"Pickles" was Dad's caregiver yesterday, so she told Mom how much Dad had enjoyed his shower and shave that morning. Dad was always meticulous in his daily hygiene, always clean shaven and smelling wonderfully fresh. Dad had told "Pickles" afterward, "Thank you, I feel WONDERFUL!"
When Mom greeted Dad she could tell by his expression he was not sure who she was.... She took him outside to wait in the fresh air until his lunch was ready. She filled Dad in on the latest family news....my nephew's work accident mangling his dominant right fingers and having to be taken to USC medical center to have his fractured finger's tendon re-connected. Luckily, he will not need further surgery and should recover mobility in three months. She told Dad about my niece's new job and Mom's plans to come visit us for 4.5 days in October. Dad smiled and seemed happy.... Mom said Dad did not seem to register his relation to anyone she was discussing...
Dad September 8, 2012
I think Dad knew who I was.....but when I greeted him with my cheerful, "Hi Papa-doots" , my pet name for him, he laughed and told me, "I like that..." (like it was the first time he ever heard it) and kept chuckling...
He cooed and spoke in loving tones telling me how much he missed me... I told him the sound of his voice and his laughter made my day....which made him laugh again....
I told him I would come to see him in a couple of weeks and he told me "good".... Usually when I tell Dad I will see him, he hears I am coming, but does not hear-- how long, so he wants to hang up....as if I am coming right over....
I could hear Mom telling him his lunch was ready and she did not want his food to get cold. I told him I loved him, Blessed him, wished him a happy, tasty lunch and to enjoy his visit with his "Lynnie" (his nickname for Mom...)
Mom took a picture of Dad while they were outside, but she will need my sister Holly's assistance in getting it from her phone to the computer....so when she emails it to us, I will post it...***** Mom just emailed me the picture she took on 9-8-12 today (9-16-12) so I have updated the post with his photo****
Mom wheeled Dad back inside and got him settled at a table. He was served meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, cubed beets, custard pudding, ice cream, milk, coffee, juice, whole wheat bread and butter. Dad ate everything except a few bites of meat loaf.
Mom asked if Dad would rather go back outside or to his room to take a nap. Without hesitation, Dad chose a nap. As Mom was wheeling Dad back to his room, they met Pickles in the hallway. She asked Dad if she could help him into bed, and Dad replied loudly, "YES! I'LL HAVE YOU!! Mom and Pickles both burst into laughter....Dad laughed too....Pickles apologized, explaining "her English was not too good..." Dad just smiled, he didn't seem to mind at all....
3 comments:
Sounds like a good visit. You are all wise in the way that you don't argue with him when he doesn't understand or get something. When I was in nursing school we were always told to "re-orientate" people when they were confused. All that did was agitate them. Now we just go along with them and it makes for much happier talks!
Isn't it a relief to get a 'happy report'? Bless you.
Donna~ Now that I am my Dad's caretaker i can appreciate your Blog even more. This weekend I took Dad on his first excursion since Mom died. A wedding reception for his Grandson. I tenderly cared for Dad and loved seeing him relish every minute of our 7 hour day together. I feel so blessed that he is able to enjoy it, have conversations and laugh. He was melancholy occasionally thinking about how Mom would have loved this event. It was a good day.
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