Vickie spent much of the day with her sisters, including a visit to one sister’s home during the afternoon. A takeout Mexican dinner was enjoyed later. No late New Years partying this year.

There was little noteworthy change in Vickie’s condition today.

The anti-biotic Vickie has been taking was changed today to see if it would give better results.

All signs now seem to point to better days ahead for Vickie. The infection is still present and being treated, but it doesn’t appear to be having much negative effect on her behavior.

Vickie continues to do well.

Great appetite today. Vickie had a pleasant day, good interaction and conversation. We may be on an upswing.

Vickie had a good day. Eating well and responding to others.

Although Vickie slept more than usual today, she was in good form for the yearly Christmas Eve get-together with family at sister’s home. Snacking and conversing, the interaction was hearting. It was quite a difference from last year when she made an impromptu visit, surprising her host, while leaving the nursing facility for her first social excursion.

Vickie started on another round of anti-biotic to treat the infection that won’t go away.
She is looking forward to Christmas eve and all that goes with it.

A small increase in her appetite was a good sign for Vickie today. Tests show that the infection she was being treated for is still present and could be part of her ongoing problem.

Again Vickie’s condition has changed very little. At times she seems much improved only to regress later without any apparent reason.

While Vickie’s cognitive ability and appetite have not returned to the mid-October level, she is still slowly improving. Meals are an off and on situation, interrelated to the pain she feels at times.

Vickie’s condition remained unchanged for today.

Vickie was a sleepy head today. She ate a light breakfast much later than usual.
The hair has been an issue since the last surgery, so daughter-in-law/hairdresser visited and gave Vickie a trim. We are back to the “punk look”, just when she was starting to look like her old self.

Vickie improved some today; she ate a good-sized breakfast and snacked during the day and into the evening. The neck pain seems to come and go with no consistent pattern or explaination

There was little improvement in Vickie’s condition today. While having a small meal or snack, she will experience pain in her head or neck and then refuse to eat any more. If the new shunt isn’t somehow related to this problem we are stymied for now.

Vickie gained a little appetite back today but still not where we would like to see it. She was a little more alert and expressive

The neurosurgeon ordered a CAT scan for Vickie this afternoon. After examining the scan results, he thinks the shunt is working properly and that Vickie’s problems are not related to the last surgery.

Vickie’s malaise continues on today. We have no idea what is behind this reversal in her condition.

After several days of improvement, Vickie reverted back to her pre-surgery self today, refusing to eat and not being very cognizant. Not sure of the cause of this problem.

The latest development is Vickie’s increased awareness of what and who is around her. She is making comments and observations about things she didn’t seem to notice before.

Vickie continues to show signs of improvement. She was able to interact reasonably well with the grandchildren when they paid her a short visit this morning.

Vickie’s appetite is still good, she eats a small breakfast and small dinner.
The pain complaints seem to come and go and are treated with mild medication.

Vickie still has her appetite and is alert much of the time. She still complains of various pains but not as much as before this last surgery. Now if we could figure out what to do about her hair.

The surgeon gave Vickie the “all clear” to leave LEH today after a CAT scan showed that the new shunt was draining properly.
She returned home this evening and immediately had a small dinner. She was somewhat talkative, all of this being very different behavior from that of the last month. We will know more tomorrow when any pain medications, administered in the hospital wear off.

Vickie’s neurosurgeon inserted the new shunt this afternoon. The surgery took several hours. Vickie is recuperating this evening and will remain hospitalized until we are reasonably sure of no major complications. Unfortunately she had to lose much of the hair that had taken a year and a half to regrow.

Vickie will go to LEH tomorrow to have the shunt implanted. Hopefully this will resolve some of her ongoing problems.

Another good day, still some problems but not as severe as has been the case in the last few weeks.

Vickie is showing more improvement each day. A hearty appetite [for her] and much more alert and interactive with others.

Vickie seemed to do better today. Her appetite is improving and her overall condition is progressing. The cold symptoms are almost gone, so she was spared a serious problem there.

Vickie will return to LEMC next week to have a shunt inserted where the previous troublesome one was.
She had a little better appetite today but still nowhere near what it should be.