More good news!
Soon after I sent that last message, the Speech and Swallowing Therapist came by. Grandma did REALLY well. She asked Grandma her first name, how to spell it, her last name, how to spell it, if she knew the month and year (Grandma couldn't remember "March" but remembered it was the third month, and wasn't sure of the year, but she knows it's Tuesday and has told us she remembers Andrei just had his birthday, so, not too bad). The therapist then asked us and Grandma some questions about her speech: Grandma says she doesn't think she has much trouble with finding words, but more difficulty with getting them out and realizes she has trouble speaking clearly.
The nurse then had her make some faces, stick out her tongue and point it different ways, make a kiss face, blow out her lips, stick her tongue in her cheek, etc. and she did all of those things really well.
Grandma was then given some ice chips to melt and swallow so the nurse could check her swallowing. It was a little tricky but she did this fine. Then she gave Grandma a few spoons of applesauce, which Grandma handled fine. In between bites she made her say "aaah," and Grandma was even like, "I don't know why you're having me do these things..." and the nurse explained she has to make sure she swallowed all the way and there wasn't anything left in her throat and Grandma understood immediately. [Ohhhhhh okay, yeah]
Then!! The nurse had Grandma take the spoon and Grandma did just fine with it! (Even tapping the spoon a little on the applesauce cup so it wouldn't spill!) She was great with the spoon, turning it to get the sauce in the corners of the cup, etc. I mean, she was a bit slow with all of this, of course, but the nurse was super-impressed, asking whether Occupational Therapy had come in already, which they hadn't. (Go Grandma!!) While she worked on the applesauce cup, I had Grandpa replace me in the room and I'm told she also "drank" some syrupy thing they gave her to see that she could grasp and use a cup. (Something with the consistency of honey; they don't give patients water right away because if they can't control swallowing perfectly it could wind up in their lungs.)
Through all of this Grandma was a bit more alert (they had her bed in a sitting-upright position so she wasn't dozing in and out like she'd been doing when I saw her midmorning) and was following all of our conversations, laughing a little, etc. Mom/Rosemary was telling Grandma how AMAZING she was doing, and bragging to the nurse about what an AMAZING woman she is, etc. and Grandma was acting like, "Eh. Maybe. *shrug* I'm ok. Not that amazing." You know, her usual modest silly self. :) We asked her if it was yummy and she said, "Eh, yummy maybe. Not delicious, but yummy I guess." I think she's craving sugar... :)
A bit after all this one of their church pastors dropped in for a visit and Mom/Rosemary and I prepared to leave (beat rush hour and this weird weather we're expecting) but I dropped in briefly before we left to say 'bye and I snagged a few pictures which I'll post/email soon. Prooomise.
After I got home, Joyce called me- she said that because the swallow test went well, they brought her some FOOD! Yay! Of course everything's pureed right now, but still better than nothing (Grandma's been asking about food since they brought her in) Pureed potatoes, cranberry stuff, turkey they think, and green beans. The nurses added that it is REALLY GOOD that she can eat, most stroke patients aren't eating so soon, so that is awesome.
Joyce also tells me that when she arrived with Andrei she was asking whether Andrei had homework or anything, and I recall earlier today she even asked me whether I had work [No grandma I left work early yesterday and took today off] [Oh okay, yeah *something about all of us making a fuss over her*]. So she's pretty "with it." She even expressed to the pastor that she was disappointed she'd be missing choir practice this week since I guess she really likes this new piece they're starting.
Yay. So all of this is really, really good news.
KEEP UP THE HAPPY THOUGHTS!
Much love,
Christina
PS- Everyone getting messages ok? Anyone I'm missing?
I have been passing your messages on to G+G and everyone. <3
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