Adventures of Mimi and Madge

06/10/2024

Today we did something big!!!
Since Sean, Bash, and Izzie went to mandarin. We went to ALDI’s! She only used the cart. She pushed through the store and during check out then all the way to the car! We left the walker at home!! First time she has done this since 2020!!

06/06/2024

Mimi updates:
4/30/2024 Mimi had a major seizure while at home with Neeko and Dominic. This rocked Neeko’s world he called to say “mom where are you I think she’s having something….?” We were have way to Fernandina with Izzie and Bash. We instantly turned around and called Jackie! She was having a seizure started out she couldn’t talk as soon as I walked in and Jackie was giving me an update….then she began seizing up. She then stopped and turned blue. It was so scary kids were out of the room thank god! Jackie literally saved her life!!!I still don’t know how to repay her! By the time 911 came she was SNORING and they rushed her away. When we got there she was talking again but still meh 🤪. Definitely a little GRANNY was showing. (Snarky & smarty) we found out she was severely dehydrated do to major GI issues (diarrhea for 3 days(meds have been changed and trying to find a medium!!! Prayers still for this)) this also caused her to have a UTI which triggered the seizure almost exactly one year after her last seizure April of 2023 from a UTI also. So she got a little hospital vacay for a week. And we started home health again. As soon as she came home we all got a cold except Sean for a whole week so adjusting was “fun”. She never qualifies for PT cause she’s pretty active. Her nurse Samantha is amazing and the one who suggested metformin was effing her tummy up!!! OT makes her lift weights so she’s doing more.

6/05/2024: vascular appt

We’ve been waiting for months for this cause her right leg always bothers her (side effected by stroke) we had ultrasound done they said blocked artery yada yada. We need vascular surgeon appt!
One she loves her dr! He says she has a little hardened arteries normal/ok for her age. One artery is blocked but she has flow and he did a Doppler and I heard heart beats too so! No surgery “if she were my sister or mom, I wouldn’t do any surgery at all!” 💥 🤯 we outta there!! She was cracking me up the whole time. So as a treat we went to ALDIs she got a “soda” and a lunchable lol then home to watch more
“Bones” her fav show!

05/27/2024

We are all still getting over a summer cold. But it’s never dull. I do believe these kids keep her going, they definitely work me over lol. When she’s doing good she dishes it out just as much as they do and I tell you they fight like siblings especially Bash and MIMI.

05/27/2024

05/27/2024

Saying Goodbye

What was literally overnight. I had to say goodbye to My Dad. The Dad I knew since I was ten years old. January 2021.

My Facebook post:

"This past week has been so crazy. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with so many people that knew Stuart Dietz. It was sudden and unexpected….we went from all having the Flu (type A) then it just progressed to Pneumonia for him and then just became septic. Literally overnight. We are all and trying to find our own ways to process. I wanna thank each and every person you has spoken his name and thought of our family! Appreciation doesn’t begin to describe how I feel! It’s actually overwhelming to be honest. We have enjoyed all our visitors and continue to welcome everyone who swings thru!! Beverly Kay Byars Dietz is progressing so well with each one of you!!"

The realer version was...it was scary AF! Mom was recovering still, and we all were struggling the week before with the FLU A. While we were thankful it wasn't COVID it was bad and really difficult on me physically to take care of all of us. My dad sick throwing up in bed also somewhat diarrhea (ill spare the vividness). On top of my having the same symptoms I still had to be on at all times. My kids took turns thankfully having it, Bash was still only 6 months old. It was chaotic and insane really. After we all began getting over it my dad just wasn't kicking it. Now if you knew Stuart, Buddy, Bud-Ro, Carroll (is what I affectionately called him) you would know that he refused to go to the doctor or hospital if at all necessary. Well he looked at me while I was changing his bed sheets, I jokingly said "Are you ready to go to the Hospital yet??" And he responded....calmly and matter-of-factly "Yeah Brat, I think so!" This hit me like a ton of bricks. I got Sean and we got him "ready" and called non-emergency. Again, he was bed ridden and large, there was no other way to transport him. This always affected his self-esteem but knew it was the only way. I got his glasses, phone, charger, wallet and off he went. I called my Step-Sisters and informed them what was going on and where we were headed. I didn't honestly expect it to be as serious as it was. At the time I hoped for medicine intervention and him coming home later in the week. Well, that isn't what happened. He called me and said "I don't know when I'm gonna come home stay be the phone so I can update you". He never called me with the update. Instead the Hospital called to inform me that he had in fact progressed from the FLU to Pneumonia and then became Septic. He was now on a ventilator and unable to breath for himself. It was devastating. Then I, the youngest of the three, had to call my older sisters, his daughters and tell them to hurry up get to the hospital. We had some decisions to make. I began calling everyone I could think of that needed to know and then I had to tell BEV! This was never what I thought this Role would intel. In an instant I was emotionally parentless. Mimi was physically here and was and I am so grateful for this but she isn't the mom I could turn to. The hospital said that I was technically the one to have to make the choice, there was NO WAY I was able to do that alone. I also chose to NOT be in the room when he passed. I couldn't, I wasn't emotionally able to handle much more. Family came, his baby of all babies, Crystal (my niece) was able to be with him. I can't even begin to speak for them or know how this has changed their lives forever. Mine was foggy, almost like a state of shock. Going through the motions. I had to make arrangements for which I didn't have the capacity mentally or financially to actually deal with it.

My dad is gone. I cant go sit on the bed and dump whatever I wanted to on him. He couldn't go anywhere lol. In FOUR months My entire world was flipped on its head and completely different. Not to mention the Big Girl Duties were about to kick in. I had to get Power of Attorney, handle all their "estate" take over all the bills, cause technically mom is still in charge, since Pop-Pop was gone. Mind you he always handled everything anyways. It was a heavy blow, burden, whatever you wanna call it. I was NOT prepared at all!!!!

05/27/2024

I know so many people who are beginning this journey. Whether it's not like mine but close. I wanna have my experiences help. I feel like a lot of we have learned the LONG or HARD way. Going from deciding when it's time to approach the "rents" about future decisions or addressing decline in abilities. Don't wait have a plan, it's a hard conversation, feelings might be hurt or even attitudes flare. Imagine having these convos afterwards. Sitting in a hospital, I didn't have their input I ( when I say I, I actually mean my immediate family, Sean and the kids!!) had to make all the decisions. I started this page and also my BLOG ADVENTURESOFMIMIANDMADGE.COM. because this road is so bumpy, never easy. Finding out the someone is walking it beside you gives you relatable GRACE.

05/22/2024

Today…..OT evaluation, when that was over Mimi, Izzie and I went for a ride! First the car wash to vacuum out the Pringles off the floor then COFFEE on the island! These two are trouble and fight like toddlers or teenagers I can’t decide.

05/21/2024

Daughter Took on a NEW role

I was always daughter, or affectionately known as BRAT. Now I am Full-Time Caregiver

When Mimi had her stroke, she was basically out of commission and well looked after. She went from hospital to Brooks Rehab. She was there for around a month. So it became my job to assume the role taking care of Pop-Pop. Which meant, Medicine distribution, Meals, Using NOT the Bathroom, Bathing, everything. He was considerably overweight (I am only mentioning because its factual, and multiplied every situation). Gratefully he still could handle the financials and ordering his medicine etc. Like I said he had his mental faculties just physically couldn't do much. This caused major depression and also affected his emotional status. This was one of the most difficult times in our lives. For me having to look after my father in that capacity. Bathing him, helping him go to the bathroom. My mom actually did this for years. It was also difficult for her. For sake of being truthful. Her and I both had resentment towards this. But I would have never shared that with him. I believe it would have broken him and he would have left us far sooner than he did. After the initial shock of the Role Reversal we started to get along in these roles rather smoothly. How ever difficult it actually was. When my mom came home however it was a whirlwind of Shenanigans. He was in a "hospital" bed she was in a twin across the room. Thankfully, when she came home she was able to remember him and he could technically babysit her at night for me. He kept odd hours slept during day, up at night. Now before her stroke this was also a point of contention. But now it was a BONUS. I could sleep with my phone on and feel kind of a peace. For a few months we made it a new way of life.

05/20/2024

Here we sit chilling in the garage trying to get fresh air..sunlight! Guessing it’s a summer cold but this whole house has had the funk! No fever but congestion like WHOA! We ALL (except Sean ugh, guess God knows I can’t handle the man flu right now) since that big storm have been pitiful. I’m disinfecting everything today with homemade Lysol. We got onions on our feet, Mimi has potatoes cause her feet have been swollen trying to draw it out!! Pray for us! Antibiotics do a number on our tummies and avoid if at all possible!!