I'm just ramblin' on...: The Granny Newsletter

The Granny Newsletter...From January, 2005.

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. 28^th. 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

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 8^{th 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.