Well, the house is offically closed. There was one thing, beyond the wear and tear, which was a hole in the wallboard at the back of the garage.
The house looked quite clean; I cleaned the oven and refrigerator. Penny said the counter would be replaced. And of course painted.
She doesn't think that anyone is interested yet, but she said they would be fixing it up very quickly, because if someone was interested they would want a larger home (like Dad's).
Anyway, I hope it sells fast!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Dad's day
Dad had another good day. Seeming to nap less than before, and moving around better as I said yesterday. Tonight he seemed a little more restless, wanting to get up and move around and focused on something about some paperwork that some man has for him. Earlier in the day he enjoyed reading Faye's thank you note. He could read many of the words, though I had to explain who "Avril Lavigne" was. He is currently having strawberries and whip cream for dessert on the couch.
Dad's Wednesday
Dad was walking and moving stronger and seemed more alert today. Earlier in the week he seemed to be moving slow, and shuffling more. I definitely noticed the difference today, and last night as well. He and Lois took a lot of little walks outside today, and enjoyed the nice weather. I will try to remember to call the insurance company tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Update on Dad
We are settling into the routine of Lois caring for Dad daily from 8 to 4. Dad usually goes to bed between 9:30 and 10pm and thus far has slept all night (or stayed in bed at least, and I can usually hear snoozing in the morning when I'm getting the kids up) until 8am, which is when Lois arrives to rouse him and start his day.She is maintaining his daily log, which I expanded to include identification of morning and afternoon activities, as well as walks. She usually spends the 1st hour in his bathroom/bedroom, helping him shower, toilet and get dressed, then he has breakfast around 9am. They've started watching Price Is Right, which I told her he might recognize. She is doing his daily exercises prescribed by the doctor as well. She mentioned that Dad talked to her a lot yesterday morning, but I didn't get the opportunity to ask her any details about the conversation. Today the weather was warming up again, so they had lunch and spent some time outside. Ryland has a cool US States puzzle that they do on occasion.
Yesterday we took Dad to the podiatrist. He was referred by my friend, the doctor, but I also know his wife (fellow Mom from Cornerstone.) He clipped Dad's toenails. I asked him about the fact that Dad has complained of pain in his left heel, and also what Lois had noticed of a slightly swollen right ankle...Podiatrist felt the area looking for Dad's reactions...said it didn't seem to be anything external, and mentioned it is likely "plantar fascia?" or something like that (common ailment for elderly when ligaments or tendons break down? He just recommended making sure Dad doesn't walk often barefoot (which he doesn't), and also suggested encouraging the walking, as well as doing "toe raises" from his walker. I forgot to ask the doctor (actually, I had to leave early to retrieve Dylan, so Lois stayed with him), but I had asked the nurse who took us to the room about the fungus. Her comment was that the medicine only works in 75% of those to whom it is given, and because of the potential impacts to the liver, would not often be prescribed for someone like Dad. It doesn't seem to bother him, and the nails actually looked much better and cleaned up last night when we got ready for bed.
Dad seemed to enjoy his dinner tonight. Ryland usually sits with him at the Family Room table for dinner, while Dylan and I are eating at the counter.
Yesterday we took Dad to the podiatrist. He was referred by my friend, the doctor, but I also know his wife (fellow Mom from Cornerstone.) He clipped Dad's toenails. I asked him about the fact that Dad has complained of pain in his left heel, and also what Lois had noticed of a slightly swollen right ankle...Podiatrist felt the area looking for Dad's reactions...said it didn't seem to be anything external, and mentioned it is likely "plantar fascia?" or something like that (common ailment for elderly when ligaments or tendons break down? He just recommended making sure Dad doesn't walk often barefoot (which he doesn't), and also suggested encouraging the walking, as well as doing "toe raises" from his walker. I forgot to ask the doctor (actually, I had to leave early to retrieve Dylan, so Lois stayed with him), but I had asked the nurse who took us to the room about the fungus. Her comment was that the medicine only works in 75% of those to whom it is given, and because of the potential impacts to the liver, would not often be prescribed for someone like Dad. It doesn't seem to bother him, and the nails actually looked much better and cleaned up last night when we got ready for bed.
Dad seemed to enjoy his dinner tonight. Ryland usually sits with him at the Family Room table for dinner, while Dylan and I are eating at the counter.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Dad Missed Two Concerts
Dad was unable to attend two concerts this month with me. New Years Eve and Broadway Diva concert. However, I was able to find someone to take his place, Katherine Rhew's friend, Joy Munden. She was happy to attend, especially since Dad's seat was in the handicapped section!
Anyway, I missed Dad's presence but it was nice to share the concert with someone nice!
Anyway, I missed Dad's presence but it was nice to share the concert with someone nice!
Friday, January 09, 2009
Dad at Kenny's House Day 2-3
Dad is enjoying another day at my house. I called at Lunchtime to see how Dad was doing. Judy gave him macaroni and cheese, and he ate it all. We moved the small tv to living room so he could sit on big chair, and stay there instead of his room. For dinner he ate steak and rice. I forgot to give him his evening medicine on Wednesday, so I made sure not to forget again. This may have caused his current constipated state. He sat on toilet for a while and may have had BM, but not sure, as I wasn't brave enough to look.
We tried to played cribbage, but didn't seem very interested. I had Zeek hold his cards. Zeek had never played cribbage before, but with my help, he managed to score 60 first, and win (only half a game)
He slept well but was all wet when he woke up this morning (1-09-09). Judy and I gave him a shower. I think that made him feel a lot better. He ate fiber 1 cereal for breakfast with banannas. He ate most of it, but wouldn't finish it.
I called Judy at lunch. He had egg sandwich, and cantaloupe for lunch, and is currently resting. I am going to get prunes for him to eat on way home.
We tried to played cribbage, but didn't seem very interested. I had Zeek hold his cards. Zeek had never played cribbage before, but with my help, he managed to score 60 first, and win (only half a game)
He slept well but was all wet when he woke up this morning (1-09-09). Judy and I gave him a shower. I think that made him feel a lot better. He ate fiber 1 cereal for breakfast with banannas. He ate most of it, but wouldn't finish it.
I called Judy at lunch. He had egg sandwich, and cantaloupe for lunch, and is currently resting. I am going to get prunes for him to eat on way home.
Dad's Day 2-3 at Kenny's House
(recreating this from memory)
Thursday (1-08-09)
Dad had breakfast of scrambled eggs and english muffin after waking up a 6:00 am, with the rest of the family. His new place is sitting in the big leather chair in the living room. For lunch he had macaroni and cheese. The kids played around in the living room with him watching. He had steak and rice, and broccoli. After dinner, I sat with him and watched football game. We tried to play cribbage, but Dad wasn't interesting in participating, except to watch where the pegs were moved. Zeek played Dad's cards with my help. He actually got to 60 points first, and was declared the winner. Dad sat on toilet about 8:30, and possibly may have gone poop based on the odor. I was too afraid to look, and Judy wouldn't wake up to look. Dad went to bed at 9:00, along with everyone else
Friday (1-09-09)
Judy and I gave Dad a shower. He ate Fibre one cereal with banannas for breakfast. I called at lunch to hear how he was doing. Judy said he ate egg sandwich. For dinner tonight he had fried chicken and salad. He also drank prune juice. He seemed to be in good spirits tonight
Thursday (1-08-09)
Dad had breakfast of scrambled eggs and english muffin after waking up a 6:00 am, with the rest of the family. His new place is sitting in the big leather chair in the living room. For lunch he had macaroni and cheese. The kids played around in the living room with him watching. He had steak and rice, and broccoli. After dinner, I sat with him and watched football game. We tried to play cribbage, but Dad wasn't interesting in participating, except to watch where the pegs were moved. Zeek played Dad's cards with my help. He actually got to 60 points first, and was declared the winner. Dad sat on toilet about 8:30, and possibly may have gone poop based on the odor. I was too afraid to look, and Judy wouldn't wake up to look. Dad went to bed at 9:00, along with everyone else
Friday (1-09-09)
Judy and I gave Dad a shower. He ate Fibre one cereal with banannas for breakfast. I called at lunch to hear how he was doing. Judy said he ate egg sandwich. For dinner tonight he had fried chicken and salad. He also drank prune juice. He seemed to be in good spirits tonight
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Dad is now at Kenny's house
I called Judy at lunch, to see if Dad had arrived at my house. Judy said he got there around 10 am. Judy said he was tired, and is now sleeping in the chair, while watching tv. He ate an english muffin.
Keeping the Home Warm
Well, I have been going over to Dad's house just about every day to check on it. I get the mail, etc. Also try to clean up a bit.
Right now I am working on Dad's unemployment taxes for the end of the year. I will soon be working on W3 forms for the ladies when Barb starts doing the taxes.
I hope to go over today and do some yoga, computer work, work on my puzzle.
Maybe we can set up a skype at Ken's house this weekend. I will ask him.
Right now I am working on Dad's unemployment taxes for the end of the year. I will soon be working on W3 forms for the ladies when Barb starts doing the taxes.
I hope to go over today and do some yoga, computer work, work on my puzzle.
Maybe we can set up a skype at Ken's house this weekend. I will ask him.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Dad's Day in LA
Dad seemed to move around more easily today and also speak a little more coherently. A few "set me ups" but other more appropriate uses of words as well. For example, around 4pm we were going on our regular walk to the mailbox, and then around the back of the house...turning around at the mailbox he said "I don't like this", and so I replied, "What don't you like?" He said "this is more your thing", so I then said, "OK, I'm sorry, I thought you wanted to go for a walk, do you want to go back inside?" Then he said, "Well I do want to go for a walk" and then we continued around the back, until eventually going back inside. I think that he didn't like having to go to the mailbox (when I get and sort my mail into the recycling bin) because there is a particular section of the driveway near the mailbox that might be a little harder for him to maneuver (I'm right there to assist as needed.) Anyway, I suppose not that coherent, but in my mind he was engaged at least.
We took a trip to the grocery store today...after walking from the car to the pharmacy area, he sat and waited patiently while I shopped. They had a blood pressure machine and it recorded 111/63...not sure how accurate that is. By the way, the pharmacist told Paul that the Metoprol that he takes for blood pressure should be taken at night, though his schedule shows AM. Did Lichstein ever say anything about that?
Overall, It does seem to me that he is feeling quite comfortable at my house...just as we have to shift him tomorrow to Ken & Judy's! I have been giving him the heads up today that that is the plan, and that he'd be returning here next week.
Eating, sleeping, pooping is continuing to go well.
We took a trip to the grocery store today...after walking from the car to the pharmacy area, he sat and waited patiently while I shopped. They had a blood pressure machine and it recorded 111/63...not sure how accurate that is. By the way, the pharmacist told Paul that the Metoprol that he takes for blood pressure should be taken at night, though his schedule shows AM. Did Lichstein ever say anything about that?
Overall, It does seem to me that he is feeling quite comfortable at my house...just as we have to shift him tomorrow to Ken & Judy's! I have been giving him the heads up today that that is the plan, and that he'd be returning here next week.
Eating, sleeping, pooping is continuing to go well.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, January 02, 2009
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!
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!