Vickie handled the trip to her Dr. this morning for her monthly vitamin shot.
A week ago she had another x-ray to determine the healing progress of the fractured elbow. The splint will not be needed anymore. She will wear a sling to protect her left arm from now on.

Hazardous driving conditions forced the postponement of the traditional family get-together this Christmas eve.
This is the first time Vickie was not present in her original family home for Christmas eve.
This evening Vickie wore the colorful pair of socks and stayed warm under the matching blanket she received from her friend.

Vickie visited her son's home for Thanksgiving. Her three young grandsons don't remember their grandmother as she used to be but they were still excited to see her.

Vickie returned to the Orthopedic Dr. this afternoon for follow-up x-rays of her broken arm. The x-rays indicated the injury was healing rapidly. She will have more x-rays in a month.

Because Vickie's Dr. is on vacation this week another Dr. in the same office filled in on a quickly scheduled appointment.
A new medication was prescribed.
Vickie had some additional lab work at MHMC.

Previous X-rays and new ones taken this afternoon indicated Vickie has a fracture in her left elbow. A removable splint was placed on her arm to support it and protect it from further injury. Other than follow up X-rays no other action is planned.
Since Vickie has no control of and very little sensation in her left arm she is mostly unaware of any pain or discomfort due to the injury.

Thursday afternoon Vickie kept her Dr. appointment. The purpose of the visit was to address some new problems and some ongoing ones.
She had x-rays to examine an injury to her left elbow and to check for the cause of some respiratory issues.
Vickie tolerated all the exams well and returned to her residence early in the evening.

After a visit to the Dr.'s office for her monthly vitamin shot Vickie went to the local pizza house to celebrate her birthday with family. She stayed alert, enjoyed pizza and some of her birthday cake.

When Vickie was asked if she knew the name of the song starting on the 70's rock station her radio was tuned to, she responded by silently mouthing the beginning lyrics, a few seconds before they were played on the radio. Sometimes she remembers details from forty years ago, but very little of what has happened since.

Vickie's condition has not improved this week.

Vickie was quiet today. Often she asks to be taken home. When pressed as to where home is, she responds with the address of the house she lived in when she was a child. For the most part Vickie doesn't have any short term memory but she can recall some aspects of her life 30 or 40 years past.

Vickie seems to be experiencing her psychosis episodes more often and with more intensity. The caregiver responds to the situation by increasing her medication dosage and frequency.

There have not been any changes in Vickie's condition or behavior since last week.

Although she didn't comprehend the significance of the date, Vickie enjoyed some of the chocolates she received for her 40th wedding anniversary Saturday.
The caregiver is increasing the dosage and frequency of medication used to calm Vickie when the compulsive episodes occur. When she is in one of these moods she is oblivious to anyone in the room.

There are no changes or improvements in Vickie's condition.
A sister who lives in Eastern Oregon sent Vickie a card and a note about their projects and preparations for the winter. Although Vickie wasn't able to read the card herself she made some comments when it was read to her.

There just isn't any improvement in Vickie's condition. Occasionally there are snippets of coherent conversation but they are becoming less frequent and for a shorter time.

This afternoon Vickie kept her Dr. appointment. She received her monthly Vitamin shot. The Dr. checked her feeding tube and determined that there was no infection related to it. She will have a little less food intake to help control her weight gain. Lab tests will indicate if there is any improvement in the ongoing infection battle.

Vickie seems to be more agitated lately. The caregiver is giving her medication to calm her much more often. The psychosis episodes are causing her to have a raspy voice due to the constant loud talking. Sometimes it's possible to talk her down but not always.

Monday evening Vickie joined family at the pizza pub. A niece and her two daughters are visiting this week from So. Cal. This is not the same niece that visited Vickie Saturday.
Vickie ate a little of the pizza and drank some of the root beer she requested. She was fairly alert and responsive most of the time.

Saturday Vickie's niece visited and brought her infant daughter. The visit went as well as could be expected. When Vickie goes into her psychosis mode where she rapidly calls out names over and over it's entertaining to the little girl.