Feeling The Love...and Wanting To Pet The Bunny....

Mom and my sister Holly went to visit Dad yesterday.  They found him in the TV room, listening to a church sermon.  He was totally engrossed in what the Chaplin was saying, so they hung back and just observed Dad from the hallway...

Before wheeling Dad out to the patio, Dad introduced my sister to the Chaplain, as "Donna" (me) .  My sister corrected him, and when Dad was flustered, told him it was alright. My sister wheeled Dad out to the patio.  Dad smiled happily in the sun, chatting them both up on how well he was cared for and how happy he was...

My sister did not like how Dad's eye looked, but it is an ongoing problem.  It looks bad, they treat it, it looks better, and then it looks lousy again.  He was to get his shower and shave after lunch, before they put him in bed to elevate his legs.  Mom and my sister both were "poked" by his whiskers, so he really needed a shave!
My sister noticed he needed his nails trimmed, so she cut his nails and massaged his hands.  She always comes prepared to care for Dad.  He thanked her profusely.  Dad was always a well groomed man.

I went to Barber School back in the early 70's, so when I visit Dad, I try to remember my scissors, in case Dad needs to have his ears or eye brows trimmed.  Some times the nursing home stylist misses those details...

The Activities Director came out to visit with all of them.  She brought a baby Jack Rabbit out to show them.  Her husband had found it abandoned in the street.

Isn't it adorable!

Dad LOVES animals, but my sister was protective and would not allow him to hold it.  They put it down on the ground so Dad could enjoy the bunny hopping around in the grass by the shade tree...

See him? (click to enlarge)

Dad's lunch was served and both Mom and Holly each turn turns helping Dad chow down his lunch.  Both of them were starving even more as his lunch looked and smelled delicious!  After he finished his meal, they wheeled him back to visit with his friends.  My sister brought him some punch.

Dad began a discussion with one of his military buddies, so they hugged and kissed him good bye...my sister always stops by the cafeteria window and blows him a kiss...Dad looked for her and smiled as he caught the kiss she blew him...

On the way out, Mom asked the head nurse to PLEASE have all calls directed to me, instead of her.  It seems we always have to remind them, especially after he returns from the hospital when they start a new chart.  The nurse told Mom they had a new night nurse who did not know Dad's situation that well, but she would make sure another note was placed on his chart.

Mom got a call the other night from Dad.  He thought he was talking to my second to the oldest brother, K____.  Dad ranted into Mom's message machine on how he could not reach his Mother and how he wanted to come stay with my brother and his wife.  Dad told him how he would work in the yard and help him...like he used to...

Mom asked if they could please be more creative and dissuade Dad from the calls.  My sister suggested if Dad persists, they should call me (like they are supposed to!!) instead of Mom.  Dad's calls really freak Mom out.  She about jumps out of her skin if she gets one of those night calls...

Thankfully, it sounded like another great visit.

Mom and Holly had planned on having lunch together, but my sister had to get back home to take her husband to pick up his new red Italian Fiat...

My brother in law was one of the first 500 customers to get the new Fiat Prima Edizione .  He was one of the customers in their "Numbers" commercial.  He is #78.  He is wearing a tan shirt and glasses.  He  has deep dimples when he laughs...

Fiat Prima Edizione "Numbers" Commercial