Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Precious Angel Baby....
Monday, May 30, 2011
Happy Memorial Day Dad!
My sister went to visit Dad this morning. She found him in the rec room playing Bingo. He happily told her he had just won Bingo with all four corners. She patiently waited while he played one more game, then she wheeled him for a walk in front of the nursing home. He loved the warmth from the sun on his back. It was a gorgeous blue skied day and he enjoyed all the spring flowers...
Dad out front of the nursing home
She brought him some oatmeal from Starbucks, so they found a spot of shade and chowed down! He loved it and ate every morsel... Dad remembered when he used to make oatmeal at home in the double broiler. He would put pomegranate seeds, walnuts and craisins in it...DELICIOUS!
After a bit, Dad became warm, so Holly wheeled him back inside and gave him a tour of all the decorating being done inside and in the dining room. They work very diligently at keeping up the facility and making it very homey.
She wheeled him into his room, to make sure it was clean...and it always is.... She said they have a big bulletin board beside his bed with all his pictures and even the birthday cards from his 90th birthday last November.
Doctor-Doctor popped in to say and get a hug... Holly wheeled Dad out for another stroll around the building, saying Hi to several of his friends...then back to the rec room for his lunch. While they waiting for his lunch to be served, my sister massaged his shoulders. He loved it, as usual, but he started to get sleepy... He told her he was ready for a nap. She reminded him his lunch was on its way and he could nap better if he had a full tummy. Dad agreed with a big smile...
When his lunch arrived, they blew their kisses to one another as they always do and left him to enjoy his tasty looking meal. She said she left with a happy heart, knowing Dad looked so good and gets such wonderful care...
I tried to call a couple of times this afternoon. Apparently, he is really tired, because he has been sleeping since 1pm... We are going to a birthday BBQ at 5pm for my husband's grand son, who turns 13 today. There will be music and lots of people, so it would be difficult for Dad to hear me or me to hear him...I will try again later if it is not too late, or tomorrow...
Happy Memorial Day Dad! Thank you for serving in the 2nd battalion of the US Marines at the Battle of Tarawa... love you so much...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
An Excellent Explanation About The Difference Between The Left and Right Sides of The Brain...
It's late...or should I say, early in the morning...and we have big plans today...so I must get at least a few hours of sleep... but I wanted to share the following video...
It is Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist, who, while alone in her apartment, at the age of 37, had a stroke on the left side of her brain. Being the scientist she is, she found the experience fascinating and tells us all about it. Her full story is in her book, MY STOKE OF INSIGHT.
I thought this was so interesting, because after watching it, I feel my Dad operated more from his left brain than he did from his right. Now I feel he is experiencing the wonder of the right side... what do you think?
It is Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist, who, while alone in her apartment, at the age of 37, had a stroke on the left side of her brain. Being the scientist she is, she found the experience fascinating and tells us all about it. Her full story is in her book, MY STOKE OF INSIGHT.
I thought this was so interesting, because after watching it, I feel my Dad operated more from his left brain than he did from his right. Now I feel he is experiencing the wonder of the right side... what do you think?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Getting A Refund On A Thousand Dollar Pair Of Shoes And More Irish Memories....
Mom arrived at the nursing home a little after lunch. She found Dad parked in his wheel chair, talking with Doctor-Doctor and another care giver. Mom could tell, as she approached, Dad was very talkative and animated. He was on entertainment mode and had a captivated audience...
After Mom pulled away from her hug, Dad asked her if she remembered when he, the Captain and her, went to the three big department stores (Bon Marche, Rhodes and Frederick & Nelson) in Seattle, trying to collect a refund on a $1,000 pair of shoes he had purchased...
Mom said she did not remember it and asked who the Captain was...
Dad told Mom it was not her fault she could not remember, because the Captain was the one who let Dad steer the boat in Puget Sound when they returned from Bremerton.... The reason the Captain allowed Dad to steer, was due to the fact, Dad had told the Captain he knew John Wayne, which gave Dad the potential to be a Captain himself.
Totally going with Dad's fantasy, Mom asked if he had to stop the ferry for the submarine nets to open (that was part of a ferry ride during World War II). Not missing a beat, Dad said he went under the bridge in Chicago too.... He laughed and said he did a good job!!
Dad lived in Connecticut as a boy and did a lot of sailing. He told me on several occasions how he would go sailing alone or take his four sisters. One time in particular there was a big storm. He was scared but knew he had to get his sisters back safely... which he did. I would not be surprised if Dad is getting those memories mixed up with unfulfilled dreams.
The dining room was being painted, so Mom suggested they sit in the nook at the end of the hallway and talk. There were a bunch of students on the patio. Dad wanted to discuss his maternal Grandfather, comparing his health to the healthiest state of his grand father...
Mom reminded Dad, his maternal grandfather was not his direct blood line. His paternal grandfather died shortly after Dad and Mom were married. Dad laughed and told her she was right..
Dad told Mom he was fired from working for the shoe department of Frederick & Nelson, after only working there two weeks. Dad had never explained to Mom why he was fired. Today he told her he was fired for ordering too many shoes because he did not realize someone else had ordered the same shoes. Mom wondered if this was more fantasy, or finally, the truth coming out...
The wound care skin angel stopped by to tell her a visiting vascular surgeon continues to check on Dad's pinkie toe wound once a week. She wanted Mom to be sure and let me know... Mom promised she would, but I already knew this.
Dad skipped back into remembering his maternal grandfather, who was a Chemist in Belfast, Ireland. He used to take ice cold baths to get his body used to the cold waters of the North Sea. He was a champion swimmer and swam daily. Dad remembered he also smoked a pipe. Dad told Mom he is going to make a scrapbook about him. His grandfather used to take Dad, his cousins and sisters up to Mt. Lowe in Southern California. They would all take trips into town on the "red car" which was what they called the trolley...
Dad asked Mom to contact their nephew, who lives near the Hollywood sign and specializes in selling the older Craftsman style homes. He has a lot of the family history in photo albums and scrapbooks... Dad told Mom he is very close with him, his wife and their cat, so he would give him pictures. Realistically, this particular nephew has been estranged from the family and Mom and Dad have not spoken with him in years...Dad is remembering the earlier days, when they did...
Dad was bouncing from subject to subject, not making much sense to Mom. She said her head was spinning from trying to keep up with him. Dad talked of his friend who lived in the same building as Dad but he died 15 years ago... Mom had no clue who he was referring to...
He told Mom about some guy passing out "girlie" magazines and had tried to give Dad one. Dad said he refused it, saying, "The bad lady makes no bones about not being nice."
Dad complained about having to stay awake all night because all the TVs were on and it was too noisy.
"They came over in the same boat and one guy shouted and his wife put on his t-shirt. "
"My third pick is number 5. I made a mistake trying to choose". We have no idea what Dad means, unless he is remembering bits and pieces when he used to go to Santa Anita Race Track and bet the ponies...
As if Dad was tired of talking, or changing the subject once again, he announced to Mom he was really for a nap. Mom wheeled him back to his room, where his male care giver was there to take over.
Mom said he looked neat and tidy and in good spirits. He told her he had a wonderful lunch and fruit plate, but could not remember what he ate.
She has a huge purple bruise on her thigh, but told me it did not hurt. My niece, who is a nursing student, treated it and put an ice pack on her... She has a legion of angels protecting her...and thank you God for that...
After Mom pulled away from her hug, Dad asked her if she remembered when he, the Captain and her, went to the three big department stores (Bon Marche, Rhodes and Frederick & Nelson) in Seattle, trying to collect a refund on a $1,000 pair of shoes he had purchased...
Mom said she did not remember it and asked who the Captain was...
Dad told Mom it was not her fault she could not remember, because the Captain was the one who let Dad steer the boat in Puget Sound when they returned from Bremerton.... The reason the Captain allowed Dad to steer, was due to the fact, Dad had told the Captain he knew John Wayne, which gave Dad the potential to be a Captain himself.
Totally going with Dad's fantasy, Mom asked if he had to stop the ferry for the submarine nets to open (that was part of a ferry ride during World War II). Not missing a beat, Dad said he went under the bridge in Chicago too.... He laughed and said he did a good job!!
Dad lived in Connecticut as a boy and did a lot of sailing. He told me on several occasions how he would go sailing alone or take his four sisters. One time in particular there was a big storm. He was scared but knew he had to get his sisters back safely... which he did. I would not be surprised if Dad is getting those memories mixed up with unfulfilled dreams.
The dining room was being painted, so Mom suggested they sit in the nook at the end of the hallway and talk. There were a bunch of students on the patio. Dad wanted to discuss his maternal Grandfather, comparing his health to the healthiest state of his grand father...
Mom reminded Dad, his maternal grandfather was not his direct blood line. His paternal grandfather died shortly after Dad and Mom were married. Dad laughed and told her she was right..
Dad told Mom he was fired from working for the shoe department of Frederick & Nelson, after only working there two weeks. Dad had never explained to Mom why he was fired. Today he told her he was fired for ordering too many shoes because he did not realize someone else had ordered the same shoes. Mom wondered if this was more fantasy, or finally, the truth coming out...
The wound care skin angel stopped by to tell her a visiting vascular surgeon continues to check on Dad's pinkie toe wound once a week. She wanted Mom to be sure and let me know... Mom promised she would, but I already knew this.
Dad skipped back into remembering his maternal grandfather, who was a Chemist in Belfast, Ireland. He used to take ice cold baths to get his body used to the cold waters of the North Sea. He was a champion swimmer and swam daily. Dad remembered he also smoked a pipe. Dad told Mom he is going to make a scrapbook about him. His grandfather used to take Dad, his cousins and sisters up to Mt. Lowe in Southern California. They would all take trips into town on the "red car" which was what they called the trolley...
Dad asked Mom to contact their nephew, who lives near the Hollywood sign and specializes in selling the older Craftsman style homes. He has a lot of the family history in photo albums and scrapbooks... Dad told Mom he is very close with him, his wife and their cat, so he would give him pictures. Realistically, this particular nephew has been estranged from the family and Mom and Dad have not spoken with him in years...Dad is remembering the earlier days, when they did...
Dad was bouncing from subject to subject, not making much sense to Mom. She said her head was spinning from trying to keep up with him. Dad talked of his friend who lived in the same building as Dad but he died 15 years ago... Mom had no clue who he was referring to...
He told Mom about some guy passing out "girlie" magazines and had tried to give Dad one. Dad said he refused it, saying, "The bad lady makes no bones about not being nice."
Dad complained about having to stay awake all night because all the TVs were on and it was too noisy.
"They came over in the same boat and one guy shouted and his wife put on his t-shirt. "
"My third pick is number 5. I made a mistake trying to choose". We have no idea what Dad means, unless he is remembering bits and pieces when he used to go to Santa Anita Race Track and bet the ponies...
As if Dad was tired of talking, or changing the subject once again, he announced to Mom he was really for a nap. Mom wheeled him back to his room, where his male care giver was there to take over.
Mom said he looked neat and tidy and in good spirits. He told her he had a wonderful lunch and fruit plate, but could not remember what he ate.
She has a huge purple bruise on her thigh, but told me it did not hurt. My niece, who is a nursing student, treated it and put an ice pack on her... She has a legion of angels protecting her...and thank you God for that...
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Big Changes...
No, you did not land on the wrong blog...after almost two years of the original, old blogger layout design.. .long before Template Designer, I have decided to make some changes and do away with my all green background...so please bear with me as I tweak and adjust...
I am open to any and all feedback from my loyal, supportive and incredible blogging friends. I notice I have some new friends following me...so thank you so much for doing so. I will be visiting your blogs as soon as I get this redesign finished...
One question for everyone...Do you think I need a new button to go with the header picture, or will my former button with my Laguna Beach sunset still work? Thought I could keep some of the old, with some of the new....Please let me know, I would really appreciate your opinion...
P.S. I have been attempting to adjust the margins to fit my new header photo so it has even borders, but the right side is not cooperating... Will I have to re-size the header photo?
I am open to any and all feedback from my loyal, supportive and incredible blogging friends. I notice I have some new friends following me...so thank you so much for doing so. I will be visiting your blogs as soon as I get this redesign finished...
One question for everyone...Do you think I need a new button to go with the header picture, or will my former button with my Laguna Beach sunset still work? Thought I could keep some of the old, with some of the new....Please let me know, I would really appreciate your opinion...
P.S. I have been attempting to adjust the margins to fit my new header photo so it has even borders, but the right side is not cooperating... Will I have to re-size the header photo?
Feelin' Irish And Remembering The Vikings...
The nursing called me back yesterday so I could talk with Dad. He had just gotten out of a shower and was feeling pretty chipper...he was speaking in an Irish accent and telling me he felt very Irish and then broke into a rolling laugh!
His voice sounded slurred and garbled to me...I had a difficult time understanding a lot of what he said... I stopped asking him to repeat himself because I did not want to frustrate him....
I'd pick up bits and pieces and we managed to have a pretty good conversation. He was very set on seeing his grand children. He suggested we put on a "wing-ding" and have a good time. I told him I would be coming out in a few weeks in June, and I would see what I could arrange... He was delighted. His tone of voice sounded hopeful...
I could hear women laughing in the background...so he may have been out in the hallway by the nurses station. Dad was distracted and talking and flirting with them, while talking with me...
Dad started talking about our ancestry...( not sure if it was part of another conversation with someone else, or him abrupty changing the subject of conversation...which he has been known to do on several occasions...)He began talking about being Scottish, German, and Irish. I added, we were also Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, and Norwegian. Suddenly Dad was excited and astounded! Oh yes! I am so glad you reminded me of that! I had forgotten all about it until you brought it up... Away he went, telling me all about the Vikings... I agreed we do come from sturdy stock...at least that is the part of the conversation I understood....
(Clearly he was distracted, he would say a few words, laugh, or say something, sounding like he turned away from the phone...)
I asked if he enjoyed his lunch and he told me he did... I asked what the workers were doing in the dining room and he told me they were just mopping the floors... (Not sure if that is true or not, because they were working in there when Mom visited earlier in the week...)
I had to eat in my room...but I prefer to drive my car over by the window so I can see out... I asked if he meant his wheel chair instead of a car...and Dad began to chuckle, I did too and pretty soon we were both laughing hilariously...
He told me how much he loved me and appreciated me calling. I reminded him I would be coming to see him in a few weeks...and of course, how much I love and miss him...
His voice sounded slurred and garbled to me...I had a difficult time understanding a lot of what he said... I stopped asking him to repeat himself because I did not want to frustrate him....
I'd pick up bits and pieces and we managed to have a pretty good conversation. He was very set on seeing his grand children. He suggested we put on a "wing-ding" and have a good time. I told him I would be coming out in a few weeks in June, and I would see what I could arrange... He was delighted. His tone of voice sounded hopeful...
I could hear women laughing in the background...so he may have been out in the hallway by the nurses station. Dad was distracted and talking and flirting with them, while talking with me...
Dad started talking about our ancestry...( not sure if it was part of another conversation with someone else, or him abrupty changing the subject of conversation...which he has been known to do on several occasions...)He began talking about being Scottish, German, and Irish. I added, we were also Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, and Norwegian. Suddenly Dad was excited and astounded! Oh yes! I am so glad you reminded me of that! I had forgotten all about it until you brought it up... Away he went, telling me all about the Vikings... I agreed we do come from sturdy stock...at least that is the part of the conversation I understood....
(Clearly he was distracted, he would say a few words, laugh, or say something, sounding like he turned away from the phone...)
I asked if he enjoyed his lunch and he told me he did... I asked what the workers were doing in the dining room and he told me they were just mopping the floors... (Not sure if that is true or not, because they were working in there when Mom visited earlier in the week...)
I had to eat in my room...but I prefer to drive my car over by the window so I can see out... I asked if he meant his wheel chair instead of a car...and Dad began to chuckle, I did too and pretty soon we were both laughing hilariously...
He told me how much he loved me and appreciated me calling. I reminded him I would be coming to see him in a few weeks...and of course, how much I love and miss him...
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Missing Dad...
I tried to call Dad this morning... he was in Bible study. It finishes at 11:30am, then he will eat lunch in his room because they are still working in the dining room. I told the nurse Dad would need help eating, as he cannot bend his left hand. I can't call during lunch, because Dad will be focused on eating...and being in his bed, when he finishes, no doubt he will sack out for a nap.
She told me she would call me after he finishes his lunch so I can talk with him...I hope she remembers... I really have a strong urge to hear Dad's voice and talk with him...
She told me she would call me after he finishes his lunch so I can talk with him...I hope she remembers... I really have a strong urge to hear Dad's voice and talk with him...
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