Today is Christmas; A day of love, warmth, and family togetherness.

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." -Burton Hillis

This is the second Christmas we have had without mom at home, and I can tell you it wasn’t any easier than the first. Except for last year, we had hope that mom would be home this Christmas. Last year it was only a “temporary” thing. This year we know that it is not. But I know that we have to keep on going and hope that we have many more with her. No matter where they are.

This year, we woke at 7:00. One of the later Christmas mornings we have had. Some years, we have woken up at 5:00, and one year, even 4:00. After we woke up, we exchanged a few presents, and then packed up to go to moms. We did our usual Christmas morning breakfast, also in the small kitchen and dining area, and then we started to open presents.

However, we made the mistake of letting mom open one present before breakfast. All while we were preparing and eating, she kept asking “Can I open another one?” She was acting like a little kid, which was quite comical. Mom got spoiled this year. She got several blankets, some new clothes, and a few things for her room; which, in comparison to previous years, is a lot.

After opening presents, we got mom back to her room, and had the CNA’s lay her down for a nap so she would be bright eyed and bushy tailed for when we got back from grandma’s house. We went to grandma’s house for a few hours, and had a little bit more family togetherness. Oh, man, we laughed a lot.

After grandma’s, we went back to mom’s to tuck her into bed. She was tired, so we didn’t stay long.

This was an overall good Christmas I would say. It was a beautiful day we had to spend with family and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Remember, Christmas is not about the gifts we receive now, but about the gift we received from our father in heaven over two thousand years ago. His one and only son.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve Traditions

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
~Charles Dickens

This Christmas Eve finds Sheila very alert and in great spirits. She has been counting down the days until Christmas.

Right after Thanksgiving we decorated her room with a lighted garland above her window, brought in her Utah Jazz themed Christmas tree and made a wreath for her door. Christmas has always been special for Sheila so we make sure that we continue to make it special for her.

Today, Mom and Dad Sagers came down to bring Sheila her Christmas present. Mom made Sheila a double sided fleece blanket. The top side is a cat print with a solid pink on the reverse. Anyone that knows Sheila knows that she loves anything with cats on it. She loves her new blanket so much that she won’t let us take it off of her to show people what she got.

We resumed our Christmas Eve traditions after the unexpected turn of events of last year. Using the small kitchen and dining room they have at Sheila’s care center, we were able to continue the tradition of eating Maple Garden’s Chinese food by candlelight. (Without the candlelight, of course.) We then went into the Resident’s Lounge and used their large screen T.V. to watch Christmas movies. We watched a few of our favorites, which included: Will Vinton’s A Claymation Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, and The Nativity. Sheila very much enjoys the time we spend with her, even if it is just watching a Christmas movie.

We are very thankful for the ability to keep traditions alive at Christmastime.

Merry Christmas!

Sounds of the Season X 2 = Fun

One of my favorite pastimes is playing the piano. For the past couple of years a friend of ours, Lucinda Birt, actually pays me to come and teach her piano. But what we like to do most is play duets, especially of Christmas carols and songs. After working so hard to perfect these piano pieces I decided we needed to perform somewhere to share what we had accomplished.

I made arrangements with the activities director at Mt. Ogden Health and Rehab for us to go in and play for the residents. So this afternoon we did a whole one hour recital of a mix of solos and duets of our favorite Christmas songs. We had a lot of fun and the residents seemed to really enjoy it. Thanks, Lucinda for being such a great sport. The best part was that I got to play for my best fan. Thanks, Sheila!

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. …
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Today we spent the day with Sheila at the nursing home. With the wonderful kitchen and dining room which they have there we were able to cook a wonderful meal there. Holly and I decorated the table with a nice Thanksgiving theme and the dining room looked very nice. Sheila even got in on the making of the apple salad. For just a brief moment it was almost like being at home. We had so much food that we had to set up a table just to hold all of the food. We invited Sheila’s sister, Sondra, and her husband to join us. We actually had enough room to put everyone for once.

Tonight we enjoyed turkey sandwiches and leftover salad and shared with the nursing home staff. We really appreciate the hard working people who give such good care to Sheila. They always tell us they that they love working with her because she is always so happy and cheerful.

As a family, we are thankful for knowledgeable doctors and caretakers who take such good care of Sheila. We are thankful to friends who have seen that we have always been able to get to where we needed to be and always checking on us. We are thankful for family for their continuous love and support especially through those really tough times. We are most thankful to our Father in Heaven who has blessed us in so many ways. We are ever thankful for this year we have had with Sheila and count each day we have with her as a blessing.

Friday the 13th, also known as my birthday. Well, at least this year.

Middle age is when you've met so many people that every

new person you meet reminds you of someone else.

~ Ogden Nash

Today is a very lucky day for me. It’s my birthday and I especially love when it falls on a Friday. Friday the 13th. So, today, I got off work early to have lunch with my sweetheart. I called the nursing home and told them what I was doing so they would not take Sheila down to lunch. On the way there I stopped at Warrens and picked up one of our favorite sandwiches. Sheila had the Chicken N’ Things while I had my favorite, Pastrami. We had a great time just the two of us.

Unfortunately, one of the CNA’s this morning upset Sheila. While dressing her, they threw her favorite nightgown against the wall and did not pick it up. Sheila values the few things she has, and when someone disrespects them, it makes her mad. So, while we were enjoying lunch together, I had to hear how someone threw her nightgown against the wall.

Then, later this afternoon my parents came down and visited with me, Sheila, and the girls. We had a great time, laughed a lot, enjoyed ourselves, and most of all, the delicious carrot cake.
All in all, I would say that this was a good birthday; I just can’t believe I am now closer to 50 rather than 40.
-Jeff

Okay…. So today was dad’s birthday. Where do we start?
Dad went to lunch with mom, and ate Warren’s without us. While we spent the day at school. Yuck. Oh, well. Dad deserves to spend some time with mom, alone.

Grandma and Grandpa came into town and visited with us, and we had a great time. We ate carrot cake, laughed and spent the rest of the night watching T.V. with mom.

Happy Birthday, Dad. We hope it was a good one!
-Ashley and Holly

Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween. Mt. Ogden Health and Rehab does something really fun for their residence for Halloween. They open up the center to trick-or-treaters and provide the candy for the residents to give out. According to the center they get over 400 little spooks each year.

With all of the different illnesses, especially H1N1, going through the community we wanted to also protect her from all the potential germs that she could be exposed to. Solution: Dress her up as a doctor complete with face mask and gloves.

She had a lot of fun and really enjoyed seeing the children as they came through the center. It was nice to do something tonight that seemed normal. We don’t have very many of those “normal” things any more.

Sheila says, “Happy Halloween!”

So Long UTA, Hello BJ!

It’s official: We are no longer UTA’s best customers. After nearly four months of riding the bus, we have been able to purchase a newer car. The girls and I took an hour long bus ride down to Layton yesterday to look at the car. We located the car online and found it to be a really nice looking car for a great price.

After getting the car we immediately drove home, picked up BJ and drove to the nursing home. We parked just outside the window to Sheila’s room so she could see the car out her window. We went in and told her that we had something to show her. We took her outside and showed her the car and had her look inside and touch the seats. Sheila has always loved the smell of a new car. We then had her look at the size of the trunk and all the room it had. She got really excited about being able to open the truck with a remote. After the trunk opened she noticed that we had the cat carrier in the trunk. Then she could hear BJ meowing. She has not been able to see him since the first of July, just before the old car died.

It will be a blessing to be able to get to Sheila more quickly and not have to stand out in the cold waiting for the next bus to arrive. Over the past four months of riding the same buses we have become friends with some of our favorite drivers like, Denny, Micah, Gordon, Sam, Kim and Joe. Thanks guys for always getting us to where we needed to go and for always asking how Sheila was doing. We’ll be sure to wave when we see you pass by!

A Trip to Logan

Today Sheila had an appointment with her neurologist at the Budge Clinic in Logan. The nursing home made the appointment and made arrangements to take her in the nursing home van. They agreed to allow me to go with her in order to make sure she remained calm the entire trip.

I met Sheila at the nursing home just before 8:00 in the morning. It was a beautiful day for a ride to Logan. We enjoyed looking at the changing leaves in Sardine Canyon. All the way up we talked about many of the familiar places that we passed along the way.

We met with Dr. M. Williams and he wants to keep her on the Copaxone for now. He mentioned that he had recently read that studies had shown that MS patients were responding well to doses of Vitamin D3. He wants to start her on a regimen of vitamin D3. People normally create Vitamin D3 in their skin from exposure to sun light. Since Sheila never goes out in the sun, she needs Vitamin D3 added to her diet. We will see how she responds to this treatment. What a miracle it would be if something this simple could make all the difference.

On the way home Sheila asked if we could stop at Gossner Cheese to get cheese curds. She definitely has not forgotten much about her home of Cache Valley.

Sheila's Birthday

Today is Sheila’s 45th birthday!

On Sunday we had her birthday party here at the Mt. Ogden Health and Rehabilitation Center. More than thirty of Sheila’s closest family and friends came to celebrate the day with her. She enjoyed seeing everyone. We will be making a memory book with all of the thoughts, stories, and memories that everyone wrote down. In this book we will be including everyone’s pictures that were taken at the party. If anyone who was unable to attend would like to share something for inclusion in her book you may email them to us or post them to her Facebook and we will include them.

Tonight we brought in dinner and we were all able to eat together. Sheila loved having homemade chili. It was something different from the food that she gets at the center. Afterwards she got to open her presents.

We have decorated her room with all of the many birthday cards that she has received.

Here is the link to the photos from the party!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8384&id=100000026664835&l=b7c88638c3

Sheila's Birthday Party

This upcoming weekend we will be having a birthday party for Sheila. This will be her 45th Birthday.

Here is the info about it; we hope you all can come!

When: Sunday, September 20th 2:00-4:00 P.M. (Due to limited space, this will be an open house event. Come and go as you please!)
Where: Mount Ogden Health and Rehabilitation Center 375 East 5350 South, Washington Terrace Utah.

Click this link for a map!
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=375%20east%205350%20south%20washington%20terrace%20utah&rlz=1R2GGLL_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

R.S.V.P. 801-605-8591 Please R.S.V.P. so we can estimate how many refreshments we will need.

Please no gifts – just come and wish Sheila a Happy Birthday – your visit will count as her gift.

Back to School

After a slight communications mix-up with the nursing home, we finally got Sheila back on her Copaxone (the very expensive MS medication) this past week. The short time she was off of it she seemed to have been doing much better. Her speech was clear and her thought processes were intact. We also noticed that she could raise her arms above her head and could completely flex her hands and fingers. But tonight, after a week back on the medication, her speech has again become very hard to understand, the use of her right side is becoming diminished and she is also back to fixating on certain things. Now we are reminded several times a day where Ashley’s middle name came from. After reading all of the side-effects of the medication we are wondering if it is the cause of her anxiety. We are looking forward to seeing the neurologist to see if we should try one of the other MS drugs since we have not seen any improvements with this one.

We were worried that Sheila would have a hard time this week with the changes in our schedules. On Monday I started back to work, Ashley started classes at Weber State, and Holly started her first day at Ogden High School. The week started out well until Wednesday when I got a call at work that Holly had thrown up in the hallway at school and that I needed to come and get her. Thank goodness she is doing so much better. With the fever gone it is back to school for her.

This week Sheila got a home-made card in the mail from her dear friend, Teresa Birch. She was so thrilled to get it. She has it prominently displayed for everyone to see and she points to it every day when we walk into her room.

This week it has become even clearer that we definitely need to get the car fixed. After the many hours waiting to go here and there, it really adds up. One day this past week I calculated that I spent over 3 hours just waiting for buses. So if anyone knows of a good, but inexpensive mechanic or auto shop that could give me an estimate of what it would cost to fix my car we would greatly appreciate it.

We appreciate everyone who has offered and given us rides (you know who you are). Sometimes this is the only way we make it to see Sheila every day. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends and family.

A Week of Blessings

This has been a rather quiet week. We have been blessed that the temperatures have cooled down making it easier to get to Sheila.

On Wednesday we met with Mt. Ogden HRC’s social worker and other key players in Sheila’s care. They wanted to meet with us since they never had the chance when Sheila first came in. We talked about Sheila’s care plan and how her Primary Care Physician (PCP) wanted her to see her neurologist in Logan. They said they would check into the logistics of it, but could not see any reason why she couldn’t go see him. We are excited that she will be able to see the doctor that she is comfortable with. Now we wait for them to make the appointment and to work out the details of transportation.

Yesterday my Mom came down for the day. She helped take the girls school shopping which they really enjoyed. They treasure their time with grandma. Afterwards we went to the nursing home where Mom was able to visit Sheila. Sheila has really grown to love and appreciate the time she shares with Mom.

Last night Holly went on a photo shoot with Shelly Spencer, a professional photographer. She was so excited you would have thought it was Christmas Eve or something. She said that she learned a lot from watching Shelly work. Holly has started her own photography blog. (Look for the link on the side bar.) Sheila is so happy that Holly has found something that she really enjoys and loves. I believe Sheila’s words were: “She’s good!” I think so too!

Tonight we watched the movie Brian’s Song with Sheila. Yes, I know it is a 35-year-old movie, but still a classic. Sheila seemed to really enjoy it, or maybe because it was only 74 minutes long.

Our Special Visitor

Today was a big, no, a HUGE day for Sheila. Her very best friend in the world, Teresa Birch, stopped in for a visit while she was in town for a wedding. We first met Kenny and Teresa Birch shortly after we were married. Up until 1995, when Kenny’s work took them to Kenosha, WI, we did everything with the Birches. We’ve shared a lot of memories – births, baptisms and birthdays – together. And most recently we’ve shared high school graduations and a mission call. Sheila always said that she was closer to Teresa than her own sisters, so much so, that we gave Ashley the same middle name as Teresa. They would often joke that one mother could not have handled them both so they were separated at birth. The girls have grown up always hearing stories about Uncle Kenny and Aunt Teresa.

Anyway, Teresa had arranged with me for her visit to be a surprise for Sheila and the girls. I had to tell the girls that there was a special visitor coming today so they wouldn’t plan anything else. Holly and I waited in the lobby while Ashley took Sheila to the dining room. When Teresa walked in she immediately walked over to where we were sitting. Holly had no idea who Teresa was since she was only a year old when they moved. I leaned over to Holly and said, “That’s Aunt Teresa.”

We then took Teresa to the dining room to see Ashley and Sheila and to join us for lunch. Teresa walked up to the side of Sheila’s chair and Sheila was literally speechless. Somehow during all of the talking we managed to eat our lunch.

After lunch we gathered in the Resident Lounge where we shared lots of stories, relived some wonderful memories, shared pictures and even got to talk to Steven (their oldest son) on his 27th birthday via phone. We took lots of pictures even while laughing hysterically. It was probably the most Sheila has laughed and smiled in the past year.

In those brief few hours it was as if time had stood still for over 14 years. We pray that we can see our dear friends a little more frequently now that our kids are grown. We would love to have them move back closer, but now they have grown children of their own to consider. Until then, we hope they know there are a lot of people here in “Zion” who still love and miss them. Thank heavens for pictures and lots and lots of memories.

Teresa, we are looking forward to October 2010!

Family Get-togethers

I got to spend most of the day alone with Sheila while Ashley and Holly went to represent the family at the Stone Family Reunion. So while the girls went with Sondra to Westin, Idaho I caught the bus to Mt. Ogden HRC. Sheila and I had lunch and then spent an enjoyable afternoon together. Sheila misses not being able to go to the reunion, but does sends her love to all her extended family.

On Thursday, our sister-in-law, Sharon Porter stopped by for a surprise visit. She was in town on business and wanted check in to see how Sheila was doing. Sheila was really happy to see Sharon and enjoyed their visit. Originally, Sheila’s brother, Kelly was also coming down to go to the reunion, but was not able to make it due to his equestrian riding skills. It seems that Kelly got thrown off his horse and broke several ribs. We all hope he heals quickly. Sheila really misses seeing and talking to Kelly. We hope they are able to come down soon as Sheila really enjoys their visits.

Sheila, Phone Home

Today Sheila had her appointment with Dr. Alder, the surgeon. She called my cell phone this morning at 6:45 AM and left a voice message to tell me that it was time to get up because she had her doctor’s appointment and that she would see me there.

Michelle was so wonderful to give us a ride to the doctor’s office. When we got to the doctor’s office Sheila was already there. She had been escorted by the transportation guy and also one of the physical therapy aides. I was so impressed with how well Sheila looked this morning. They had her in her nice clothes, showered and her hair was done with a bow in it.

Dr. Alder said that he was not too concerned about the hernia itself, and that major abdominal surgery would be required to fix it. He also said the risk of complications was too great and did not outweigh the benefits of the surgery. He said he could see all of the many complications stacking up like dominoes. So… at this time we will watch it and hope that it does not continue to get worse.

After her appointment we sent her back to the center with her escorts and told her to enjoy her lunch and to take a nap and that we would see her later in the afternoon.

While Sheila rested, the girls and I went shopping for school supplies with Chelle and then had lunch together. It was fun just watching Chelle’s kids play on the playground at McDonald’s. Sheila and I are so very blessed with such wonderful family support. I can’t imagine what this past 10 months would have been like without wonderful family and friends. So, to everyone . . . a very big thank you!

The New Chair

Today we had lunch with Sheila at the nursing home. She really likes when we have Sunday lunch with her. She has been in very good spirits this week.

This past Wednesday the center got Sheila a new chair. This one allows her to recline if needed and also has a leg rest. It basically looks like a recliner on wheels. Since going to this chair she seems to have fewer episodes of crying out. Sheila says the new chair is much more comfortable for her. We are so thankful that something has been found to work for her.

Sheila is very anxious about her upcoming appointment with the surgeon this Wednesday concerning her hernia. We will let everyone know what we find out then.

Medical Update

Today we found out the Sheila has an appointment to be seen by Dr. Richard Alder on Wednesday, August 5. Dr. Alder is a general surgeon and is seeing her concerning the large abdominal protrusion which she has. Sheila is a little worried about it. Sheila’s nurse reassured us that if it is a hernia that they are easily fixed. We’ll just wait to see what Dr. Alder says. We’ll keep everyone posted.

Return and Relief

Sheila was ecstatic yesterday afternoon when Ashley came home after spending five days at Aunt Chelle’s house. To celebrate Ashley’s homecoming, Sondra joined us for dinner with Sheila. This lasted about a half an hour before Sheila started screaming and crying. We wheeled her back to her room and called for the aides. While we were waiting we noticed a large area of Sheila’s abdomen protruding above her naval. I asked the nurse to also check it. She did, and she was also concerned. I also mentioned to her that the screaming only happens after Sheila has been in her wheelchair for about 20 or so minutes. She said she would call the Center’s doctor. Later I got a phone call from the nurse who said she had talked with Dr. Canfield’s P.A. who ordered a laxative, some pain medication, and was going to set up a surgical consult.

It was nice to see someone actually note that Sheila was indeed in pain and not just screaming for attention. This is the first time during this whole ordeal that she has been given something besides Tylenol for her pain.

Today we attempted the dining room for dinner and made it about 15 minutes before we had to head back to her room. Luckily her aide, Cory, was able to get her back in bed pretty quickly and then she was able to relax and calm down. We really enjoyed the rest of our visit after that.

It is really hard to watch someone you love suffer like that from pain. I am so thankful that she is able to find relief while she is lying down.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Ashley is still missing in action. Not really. Grandpa Sagers called and said that they wanted her to stay until tomorrow so she could go to the fireworks with them tonight and then to the community breakfast in the morning. The breakfast has always been a big deal in Bothwell, Utah, my adopted hometown. So, hopefully Ashley is having lots of fun. Sheila still misses her badly. Thank goodness for cell phones so she can still hear her voice.

Today Mt. Ogden HRC had a BBQ out in the courtyard for all of the residents. Holly and I decided that we would go and take Sheila to it. They had hamburgers, barbeque chicken, baked beans, salad and vegetables. Unfortunately we didn’t get to stay out and enjoy the company. For the second night in a row Sheila started screaming after being in her wheelchair for about 15-20 minutes. Last night we took her back to her room after she ate only part of her dinner. We had to do the same tonight. This time we took our food with us and ate with her in her room. Because the CNAs have to feed all of the other residents first, they can’t come and get Sheila back in bed as quickly as she would like. It makes for a very long hour of listening to her scream and cry. Nothing seems to console her once she gets going.

We’re not really sure what is causing her to scream. We are going to ask the nurses to check to make sure there is nothing medically wrong that would cause her to be in pain, especially when she is sitting, which seems to be when it is happening.

Where's Ashley?

Sheila has been doing pretty well this week. Our visits have been really nice, particularly since her room is well air conditioned. It sure beats the heat anytime, especially after walking to the bus stop and then standing in the sun waiting for a bus that never seems to be on time. We went and had lunch with Sheila on Sunday after we got out of Church. For just a moment it was almost like it used to be. (We must say that the food is definitely better here at Mt. Ogden HRC.) Sheila really misses Ashley who left on Monday to spend some time with Aunt Chelle and Grandma and Grandpa Sagers. Ashley is supposed to be back on Friday.

Sheila didn’t make it to Relief Society today. She said that no one came to get her. She really got spoiled by the wonderful presidency at the “old” place. Sheila mentions all the time how much she misses the Relief Society Presidency from the Wasatch Care Center Branch. (You know who you are.) So, when Ashley gets back I’m sure she will make sure her mother gets to Relief Society to meet some of the other sisters in the Branch.

We're Liking the New Place

Wednesday is Relief Society day at the nursing home, so Ashley went to help introduce Sheila to the new Relief Society President. To get there by 10:00 Ashley had to leave the house at 9:00. Because the bus was running behind, Ashley only made it for the last part of the lesson.

Holly and I walked to the old place (WCC) to pick up some of Sheila’s missing clothes and then caught a ride to Mt. Ogden HRC with Sister Skeen who was going to see her brother.
We all made it just time to have lunch with Sheila. At $2 a meal it would cost us more to bring frozen dinners. And to top it off – they are very good meals. They even come with vegetables at this place.

After lunch my little sister, Michelle, stopped by to see if she could take us to any stores. We went to Sam’s Club where we purchased two folding chairs for Sheila’s room and a few other things that we needed. While we were there we ran into Jenna, a former CNA from Wasatch, who we became very good friends with. We gave her one of the business cards we made for Sheila so that she could follow the blog. Sheila really misses some of her favorite aids from the “old” place. We hope some of them will stop by for a visit.

Later in the evening, Sondra picked us up and took us to the nursing home while she ran some errands. We got the rest of Sheila’s things put away and all of the pictures hung on the wall. It’s amazing what a few pictures and some personal items can add to a room. In this room Sheila can have her Utah Jazz poster and calendar closer to her bed.

Sheila is making new friends at the center every day. She now has her favorite male CNA, Tyler. Poor Tyler, he is now a marked man, but he will be the only person that Sheila thinks can do everything perfectly.

Rub-a-dub-dub, Sheila's in the Tub

Sheila was in a great mood today and was very clear mentally. We rode the bus to the nursing home this afternoon. It takes about a half hour to get there, but after we get there it is totally worth it. We found out that she actually got a shower today. She hasn’t had a shower since she totally lost control of her legs in mid-February. When I talked to the CNAs they said that she would be showered on a regular basis. So, Sheila is very excited that she gets more than just a sponge bath.

Sheila's New Address

Hi Everyone!

As we have written, Sheila has changed nursing homes. She is now at Mt. Ogden Health & Rehabilitation Center, 375 East 5350 South, Washington, Terrace, UT 84405. (Right next to Ogden Regional Hospital.) She does not have a direct phone number at this time but can be reached at (801) 479-5700.

Please leave comments!

Hi Guys! We just wanted to let you know to feel free to leave comments. Also, please follow our blog. That way, you will get an e-mail every time we post, rather than having to check back periodically. If you don't want to, or like checking back, thats fine too.

Thanks for your interest in Sheila's health and wellness.

Church

Today we walked to WCC for Church at our branch. Then Sister Skeen (a god send!) took us up to Mount Ogden HRC to see mom. We spent about 6 1/2 hours with her, and during that time we fed her lunch, joined her for dinner, and put her to bed. She had a rough night, but we got through it. I am so thankful for Sister Skeen.

Angels among Us

Last night I didn’t sleep very well after I found out that the bus that runs between home and Mt. Ogden HRC doesn’t run on Sunday and the last run during the week leaves there at around 7:20 PM. During the past 8 months we had a routine where we would go and get Sheila into bed and say “goodnight” to her. So now that we won’t be able to do that and go to church with her made me feel like we had abandoned Sheila at a new and strange place.

Today, my little sister Michelle and her family came down to Ogden to help us get things over to Sheila’s new room. We moved her La-Z-Boy into her room and had to rearrange things a little to make everything fit. We will have to take some of the things that she had at the “old place” just because her new room is so much smaller. She does like her new bed as this one is bigger and has a special mattress to help prevent bed sores. (Maybe we can finally get the ones she has healed.)

While Ashley and I were checking out the new facility we noticed a familiar face walking down the hallway. It was Barbara Skeen the Relief Society President from the branch at WCC. We found out that her brother is at Mt. Ogden HRC and his room is two doors down from Sheila. She was shocked to hear that Sheila was there since she had just seen her on Wednesday for Relief Society at WCC. While we were talking with her she asked about the car and we told her that we couldn’t afford to fix it right away and explained that we didn’t know how we were going to get there to see Sheila. She said that she comes about 4 days a week and comes every Sunday right after Sacrament Meeting at WCC. She agreed to give us rides every Sunday. We told her it was a blessing we had run into her there. She really boosted our spirits and gave us hope that everything would be okay. Then she told us that she never comes to see her brother on Saturdays, but had come in today. Thank you Sister Skeen!

We Were "Dumped"

Yesterday we got a phone message from Wasatch Care Center telling us that they were sending Sheila to McKay-Dee Hospital Emergency Room for a medical evaluation to see if there was something that was causing her emotional changes.

We immediately rush to the nursing home to check on Sheila to find that she was in playing Bingo with the other residents. She had no idea that anything was going on. The nursing home director, Kim MacFarlane, asked to meet with us, along with Lori Hensley, the director of nursing. They said that they wanted Sheila to be checked out medically to rule out any medical reasons for her emotional changes. They said that if it did not come back as anything medical then we would have to look at possibly finding another facility that is better equipped to take care of her. They said they had gone to talk with Sheila’s doctor and he agreed that she needed to be seen at the ER and he would order more tests to rule out anything medical.

We told Sheila we would be going with her to the ER to make sure everything was alright. We all rode with her in the WCC van so she wouldn’t get scared. When we got to the triage desk they handed the nurse orders for a psych evaluation. They take us to a very sterile looking psych holding room. After the doctor comes into the room, and talks to us for a minute, he said that she was in the wrong room and needed to be in a medical evaluation room. In the meantime, the nursing home tells the ER staff that they needed their wheelchair and their other equipment back before they left.

Over the course of the night we met with: the ER doctor, a crisis worker, and a social worker. A CT-scan done last night showed a little change from the one done in October 2008. The crisis worker told us this was not a psychological case and was sending us back to Wasatch Care Center and for them to make a referral to Weber Human Services for counseling to help Sheila deal with the physical changes that she is experiencing.

The next thing we know is the nurse comes in and tells us that a social worker will be in to talk us about finding a new care center. I mention to the nurse that we were told Sheila was going back to WCC. She tells us that WCC would not take her back. Several hours later when we met with the social worker she told us that because of the time of day that we would be spending the night in the ER and the social worker in the morning would work at finding a new care center that can better help Sheila. I expressed to her that I felt like we were dropped off at the ER and left to find somewhere to take Sheila. All of the social workers told us that Sheila was indeed “dropped” at the ER so the nursing home didn’t have to deal with her.

During this whole time Sheila kept asking when we were going back home. It was so hard to tell her that we wouldn’t be going back “home”.

When we met with the social worker Friday morning, we expressed to her that we needed some place close by as we would have to take the bus to see her since our car’s transmission died over the 4th of July weekend. Several of the nursing homes that were contacted could not adequately take care of Sheila since a lift has to be used to get her in and out of bed. The social worker was finally able to find an opening at Mt. Ogden Health and Rehabilitation Center in Washington Terrace, UT.

When we finally got to Mt. Ogden HRC at around 5:00 PM, the administrator from WCC had already packed up Sheila’s things and brought them over to her new place. The room is smaller than what she had at WCC and she will not have her own phone so she won’t be able to call us when she is feeling lonely or just wants to talk.

We are also disappointed that the UTA bus does not run to the nursing home on Sundays so we won’t be able to attend church with her until we resolve the car issue. We really enjoyed attending church with Sheila while she was at WCC and it became a highlight of her week.

We will go home and get some sleep as we weren’t able to sleep in the ER.

Saturday we will go and set up Sheila’s new room so it feels a little more like home.

Post by Sheila

I love you and miss you. I really enjoyed having my brother and sisters and niece with me the other day. Thank you for coming to see me. I love you. Thanks for reading my blog!
-- Sheila

P.S. These are Sheila's words, typed by Holly.

The Jackson 3

This evening we invited Sheila’s sister, Sondra, and just a few of our close friends, the Jackson’s, over to Sheila’s for more cake and ice cream. LeAnn Jackson has been a friend of ours since before we had Ashley and Holly and our families kind have expanded at the same time. We send a big thank you to LeAnn, Katie and Lindsey for taking the time to come and see Sheila today. She really enjoyed seeing each of you and being able to catch up on what everyone is doing.

With all of the visitors, the holiday, and Holly’s birthday, Sheila has been a little more on the anxious side. The nursing staff has had to keep her relaxed with the Klonopin. She starts worrying that we are not going to come back or that we are late. Then, she starts to cry and scream and then the staff cannot understand what she is telling them. We asked if the Klonopin could be given on a regular basis, but they are concerned about her blood pressure becoming too low as it was today. The Klonopin does a good job of relaxing all the body. Another side-effect of the medication is that she tires very quickly and she is now going to bed even early than she had been.

The next time we have the Jackson’s over they’ll have to bring Vance so he can serve the ice cream and be the entertainment. Vance, you gave us a good laugh and you weren't even there. We missed you, Buddy!

Happy Birthday, Firecracker!

The 4th of July has always been a big deal at the Sagers House. But, when your baby’s born on that day, it really is a reason to celebrate! Today we celebrated Holly’s 15th birthday with Sheila at the nursing home. Sheila can't believe that her baby is getting to be such a young lady and growing up so fast.

Normally, at home we would have a picnic type dinner and then finish with birthday cake and the works. So, why should this year be any different? So we planned a traditional 4th of July dinner of KFC chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, chips and of course, birthday cake with ice cream. With Sheila’s brother coming in to town for the weekend we decided to double the size of the party and invite Sheila’s sisters, Rochelle and Sondra, to come also. It has been several years since Sheila has been able to be with all her siblings at the same time, and she really enjoyed seeing Rochelle and Kelly who both had to travel to join us.

A great big thank you goes to Kelly and Amanda for traveling nearly 1,400 miles roundtrip, from Post Falls, Idaho, to see Sheila. You will never know how much your visit means to Sheila and the rest of us.

And Here's . . . Kelly

Today the girls joined us for our usual Fish Friday lunch with Sheila. While we were eating in Sheila’s room we got a very BIG surprise. Sheila’s brother, Kelly, and our niece, Amanda, who live in Post Falls, Idaho, walked in to the room. We had no idea that they were coming down to visit. Sheila was so very excited to see her brother.

Tonight we joined Sheila and the rest of the nursing home residence to watch the small fireworks display that the nursing home put on. Sheila really enjoyed them, but seemed to really enjoy having her family with her more.

The fourth of July has always been a big thing at our house so it is nice to be able to have some of the normal summer activities, even though they aren’t at home. Sheila is really looking forward to tomorrow.

Improvements, Kyle Korver & Mama Mia!

Today Ashley joined Sheila for Relief Society at the nursing home. Relief Society has become Sheila and Ashley’s special time together. Sheila really looks forward to it each Wednesday morning. This week Sheila was in a much better mood and willing to participate, including the singing.

We noticed that some of the atrophy of her right hand was lessening – she was even able to extend her fingers fully. We are so glad to see these little improvements – no matter how small they are.

As many people know, Sheila is a BIG fan of the Utah Jazz. You should have seen how excited she was when she found out that Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver were coming back for this next season. By the way, Kyle is her favorite player. According to Sheila, “I love him – He’s gorgeous!” So Jazz, I hope your getting ready for a good season this fall.

Tonight we finished watching the movie “Mama Mia!” She loves this movie because it’s based on ABBA songs. ABBA has been one of her favorite groups forever.

Sheila is really looking forward to Holly’s birthday on the 4th. She can’t believe how grown up her baby is.

Church, B.J. & Mama Mia!

Today we went to church with mom, like we do every Sunday. They have a branch at the Care Center, and we love the spirit and the people there. Sundays are really long days for mom. She doesn't get her after lunch "nap" as soon as she wants to. She wants to be able to get in bed before lunch, (right after church) but they want her in her chair for lunch. So that usually leaves us to occupy her time until her lunch tray gets there. Today she seemed to do well, not too cantankerous.

Then, later, we came back for our second visit of the day, and took B.J. with us. (That’s 6 nights in a row!) She was thrilled! She has been asking for a few days to watch Mama Mia, (the movie) so we took it with us and watched a few scenes. She loved it! She still remembers most of the words to the ABBA songs, she’s a huge fan! After only a few scenes, she told us she was tired so we said goodnight!

She is super excited for some visitors tomorrow, (you know who you are!) She can’t wait!

P.S. This is picture of B.J.

The “Carousel” Ride

Today started with a phone call from the care center at 2:00 in the afternoon telling us that Sheila was upset and had been screaming for about 25 minutes. It seems she was confused about what the activity was for the afternoon. She wanted singing time (which is the first and third Saturday s of the month) and did not want the movie. By the time that Holly and I got to the nursing home she had calmed down and she was in watching the movie with some of the other residents. We stayed and watched the musical “Carousel” with her.

We found out today that the urinary tract infection that she has is resistant to the antibiotic she was given on Friday. They switched the antibiotic and we hope this one will work.

She seemed to be doing better throughout the day. Hopefully we can find out what is contributing to her discomfort so that we can keep her comfortable.

Our Anniversary

Today is our Twenty-second Wedding Anniversary. I had the girls deliver to the nursing home 22 pink roses that we arranged ourselves. She was thrilled to get flowers.

I then went and had lunch with Sheila. Sheila loves when I come to the nursing home to have lunch with her on “Fish” Fridays. We get to have fish without the girls’ commentary about how gross fish is. So it has become “our” time together. Then for dinner, the girls fixed a fantastic meal, which we took it to share with Sheila. For just a few minutes it was almost like we were all back at home having dinner together.

We found out today that Sheila has a urinary tract infection and that they were starting her on a course of antibiotics. We’re hoping that is the source of the pain that she cries about. Unfortunately she is not able to fully express to us where it hurts.

I am so thankful that I have been able to spend 22 years with the love of my life and pray we still have a few more together.

“Miss Thundercloud”, Farrah Fawcett & Michael Jackson

Today we all met with the management of the nursing home (WCC) for Sheila’s Quarterly Care Plan Review. They want to make sure we were happy with the care that Sheila is receiving and to address any concerns. WCC is concerned with Sheila’s vocal outburst and their inability to get her to calm down and tell them what is bothering her. They also want us to find a local neurologist instead of taking her to Logan. If we want to keep going to Dr. M. Williams in Logan then we will have to pay for a private transportation company to take her as WCC will not provide transportation to Logan. We are not really sure what we want to do about that.

After our meeting we joined Sheila for group singing time. The girls and I really enjoyed learning some very old songs, but Sheila did not. She just wasn’t in the mood to be around other people. We have learned that if she isn’t excited to see us; then things are not well.

This afternoon she got so upset that WCC had their medical director prescribe Klonopin (Clonazepam) to control her anxiety. This seemed to work really well. By the time we got to her this evening she was feeling “really good”. She kept telling us how sad it was that both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died. She can’t understand why Farrah doesn’t get as much TV time as Michael does. She also remembers that growing up my brother had a Farrah Fawcett poster in our bedroom.

Looking up

Well, it looks like things are FINALLY starting to look up. We got a letter from the Nursing Home Medicaid guy letting us know we get to keep most of Mom’s disability money for household expenses. Hallelujah!


B.J. went for another visit today, which made mom SO happy!


That’s all for today! We’ll keep you updated!

Doctor’s Appointment & B.J.’s Visits

Sheila had her quarterly follow-up doctor’s appointment yesterday. Dr. B. Williams thinks there are changes happening in the brain and wants her to be seen again by Dr. M. Williams, her neurologist in Logan. He said that some of the behavior issues could be caused by further changes in the brain. Dr. B. Williams also thinks it would be good for Sheila to be seen by a counselor to help her deal with many of the changes that she has gone through and continues to experience. He really does not want to start her on pain meds at this time but would like to keep up with the Tylenol and try other things to maintain her comfort level.

Today she was in great spirits. We have taken her cat B.J. in to her the past two nights. She loves when he visits and he loves to see his “mother”. When B.J. is there; life is good.

Agitation

Sheila is becoming increasingly agitated. We're not completely sure as to what is causing this. After these angry outbursts she doesn't remember them at all. (Like why her spoon is on the floor after throwing it at someone.) We hope that on Monday we can get some answers from the doctor and hopefully something to take the edge off of the pain she is experiencing.

The Diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis

Earlier this month Sheila was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It has progressed so quickly that she has lost most of the function in her legs and cannot stand on her own. She is under 24-hour care at a care center not far from our home. We see her every day and tuck her into bed every night. We are still determined to get her home so we can take care of her and she can be back with her family.