Out in Left Field...

Mom went to visit Dad today and found him in bed, after just having a nice shower....although when Mom commented how nice he must feel after his shower, Dad told her he did not remember any shower...and wanted to know how Mom had found him....

Mom explained she had visited him there before.  Dad went on about some man hiring him, but had not paid him, so he was looking for him so he could sock him in his nose...  Mom cautioned Dad to keep calm.  He closed his eyes and looked like he was falling asleep...

Mom touched his shoulder, asking if he wanted to get out of bed and go on the patio...Dad opened his eyes and began to cough.  It was not a congestive type cough, it was dry and seemed forced...as if he was "fake coughing".  Mom asked again if he would care to go outside..."No...." and then he shut his eyes again...

Mom asked if he wanted a drink of water... Dad opened his eyes and coughed again.  She was able to get him to drink two glasses of water.  In between gulps, Dad was abstract talking, not making any sense...his comments totally out of left field...

"I think it was the fish"....Dad blustered....coughing again.  Mom looked at Doctor-Doctor, Dad's favorite caretaker, and she rolled her eyes back to Mom and told her, "Don has not had any fish." Mom smiled and nodded... Dad closed his eyes again...

Mom had noticed Dad's right eye.... it does look better, more dry, less goopy.  I had called her this morning and I told her the Hospice nurse had called me yesterday telling me Dad's eye was looking a lot better.  She also sent me another picture of his left foot.  It looked a lot better than last time...except for the horrible growth where his pinkie toe used to be...

Doctor-Doctor asked Dad if he would like to watch TV... Dad thanked her and told her it would be nice...  After the TV was on, Dad closed his eyes again....Mom said he seemed very tired and sleepy.

Mom could smell the lunch carts coming down the hall... Doctor-Doctor left the room and returned with a woman she introduced to Mom as the RN who would be taking the next shift care giving for Dad.  Mom mentioned Dad's cough and the RN felt Dad's forehead and confirmed what Mom felt, that Dad did not have a fever.  Mom let her know she had given Dad two glasses of water and the RN assured Mom she would continue to push the fluids... Dad dozed peacefully....

Mom leaned over and kissed Dad's forehead, telling him his lunch was on the way and she had to stop at her doctor's office before she went home...  "Go ahead...I'm fine... Have you seen S______ lately...(My 2nd to the youngest brother)  Mom told him she had not seen him in several weeks....

On Mom's way in she had dropped off goodies for the nurses and staff...so on her way out, several nurses and staff members including the Administrator came over to hug Mom and wish her a Merry Christmas...