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...

Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Dad, the President of the United States...

Mom went to visit Dad today.  She found him sleeping in his wheel chair.  Doctor-Doctor brought Mom a chair... she read for awhile, played Angry Birds on her cell, passing the time chatting with various staff coming and going...  After waiting a half hour or so, she rubbed Dad's shoulder to wake him up...

He opened one eye, looked at her as his face spread into a sleepy smile...

"I'm going to sleep a little longer..." and he proceeded to return to his slumber...

Doctor-Doctor came in and talked with Mom for awhile.  Dad has a little congested cough but is doing well with the expectorant they are giving him...  Doctor-Doctor decided it was close enough to lunch to wake Dad.  When he awoke, he was excited to see Mom telling her, "It's so good to see you...I love you soooooooo much!"

Doctor Doctor asked if he would like to eat in the lunch room, the patio or his room...Dad responded with, "Where ever my lovely wife would like to be..."  Mom decided to stay in his room as it was windy outside and no room for her to sit in the lunchroom.  Doctor-Doctor brought Mom some coffee when she brought Dad his delicious lunch...

Mom said Dad's eyes lit up and he began making happy sounds, licking his lips when the tray was placed in front of him, with his favorite food; spaghetti, garlic bread, green beans, green salad, vanilla pudding, coffee, ice cream and milk.  Dad grabbed the garlic toast, polishing that off in a few bites, then the green beans and the entire cup of coffee after Mom fixed it the way he likes it.

"Please feed me my salad and desserts dear..." so Mom fed him as she continued catching him up on the latest family news...  Dad's hands are very curled and crippled from his severe arthritis....

Whenever anyone would run down the hallway, Dad would yell out to them, "SLOW DOWN AND WALK!  No running in the hallway unless you want to be FIRED!"

Dad leaned into Mom and whispered to her, "You know Harry Truman and I were best friends,"and then loudly stated, "I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES."

Mom commented he used to be a Republican..."I still am...I converted Harry Truman.  I was with him all through his campaign.  I invented to Steam Engine, did you know that?"

"Yes, I know..." Mom said, "You sure have been busy..."

"Yes, I have...I remember all your political activities and friends..."  (Dad did not know hardly any of Mom's political friends because he disapproved of her being in outside activities instead of staying home...)

"Harry and I were so close we eventually became one person, one President."

After Dad finished his lunch, he announced to Mom, "I need to go up on the 3rd floor to check things out..." (The nursing home is one level.)

Mom told him everything checked out and was just fine....  Dad was tired, so Mom kissed him good-bye and said she would send in Doctor- Doctor to tuck him in...

In the hallway, the charge nurse stopped Mom and told her they would be putting Dad on an appetite enhancer because his weight has been fluctuating up and down.  She told Mom she would be calling me, but I have not received any phone calls...

Mom said Dad coughed a few times and sounded a little congested, but he told her he was feeling much better now that he could cough...

Dad was suppose to get his prostate checked before he went into the nursing home, but Dad kept canceling doctor appointments.  I took him to his Urologist who wanted to do a procedure on him to check out his incontinence of both bowel and bladder.  Dad kept insisting he did not have any problems, but I knew he did...

I know Prostate Cancer is very slow growing, but I wonder if his weight loss has anything to do with the possibility he might have prostate cancer...

5 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Oh Donna! Prayers that he doesn't. It is treatable though.

Mari said...

I love this! I think he would be a fine president!
I don't think prostrate cancer would be the problem with the weight fluctuation. Prostrate cancer in elderly men is so slow growing that it's often not treated. Also, if cancer does cause weight loss, it usually doesn't fluctuate. His appetite today sounds like it was good.
I see a lot of my residents dealing with this weight fluctuation and our Dr feels it's something that's related to dementia. Just my FYI!

Unknown said...

Praying that your dad is feeling better. Bless your mom for being by your dad's side. I know it must be so hard for her.

Linda O'Connell said...

Your dad stories are my delight. You should compile them into a book.

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