The Granny Update
Hi Everyone,
I hope
everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year! Granny is doing good these days. Stacy (Moon-Richardson) attended Granny’s
CarePlan meeting at Winder Rehab with me on Tuesday, Dec. 28th. They
said that Granny is doing really well. This time we agree. Granny does seem to be doing quiet well
right now. She has not been sick except for a little bit of runny nose from
allergies. She has lost one pound
recently, and is currently at 101 lbs.
They have moved Granny from the ‘Prompting Table’ at mealtimes, to a
‘Feeding Table’. This means there is a person assisting Granny in eating
instead of just ‘prompting’ her to eat on her own. They said they had noticed
Granny is eating less and less on her own. Sometimes she just forgets what the
fork and spoon is for. And sometimes she just has a hard time picking up the
food with her fingers. When me, Bo, Fay
& Cody visited her on Christmas Day, she was using a spoon to eat. So I guess sometimes she still can do it
herself. Granny is still getting ice
cream with almost every meal, Carnation Instant drink three times a day, and a
calcium supplement. She also gets Tylenol three times a day for arthritis pain
(she gets it crushed up in applesauce).
She gets Zantac once a day for heartburn, and a pill to help with sleep
about once every other night. She also
gets robitussin and milk of magnesia as needed. She also has that ‘sitting sore’ as we call it, (instead of a bed
sore) on her bottom, and they put something called Xanoderm (sp?) on it. Compared to a lot of people her age (and
younger), she is not on a lot of medications at all. Granny can still be ‘walked’ with assistance some days. She has received a new wheelchair with big
bars that come out in the front and back to prevent her from tipping herself
forward or backward. She still loves to
‘ride’ up and down the halls and hold her baby. I think Granny had a very good Christmas. She got a new sweat suit from one of the
head nurses, a sweat suit from Secret Santa and several other new articles of
clothing from different family members. She got a new lap throw & candy
from Mary & Hollis and a new quilt from Michelle & Shane & boys.
She got new PJ’s from Debbie and a new robe from Carolyn (Little Bit). She got one of the goody-bag (fruit, candy,
cookies & other stuff) that Mama (Kathleen) and her friend Debbie Helton
put together for all the residents on the bottom floor. Especially thrilled to get one of the
baskets was Grady, the only male resident on Granny’s floor. He was so excited
about a sock-cap in his goody-bag. He
still had it on Christmas Day when I saw him in the cafeteria. It’s amazing what can bring a smile to their
face…things we take for granted! Granny
also got some cash donations for her account to help pay for her out of pocket
expenses….thanks to Patsy, Bob & Fay, Dorsey & Pauline, and one
anonymous giver, for the donations. She
may have got more stuff that I don’t know about!
Reminiscing With Granny
By Carolyn
Chapple
At the dawn of
each New Year, most people start thinking about what they can do in the
upcoming year that will improve their lives.
New Year’s Celebrations originated some 4,000 years ago in Babylon,
where as in the Western world it has probably been celebrated for about 400
years. Some common New Year Resolutions
these days are to lose weight, quit smoking, find a new job, find a new love
interest, make more money, etc. The Babylonians resolved to return all borrowed
farm equipment. The Tournament of Roses
Parade began in 1886 when folks decorated their carriages with flowers to
celebrate the ripening of oranges in California. In 1902, the first Rose Bowl game was played (football). These are all traditions we still follow
today. Almost every New Year’s Eve
finds me dreaming of paying off a credit card or other bill…it usually doesn’t
happen, but each New Year’s Eve I find myself thinking about the same
thing. I remember Granny talking about
what to do and not do on New Year’s Day.
She believed that whatever you did on New Year’s Day, you would do LOTS of that same thing through out the
New Year. Therefore, she didn’t
do laundry. I guess she hated doing
laundry as much as the rest of us! She
believed, like people all over the world, that certain things you eat on New
Year’s Day could bring you good luck.
Black-eyed peas bring you wealth, and hog-jowls or ham bring prosperity,
and cabbage or collard greens represent paper money. Other countries believe eating something ‘round’, such as donuts
symbolizes ‘coming full circle’, and others believe eating rice brings good
luck. Granny usually had some black-eye
peas with ham & collard greens simmering on the stove on New Year’s
Day. Another New Year’s tradition all
over the world is to sing the song, “Auld Lang Syne”. This song was written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, and became
more popular around the early 1800’s.
The title of the song means literally, “old long ago” or “the good old
days”. This song is fitting for New
Year’s Day as we remember the past year and the happiness and sadness it has
brought. We have lost family members
and friends, should they be forgotten?
Read the words to this song and remember the ‘good old days’ with Granny
and Papa, and family members and good friends who have gone before us, and in
the new year take the hand of a loved one, or friend, and share a cup of
kindness. May you all be blessed with a
Happy & Prosperous New Year!
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Prayer
List
Jeff Glass – Continued prayers for health – started Chemo in
early December, has gained some weight back.
Tracey Glass – brain tumor & treatment for it
Andy Knight – motorcycle wreck in early December…broke 3
vertebrae
Helen Knight – continued chemo treatments
Hollis Mahaffey – diagnosed with diverticulosis & getting a
biopsy on a mass on lower rib
Mary Mahaffey-spine problems, causing leg pain
Tyler Barrett (Michelle’s son) – Surgery on Eardrums 12/15
Paula Knight Barrett – tests for Sleep Apnea
Bob & Carolyn and their families = Daddy (Robert Hutchins) died 12/16 (Thanks for all your kind
words & cards during this time)
Libby Hunter (Granny’s friend) – Health Problems
Randal Helton’s Mother – Health Problems
Praises
Amber-was granted an internship with Gwinnett County – in the
Juvenile Probation Division. Starts Jan. 24.
Todd Davidson – Still Tobacco Free
Cody Hutchins – gained a few pounds back!
Larry Knight – tests show blockage in neck improved
Congratulations!
Gayle & Mike Grooms have a new Granddaughter…Samantha Elizabeth,
born Dec. 27!
(Parents: Michael & Jodi Grooms)
Birthdays & Special Dates to Remember for January, February
& March:
Heather
Mosley – Jan 4
Pearl
Black – Jan 5
Danny
(Dee) Knight – Jan 13, 1980
Lucas
Bennett – Jan 19
Kathleen
Trusty – Jan 22, 1938
Regina
Knight – Jan 22, 1949 (deceased)
Barbara
Knight – Jan 29, 1940 (deceased)
Hugh
Dorsey Knight (infant son of Cassie & Belvie Knight) Feb 7, 1940 (deceased)
Jean
Knight – Feb 13,1998
Teresa
Mosley – Feb 16, 1973
Stacy
Moon-Richardson – Feb 20, 1971
Belvie
Knight – Feb 23, 1915 (deceased)
Christopher
Friend – Feb 27, 1992
David
Knight – Mar 2, 1963 (deceased)
Timothy
Bennett – Mar 3, 1978
Scott
Richardson – Mar 9, 1971
Jimmy
Knight – Mar 11, 1985
Elaine
Knight – Mar 14, 2000
Carolyn
Chapple – Mar 17, 1961
Billy
Manis – Mar 18, 1992
Rodney
Mosley – Mar 18
Jessica
Chapple – Mar 27, 1990
Gayle
Grooms – Mar 27
Edward
Trusty – Mar 28, 1946
Sharon
Friend – Mar 28, 1969
Nikki
Mahaffey – Mar 31, 1987
Tara
Grooms – Mar 31, 1990
Please
note: I still don’t have birth dates
for the following people: Grant & Zoe Knight, Willis Manis, Stephanie
Moon, Shane Smith & Linda (Larry’s
girlfriend)
Volunteering
Judy, Phyllis
and Fay joined me on Wednesday, December 8th At Winder Rehab to help
with the Christmas Store for the Residents. We had a lot of fun setting up the
store, helping residents shop, and wrapping their gifts for them. They enjoyed shopping for themselves and
their loved ones so much. Sweaters and
Sweatshirts went fast…and so did stuffed animals and dolls! I think we all got a lot of personal
satisfaction just helping out with the ‘old folks’. Thanks to everyone who was able to donate merchandise or
gift-wrapping supplies! (see photo page)
Christmas Party for Residents & Family/Friends
On
Saturday, Dec. 4, a small group of us got together and had lunch with Granny at
the nursing home. (Included me, Judy, Jessica, Michael, Nicholas, Benjamin
& his friend). The home provided lots of good food – buffet style…boiled
shrimp, chicken fingers, spinach dip, finger sandwiches and desserts galore! And some very good punch! Granny enjoyed us all being there. We went
to the front lobby and watched the birds for a while and visited with her.
Announcement
Beginning with
this issue, I am only going to be sending out a newsletter once every 3 months,
and then a Christmas Issue: The next
one will be in April, then July and October and then the Christmas Issue.
Please mail
any cards or notes to Granny to: Winder Healthcare & Rehab Center/P.O. Box 588/Winder, Georgia
30680
Call me, write me or email me with any
questions, comments, stories or family news or if you want to be removed from
the mailing list:
4623 Pine Drive/Loganville/30052
