This blog was formerly dedicated in 2009 to my Dad who died of Alzheimer's in 2013. It's been three years now...and I find myself missing blogging...so I am re-inventing my blog... because, after all, life is about moving through, and going forward...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

I Get All My Love From Turkey...

I called Dad today and asked how he enjoyed his turkey dinner.  He raved and gushed about eating everything on his plate, wanting more and getting another plate full.  Dad loves turkey as much as he loves spaghetti.  " I get all my love from turkey!" he laughed and I could not help but laugh with him...


He made sure I knew he was kidding, and once again thanked me for finding the nursing home for him.  He always tells me how wonderful everyone is to him and how much he loves all of them.  It is music to my ears, no matter how often he tells me, because I remember how it was two and a half years ago when he first was diagnosed and had to move into a home...

Doctor-Doctor was in the room with him.  She had just given him a shower and was getting him dressed and all ready for visitors and lunch.  I told Dad to tell her hello from me, which he did and I could hear her telling me hi as well...

I had spoken with Mom earlier this morning and she told me she and my sister Holly were going to visit Dad today. I told Dad they were coming and he was excited.  He sounded so good and so upbeat, this news just added to his happiness.

Dad today during his visit with Mom and Holly

Mom and my sister arrived just before Dad was served lunch.  They took him outside on the patio of the nursing home and enjoyed the sunshine.  Dad complimented Mom on how great she looked and was so happy to see my sister.

Mom called Dad's sister on her cell and let Dad speak to her.  They had a wonderful conversation and both were so happy to talk with one another.
Mom was enjoying a good day and feeling really positive and walking without her walker.  Dad was so happy to see Mom feeling so much better.  

Dad's eye still looks very red and irritated but Dad insisted it did not bother him at all.  When it was time for Dad's lunch, they hugged and kissed and said their good byes... Dad was anxious to get to the lunch table with his friends, not to mention the food...we all know how much Dad looks forward to eating!

Mom and Holly went for a nice lunch after their visit celebrating Mom feeling so much better and the great visit with Dad.

I am so very grateful Dad is happy where he is and so happy to hear how well Mom is doing.  Thank you everyone so very much for all your prayers and well wishes.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone....


UPDATES:
Mom's MRI went well...she took it like  a champ.  She meets with the doctor for his recommendations next week...

My brother in law came through his surgery well...they even had him up and walking two hours after the surgery!

My colonoscopy went well, the prep was not even bad...everything is A-OK!

Thank you so much my dear friends for all the positive thoughts and prayers!

Blessings to everyone...

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Please Pray....

My Mom has claustrophobia and has to have a two hour MRI on November 21st.  The X-ray showed a fractured spine, arthritis and osteoporosis.  The MRI will show all the soft tissues to help determine if she has a pinched nerve. The doctor is exploring why Mom keeps having the electric shock sensation in her legs. We would really appreciate your prayers as the MRI is going to be a real emotional challenge for her.

My brother in law is having knee surgery November 22nd.  Please pray for the surgeon, his doctors and for his speedy recovery and healing.

One of my friends has a mysterious paralysis and has been bed ridden for several months.  Her doctors just discovered a lesion on her spine through an MRI.  Please pray for her surgeons, doctors and her quick recover and ability to walk again.

I am having a colonoscopy on November 22nd.  I would appreciate  your prayers too.  In 2007 I was one of 40,000 people who were exposed to Hepatitis B, C and HIV from two Las Vegas colonoscopy clinics re-using syringes and anesthesia vials.  Our records were seized by the police.  I underwent blood tests every 6 months for two years and tested negative for everything.  Recently I had some tests and both my GYN and Primary Care doctor feel another colonoscopy should be done again for my best interests. Please pray for good results.

Thank you!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Dad Turns 91....

Dad turns 91 today...although he thinks he is 102!  I called him this morning and had a good conversation considering he didn't hear much of what I said or asked, but he commented on what he thought I said and we worked with that...

Mom and my sister went to visit Dad and he was THRILLED to see them...

My sister took this really nice picture of Mom and Dad. She felt she should retouch the picture since Mom plans to use the picture for this year's Christmas cards...

Didn't my sister Holly do a nice job? Still such a cute couple...

They found in the lunch room scarfing up his lunch.  After he cleaned his plate, he ate half of the carrot cake my sister brought him.  He told them how wonderful and great he felt.  He was very animated and excited about his birthday celebrations, telling them how popular he is...

Dad told them how he had no worries and was so happy.  (What a blessing to all of us to hear this...)
He talked of owning the Breeder's Cup and then remembered being in prison.  Being protective, my sister told Dad it must have been a nightmare and changed the subject...

Mom asked if Dad knew how old he was today...Dad told them he was 102.  Maybe he is competing with his lunch mate, who is 105!  According to the nurse, he does not take any medications!  Good for him!

My sister noticed Dad's wander guard was on his ankle instead of his wrist...she wondered if that is why Dad may have thought he was in prison?

Dad told them both he enjoyed a nice long conversation with me this morning...

My sister read him all his birthday cards.  He smiled sweetly, listening intently and thanked her for reading all the cards, as his glasses were lost. (They were in his drawer...)

The chatted for about an hour before Dad began to yawn and announced he was ready for a siesta.  My sister hung all his cards on his wall of love while "Pickles" (Dad's nickname for her) tucked him in all cozy in his bed.

They hugged and loved him up and as my sister stood at the door to blow him a kiss as she usually does, she could see Dad was already fast asleep....


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Updates on Dad...

10-20-11 Received a call from the nursing home:  Dad had lost 8 pounds the month of October.  They will be giving him a supplemental drink twice a day.  I tried to talk with Dad.  I could hear him perfectly, but he kept telling me he could not hear me.  Doctor-Doctor said she could not hear me either, so I know it was not Dad.

He told me, "I know you are calling to tell me how much you love me.  I love you too dear...I am sick and throwing up, but I am doing just fine..."

After I hung up, I called back to speak with the charge nurse.  I told her what Dad said and asked if he had been throwing up.  She assured me he was fine and they had no record of him throwing up.  I told her about the phone and she promised she would call the maintenance to check the phones.

10-25-11 was Dad's Care Conference:  Mom's friend drove her to the conference and helped Mom with her walker.  They both went in to visit Dad, but he was asleep.  The nurse said she knew Dad would want to be awakened, but Mom's knees were starting to really bother her, so they left.  Mom said the report was all good and despite losing the 8 pounds, he is still in his normal range for his height and age.

10-28-11 Received a phone call from the nursing home regarding Dad's roommate having a contagious rash.  Both Dad and the third roommate would have to be treated with some special antibiotic cream.


10-29-11 Called the nursing home and spoke with charge nurse.  I wanted to know if it was safe visiting since I was staying with my daughter and did not want to take any chances of exposing my young grand sons to the rash.  Two of the three boys have very sensitive skin.  She advised me to wait until the following Tuesday, giving them 4 full days of the treatment.  I explained I was going home on Tuesday.

Instead, I called my sister and we decided to take Mom to lunch.  I gave Dad's card to my sister as she plans on seeing him on his actual birthday when he turns 91.  We met at Mom's and took two separate cars to Islands restaurant.  Mom has been using the walker my sister bought for her.  She tried to walk three feet from the chair to the couch and almost tripped.  Her knees keep feeling like she is having electric shocks.  She will be going to pain management classes and to have an MRI.

When Mom and I returned back to her house, I asked if she was using her Life Line bracelet or necklace.  She informed me she had not been able to activate it yet because she was still looking for a good place to hide the front door key.  The police and fire department need to know where there is a key hidden to get in should there be an emergency.

She also was having problems with her computer and some other small things she needed help with.  We resolved all her issues and I left her house about 6pm and headed back to my oldest daughter's home.  She had made spaghetti and garlic toast, so I was anxious to get there...

11-3-11 My youngest brother E went to visit Dad for an early birthday visit. When my brother walked into the dining room, Dad greeted him by calling him the oldest brother's name.  E____ corrected him and Dad told him he loved him. Here is a picture of Dad opening the card he gave to Dad:

My brother E____ has a golden lab and three Havanese dogs.  Dad was very close to them all, but knows the yellow lab is getting older and having some health problems.  One of the Havanese is particularly protective toward the lab and they sleep together and the smaller dog grooms the lab.  The picture is the two of them together.  Dad loved the card...

My brother offered to take the card to Dad's room and hang it on his "wall of love".  After my brother hung it, Dad appeared in his room telling my brother he would like to eat his lunch in his room and visit with my brother there...

Shortly thereafter, Doctor-Doctor arrived with Dad's lunch tray.  When Dad saw it was liver and onions he decided he was not hungry.  He began to warn my brother he might throw up.  E____ took it in stride and went and got him a basin bucket, just in case.  E____ suggested Dad drink his milk and mashed potatoes to settle his stomach, and told him he would be OK.

 Dad ate everything except the liver and onions...I had to laugh at the expression on his face.  No doubt he is making an "icky face" for the disdain he holds for liver and onions... LOL.

Dad said he had to throw up, because if he didn't something might happen... my brother used positive thinking and just told Dad he would be fine and he did not HAVE to throw up.  Dad agreed it was a great idea and a positive perspective, announcing he felt much better.  Doctor-Doctor brought Dad a nice assorted fruit plate with cottage cheese, and Dad quickly scarfed it up.

To use my brother's description, they "rip-rapped" for an hour or so until Dad let him know he was tired and wanted to take a nap.  They exchanged love and hugs and my brother left Dad's room.  As he walked up the hall, he noticed an older man sitting in the doorway of his room with his white bathroom open down to his waist.  As my brother approached, he noticed the man was "bursting with golden showers" all over his bathrobe and the hall way floors....

The nurse was right behind my brother so when he turned to check if she was still there, she was already attending to the gentleman.  We all have had similar experiences visiting the nursing home.  It is not pleasant and if one allows the surroundings to get inside one's head, it would undoubtedly affect one's frequency of visits.  We simply have learned these past two years, to take it in stride...