Dad's Weekend

On Saturday, woke Dad around 8:30, showered, shaved, dressed and had breakfast. After breakfast he finally had the BM on the toilet I had been waiting for....and it was a doozy! Watched Baby Mozart with Dylan in the Family Room. Though he seemed to stay awake a bit longer in the morning, he slept a lot when resting between lunch and a walk in the afternoon. Had his Mexican seabass, rice and vegetable leftovers for dinner and seemed to enjoy it more than the first time.

On Sunday, we slept in a little longer...woke him up around 9:15am. On greetings, he consistently is saying he "wants me to set him up". Typically, in the mornings, if he has leaked through his diaper at all, he takes a shower (and when I ask him, he says that's what he wants to do). Otherwise, I use a washcloth with perineal wash and help him wash his "private parts."

After breakfast (today, Fiber 1 honey cluster cereal, Cranberry/OJ, eng muffin with butter and jam, slice of bacon), he had a bowel movement on the toilet. Hopefully he has settled into that routine, as it looks like, based on his daily log, that was about the time he would do it in NC. Though, he ended up having another one around 5pm.

We had a couple brief walks outside---gorgeous clear day, high around 62.

Had Roast Beef & Swiss on Double fiber bread sandwich for lunch, with a banana. Popcorn for late afternoon snack (Kettle corn form the local farmer's market--where I went today during Scrabble), and chicken breast, rice, peas and salad for dinner. Fresh berries and whip cream, with a couple choc chip cookies for dessert. Seems to be eating well.

For his pills, instead of giving them all to him in a small medicine cup, I'm giving them to him 1 or 2 at a time, and having him stick out his tongue for me to place them on to help him swallow them whole, instead of chewing as he had been. It can be a bit challenging as he doesn't seem to fully understand sticking his tongue out, and when he does, won't hold his mouth very open (I'm tyring to get them to the back of tongue.) It does seem to be working in terms of him not chewing the pills though.

Went to bed right before 10pm. Seems difficult for him to get on his side, but we managed it.

New Year's Day

(Warning of a personal hygiene-detailed post to follow!)

Dad had a pretty good day. We finally had some good timing with the toileting so that we didn't need to change his morning diaper until this evening (up until then, he had only pooped, but not peed in the toilet.) Unfortunately, though, he is on day 3 of no pooping. I also noticed what I think are hemorrhoids so I've been cleaning with some Tucks pads.

For the 2nd day in a row, we took a walk outside/around my house and then we spent a few minutes bouncing the basketball back and forth to each other. Today, I decided to add calling out the alphabet as we bounced (I bounce "a", he bounced back "b", etc.) We did that several times, then we expanded to counting by twos, odds, then evens, then by tens. I think he liked it, but seemed glad when he got to retire in his favorite leather chair for a snack, nap and then watch Dylan on his bike.' If anyone has good suggestions for "mental games" for Dad, please share.

Tonight, we went out to dinner for a Mexican meal (Dad had Mexican seabass, rice and beans). He ate only about half, so we brought home the leftovers. Currently having berries and cream while we watch Deal or No Deal. Hopefully we'll have success on the toilet before bed!

Day 4

We seem to be settling into somewhat of a routine. Dad's learning his way around the house and such. Ate well today...3 meals, plus a couple of snacks. Really liked the fresh berries and whipped cream for dessert. Did his leg exercises on the couch. Still napping a lot when sedentary but did have a good walk from the parking lot to Dylan's physical therapy location. Enjoyed watching me and Dylan bike ride again from the sun porch couch.

Day 3 in California

Dad was a little less confused today, and seemed happier. Still slept a lot, and took naps during the day. I think he found his favorite spot in my house which is a nice leather chair on our "sun porch" that looks out over our patio/pool area. It's a very warm spot and he sat down and watched (and slept) while Dylan rode his bike outside.

We went to CVS in late afternoon and Dad said he was up for walking around the store with me (with his walker.) About half way through the store I started to "smell" something. By the time we got home, he had leaked through his pants, so we had a bit of clean up to do. We had already taken a shower that morning, and it seemed to work out okay, so he got in for another after we returned to get cleaned up.

Seemed to really enjoy the Roast Filet Mignon meat I had cooked for dinner, along with salad, green beans, wheat english muffin and cheesecake for dessert. Played a little bit of cribbage with Ryland. Needed help, but did set his hand correctly without help a couple of times. Also seemed to be able to count the cards with prompting.

Day 2 in California

Dad slept quite well...finally roused him around 9:30am, then toileted and washed up in the bathroom. Had pancakes for breakfast. Seemed a bit more confused and lethargic today...perhaps due to jetlag. It was a gorgeous clear day here, but on the cooler side (for us)...60's. Dad sat outside for a while. I walked him to the edge of my deck to look at the ocean and he noticed some ships. He then said "I could just die right here right now"...and I wasn't sure if it was because he felt tired or because he appreciated the view! I reminded him that he had once told me that after he died he wanted his ashes spread on the Pacific, but I didn't really get a response to that.

ANyway, it was a bit busy here today as a group of my girlfriends with kids had come to visit (my original West LA roommates/girlfriends...hadn't all gotten together in several years). 3 of them have only daughters, ages 7 to 11. We had lunch together at the house with Dad, but Dad didn't eat much. Dad stayed with Paul while we all went for a nice walk by the cliffs. On our return, Ken and family had arrived for their visit with Dad. Dad mostly stayed in the family room watching the football game, but initiated getting up several times, often seeming a big confused and/or saying "we need to set up the program.." and other gibberish. Judy, Ken, Dylan and I sat with him for awhile, and Judy gave us some tips and comparisons with her experiences at the Sunrise facility. Dad had a late snack (mini-sandwich, grapes), then Judy and Ken helped Dad in the bathroom before departing around 6pm. Dad had dinner a little later (chinese chick salad, eng muffin, slice of pizza) and milk and cookies. Had his 2nd Bowel movement in as many days here on the toilet (yeah!...it's all about the poops at our house!) and cleaned up and went to bed around 9:30pm.

Dad's arrival in California, December 27, 2008

Dad and Ken arrived without incident. Dylan and I had driven to the airport to pick them up. Ken said Dad only ate half a sandwich on the plane, so when he arrived at my house, after going to the bathroom and freshening up, he had a light meal of macaroni and cheese, english muffin and apricots (and took meds). He went right for the meal without prompting, and commented that the apricots were "really tasty". After eating, he sat on the couch with me, Ryland and Dylan watching the end of Oceans 13. Is now toileting before bedtime, around 10:15pm PST.

Though he asked some of the same questions repeatedly, overall he seems more alert than I expected. He definitely seemed intrigued with Dylan and Ryland, commenting that I had a blonde and a brunette, and I was halfway between!

I have set up the intercom to "monitor" his room (like we do Dylan's)...hopefully he will sleep comfortably through the night.