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Althea Mckenzie Slocum Clough ( age 82 ) Born "Dec 29, 1924" Atlanta, MI Birthday ( Dec 26-30,2006 ) Michigan Trip
Pics 1 & 2 are Mother's sister Jane Sammons giving mother a bouquet of flowers for her birthday & a great Lasagna dinner. Pics 3,4,5,6 are evidence of the snow mother wanted to see on the trip - Thur Dec 28, 2006 Pics 7 thru 12 are the 3 sisters meeting at Applebee's for mother's birthday party Dec 28th, 06 Pics 13, 14, & 15 are Jane's son - Terry & Irene Sammons ( at work ) at the Rumors Restaurant Dec 28th, 06
Side bar story;
We made an emergency trip to Michigan Dec 26th - Dec 30th to let my mother see
her sisters since mother's Alzheimer's condition was getting worse. We
had not
decided to go until about 2 hours before we left - that is when I packed for
the trip.
We left Tuesday at lunch, drove to Louisville, KY, spent the night at a La
Quinta
then drove the remainder of the 850 miles journey on Wednesday. We
arrived and
I got a motel 35 miles away - none closer - I thought.... We had a good dinner
and
mother's sister Jane presenter mother with a bouquet of flowers - mother loved
it.
After dinner - I drove back to the motel to spend the night - Debbie made me
take my
blood pressure thing with me and I took my bp and it was 201/106 - I called
Debbie
and we discussed the matter - but I just went to bed and rested - I also took
an extra
BP pill that the Dr said I could do it my BP was up.
Next day, we drove to West Branch, MI to meet mother's other sister, JoeAnn.
We
meet at Applebee's and had a nice lunch together - all lasting about 2 hours.
Mother
cried several times knowing that she may not see her younger sister JoeAnn
again
because of where she lives ( Atlanta, MI ). But it was a joyous time and
we all left
with warm regards for each other. We arrived back at mother's sisters
home and that
evening we decided to go out to eat where Jane's son worked as a cook.
We did and
as normal when we do this, we got more than a plate full - it was packed and I
couldn't
eat but half of what I had. I had taken my BP before we went to eat
and it was 210/105.
I was getting a little worried but since I had slept good the night before, I
didn't feel
that bad - only a slight head ache but other than that - OK.
The next day ( Friday ) we had plans on going to visit my half sister in
Detroit, MI but
I had taken my BP after 10 hours sleep and it was 214/110 and when I told my
mother
and my sister - they said - you get in the back seat and rest and I will do
the driving and
we are going straight to Alabama and not see Martha - my half sister in
Detroit. So off
we went but I still helped do some of the driving. We spent the night in
Louisville, KY
again at the La Quinta ( the rooms were super nice, new and plush - best La
Quinta I
have ever stayed in ). Mother wanted fish at Cpt D's so we ate
there - I felt OK but
didn't want to take a chance so I went to bed early and got another 9 hours
sleep.
On Saturday, I got up and took my BP and it was 200 / 101 - So I thought
I was getting
a little better. We ate the continental breakfast and headed out at 6:30
am - 5:30 bama
time. I drove in the big cities and my sister drove the remainder.
We arrived home
about 12:30 bama time and I rested on the couch for about an hour - then told
Debbie
I needed to get some exercise - so we walked the 3 mile loop near our house -
very
little traffic on the loop. I felt pretty good but not excellent - last
night I got to feeling
a little tired so we went to bed at 10pm
On Sunday morning we got up at 7am and started our day. I sat on the
couch for
a few minutes and ask Debbie to bring the BP instrument and she took my BP.
It
was 140/72 and I was PLUM SHOCKED. She then ask how had I been
taking my
BP and I showed her - I just put the cuff on my arm and let the little machine
blow it
up and then read the numbers. When I did that - my BP was 212/110 -
Soooooooo-
the moral to this story is: Learn how to take my own BP.
When I put on the cuff
I should have tightened it ( with Velcro ) as tight as possible then let the
little air pump
do it's thing - Well................. I feel much more relieved.
but I did have to live 3 days with tense
emotions and try to sleep and eat right - So, I think I will live
and make it through
this 2006 year
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