Tuesday - Wash and Wax

Well truth be told there was no waxing done today, but Dad did have his bed bath.  Charisse had hurt her back with another client (easy to see how that is possible) so we had Kim today.  Dad was very happy with her care, especially when she cleaned, creamed and powdered his back.  The massage therapist that was here last week called to see if Dad would like a more comprehensive service, though they cannot do much with Dad's issues, so I said yes, without consulting him.  She's coming Friday.  Dad tends to say no, but I am positive he would enjoy another back rub.

Dad was in bed again today, with just a few moments of sitting up on the side of the bed.  We are finding it more difficult to get food or water in him.  He says he wants something, but then objects when I try to give it to him.  I give him the tiniest sip of water and he fusses at me for choking him.  Tonight I put a straw in his mouth and said to take as much or as little as he wanted.  It took time, but he finally managed to swallow a few sips.

We have to crush his pills, and I'm not sure he's getting the full amount.  Tonight I gave him a couple of spoonfuls of orange Jello and Cool Whip which he liked.  Then I gave him two more bites, but each had a crushed pill mixed in.  He told me it tasted like sh*t.  His sense of taste hasn't changed!

He now has a patch on his arm for his morphine, and we can give him boosters of liquid morphine.  His urine output has decreased and it is darker.

Dad had a nice conversation with Grandpa early this morning (sometime after 3 AM).  He said, Hi Dad.  Yep, I'm cooking steaks.  Steaks are easy to cook on the grill in my estimation.  These are good looking steaks.  And look at those watermelons - we're having an early season this year.  Man those are good, sweet watermelons.  We've been watching that patch over at Jefferson and Holly (? not sure of what name that was).

Please don't think I am making fun of Dad and his hallucinations or dreams or whatever they are.  Actually, I'm very happy Dad is enjoying his time with Grandpa.  Another time this morning he was talking to Bill (? don't know who that is) about strawberries, and how much he loves strawberries, and he also talked to Steve somebody and I think it was his friend Steve Lloyd.

When he is awake, Dad's conversation is not as coherent as in his dreams.  I keep thinking if he has a few good minutes I'll make a quick call to Uncle Jack, but he seems to be the most lucid early in the morning.  This morning about 6:30 when he was pretty good I mentioned maybe we can call Jack later and he said, Good.  Then he said to get him paper and envelopes and stamps and he'll write him a letter.  I asked what he wanted me to write, and he said, It seems like a long life, but it's not.

Mom left today.  She kept saying she didn't help much, but you know there was never a dirty dish or messy kitchen while she was here.  Plus, she made our dinners and salads which is always a relief for me.  Best of all, she kept Dad laughing, which is a real skill.  I don't do that so well.  Tonight Dad told me he was a tough guy, and I repeated, yep you're a real tough guy (I sincerely meant it), and he told me not to be snotty.  Sorry!

Dave's best friend Jimmy was here tonight, and we ate Mom's left over chicken soup, combined with some I ran over and got from Molly (since I was afraid there wasn't enough).  It was a delicious dinner, and it was nice for Dave to have his buddy visiting.

I'm headed home for the evening, and leaving Dave with a zonked out Dad.  I hope they both sleep well tonight!

Dad has been in this house 6 months to the day.  He got his diagnosis of metastatic cancer a month ago.  I'm glad he enjoyed his first 5 months!