Call Out For Visitors

Dallas is all settled in her new home and would LOVE to have visitors! She is at the Laurels at 511 Knights Cross Drive just off Stone Oak Parkway about halfway between 281 North and Loop 1604. Visit this link for a map. Her room is on the second floor # D207.
This is a wonderful place and you are going to love visiting her there! You don't even have to call ahead, but she has her cell phone. There's a nice playground if you bring children and plenty of seating in her room for company, as well as lovely larger rooms to gather in.
Please plan on visiting as soon as you can - she would love to see you!!

Assisted Living

We are fortunate and found a wonderful assisted living home for Dallas at The Laurels off 281 in Stone Oak Parkway. We researched ALL facilities in San Antonio & I personally viewed 8 of them. The Laurles is by far the best - very nice & meets Dallas' medical & social needs. It is highly recommended by CTRC, Hospice, Social Workers & ranked the highest by State surveys (with zeros complains). Mom is glad that it's near Bulverde area close to her home, friends, family and she is familiar with the area.

There are many activities at the Laruels including: elementary book readings at the school next door - perfect for mom, arts/crafts, music, games, weekly shuttle trips to movies/ballet, bible study/church. And has a beauty parlor on-site! She will have her own one bedroom apartment in the large facility with beautiful grounds, including playscape for grandkids. Once we get set up, which may take 2-3 weeks, we encourage you to please come visit. It has several meeting/club rooms and everyone will feel very comfortable visiting with Dallas there. It is an extremely clean, spacious and beautifully decorated facility.

In the interim, Dallas is still staying with her son in Leon Springs & I am here for the week also until we get everything squared away. We'll keep you posted and let you know once we learn when mom can move into her 'resort' as she calls it - she loves it after our visit and appealed to her independent nature. Oh, and they have internet access so she will be able to keep up with this blog, emails and pictures as desired. Mom is feeling alright, just very tired after the long outing today.

Here's the link to The Laruels including pictures
http://www.rsl-al.com/LocationDetail.aspx?cid=1&lid=9

The Laurels are tailored to enhance dignity and foster independence. Our highly progressive approach to assisted living care includes a strong focus on maximizing the activities of daily life, while fostering independence. With licensed, on-site nurses 24 hours a day/seven days a week and offers a progressive approach, which encourages family participation through care planning, education, special events, and support groups.

The basic Laurels Personal Care Service Program includes:
Licensed nursing professionals on-site 24 hours a day/seven days a week
Medication supervision and administration
Participation in The Laurels program of activities and support, including a full-time Activity Director
Weekly housekeeping and personal laundry
Constant monitoring of well-being and comfort
Reminders of daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and personal hygiene
An emergency call system, with 24-hour-a-day response
Nutritious meals and snacks
All utilities except telephone and cable
Scheduled transportation

Update

Harold's condition has worsened and he is not able to care for Dallas. Sunday her kids moved her to her son Jack's house in Leon Springs and Nona has taken a week off from work to find an assisted living home for her. This is what she prefers to do.
There's no internet access where she's staying now, but we'll relay messages to her.

Greetings

Hello everyone, thanks for visiting my blog!
Wednesday, I was able to go to my book club, I sure enjoyed seeing everyone. In fact the conversation was like a breath of fresh air. Wonderful not to hear mention of the word "radiology". Thank goodness those treatments are over.
Today I am recuperating further and hope to get out again soon.

You'll never know how much your comments and concern have helped me.
Oh by the way, have you had enough rainfall??
Take care
Love,
Dallas

Dallas' last day of Radiation...

is this Wed 7/18 & we are all looking forward to that. We hope that she is less nauseous once radiation is complete. Her lower back pain has subsided with the radiation already. Dallas spent the weekend with her children & precious grand-daughters who always cheer her up. Please feel free to call anytime & hopefully she'll be up for more visitors next week.

A bit of good news...

Dallas is feeling better thanks to changing her anti-nausea medication. Yeah! We take any good news we can get. Her back pain is not as severe lately either so hope that continues. Dallas has one more week of radiation & should be complete next Wed 7/18.

Dallas Update 7/8/07

Dallas has been at home with Harold resting all weekend & is very nauseous due to the radiation & increased pain medication (morphine). We do have a new anti-nausea prescription that hospice provided so hope that will assist. Mom will be receiving radiation every day this week @ 10:30am which we really hope will help with her lower left back pain which is still severe. They will also determine if she'll receive her monthly Zometa treatment(intravenous medication for the bone cancer to help reduce fractures). Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Dallas received a nice visit today from family (Deidra, Ann & Casey) who prepared lots of home-made high calorie meals for mom & Harold. Thank you so much for that the thoughtful gesture! Mom looks forward to feeling better so she can eat more & needs to keep her weight up. Her Hospice Nurse will be out to the house every day this week and Dallas' children Jack & Winona will be spending this upcoming weekend with her.

Again, we appreciate your well wishes and prayers for Dallas. We hope that she is feeling better and in less pain very soon.

Radiation Schedule

Dallas will receive radiation every day @ 10:30am for 2-3 weeks. Thus, Harold & Dallas will not be at their house from 9am to approx 1pm Monday thru Friday. Just wanted to let everyone know in case no answer at the home phone.

Dallas is back home

Dallas went back home to Bulverde Sunday afternoon. We had the radiation consult appt on Monday which she will probably start this Thrusday for 2-3 weeks every day. Hospice also came out on Monday afternoon & we set that up. Mom, Harold & I all really liked the nurse so that was helpful. Harold drove mom to her radiation follow-up appt today at CTRC. I'm back in Austin working for now but checking in daily, as is family.

Unfortunately, Dallas is having lots of pain due to the bone cancer in the lower back/spine area so please don't be offended if she's not on blog this week. The hospice nurse is assisting with pain management and due to the additional morphine, Dallas is resting a bit more. We look forward to radiation as that should significantly assist with the pain. Other than that, she is happy to be back home.

Thanks again for all your kind comments, call and cards - ahhh, mom LOVES cards & has them all up around her. I'll post more later this week or next with update. Take Care -