On The Other Side, Taking The Train Back...

Mom went to visit Dad today.  She found him in the TV room, basketball game blaring, asleep in his wheelchair...  Mom woke him with a kiss, and he happily greeted her, but seemed more interested in the game.  He asked her how my brother K____ was, and she told him he and his daughter had just returned from Vegas, playing in a Texas Hold Em tournament.  Mom told Dad my brother's daughter held out longer than my brother did.  Dad laughed...

"I've been worried K____ was on the other side and had to take the train back..."  Dad told her, looking very pensive.  Then he broke into a fit of coughing with that lousy cough he has.

Mom knew better than to question what he meant... She asked his caretaker for the day about Dad's cough and he assured Mom Dad was getting breathing treatments and medication three times a day.

I will be curious to see, if Dad gets transferred back to the hospital for some reason... January 24th he was discharged from the hospital back to the nursing home.  He generally stays a week, then the nursing home starts a new chart.  This April 24th, he will have been back to the nursing home 3 months...we will see...

Dad's lunch of diced beets, cucumbers, some fish, and scalloped potatoes arrived with two glasses of milk, his coffee and gingerbread dessert.  While Mom was feeding him, she dropped a couple of beets in his lap (covered in a towel bib), and put the spoon down to pick it up with her fingers.  In the process, she brushed Dad's left hand and she noticed he flinched.  She asked him if his hand hurt and he told her it was sore and did hurt.  Dad has arthritic hands and fingers and some times his hand and/or fingers swell and cause him pain.

Again, Mom double checked with his caretaker and he told Mom they knew about it.  After Dad finished his lunch, Mom could tell he was ready for a nap.  "Pickles", one of Dad's favorites, offered to take Dad to his room and tuck him in.  Mom told him to have sweet dreams and blew him a kiss good-bye...

Mom leaves tomorrow for a weekend retreat in Carlsbad with her friends from church.  She is looking forward to it and I know she will have a great time...

After reading Mom's email, I called the charge nurse to inquire about Dad's cough.  I wanted to know if they have checked to rule out pneumonia.  She told me they had done a chest x-ray.  OH REALLY?  I let her know no one had called to let me know.  I have keeping notes and I plan on letting them know all about this at his Care Conference.

I asked if I could talk with Dad and luckily, he was sitting right in front of the nursing station.  Right away I could hear Dad's voice in pain, complaining about his sore hand, making it difficult to hold the phone.  We only spoke for a few minutes, because when I explained to Dad AFTER we talked I would ask the nurse to put an ice pack or something on his hand... Dad immediately gave the phone to the nurse...

She told me she could not do anything until she got doctor's orders.  She said they were awaiting a phone call from the doctor.  Again, I asked why I was not called about Dad...and she told me Mom had been in earlier... I had to remind her I keep notes.  I am the first contact and should be called, regardless if Mom is there or not.

The nurse just called me.  It is 10:45pm.  She let me know the doctor finally returned their call and he will come to see Dad tomorrow.  He did not want the nurses doing anything until he sees Dad...

Please Lord, keep me strong in faith and hold Dad close....Amen...