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<title>Powered by caregiveroncall.com</title>
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<description>RSS/XML feeds for Journals.</description>
<language>en-us</language>

<item>
<title>My mothers dry mouth--makes me so angry!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=e4a6222cdb5b34375400904f03d8e6a5 &amp; sid=6c9882bbac1c7093bd25041881277658 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I could have just reached thru the phone to ring that caregivers neck just now when I was talking with my mother.  Her mouth was so dry that she could hardly put any words together.  Cant they see and HEAR how dry her mouth is?  Damnt! Dehydrated is such a concern for my mother because she doesn't drink enough water, but when her mouth is so dry she gulps down the water.  I feel so sorry for her.  She cant get up, walk to the kitchen and get a glass of water from the sink--she cant even express that she is so thirsty because of her Alzheimers.....GhRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....those damn caregivers!
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<item>
<title>Catherine Ann Smith</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>awniel62</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/readmsg.php?jid=f340f1b1f65b6df5b5e3f94d95b11daf</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I lost my mother on May 21, 2009.  After becoming ill at hospital she was not expected to survive.  I had taken care of her in my home for 4 years and decided to bring her home for her last days. If I could do it all over again I would. I will miss her someday from the experience I had as a caregiver I would like to share with others to help so they may care for their loved ones at home.   ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>More Caregiver Drama!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=335f5352088d7d9bf74191e006d8e24c &amp; sid=621bf66ddb7c962aa0d22ac97d69b793 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I get a call last night from one of Mom's caregivers complaining about another caregiver.  I am sorry to say this being a woman, but women are so damn petty!  I mean one of the caregivers called my sister to ask if she really minds that they use the front door versus coming in the back!  HONESTLY!  This caregiver asked me my opinion last night about this and my mouth opened with disbelief! Enough!  Honestly, I take pictures of Moms house before I leave now because according to one of the caregivers she complains with how "messy" the house is before we leave....All of this is going into my book and in much more detail.  you may think that you want your loved one to stay in their home, but there are so many considerations that one does not even think about!
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<item>
<title>A little more lost of my mother everyday</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=555d6702c950ecb729a966504af0a635 &amp; sid=3cec07e9ba5f5bb252d13f5f431e4bbb &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Im losing a little bit of my mother more and more each day because of her dementia and today am just so sad because of it.  I dont know whether it is because she is now putting her medications in her water versus taking them, or the blank look on her face.  Maybe it is the continual wandering in the middle of the night.  Who can say what makes a daughter or loved one caring for someone with dementia "feel more sad"...I guess it is just a combination of things.
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<item>
<title>Race Against Time!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=ac1dd209cbcc5e5d1c6e28598e8cbbe8 &amp; sid=38db3aed920cf82ab059bfccbd02be6a &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I dont have children, but I can imagine what it must be like when a parent has a babysitter for a set time and you race against the clock to make it back in time for the babysitter to leave! This is how I operate when there is a caregiver here for a set time with my mother.  I leisurely leave the house with my list of honey dos that I am doing myself.  I glance at the clock on my first errand and pleased with how much time I have left--I might be able to grab a sandwich for lunch I'm thinking....I dont know what happens from that first glance at the clock on your first errand to the glance at the clock on your last errand. I almost turn frantic! I find myself calling the caregiver..."Im on my way home"....and then walking in the door completely exhausted from that race against time...just in time to get lunch for my mother....

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<item>
<title>My new role: Guardian</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=539fd53b59e3bb12d203f45a912eeaf2 &amp; sid=0266e33d3f546cb5436a10798e657d97 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Amazing how easy it was to obtain my cousins Guardianship last Wednesday. My Mother was my cousins Guardian for 30+ years as she is "mentally handicapped" and needs help with paying bills.  She is going to be 79 in June and I have now assumed the role for my mother.  What is just so unbelieveable is how smoothly the whole process went!  Want to know why?  BECAUSE MY COUSIN  HAS NO MONEY TO SPEAK OF!  I can only imagine the claws that would have come out by my sister fighting this if my cousin had money.  Thankfully there was no drama....now that is what is truely unbelieveable! ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Blessing of Having Alzheimer's</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=01161aaa0b6d1345dd8fe4e481144d84 &amp; sid=9188905e74c28e489b44e954ec0b9bca &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Thanksgiving came again with one more year added to life without "The Patriarch" of our family; my father.  His name, Warren did not even cross the lips of my mother....The blessing of having Alzheimers. My estranged sister--not even a call to wish my mother Happy Thanksgiving....The blessing of having Alzheimers. Another holiday that her only grandson did not call to give thanks that she has been such a wonderful grandmother...The blessing of Alzheimers.  The phone line silenced yet one more holiday from her niece in CA not calling...The blessing of Alzheimers.  The first Thanksgiving without my mothers cherished Bichon Frise, Josh begging for food...The blessing of Alzheimers.  Would emotional pain and dissapointment cease if we all had Alzheimers? It may, but I dont have Alzheimers.  I know that it is Thanksgiving and can see the smile on my mothers face when I tell her how thankful I am to have her as my mother and how lucky I am that she is still here to watch the Rockettes in the Macys Day Parade on TV with me.  ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>My mother's caregiver and her gun!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=577ef1154f3240ad5b9b413aa7346a1e &amp; sid=cb70ab375662576bd1ac5aaf16b3fca4 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I'm not making this up.  My mothers caregiver (who lives in this small town in Ohio) carries a gun and so does her bi-polar crazy husband!  Moms executor is teetering on complete disgust with all of the caregivers in my mothers home and quite honestly does NOT understand the contribution of each caregiver in her home.  Because of my sister, I have absolutely no say in this situation.  I was leaving on Friday night to go out of town for the weekend and just learned that the gun carrying caregivers husband just took her car from Moms driveway without her knowledge and they were in a big fight.  This  is just pure lunacy, and I am so emotionally spent when it comes to my discussions about these types of incidents with Moms executor that I have absolutely have no energy to fight anymore.  Besides, even if I did?  It wouldnt make a difference and nothing would change anyway. ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>Does my mother really know who I am?</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=289dff07669d7a23de0ef88d2f7129e7 &amp; sid=e4a6222cdb5b34375400904f03d8e6a5 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[So, on Halloween my husband and I dressed as Pirates and I wore a black wig for a better effect.  To my surprise, my husband commented on how much YOUNGER I looked with dark hair! Music to my ears and I couldnt have dialed the phone fast enough to make an appointment to get my hair darkened.  Turns out he loves it and I think it makes me look older!  Anywhoâ¦that is not why I'm writing this blog.  I drove to Ohio late last night and when I got there, Mom was in bed--so this morning when my mother saw me--she hardly knew who I was!  It is questionable if she remembers who I am anyway, and I was mortified that I actually could be responsible for her now to really not know who I am.  Im an idiot for not thinking about Mom when getting my hair dyed!  


]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>Guardianship</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=e165421110ba03099a1c0393373c5b43 &amp; sid=f340f1b1f65b6df5b5e3f94d95b11daf &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In anyones lifetime, how many times is one ivovled in either a Guardianship or Conservatorship?  In mine? This is the 3rd time; but now I am going to be appointed Guardian. Today, I got an email from my Mothers executor saying that he was no longer going to represent my cousin as her Guardian.  This is such a long story, but I just have to tell you that I am just about to lose it!  I will step up to the plate to assume this role for her, but it is out of the blue and without warning.  Some days I honestly feel like my life is crumbling around me and today is definitely that day.  The situation with my mother is so damn disfunctional with her executor and attorney, and today is just one more story for my book.  ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>Innovation Awards</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=be83ab3ecd0db773eb2dc1b0a17836a1 &amp; sid=335f5352088d7d9bf74191e006d8e24c &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Last night I had the privilege of attending the Innovation Awards in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre; my company Marâage was nominated as one of the top 75 innovative companies in Chicago.  While we didnât make the final cut of the top 10, I am still impressed that a software company who has a social network focusing on caregivers was even nominated!  For those of you who voted for MarâageâThank you for your support!]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why am I so sad today?</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=9b04d152845ec0a378394003c96da594 &amp; sid=555d6702c950ecb729a966504af0a635 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I am normally a very up person and wake up feeling like I am ready to take on the day...but not today.  Is it because tomorrow is the first day of fall (I dislike winter) and know what is coming after this?  I am sad today and have been on the verge of tears all day. I woke up today missing my father more than I usually do; almost to the point that I wonder how I can make it thru the day without hearing his dear sweet voice.  As I'm writing this I am pretty teary eyed...but why today?  What makes today different from yesterday in regard to missing my Dad so much? I will probably say this until the day I die that I can be going along just fine, and then BAM...a wave of sadness when I think about Dad. I know tomorrow is another day and will miss Dad without being so sad, but I'm still wondering--why today?   ]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>PLEASE VOTE FOR ME!!!!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=6da9003b743b65f4c0ccd295cc484e57 &amp; sid=ac1dd209cbcc5e5d1c6e28598e8cbbe8 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I am very excited that my software company, Mar'age has been nominated to receive the Chicago Innovation Award! This site is also part of the overall description too, so caregivers are going to get a voice in Chicago!  How often do you see a software company get nominated for an award when it involves caregivers?  But I need your vote to win.  The link below is the sign-up page to register, and then search for the name Mar'age.  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Heart Disease and Me</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MollyHeart</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=57aeee35c98205091e18d1140e9f38cf &amp; sid=539fd53b59e3bb12d203f45a912eeaf2 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I would love to connect with others that have heart disease!  Please join me]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>Medication, caregivers and a thank you!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=705f2172834666788607efbfca35afb3 &amp; sid=577ef1154f3240ad5b9b413aa7346a1e &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[One of the main reasons I created a caregiver social network in 2004 was because I wanted to connect with other caregivers with a particular disease.  In my case it was Dads Hydrocephalus and to learn from others if they had heard of the disease and what medications and/or procedures were working for their loved one with it.  It was so comforting to find the people who knew what I was experiencing.  It empowered me with knowledge so that when I took Dad to the doctor I was able to ask intellegent questions to the physicians.  Then my mother started developing signs of dementia which really made me want to connect with others about how they were handling all of this.  Social networking sites are a WONDERFUL place to connect with other caregivers and I am so thankful for the technology to support them!  This is just a thank you to all of the caregivers who helped me thru my difficult hours and are still there for me!  Caregivers Unite! ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>If I could do it all over again...</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=d1c38a09acc34845c6be3a127a5aacaf &amp; sid=e165421110ba03099a1c0393373c5b43 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I have written several times how I can be doing something and out of the blue I think of Dad. Sunday afternoons were always fun for me growing up and as an adult because I used to play golf on Sunday afternoons with my parents.  To play the same course with them since I was a child gives me specific memories on that golf course that I can replay hole by hole. One day when I was in my 20s, my sister (who was not evil at that time)happened to be at my parents visiting.  Dad came into my old bedroom where I was working on a proposal which had a tight deadline and he asked if I wanted to join everyone to the golf course for lunch and a surprise......I of course was too busy to go, and if I could re-live that moment and change my answer to Yes.  As it turns out, my father had a small lake built at the end of the 3rd golf hole in honor of the "ladies of that course"...he named it after my mother; Lake Jo.  I missed the whole experience because "I was too busy to go with them"....if I could do it all over again.....I miss my Dad right now because undoubtly if he were alive we would be hitting our tee shot on the 3rd hole today and walking past Lake Jo with a huge smile....]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Hello!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>HeartDisease</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=bcbe3365e6ac95ea2c0343a2395834dd &amp; sid=6da9003b743b65f4c0ccd295cc484e57 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Welcome to caregivercall.com social network. Landing here as a result of the hyperlink within the Marage personal health record demonstrates how patients and caregivers can be reached by a particular disease such as heart disease.  This further demonstrates the strength of connecting the Marage patient personal health record with Sparta Social Networks.]]></description>
</item>

<item>
<title>How can it be possible?</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=c0e190d8267e36708f955d7ab048990d &amp; sid=705f2172834666788607efbfca35afb3 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[That I havent written in this blog since March?  My apologies if you are following my blog; so much has happened since March. My husband lost his job, my mothers dog Josh passed away, an IRS Audit, The Kentucky Derby, 10+ driving trips to Ohio (350 miles away) and oh yes. . .retaining an attorney!  For what you ask?  I cant go into too much detail about it today..but it because of my evil sister! I have had it with her.  What really did it was getting a call two months ago from a good friend who was in Columbus at a stop light and saw my sister and brother in law--(my sister lives in Northern Ohioânot even close to Columbus) she was meeting with my mothers Executor.  I sent an email to her Executor saying "I know that my sister is meeting with you, and exactly what are you talking about?" He immediately sends me an email asking "how did you know I was meeting with her?"....I had a gut feeling that something was not right...that is when I decided enough is enough with my sister and retained an attorney.  Over the past 2 months I have heard the LIES my sister has been telling people about me; and pardon the expression--this shit is going to come to an end!  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>I would give anything for just ten</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=45fbc6d3e05ebd93369ce542e8f2322d &amp; sid=13fe9d84310e77f13a6d184dbf1232f3 &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[minutes to spend with my parents as they were just 10 years ago.  Im sitting here watching Wheel of Fortune with my mother; except that, my mother is asleep.  I never watch this program unless I am with her, and I have such fond memories of sitting here with my parents, having a cocktail and trying to figure out "the wheels" puzzle.  Not that this program was the center of our nightly entertainment, but it was part of our nightly ritual.  Looking over to see Mom asleep and watching Wheel of Fortune by myself just makes me realize just how precious the nights were during cocktail hour 10 years ago.  ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Wierd how you can just break down in tears!</title>
<link>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/group_journals.php?gid=</link>
<author>MelissaRowley</author>
<groupName></groupName>
<comments>http://www.caregiveroncall.com/journals/newmsg.php?jid=3b8a614226a953a8cd9526fca6fe9ba5 &amp; sid=115f89503138416a242f40fb7d7f338e &amp; new=y</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I know that I am not speaking alone with this experience when I say that just out of the blue something happens to trigger a memory of a loved one who has passed away and along with that-- the floodgates let loose.  This morning I got an e-mail from a cousin with whom I have not seen since 04--two month prior to my father passing away at her wedding.  I have a VERY VERY small family, and since Dad passed away, (and my sister being so distant) I feel so "alone" when it comes to family.  When I got this email I started sobbing (not because of what was in the e-mail), but I guess because there was a connection to my family; even though it is a 2nd cousin.  It is so sad, because it just reminds me of how my family used to be, and how life was with the patriarch (my father) still on this earth.  ]]></description>
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