Still Trying To Have a Happy Face...

Mom and my sister Holly went to visit Dad today.  They found him sitting in his wheelchair in the lunch room.  They started to wheel Dad to the patio when he told them he did not feel good...shortly after telling them, he began to dry heave.

Doctor-Doctor ran and got him a bucket and after he deposited mostly clear fluids, he said he wanted to go outside.  They sat in the sun and Dad kept his eyes closed most of the time...it was nice and pleasant out on the patio and Dad always enjoys the warmth of the sun on his back...

My sister asked Dad to smile for the camera and took the photo below...

My sister said he looked pasty white and he does seem very pale...my poor Dad...

My sister told Dad her husband Mark said hello...Dad told her he had a little red fiat he wanted him to take a look at...(Dad only had a white truck, which has been sold, and Mark has a red fiat...)  Concerned, Mom preferred to tell Dad Mark was too busy fixing other cars he would not have the time to fix Dad's car...Dad seemed happy Mark was so busy, accepting her explanation...

Doctor-Doctor came over to check on Dad and see how he was feeling.... Dad told her, "I love you so much I could just eat you."  After she left, Dad closed his eyes again and seemed to be enjoying the gentle breeze and fresh air.

Mom asked Dad if he had been watching the Olympics and he told her he had.  When she told him about their grandson going to Hawaii to go to College, Dad said he already knew...

Dad's lunch was served out on the patio.  They gave him some extra towels, "just in case".  Holly fed him turkey, dressing, and salad.  Mom fed him a couple of bites of ice cream and a couple bites of a half banana and announced he was done.

My sister wheeled him back inside and took him back to his room as he said he was ready for his nap.
Mom and Holly both said their good byes in his room after he was tucked into his bed.

Overall, Dad seemed out of it...and despite the staff saying he was fine, did not seem to feel very well...but you know Dad, he still attempts to smile and put on a happy face...

Mom inquired to several of the staff and they all seem to think he is fine but said he sleeps a lot...

When Mom and Holly left, both were upset.  My sister felt Dad is just existing and not living.  It is becoming increasingly difficult for all of us to see Dad the way he has been lately.  I notice it too when I talk with him over the phone...our conversations are shorter, make less sense and he falls asleep while talking much of the time.

Neither of them could look at Dad's toe...their visit was difficult enough.

Care Conference on Dad for July 17, 2012

Mom and I attended Dad's Care Conference yesterday.  She in person, me over the phone.  They confirmed I am the first contact and then went right into asking if we had decided on the Advanced Directive.  We determined on a DNR and no feeding tubes.  We will agree to Limited Intervention, meaning if Dad needed antibiotics, oxygen, keeping him comfortable or having him transferred to the hospital to treat him for anything the nursing home could not provide.

Mom and I brought up a letter Mom received about taking Dad off Lexapro in September if they did not receive a letter from the Psychiatrist saying it is still required.  I have a phone call into his office and Mom will write a letter, sending a copy of the letter, and asking the doctor to make sure Dad stays on the medication.

Dad attends activities four to five days a week and especially enjoys the music and singing.  All agreed Dad is slowing down and keeps his eyes shut a lot of the time...but will open them upon prompting.  Dad eats 80 to 100% of his food and weighs 148 pounds.

The dentist visited Dad and attempted to take x-rays which Dad refused.  The dentist came a month later and was able to do a visual exam.  Dad has several cavities, moderate gingivitis and heavy tartar build up, but will not allow any treatment.

The podiatrist and primary doctor both agree on not being able to get a manual pulse in his left foot and they may decide to do another Doppler test.

I received a phone call, later in the afternoon, after the Care Conference from the nursing home after Dad's primary doctor visited Dad, telling me he discontinued further Cryotherapy treatments as it was not helping the infection.  More blood tests were ordered for this coming Monday.

Mom visited Dad after the conference and found him fairly chipper.  His eye looked dry and well scabbed over.  He had a new haircut, but needed a shave and his facial hairs trimmed.  Doctor-Doctor helped Dad into a wheel chair so Mom could take him out front and enjoy the weather and all the beautiful flowers newly planted with the latest renovation.

Their visit was short and sweet as it was close to lunch time.  Mom noted both in and out of the building, Dad's alarm did not sound, so she informed Doctor-Doctor and she promised to have Dad's batteries changed in his alarm.

I had called the nursing station after I hung up from the Care Conference and was lucked out as Dad was sitting in front of the nursing station when I called.  I find Dad responds more positively if I am very animated and upbeat.  I greeted him with my pet name for him and he responded back with a laugh and repeated what I had just said... The nurse had told him I was on the phone so he said my name...

He repeated most of what I said to him back to me...but sounded happy.  He did mention I "found him this nice house"...meaning the nursing home...and told me "he loved me so very much"....

I could hear him smiling as he told me "Someone is here, who you know and love..." and I thought he meant Mom...so I asked to speak with her...Doctor-Doctor came on the line...and we both laughed as I told her I thought Dad had meant my Mom.  I thanked her for all she does and told her it was good to hear her voice, then asked for her to return the phone to Dad.  I realized Dad had forgotten her name...

When Dad came on the line, I told him how much I enjoyed talking with Doctor-Doctor...and Dad laughed and repeated her name....as if he was thinking it was such a perfect name for her...

Our conversation was very brief, as it seems to be lately, but it was so good just to hear his voice tell me he loves me...

He said he was going to take a nap soon.... so I told him to get his beauty rest and have only sweet dreams...how much I loved and missed him....and God Bless you Dad...

I usually have to call back to the nursing station to make sure they take the phone, because often Dad continues to stay on the phone even after I disconnect.  The nurse laughed and said, "Oh, you're not still talking to your Dad?"  I told her we were finished so she told me she would get the phone from Dad because he still was talking and holding it to his ear...

I had received an email from Dad's primary care doctor apologizing for not answering my email of June 30th.  He has been very busy with sick patients in the hospital, but he planned on seeing Dad Tuesday, the day of the Conference, and would email me afterward...

I anticipate hearing from him by next Tuesday, as he ordered more blood tests on Dad....I assume to see how the infection in his foot is reading in his blood work...

We leave tomorrow for my step-son's Marine Core Boot Camp Graduation in San Diego....then Saturday to another step son's home for a family BBQ, an Angel/Ranger game on Sunday and back home on Monday... I pray the activities keep me mentally occupied...

I am lifting Dad in prayer....since the Cryotherapy is not working on the infection in his toe and foot...I am anticipating the doctor suggesting the removal of Dad's toe or foot... I know how traumatized Dad will be if he has any realization about the surgery....and how much he would protest...  We discussed how detrimental general anesthesia can be for Dad with Alzheimer's/Dementia in the Care Conference, so we all are just holding our breath.

I also asked the doctor about Hospice if he should determine surgery would be the best option...

We can only put our faith in God and lift Dad up to the Lord...

Thank you so much for each and every one of you who offer advice, support and prayers on this blog.  You all remain so close to my heart and life long friends.

Too Much For Mom Today...

Mom went to vista Dad today.  His male nurse told Mom Dad was in good spirits during and after his shower and ate all his breakfast.  When Mom found him in the lunchroom, Dad had his eyes closed and  did not have much to say.  Mom noticed he grimaced a few times so she asked if he hurt any where or had a headache.  Dad told her he didn't.

Mom attempted to call me, but I could not take the call as I was on the phone with the electrician getting him to come today to replace our GFI breakers in the bathroom.  They have been tripping off almost every day now...

She tried various ways to engage Dad, but he was tuned out.  When his lunch came, Mom attempted to feed Dad and he took one bite of a french fry and made a face.  She tried giving him the spinach and again, a face.  She tried the fish and he told her "no more".  She offered ice cream and he was not interested.  He hardly ate a thing...

Even Doctor-Doctor suggested his favorite fruit plate, and he said no thank you.  A few of the staff offered his favorites to him and again, he refused.  Finally, Mom excused herself as Dad was ready for a nap.  The staff assured her they would offer more food to Dad after his nap.

The front door of the nursing home was closed due to some work they were finishing, so Mom had to enter and leave through the laundry entrance.  On her way to the parking lot the Administrator saw Mom and offered a hug.  He asked how Dad was doing, and Mom burst into tears.  She was more shook up than she realized.  He told her he had also noticed how Dad has slowed down...

Mom said she missed his singing and wild, adventurous stories...and seeing him so shut down is very difficult.

I hope today was an isolated incident, because Dad normally has an excellent appetite.  If Dad continues to not want to eat, it will not be a good sign...

His Care Conference is next Tuesday.  Mom and I will attend.  She in person, me over the phone....

I still have not heard from Dad's primary doctor about the Cryotherapy treatments or the Hospice...

This knot in my stomach keeps twisting and churning, increasing my sense of dread...

Waiting in Dread, Yet Hoping For the Best and Thank God for My Daughters....

Mom went to visit Dad last Saturday, July 7th.  She spoke with the male nurse who told me Dad had Scabies.  He told Mom Dad DID NOT have it...but gave her a throw away gown and disposable gloves to go into Dad's room.  I don't get it...don't understand the conflicting information...

The male nurse told her Dad was in his room resting after his shower.  He told Mom Dad had been in a good mood.

Mom found Dad sleeping in his bed with his mouth open.  He looked all cleaned up.  His eye looked scabby and dry without the goop.  His lip looked dry and scabby as well. She called his name a few times to wake him up. Dad half opened his eyes and told her he was tired and shut his eyes again.

She asked Dad again how he was doing and he again told her he was tired. Mom sat there a bit, then decided to let him rest.  She told him she would come back another time...

The front of the nursing home is pretty much done with bright new flowers, new plants and a new sign.  There were several residents in wheel chairs enjoying the new landscaping before the heat hit later in the week.  Mom spoke with the lady who is always with her Mother who is a resident there, and she said she noticed Dad was slowing down.  It seems obvious to everyone.

It is more difficult than ever reaching Dad...and when I talk to him he seems so out of it...or falls asleep.    I keep thinking about the hospice video... at the end, how the dying are so tired...

I tried to reach him twice this morning, once he was asleep, and the second time he was in the dining room enjoying some music and singing.  Dad weighs 148 and still has an appetite, eating 90-100% of his food, so that is such a good sign...

I am probably very frustrated.  I used to manage to talk with him once a week, but now it is so sporadic, often two or three weeks in between.  It seems so long since I felt good after a visit with him...

I am still haunted by Dad's doctor's decision whether he will do another Cryotherapy treatment or determine to remove Dad's toe...

I hate this feeling I have.  Like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop...

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On a positive note... despite a late arrival, my daughters and I had a great time together...mainly we shopped for bargains at Ross, thrift stores, yard sales, went out to eat, talked, laughed and went to the movies.

My youngest daughter's son, Jacob, had a rash from the antibiotics he was on for a past ear infection.  We were shocked to discover an allergic reaction can appear after the full course of treatment was completed.  After the doctor assured her the rash would dry up and gave her some Benadryl for the itching, she felt relieved.  Apparently some foot, hand and mouth rash is going around in California and she was worried that is what he had.

Her husband insisted she go forward with their planned visit.  Jeff is a very capable Father and takes Jacob out on many Father, Son outings, so both my daughters left around 1pm and arrived at 6pm last Friday.  We made up for lost time and really crammed a lot of fun in those two and a half days.  They left yesterday at 5am.

I will see them again later this month when we all go to San Diego to see my husband's youngest son graduate from Marine boot camp.

Input Needed on Found Watercolor Painting...

This is a close up of a (what appears to be a water color) painting I found in a thrift store.  I was attracted to the old looking buildings and period dress of the woman on the dock.  The signature (if there is one) must be covered in the framing.  It was framed by a framing house in Tampa, Florida called Artistic Ways.  When I called the phone number of the framing house, it was disconnected.

There is brown paper across the back of the picture, so in order to see the signature, I would have to remove the brown paper and remove the painting within the frame and matting.  Hate to do that...

It kind of looks like a scene out of 1700 England???  Any ideas?  Any input?  Does anyone recognize this painting or have any idea where it is or what time period?  I really would appreciate any input from anyone....

Happy 4th of July...