Medication Stupor

So just returned from a trip to my grandparents house. Although, not all the best circumstances, all is well now. My grandmother called me and 5 am on Tuesday morning stating that my grandfather was acting weird and seeing people that weren't there. My grandfather is a stubborn man who once, many years ago, had a stroke and waited 4 days until his already scheduled doctors appt. Why go to the doctors early..when he can just wait for his original appt. Grrr. My grandmother wanted to know what she should do since he would refuse to go to the doctor or hospital. She listens to him regardless and it bothers me that she won't use her better judgement and make the call. Different people, different times, I guess. After asking her a few questions, I didn't think he needed to go to the hospital, but if anything changed my grandmother was instructed to call 911. I called my mom and we headed 7 hours north. I was nervous and worried that he may have had another stoke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It was fear of the unknown and when you are in a car, driving a fast as you can-it is high anxiety. When we arrived, I looked at him and realized he was looking right through me. I asked him how he felt and he said "terrible". He was hallucinating and talking to people how were not in the room. I can't even explain in words, how I felt. I looked at his medication and realized he was taking WAY too much pain medication. I stopped the medication immediately. As a nurse in the family, they think I am suppose to have all the answers. I do not claim to know everything, but some things are just basic nursing skills. Although, not a doctor, I do feel more confident in my judgement than the judgement of his 85 year old, near death or retirement doctor. After a day or so without all the pain medication, my grandfather began feeling better and more like himself. What a relief that was. I wrote down all the medications they are taking and have made a pack with my grandmother that they are not to take any medications again, without checking we me first. Hopefully, this will work and we will not be in the situation again. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Richie and I went out to dinner at the Olive Garden earlier this week. With V-Day falling on a Saturday, there was no way I was venturing out into that mad rush. Plus, I had been craving Olive Garden for a few weeks and this gave us the perfect excuse to go. I always get Chicken Parm....yummm. We spent Valentines Day with my mom, her friend Becky and Becky's daughter Amanda. We had a Mexican buffet and played games all night. It was such a blast. Since Richie was the only guy there, he decided that he was going to be the man of the night....He had bought roses for me, but prior to giving them to me he pulled a rose from the vase and presented one to all the ladies...it was very sweet. I sat back for a moment and looked at him in awe. Of course, I did not mind sharing my flowers because it made every one's night. He made my V-Day great by thinking of others who didn't have a valentine. Gotta love em!**Not my flowers, took a pic off the internet

Payoff

Richie and I paid off his truck today! We paid it off a year earlier than expected so I am very excited. Since we bought Sammy (the Saturn) a few months ago, we have been making double car payments. I know this is probably normal in most households across the world, but it drives me nuts. So much money a month out the door. So we tried to budget well and pay the truck off early. Success! Hopefully, we can do the same thing with Sammy and then it will be time for Richie to get a new truck. If we can keep it to one car payment at a time, that will make me happy. Randy (the Ranger) has had a hard year so he needs a little TLC. Ever since I rolled him right before Labor Day weekend, he hasn't been to happy with me. :-) Hopefully, by making him officially ours, he will begin to like me again.

Super Bowl Sunday- Go Steelers

Steelers won the Super Bowl. We are so excited! The game came down to the last few minutes and boy, were we a nervous wreck. Luckily, they pulled it off! We had a few people over and had a great day. We played football out in the yard, drank cold beer, watched football and hung out with great friends. What a great day...just bummed that football season is over.