It was a challenging morning because I woke up and ate my breakfast as usual, forgetting I was supposed to fast for medical tests I had scheduled for late morning.

I am constantly juggling Mom's care needs with everything else going on, I don't always remember scheduling details.

I try to get up an hour before Mom so I can have some quiet time to collect myself before the household gets active. I'm in the habit of getting my breakfast right away, so I can eat in peace and think about what is next.

Although I remembered I had the medical tests coming up and was thinking about who was going to be taking care of Mom while I was gone, I did not remember the fasting requirement until after I ate my breakfast and was starting my coffee.

At about the same time, Mom came out from her room to sit in the big chair, waiting for her breakfast. I couldn't drink my coffee, so I gave it to her. I then started trying to reach the lab to ask what to do, was it worth it for me to show up at the appointment or should I re-schedule.

I happened to pass by Mom's room and noticed the familiar smell of urine. Upon investigation, I discovered she had missed the commode and there was a big puddle underneath. The washable rug we had for her bedside was soaked on one end and needed to be removed. The floor needed to be mopped and the commode emptied and wiped down.

It wasn't yet 6:30 am.