Ice cream and War memories...

Mom went to visit Dad this morning.  Apparently Doctor Doctor had tried to give Dad a shower, but he was too weak and could not stand.  The physical therapist evaluated Dad and will set up some gentle exercise to rebuild his strength. 

Several of the familiar staff, who are so good with Dad, came by to visit with Mom and welcome Dad back home.  They have changed Dad's room to one closer to the nursing station.  He has an updated wrist alarm which will be checked monthly.  He will have the padded floor alarm around his bed, so if he gets up, an alarm will sound.

One of Dad's male CNA's, who is so sweet and kind with Dad, brought him some vanilla ice cream.  One visit, while my brother was just about to walk into Dad's room, he watched as this particular CNA gently fed Dad as if Dad was his own Father...My brother stood and observed, silently appreciating the tenderness of care he gave to our Father...

Mom said Dad had a cough.  Hopefully, it is nothing serious.  When I call back later on today, I will ask.  Last May, before he was admitted, he got pneumonia from lying around convalescing from his leg ulcers...

Mom said he looked a lot better and most of his wounds have scabbed over well..  She took some pictures of him with her camera.

Dad told Mom he had a brother named Don. Dad was named after an Uncle Don.  He had no brothers, just four sisters.  Dad named all his sisters except his youngest sister who passed away almost two years ago. Mom helped him with a hint, telling Dad his youngest sister had the same name as their family yacht.  Dad smiled and said, "Jessie Mae".

Dad began reminiscing his memories sailing with his uncle and father.  The uncle had made an impression on Dad when he told Dad, to "HIT THE DECK".  Dad then related how during the Battle of Tarawa, when Dad heard a missile whistling toward him and the other Marines, while they were digging fox holes. Dad yelled, "HIT THE DECK" and saved all their lives as they all dove deep into their holes in the sand.

My grandfather was an inventor. Dad remembered a fire  in his Dad's shop.  Dad watched as his Father quickly threw hand fulls of sand and put out the fire.  Dad used that vivid memory to put out flames near the gasoline drums near the fox holes.  Dad knew the fire from the missile explosion, would cause the drums to explode.  Dad ordered  the men around him to help scoop sand from the beach onto the hissing drums and fire.  They successfully extinguished the fire.

Dad closed his eyes and began to dose.  Mom asked if he would like to take a cat nap before his lunch.  Dad opened an eye and told her he hopes he gets more ice cream on his lunch tray...Mom said she would make sure of it...