Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday - Geoff leaves

Kind of a crazy day today.  Dad had a good night, sleeping over 8 hrs. straight, so we expected a good morning.  He was congenial to everyone, yet would throw out some salty (and worse) language and could easily get irritated.   Rita made a great breakfast of cantaloupe, egg and sausage casserole, a hashbrown casserole, and buttered toast.  Dad ate a few bites then wanted to put syrup on everything.  I added syrup then he took the bottle and added more.  I wish I knew what was going on.  Is his sweet tooth having cravings?  Is he forgetting what is on his plate?  Approximately 30 minutes after breakfast he wanted a malted milk shake.  He put his recliner back to take a nap, but slept for only about 15 minutes, if that.  There was a fair amount of "commotion" with 7 people in the house, but we were all catering to Dad's needs.

He had a few very disjointed conversations, almost as if he was dreaming.  I gave him his lunch and he was almost through when Charisse and a new helper (a massage therapist) arrived.  We had to work to get him to get up out of the recliner for his bath - he would have preferred to sit and chat all afternoon.  As always, he enjoyed his bath and shave, and he loved the massage therapist rubbing his back.  They brought him back out to the living room to the big blue chair.  By that time, the visiting nurse and her nursing student were there to talk to Dad.  More people!  We agreed the current meds seem to be appropriate, and have made no changes.

Geoff had to leave for the airport, so said his goodbyes (waaaa) and Libbie drove him.  Even though Geoff had been here since Monday, I felt we didn't have enough time.  There was so much going on.  I still look back to our (Dave's & my) visit with Geoff and Betsy in early July and appreciate the time we had with them then.  This time it was really about Geoff being able to visit with Dad.  I was glad Dad told Geoff many times how happy he was his old buddy was there.

Then the nurses left.  I put Dad's recliner back, and he promptly fell asleep.  Rita and Steve shooed us out the door (as they did for dinner last night!!!) and Dave and I ran a couple errands.  Dad was still sleeping when we got home and I finally woke him up just before 6 pm after his 4 hour nap.  Dave had gotten ribs from Sandfly Barbecue, and we pulled together the potato salad and deviled eggs from Mom, fried potatoes from Lib, pork & beans from Dad's cupboard, and mac & cheese from two nights ago.  I ate quickly then went to play with Coleman while Molly took Chase to Country Day's Homecoming football game.

Steve and Dave put Dad to bed, and he was telling Peter Rabbit stories when I got home.

We do understand, and have always known, that small cell lung cancer often travels to the brain, and we are wondering if Dad is having some brain functioning issues.  There has been nothing definitive, but certainly examples of Dad not being Dad, such as the salty language and dreamy talk.  On a positive note, he holds my hand more often, which I like.  He also is telling everyone he loves them, which we all like.  Some things are better, some things are not.  Kind of crazy.

1 comment:

  1. Wanting the syrup may mean he is losing his sense of smell & couldn't taste the food as well. Am making you some butternut squash soup today. XOXO Molly

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