I have bought Mum some more clothes as she continuously gets tinier and more skeletal, but I have purposely been holding off 'fun' present buying for her, as she has deteriorated hugely in the last few weeks. She has fallen out of bed twice and and her head and face are black and blue. Present buying is not helped by the fact that Mum's 91st birthday is only 3 days before Christmas Day, so it's a double whammy. Mum is losing weight rapidly and not eating and today, on my way home from the CH in the middle of a vast supermarket, I had a call from the GP advising advance care plans, hospice involvement and a supply of morphine if required
. I really don't know what will be happening at Xmas.
DD is buying her Nan that famous spa's lovely orange smelly showergel and scent. I am just about to order a projector that will do patterns on the ceiling and play nature noises. I have already bought a silicone pendant on a cord as Mum keeps sucking her fingers, my hand, anything she can get hold of, and a small softy animal face on a wristband with lots of ribbons coming off it to fiddle with. I'll probably get her another couple of nightdresses as she is spending more time in bed.
Past gifts have included the Ker plunk game, a lap fleece with family pictures printed on it, a 'magic' sequin cushion that changes pattern when you run your hand over it; some plastic balls that press together easily; kids reusable sticker scenes; picture books, an animatronic cat and other soft toys, a variety of dementia clocks as Mum's ability has altered; a radio with a programmable favourite station button, magic painting sheets, ........... oh and Mum has a vast array of cushions with special messages on them, that she loved when she could read and understand them.