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...

Monday, April 22, 2013

Chowing Down for Earth Day...

Mom went to visit Dad today after her eye appointment. The nursing home was celebrating Earth Day by serving cheeseburgers, chips and sodas.  Mom greeted the Activities Director who was wearing a bright green to to celebrate the day.  She invited Mom to enjoy a cheeseburger.

As Mom rounded the corner of Dad's station, she saw the male nurse preparing the medications tray.  She greeted him and asked if he had Dad's weight.  He told Mom Dad had gained some weight and was now at 132!  He also told Mom Dad's doctor had done a Cryotherapy treatment on Dad's pinkie toe. One of the female nurses told Mom what a happy person Dad is and such a sweetheart to care for.

Doctor-Doctor gave Mom a hug and asked if she wanted to take Dad out on the patio.  After Mom kissed Dad hello, they went outside on the patio.  Mom had Doctor-Doctor park Dad's wheel chair in the sun so he could enjoy the warm sun on his back.

Doctor-Doctor chatted with Mom and told her Dad was still hungry after breakfast so she had brought him a fruit plate and a cup of coffee, which he gobbled down.  Mom told her about her last visit with my sister and how they could not believe all the food Dad packed away.

The weather was perfect and all the colorful balloons tied to the patio chairs danced in the breeze.  Dad kept both his eyes closed and didn't really say much.  Mom would have to ask Dad a direct question before he would speak...

Doctor-Doctor reappeared and told Dad his lunch was served.  Mom fed him his lunch of baked boneless chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, stewed tomatoes (which Dad loves), mixed fruit salad, strawberry ice cream, whole wheat bread and butter, a slice of orange cake, coffee, milk and his Ensure.  Dad polished off every morsel of food.  He continued to keep both eyes shut inside as he had done outside, so Mom knew it was not the sun making him shut his eyes...

The Activities Director came to Dad's table with three cheeseburgers, two bags of chips and two sodas.  Dad ate both bags of chips, a couple sips of the soda and two cheeseburgers, leaving only a couple of bites.
Pickles and Blondie stopped by the table to greet Mom and Dad...

Doctor-Doctor returned and asked Dad if he was ready for a nice nap, which he quickly smiled and told her he was ready.  Mom kissed and hugged Dad good-bye and enjoyed more positive comments from other members of the staff as she was leaving.  It was another good visit.

Mom has been "burning the midnight oil" doing her counted cross stitch Christmas stockings for my nephew Braxton and my newest grand son Garrett.  She hopes to be finished with Braxton's very soon and Garrett's before Christmas...so Mom went home and took a nap herself!


2 comments:

Mari said...

Thankful for another good visit and some weight gain too!

Linda O'Connell said...

Your dad is going tobe OVERweight if he keeps eating like this :) So glad it was agood visit.