to chew. I just made it like yogurt pudding. She eats it right up. I might fiddle with the yogurt/whipped topping ratio. The more yogurt the better, but then I have to make sure she'll eat it, too. I'm trying to come up with fruit/yogurt combinations that she can eat. Next time I might try adding a chopped banana, her favorite fruit. Strawberry yogurt with banana would be good. The last time I ordered groceries, they brought Orange Cream and Banana Cream yogurt cups as the free item. I plan on using those as the yogurt in the pie recipe, adding (canned, chopped) mandarin oranges and bananas, and we might have a new favorite for Mom.

Now, a couple of gratuitous signs of fall photos.

Snakes on the Shelf

Several weeks ago, my sister came and watched Mom while I went to my spinning group. A few days later, I finally noticed this.

I had to call my sister to ask if she had done it, or if Mom had. First, we had a good laugh that it took me so long to finally notice it. Then she admitted that she had done it. Turns out, her seven year old does this often. He'll leave his dinosaurs or monsters in the fridge for my sister to find. Like grandmother like grandson.

Sunflowers

I planted a few sunflower seeds around the Wall of Junk, but didn't really expect anything to bloom because I planted them so late. I am happy to say I was wrong.

Only two have bloomed so far, but there are many buds on the plants. So bright and cheery.

I had to play around with Poster Edges, of course.

Not good news at the doctor's yesterday. Despite the huge dose of antibiotics, the fluid in Mom's lungs is worse, and she has lost even more weight. Her white cell count is elevated, so there is still an infection somewhere, despite all those antibiotics. We will start another round, but also do a CT scan to see if that tells more. I am very worried. To end on an up note though, I do have a funny Mom story.

For several days, I have had to feed Mom, and she wouldn't eat anything that she had to chew. If she couldn't just immediately swallow it, she just held it in her mouth. This meant that I wasn't giving her her usual beloved waffles for breakfast, but had instead switched to oatmeal. Tuesday morning, after about two spoons of oatmeal, she refused to open her mouth for more. Instead, she sort of glared at me and said "Get me something else." Yay, Mom was back! I made her a couple of waffles, which she ate all by herself and finished. She has been feeding herself and eating more normally ever since. Woohoo!

Pain

I just wanted to share a resource for caregivers out there regarding pain in AD and dementia patients that I came across today. It is often difficult to tell if a person is in pain when they can't verbalize it. This online workshop shows you how.

Mom seems to be in a downward spiral. I keep hoping that she just has to regain her strength after the pneumonia. We go back on Wednesday for another chest x-ray to see if the latest round of antibiotics have worked.

Shameless Plug

I was recently accepted into the Indie Dyers Cooperative, and have been busy carding up a storm for the Fall Fiber Frenzy scheduled for Tuesday at 3 pm Eastern. Check out the previews, sign up for Hyena Cart, and tell all your friends!

I'll be stocking mostly spinning/felting batts, with a few handspun yarns thrown in when I can. Here are a couple sneak peeks.

Cecropia

Have you ever seen a cecropia caterpillar? They are quite pretty.

The picture is from here.

I was inspired to make a yarn of it, of course. This picture taken in the light of the setting sun, so the actual color isn't quite as golden as it appears. It was my first attempt at spinning coils or beehives or whatever these are called. I might have some of each plus some other techniques I don't know the name of, which are complete accidents!

The yarn then became this collar, woven on the peg loom.

The coiled/beehive parts sort of curl above the rest of it, looking rather inchworm like. Maybe I'll have to change the name of it? Or do another leaving out the yellow and blue, and calling that one inchworm. If I were better at adding beads to my spinning, I would just spin the green fiber, then add yellow and blue seed beads to it. That would be even more cecropia caterpillar like.