Mark down this date, February 28, 2010...

This morning, I woke up and let Izzy out of her crate.  We usually walk into the living room, where my husband is usually relaxed on the couch, watching TV.  Izzy ALWAYS jumps up on the couch and begins barking at him. She has been doing it for four months and 2 days....

Today, she went up on the couch, walked right up to him, licked him on the face and rolled over on her back for him to rub her tummy!!!  He could pet her all he wanted, any place he wanted.  He looked at me with total shock on his face and I was crying.  We don't know what happened, especially after the rough day we had with her yesterday!

Usually on the weekends, she MIGHT let him pet under her chin,  after many treats, but she continually barks at him.  Every time she would bark at him, I would have to catch her, and then I put her in her crate for a "time out".  I only leave her in there for a few minutes, and it usually calms her down.  Not yesterday.  She would run right back to him, barking and nipping.  Back in the crate she went, for a longer period.  She spent most of the day in the crate yesterday, because she was driving us both crazy!!

We had plans with friends last night, so she was in the crate for a good six hours while we had dinner and played cards at our friend's home.  We got home late, almost midnight, so she basically went outside to do her business and then we went to bed, she in her crate again.

After she was so friendly with him this morning, we decided to all go for a walk.  Izzy kept turning around and SMILING!!  I swear, she was smiling!!  It was wonderful, walking arm in arm with my husband as Izzy pranced in front of us, bright eyed with her pink tongue hanging from her ear to ear smile...

My husband does not want to get too excited...he is so accustom to "50 First Dates" with her...a little friendly on the weekend, and then when he is off to work with his suit, tie and dress shoes, she barks and wants nothing to do with him.  So I suppose the true test will come tomorrow morning...

Changes in Dad's medication...

The nursing home called me today, to inform me the Psychiatrist had been to visit Dad.  He will be increasing his anti-depressive medication.  He was taking Lexapro 15 mg one time a day, and now he will be getting 10mg two times a day.

Apparently after lunch he was yelling and having a tough time.  I wanted to speak with him, but he was sleeping.

His primary care doctor was in visiting Dad, checking on his leg.  He is going to order another Dopler test next week.

Can't believe next week is March already!!

I will try again tomorrow morning to talk with him...

Difficult decisions...

I have had a full week of highs and lows. I wanted to write about it last night, but was too tired, and felt any attempts at trying, were forced.

I had a wonderful lunch today at Brios in Town Square with two gals I met  blogging.   
Linda, from http://vegaslindalou.blogspot.com/
and Lisa from http://gioiachronicles.blogspot.com/. 
It was so good to have some girlfriend time.   

What would we do without our girlfriends, ladies?

Its been a rough couple of weeks. We have so much on our plates.  Our indecision to stay here in Nevada, or move back to California has been keeping us both on edge. I think my husband and I have pretty much made up our minds to put the house up for sale in April and when it sells, he'll retire and we will move back to California. I am looking in Hemet and Cherry Valley (mainly because that is the only area we can afford to buy, so we won't have a mortgage) to find something before we move, so when the house sells, we can move into the new place. 

Despite the fact we are spoiled here, in that, we are close to everything and have anything we could possibly want to do at our finger tips. We can be as busy or as entertained as we want to be.  Living back in California, particularly the remote areas we are considering, is NOT the most convenient area to live.  We will have to travel to do many of the things we like to do, but bottom line, we will live a more fuller life, being closer to those we love and hold dear.

Been having a challenging time with our adopted dog, Izzy.  She still barks at my husband.  Now, I am not sure if she is really afraid of him, or she senses he is weak, because he is so tired and stressed and does not interact much. With my husband's new position, he is working longer hours and one day on the weekends.  The last thing we both need is her constant barking when he gets home.  I have been crating her just before he comes home for a minimum of two hours.  That way, he can relax, we can talk and have a quiet, uninterrupted dinner.

I called my sister crying earlier in the week.  My husband and I had an argument over the frustration of her barking, and fear of my husband.  I can't allow her to come between us.  I was considering taking her to the SPCA.  It is a no kill facility, but are full and only take emergencies.  We can't give her back to the Animal Shelter, we are her 4th family, so they may euthanize her.  My sister supported me and encouraged me, that giving her up was not terrible because we had done more than what she or her husband could have coped with, in half the time!!

My sister, my friends dianne, Linda, Lisa and Marylinn have all been so patient in sharing their advise and suggestions, on what to try with Izzy. Our Vet suggested a Trainer, who would charge $75 an hour...
We are at our wits end...

Does anyone  else have any suggestions????

Dad's Care Conference...

Today Mom and I attended Dad's Care Conference.  Mom in person, me via conference call.  My first question was to ask how Dad's head was.  Apparently, he did not need antibiotics after all.  The steri-strip they "butterflied" over his eyebrow, did the trick.

His eyeglasses have not been delivered yet, so the suggestion was to get Dad some magnifying glasses for reading and for Mom to get him one of those chains to keep his glasses around his neck.  His hearing aid has been approved, but Medi-Cal has not paid for it yet.  Doesn't look like they will fill Dad's cavity.  If he complains, they will pull it.  Next time I visit, I will look at Dad's tooth.  Maybe I can pay a Dentist to fill it for him.

Dad has gained 26 pounds since August.  He weighs 148. His health status and medication has not changed, except they are considering lowering his anti-depressant medication.  Dad's doctor will have the final say, but the nursing home is vigilant about not over-medicating.

Dad will be moved back to his old bed by the window today, since his room mate is infection free. I know he will be happy to look out his window and have his "wall of love" again.

Shortly after the conference, I got a call from the charge nurse.  When Dad acted up the other day, they took a urinalysis and found out today, he has a urinary tract infection.  She explained to me that often a patient can get unruly and angry from not feeling well.  Dad will be on antibiotics for a week. I feel they really stay on top of the details the majority of the time...

Mom went to visit Dad after the Conference and found him finishing his lunch, enjoying some cake and coffee.  I think Dad thinks he is 18 again, the way his conversations are all about sex lately... Mom listened and joked with him...

Mom needed help getting Dad back to his room, so they paged the male attendant.  Dad's Angel, doctor-doctor heard the room number paged, and recognized it as Dad's.  Mom noticed she looked tired and she admitted she was.  Mom explained to Dad that his Angel was tired and needed to go home and rest. Dad agreed, being very concerned for her, but wanted to follow her home.

Before Mom could open her mouth, Angel caught Mom's eye and shook her head, letting Mom know not to worry.  She would handle it.

The movie for the afternoon was GONE WITH THE WIND...and you all know how Dad would look forward to that!!

Update on Dad...

I called this morning to check on Dad and he was snoozing in his bed.  The nurse assured me he was much calmer and wanted to rest in bed.  His Angel, Doctor-Doctor is working today and will be assigned to him.  I know he will perk up when he sees her...

She also told me they put a note in his chart about the names Dad calls his Angel, so everyone knows what he is talking about.  One would think they all know what he means, but most of the staff, English is not there first language, and Dad really does not make much sense when he talks.  We, his family, have a vested interest in Dad and he is our only focus, where as the staff have many patients to care for.  I totally see how no one knew what he was talking about.... The important thing is, from now on, they will...

Dad went on a rampage...

Mom got a phone call from the nursing home.  The nurse said Dad was upset and being un-co-operative. Dad got on the phone and yelled at Mom, telling her they were all cheaters.  He could not find doctor-doctor (his Angel), and sounding like he was crying.  He told her he loved his Angel and wanted to marry her. 

Mom tried to change the subject asking about his visit with my sister yesterday.  He yelled  at her again telling her he did not want to talk to her anymore, saying she did not understand, and hung up.

Mom called the nursing home back and spoke with the charge nurse.  She told Mom they were dispensing medication, and Dad was refusing to take his. The nurse reassured Mom they would try again.  Mom is upset and afraid they will send him back to the Psych Ward.

When I got Mom's email, once again, I was upset they did not call me first.  THIS IS ONE MAJOR ISSUE I INTEND TO DISCUSS AT THE CARE CONFERENCE!!! I called the nursing home after reading Mom's email. The nurse told me she was just getting ready to call Mom again. Dad was so upset, they had him in his wheel chair, sitting in front of the nursing station, to keep an eye on him. Dad stood up suddenly from his wheel chair, lost his balance and fell. His head hit the counter of the nursing station and cut him above his eyebrow. It bled, but they had stopped the bleeding.  She had called his primary doctor and would be putting him on antibiotics for the next fourteen days.  I reminded her I am to be the first contact and she told me it said "next of kin" on his chart.  I told her to put me as first contact.  WHAT IS IT WITH THESE PEOPLE!!??


I just called the nursing home back at 9pm and Dad is sleeping comfortably. I spoke with a different charge nurse, so she related the entire story to me again.  She explained the reason they called Mom first, was because Dad had demanded to speak to his wife.  Of course, they had to call Mom first.  She told me shortly after he cut his forehead, he calmed down. He cooperated and took his medication.  He ate dinner and gave them no further problems. I told her Dad refers to his Angel as doctor-doctor.  She said that is why he may have gotten so upset, because they thought he meant his primary care doctor.  She promised she would make a notation for the staff.

Thank God he is calmed down and OK...

Through the eyes of my sister...

I tried twice to call Dad today...the first time, he was in Bible Study and the second time he was napping.  I had talked to my sister this morning and among other things, told her how frustrated I was at not being able to reach Dad....

I took Izzy for a walk and when we returned, had an email from my sister, sharing her visit with Dad...

She found him looking out the window, listening to the Pastor during Bible Study.  She said he looked like he was listening, but enjoying the beautiful day outside.  Typical of Dad, he would rather be out of doors on any given day.  To him, the out of doors, the sky, trees, plants and flowers are all of God's glory...

The nurse came over to my sister and asked if she was there to see Dad.  There was still a half hour left of Bible Study, but she decided to see if he wanted to come visit with her.  He did, so they went to his room.  Dad had shorts on, so she took the opportunity to check out his legs and they looked good.  She noted they have feet pads on his wheel chair now, so he can rest his feet.

Dad chatted endlessly, not giving my sister much chance to fit in any words sideways, as he described how "horny" he was because the women there were so beautiful!  Dad was in excellent spirits and even belly laughed a couple of times.  One of the nurses, (not his Angel) came in and told them she would give Dad a shower when their visit was over.

My sister wheeled Dad outside so he could enjoy some fresh air.  She patiently listened to his "womanly adventures" for almost a half hour.  Dad began to get chilly, so she started to wheel him back through the dining area.  They were preparing for lunch and playing music.  Dad began to "be-bop" and sway to the appropriate beat of the song, "Love Shack". (LOL, how apropos!)

One of the aides came over and told him it was time for lunch.  My sister hugged and kissed him good bye, and threw her traditional kiss to him as she walked out the door.  Dad caught her kiss and blew her one back, smiling happily as he waved her good-bye.

Through the eyes of my sister, I am so happy to hear of their visit.  It is so frustrating, when I don't know how Dad is, or I can't reach him by phone...Sounds like it was a great visit...