Friday, February 17, 2006

I called Dad on his 90th birthday, over at Mom's house. I had laryngitis, so first had a hard time getting anyone on the other end to hear my voice! But after we got over that hurdle, I spoke to Mom, Dad and Cathy. Dad sounded happy, but confused. He was talking about all the people there, but having a hard time knowing them all, kept mentioning Ruby. Also that so and so was "manning the desk" (he said that a few times), and also that he had to get his "white shoes." I wished him a happy birthday and that I loved him, and he was cheerful. I asked if he had received my flowers, but couldn't get him to understand that. Cathy said that Dad was happy, and that's all that counts. Thanks to all in N.C. for pulling that together!

Jennie

Thursday, February 09, 2006

I just remembered that I went with Mom and Dad on a picnic after his visit with Dr. Southerd, dermatologist last month. He did not see any "spots" on Dad's face, so he asked if we wanted to check any other places. Dad took off his shirt and rolled up his pants as well, but there was nothing. Yeah! Dad exclaimed as the doctor left the room, "when are you going to pull this tooth out!" (He had just been to the dentist recently).

Afterwards I drove up to Pilot Mountain in a Chevy Malibu that I was using because my car was being worked on. The weather was not too cold, but it was colder than I thought, so we didn't' dawdle as we ate the cheese and crackers, liver pate, etc. The picnic area was about 100 yards from the parking lot, but Dad navigated it well with his walker, because it was asphalt. Mom had more trouble, and wanted to lie down a bit before she walked down.

When we were about to leave, Dad asked to use the restroom. I pointed towards the building across the parking lot. But Dad must have thought I meant the corner of the shelter, where he went and relieved himself! Luckily, there wasn't anyone around. Oh well. He really DOES take directions literally.

Also a few weeks back when we were sitting in the living area, Marion was walking around touching people, especially Mr. Cranfill. He didn't say anything but a few minutes later he got up and was walking around in an angry state. Dad was watching intently, even though previously he had been in a sleepy state. He mentioned that he was asked not to "interfere" even though I knew he wanted to do "something."

Yesterday, when she got a bit annoying, Dad "clapped loudly". The other man told her to "touch Cranfill", he thinks its funny. I noticed she was wearing an "apron", with beads and other tactile things on it, to help her. They were also playing music from the '40s, "boogie Woogy Bugle Boy from Company C", (and the TV was not playing for a change). Mom had to ask them to change the tape, as it kept playing this song over and over.

Anyway, it was an okay visit all around

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

I just read over some of the posts. A lot has happened, so much that I have difficulty remembering if Dad has been at Homestead Hills two or three years! I think it was two though.

Dad was over for dinner. He was quiet mostly, but out of the blue he said I should not go in the water, that I would catch a cold. Not sure if he was getting me mixed up with Mom who goes to warm water exercise 3x a week.

He seemed okay, except that he needed to wipe his behind. I mentioned that I had some wet wipes in the bathroom, but he didn't get up.

Last week he took Jason's jacket home. He had it on when I went to get it a couple of days later. I couldn't convince Jason to pick it up himself, but Jason did pick out an old jacket to replace it. Dad was sitting on the couch and it was hard for me to take off the bigger jacket and put on the lighter one, because he seemed a little cold. (It was warm to me, but he had been snoozing, and that was making him a little chilled).

Anyway it was nice meeting Karen, a new activity person, who says that Alzheimer's disease is her "life", that she often goes home at night and looks up new information about it. She mentioned that she might want to do an activity involving postcards and asked us to give some if we had any. Also any ideas that we think for activities. She explained a lot of things, like try not to get offended that the residents were doing "childlike" activities. It was also nice to see all the relatives of people there.

(Homestead Hills was bought out by a new company. They plan to put in some apartments, new fitness areas, etc in the Homestead Hills section).