The nights and mornings are falling into a routine. Unfortunately, Dad is still getting up every 1-2 hours, in fact when looking at Steve's notes, I saw Dad did not sleep for a whole two-hour stretch at all. Steve slept on the mattress on the floor in Dad's room, and helped him with his nature calls. I know Steve was tired! Libbie slept better in the bedroom furthest away from Dad's (though it is not far at all) which was great because she was going to be doing the driving today.
Libbie was hard at work in the kitchen this morning, making biscuits (okay, they were Pillsbury, but that's exactly what we wanted), fried eggs, cheese grits, and slices of Honey Baked Ham. Dad had a bowl of cantaloupe in addition to his plate of food. Lib and I were able to take a short walk, and I showed her where Dad would walk his mile every day. We saw lots of turtles but no alligators, though we did see two yesterday. Steve and Libbie packed up the car and left after big hugs and tears. On my part. I was so appreciative of their help.
Dad had yet another Creme Horn for a snack. I told him they were getting stale, but he didn't care. Lunch was a cheeseburger Dave brought home from McDonald's, and later Dad had a snack of chips. Last week he had no appetite, this week he is outdoing us all (which is a pretty big feat). Dinner was a rehash of a few nights ago - corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes and bread, with strawberries and ice cream for dessert. Whew.
At breakfast, Dad decided to join us at the table, and it worked really well to have him in the wheelchair because it fits perfectly under the table. He did the same at dinner. It's much nicer to have him at the table with us.
Beth, the visiting Hospice nurse, came in the early afternoon, and I talked to her about Dad's feeling there wasn't enough air in the room. She said that is a common symptom and it even has a name, air hunger. She listened to his lungs, and said one sounds good but the other does not. She ordered oxygen, which arrived just as she was leaving. Dad wants nothing to do with it. I do understand it must make him feel like even more of a patient, or even sicker than he feels, because it has those green tubes that go in your nose and hang around your ears. We tried to tell him it might make him feel better. He's not ready for it, and so be it. I would rather have it sit there until or if he is ready for it, than need it and not have it.
Dad is very tired of being sick, and he wants to get better. Seeing things like oxygen tanks coming into the house is not a good sign for him. I've told him it is completely optional, and he doesn't have to use it if he doesn't want to. He was not happy, and I get that.
Molly came by this afternoon with a lasagna - yum! - and it's in the freezer for our next visitors. Chad came by on his way home from jury duty (having found a guy arrested for DUI guilty). He was interested in the football game tonight and said he'd be back later.
I put a foam "egg crate" on Dad's bed, as he complained about it not being comfortable yesterday (for the first time). It is an adjustable bed, and we're trying different positions to see what feels best for him.
His arm continues to improve, but it is now black and blue all the way down to his hand, and his hand is swollen. The blood is draining down since he can't keep it elevated. It should get better over time, though.
He thinks there is a minute improvement in his right eye, where he had the injection. He was able to read the time on his watch a couple times today. That is a much needed positive sign!
Dave is staying with Dad tonight, and I'm home. When I left, it was just as it should be - three guys getting ready for the kickoff between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Two were drinking beer, and one had his Tervis Tumbler with a lobster on it, full of ice water. Goodnight!
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