Dad's Visit With Dr. Lichstein

Yesterday was a busy day for Dad and me. We went to visit Dr. Lichstein. Dr. Lichstein reviewed Dad's medicines. His blood pressure was slightly higher 150 or so. But Ilene is recording his Bp on a weekly basis. He thinks that Dad should have lotion applied to his back and chest twice daily for itching. He doesn't think much of using the Claritin and Benadryl all the time. I am going to stop the Claritin and continue the Benadryl at night for a while and gradually stop it and see how it goes.

Dad seemed very alert. He also got a chest x-ray for the use of the Senior Services for monitoring tuberculosis.

Dad will also get his B12 injection at the VA or Donna Myrick RN (Suzie's mother in law) will inject him once a month. I will give a money card to Ilene once a month for checking BP-such as Burger King or Starbucks. I can give some money to Donna as well. ($40-50?)

When we got back we ate some dinner--Hawaiian chicken and cod, mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables (I made the vegetables). I ate Dad's roll, along with a brownie and a sugar free cookie, (Dad ate one of the cookies). I then passed out on the couch for an hour until Suzie came by and I returned to work until Midnight. Since Ilene is off this Friday for her once-a-month job, Bettie came by after her job at Homestead Hills and is there now until Suzie comes by again this afternoon for a few hours before I get off work at 7 pm. Bettie will spend one more night as well, so I can get to exercise class tomorrow. Then I will be back tomorrow afternoon.

''Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up this morning at 7:30
Am,i assisted him in the bathroom before,
Breakfast. We went for a short walk to the
Mail box after lunch and did our exercise,
Routine. His activities today are,walking,
He cut out and stenciled some pictures and
Watched some tv.His appetite was good
Eating 100%.He is watching tv at this time.
Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Today was a nice quiet day for Mr
Dancy,he was up at 7:30 am ,i assisted
Him with a shower,sitz bath, back-rub
And skin care.After breakfast we cut
Out some pictures and worked a puzzle.
It was too cold to take a long walk so
We walked to the mailbox and back.
His appetite was good,95%. Mr Dancy
Is relaxing by the tv.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Evening''

Hi ,I picked Mr Dancy up from senior services
At 4:pm and returned here at 4:25 pm.Mr
Dancy had a good supper eating 100%.He
Is now relaxing by the tv.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi , this morning Mr Dancy was up at 7:30
Am,afterwards i assisted him with,sitz..
Bath, Back-rub,shower And skin care
We went for a short walk this morning
And did our exercise routine.i got out the
''hidden object book'' and Mr Dancy
Engaged in the search for the hidden objects.
His appetite was good today,100%. i took
His bp at 6:15 it was 130/80.He is relaxing
By the tv at this time.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Evening''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up at 7:30 am i assisted
him in the bathroom before taking him to
Senior services. We left at 9:30 this morning
And arrived here at 4:30 pm.Mr Dancys
Appetite was good today,100%.He is relxing
By the tv at this time.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up this morning at 7:30
Am,i assisted him in the bathroom before
Breakfast. We did our exercise routine
And afterwards went for a walk. We got
Out the ''hidden object book'' and searched
For hidden objects. Mr Dancy watched some
Tv and nodded on and off,listened to opera
For a time.His appetite was good ,100%.
He is relaxing by the tv at this time. Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi ,Mr dancy was up this morning at 7:30
Am, i assisted him with a shower, sitz bath
Back-rub,skin care and ear wax removal.
After breakfast we did our exercises and
Later went for a walk. We did some games
''hidden object book'' and Mr Dancy put
Together the US map. He was very much
Alert today and his appetite was good,100%.
He is watching tv at this time.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Evening''

Hi, I picked Mr Dancy up at 4:pm and
Arrived here at 4:30 , I saw the morning
Pills in the pill container and gave him his
Medication with his supper,he ate 95%.
He is now relaxing by the tv. Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy had a nice quiet day,
He was up this morning at 7:30 am,
I assisted him with a shower, sitz bath
Back- rub, skin care and ear wax
Removal.His appetite today was 100%.
For activity we read more poetry and
Used the ''hidden object book''. I took
Mr Dancys BP at 4:30 pm it was 120/70.
The trash had not been picked up here
And several houses on this street by
2:pm today i called the city and they
Were here by 3:30 pm.Ilene

' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi Mr Dancy was up this morning at 7:30
am, i assisted him with grooming and getting
Ready for senior services, i took him there
At 9:30 am and picked him up at 4:30 pm,
His appetite was good today, 100%. He
had a good day and is now relaxing by the
tv. Ilene

'' Through The Eyes Of Children''

'' As the children watch the scene take place
They looked down and saw the leaves'',
The Children were washing themselves
with Rain drops,
the rain drops rained down to the
River as the children began to play.
The children Returned home to play with their toys,
They wrote down their cares,
joys and worry,
They greeted nature that day
and longed to See the stars that night that sparkled in the sky.
After a time they drifted off to sleep
dreaming Of the world they left behind.'

Creative Writing: By Charles Dancy as told to Ilene Simmons

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up this morning at 7:30
am,i assisted him with a shower, sitz bath,
Back-rub and skin care. He has been resting
Well and the rash and itching is much better.
This morning we did our exercise routine,
And afterwards we listened to opera and
Worked on the ''hidden object book'', Mr
Dancy read poetry and put together a poem
That he created.His appetite was good 100%.
He seemed to have a good day,the poem
That he wrote will follow.Ilene

Dad's New Years

On New Years Eve, Dad and I went to the Pops concert at Reynolds Auditorium with the Winston-Salem Symphony and featuring a soprano who sang both opera pop tunes, and some dancers who performed the dream sequence from Oklahoma. It was great!

New Years Dad came to my house. We had take out from the dining hall featuring Moravian chicken pie, shrimp newberg, pasta and vegetables and bread pudding, and of course some collard greens. (I skipped the black eye peas). I ate a small amount of collard greens, but I couldn't get Dad to eat them even though I said eating would give him luck or money! We then went downstairs to watch football games. He fell asleep after a while and I attempted to clean out some junk in the closet (small room off basement).

Dad had a bit of diarrhea but otherwise was okay. Luckily I had a change of clothes for him at my house.

'' Mr Dancys Evening''

Hi, I arrived at Mr Dancys home at 7:pm,
Mr Dancy was watching tv ,i took him to
The bathroom several times,he had diarhea,
Cathy suggested i give him 'pepto bismol'' i
Did and it seemed to help him.Mr Dancy is
Watching tv at this time.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up at 7:30 am,i
Assisted him with a shower, sitz bath,
Back-rub,ear wax removal and skin
Care. After breakfast we did our exercise
Routine and later got out the'' hidden
Object book'' we worked at finding the
objects. Mr Dancy watched some tv
And listened to music for a while.His
Appetite was good today eating 100%.
He is relaxing by the tv at this time.
Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Day''

Hi, Mr Dancy was up this morning at 7;30
am, i assisted him in the bathroom before
Breakfast. We went for a walk after lunch
And later put a puzzle together. His appetite
Was good today,95%.I took his bp at 6:40
it was 140/78. Mr Dancy is relaxing by the
Tv at this time.Ilene

'' Mr Dancys Evening''

Hi , Mr Dancy had supper around 5:30,
Eating 100%. He is now watching tv at
This time.Ilene

Xma and Boxing Day

Today is a bit rainy so I will probably stay in with Dad (at my house) and do some yoga and maybe work on my Barbie doll's Angel tree outfit.

Last night when I took Dad to the bathroom before bed about midnight his briefs were wet as usual. But after I changed him and he brushed his teeth he mentioned he had to go to the bathroom again! He was totally soaked again. He used to pee while he was sitting on the toilet, but I forgot to check before he got up. He said he has trouble peeing. So maybe he has a delayed reaction. I will ask Dr. Lichstein about that next month.

I will try to have Dr. Lichstein's nurse give Dad his B12 injection next month so that he doesn't have to have a home nurse come and visit that month. It may be possible to have Dad just go to the Health Center each month for an injection instead, since he seems to enjoy driving and Ilene likes to get out as well. Also Ilene is able to monitor his blood pressure so it may be possible to drop the nurse care. ?!?!

We had fun at Ashley's stepfather's home. I played Sudoku animal game with the kids, but it is a bit difficult for them. But I am sure they will pick up on it soon. Also an animal sequence game as well.

The 60 mile drive back home went well. Dad read me all the signs (it was dark even).

Xmas

This weekend has been Xmas weekend. Bettie stayed with Dad on Saturday and Sunday afternoons so I could do some more shopping and cleaning at home. (But the house was still somewhat messy!)

Christmas Eve Dad came over and we watched some football and watched my new robot vacuum cleaner (courtesey of Dad's Xmas gift!) clean my floor. I actually had vacuumed it beforehand. The cleaner said to empty the cartridge after three cleanings, but I did it after two and it was jam-packed with hair and fuzz! It comes equipped with a infra-ray device to keep it in one room. I ran around after "Bubba" to make sure he had a clear path with as little obstacles as possible!

Today, we woke up and opened some presents. Dad enjoyed opening the box of Peanut Brittle from Barb. He also put on the Carolina Panthers ballcap I won on the Pepsi website. (I find caps from coke and pepsi products for prizes)

More later. We will be going to Jason's inlaws in Charlotte.