Room change is still going well. After I went through a multitude of universal remotes trying to get something to work on the new TV, Arlene called Sylvania who suggested the cheapest Radio Shack one.
I went through Castro this morning and got that and Ill be darned it WORKS! As fate would have it it was one of the last codes we tried.
When I came into the facility there was a man in a wheelchair who saw Buck and I at the free coffee table and wheeled himself over talking in broken English but I basically gather that he wants me to give him a cookie from the table so that he can give it to Buck. The cookie tray is empty. He doesnt quite grasp that, but I know I have a fortune cookie in my Dim Sum bag which Richard wont eat so I ask him to wait and I'll come back.
Well into the room and Arlene is there messing with the TV - this is pre-remote celebration - Richard announces they just got back from the dining room where they had lunch like real human beings. They have a couple of different lunch areas - one of which you can sit down and be served in a 3-4 course meal like a real meal. He apparently loved that. He was good today. Alert and in relatively good spirits.
So time passes - Arlene and I have danced a jig over the remote and we're scrubbing the sliding glass window with GooGone trying to get the adhesive off from a mylar we ripped off the window. This is making richard crazy. He doesnt give a damn the curtain is always shut quit messing with it.
then I turn around and the man wanting a cookie is outside the door. Its Richards roommate! This man speaks hardly no english - hes russian, and he too has suffered a stroke so they are two peas in a pod in there. So we did give buck the cookie in the hall which he liked.
Speech therapist came in to give us a long report of what she has seen so far and she is targeting next week to move his liquids back down to thinner but still slightly thickened. She said hes not always remembering his swallowing techniques. He has to be que'd on a lot of things, but as he does them over and over he is making them more habit.
Then a psychologist comes in. Hes a 3rd party contractor. German. Arlene and I were going to leave and give them privacy, but he opted for us to stay to help answer questions. I did leave to the patio for a bit, but when I walk back in I'm fascinated by the answers Richard is giving to his questions. I would definitely score higher on the depression scale in comparison. He loves life, finds it exciting, never bored, but consciously feels the incapacitation, and therefore feels lesser than.
Cognitive questioning was remarkable too. What date is it? Richard says near the Kennedy Assassination so around the 26th...wow. He went through a battery of these then dropped them because he said openly his cognitive function was opposite of what he expected so hewould move to the mood stuff.
Richard will tell you straight up. Hes not depressed. Hes trapped....and those that know him also know hes a 'bolter' as Arlene would put it. He is completely unable to bolt from the situation. A strange twist indeed.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
11/26 Room change
They moved him out of the room with Carlton, and down the hall a few rooms. Still has a window bed but on a different more mature patio.
I think all the constant hub bub around Carlton was causing him issues. While he is a nice and cordial person, hes also a quad, but an active one, which means he requires a LOT of attention. Besides the fact that when Richard got there he had seizures and had to leave for the hospital...returning late in the day with a lot of people around him talking, fixing, arranging etc.... In normal hours even there is almost always someone in there and Carlton is saying you aren;t doing good enough, why did you leave, you need to take better care of me,I can tell you are ready to go home because you are doing it all wrong... blah blah.
So now he is in a room where is roommate is pretty much out of the room the entire day...and as a bonus there is a 32" flat panel there.
Richard has been very very disoriented. Hes waking up and not really waking up so stuck between dream and reality...hoping that change will help settle him down.
Today he was doing quite well. Arlene was already there when I got there, and they had just got back from the lunchroom. He looked good, alert. He ate some chinese I brought as well.
We hung up the photos and such rearranging him into his new space, shaved and trimmed his mustache, changed his clothes, visited and talked to the nurses. I ran out towards the end to grab a universal remote for the TV....couldn't get it to program. Returned it got another...couldn't get it to program either..I gave up...he was asleep by that time anyway, I was just fumbling around at the end of his bed trying to get the darn thing to work....I think its just the TV. He can just call the CNAs when he wants them to change it or turn it off for now.
I didn't get out of there til close to 5p, but he was resting well already. Hes complaining that his clock is still not right and hes waking up in the middle of the night wide awake. I guess I should have woken him to try to get him to wait for sleep before I left but he looked so peaceful, and frankly I was jealous.
I think all the constant hub bub around Carlton was causing him issues. While he is a nice and cordial person, hes also a quad, but an active one, which means he requires a LOT of attention. Besides the fact that when Richard got there he had seizures and had to leave for the hospital...returning late in the day with a lot of people around him talking, fixing, arranging etc.... In normal hours even there is almost always someone in there and Carlton is saying you aren;t doing good enough, why did you leave, you need to take better care of me,I can tell you are ready to go home because you are doing it all wrong... blah blah.
So now he is in a room where is roommate is pretty much out of the room the entire day...and as a bonus there is a 32" flat panel there.
Richard has been very very disoriented. Hes waking up and not really waking up so stuck between dream and reality...hoping that change will help settle him down.
Today he was doing quite well. Arlene was already there when I got there, and they had just got back from the lunchroom. He looked good, alert. He ate some chinese I brought as well.
We hung up the photos and such rearranging him into his new space, shaved and trimmed his mustache, changed his clothes, visited and talked to the nurses. I ran out towards the end to grab a universal remote for the TV....couldn't get it to program. Returned it got another...couldn't get it to program either..I gave up...he was asleep by that time anyway, I was just fumbling around at the end of his bed trying to get the darn thing to work....I think its just the TV. He can just call the CNAs when he wants them to change it or turn it off for now.
I didn't get out of there til close to 5p, but he was resting well already. Hes complaining that his clock is still not right and hes waking up in the middle of the night wide awake. I guess I should have woken him to try to get him to wait for sleep before I left but he looked so peaceful, and frankly I was jealous.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
11/24 Thanksgiving
I had dinner with Arlene and her family. It was about as close to being home as I could have hoped for.
I don't have nay update on Richard other than to say that he is very disoriented right now. I will see him tomorrow. I posted this on Facebook and I'll make this my daily post here as well and say goodnight.
Of all the blessings this life holds some of the most powerful ones can only be felt by the soul. Seeing and understanding another's pain, reaching a hand out to just say I am here, I care....a word, phrase or gesture, so trivial to you can be a miracle to another. Knowing that someone cares for you, in an often seemingly cold and uncaring world, can move a heart out of loneliness and into the light. Never take for granted the immense power we all possess to touch the lives of others. Never forget our own power to treat ourselves with the same love, compassion, caring, forgiveness and grace we so quickly extend to another, yet too often withhold from ourselves. Be your own blessing, today and every day, for we are all so very worth it.
You cant take your 'stuff ' with you when you go, but you can take the love.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
I don't have nay update on Richard other than to say that he is very disoriented right now. I will see him tomorrow. I posted this on Facebook and I'll make this my daily post here as well and say goodnight.
Of all the blessings this life holds some of the most powerful ones can only be felt by the soul. Seeing and understanding another's pain, reaching a hand out to just say I am here, I care....a word, phrase or gesture, so trivial to you can be a miracle to another. Knowing that someone cares for you, in an often seemingly cold and uncaring world, can move a heart out of loneliness and into the light. Never take for granted the immense power we all possess to touch the lives of others. Never forget our own power to treat ourselves with the same love, compassion, caring, forgiveness and grace we so quickly extend to another, yet too often withhold from ourselves. Be your own blessing, today and every day, for we are all so very worth it.
You cant take your 'stuff ' with you when you go, but you can take the love.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Monday, November 21, 2011
11/21 Hallelujah
I ate pizza yesterday...why? I was going ape shit mad.
Yesterday, Sunday, was transition day to the new facility. Richard already had anxiety about it. I got up early and brought the trusty egg mcmuffin, some starbucks and a smile.
First thing he says...DONT TALK TO ME ABOUT ROSSMOOR! I give in. I talked to him about it anyway. It was hard for me to decipher what all the anxiety was about but I finally came to peace and understanding that this is alllll about new environment, new people, learning the rigamarole again. he had already figured everyone out at Tunnell. He had them all labeled as good guys bad guys and now he'd have to start over.
I went through all his drawers and closet and packed everything in going to new place going to apartment bags. Talked to some staff a bit - spent about 2 hours with him. His shoulder is still very sore so I went down to walgreens and picked up some icy hot to give him a massage. It felt good when it started setting in, but apparently he had a reaction to it after I left and they had to towel it off - area got red and inflamed. His pec on that side is yellow from the bruising. I swear it looked like he impaled his heart from where the bruising is.
Anyway...I left and Arlene and Lee were on their way to take him in their van over to Walnut Creek. I packed up a table from the apartment to add to one side of his bed, so rearranged a little bit when I got there, restrung electrical, extended his light pull with twine and tied it to his bed, got his cell phone connected and charging - EVERYTHING was in the same place as it was at tunnell with the added things we brought like a table lamp, clock, the picture frame that I finally finished (thank you to everyone for sending me pictures!).
He gets there and is pissed. Everything is cluttered, the place sucks blah blah. He was busy complaining this as I was running for dim sum...yes....I sourced a place in walnut creek, introduced myself to the owner and said see you tomorrow ;)
This is his room as it was Saturday before I rearranged Sunday
Eating helped a little bit - it was a bit of a flurry getting him checked in, paperwork, meeting people, getting him something to drink etc... He's still pissed. He cant see the damn pictures its too blurry - I mean everything was BADDDDDDDDD
I get home and am there for less than an hour before the phone is ringing and its him. Still pissed. he doesn't care what I have to do, but I need to get him out of there and back to Tunnell as soon as possible. His roommate wont turn down the TV, and he is pretty sure that the staff wont help him get up and into his chair because his roommate told him they don't do that here... /sigh.
So I ate pizza. I would have taken a Valium if I had one....and pretty much any other illicit downer drug. I also was asleep before 10pm and slept until 8am. I needed that.
The good news is my sister talked me off the cliff with the last moments of our conversation being...this is his schtick! Oh yes! how true that is. I told him that today and he laughed.
Of course today was a different story, and a new song. I get there just as his PT is interviewing him. This girl is FANTASTIC! Hes in a better mood. He eats a little bit of the dim sum while she is talking then they start their thing. I have a video of it but its boring and hes just walking (but its on my Youtube channel should you REALLY want to see). She said hes taking long left foot steps and short quick right foot steps and is asking if that leg has pain. We had a long talk about how the stroke was displaying itself. He is in no pain other than his shoulder....and when that get janked he says JESUS CHRIST! i thought this was a no chaplain zone?!
He walked the full perimeter of the building (a lot) and then went into the PT room and she put leg weights on him and he did leg lifts. He did well.
Back to the room she helped him change his pull up - CNA came in to finish - Kirk. Every single person Ive met here is an incredible person. not hurried, very caring, explaining what they are doing as they are doing it. Kirk was the same. He helped him back to bed and explained to him the best palce to sit on the bed to be at the highest point. Helped him get situated. Took his BP - 120/78 yeah! the BP issue is all but GONE!
Then its just us again....and dim sum. Hes happier. He says the food is better. He's liked every person hes met, same as me. I said I was so glad and explained how hard it was to find a place with a limited choice, and that we had felt this was the best place offering the most to him...
His nurse came in and commented on his hair that it reminded her of Albert Einstein...it totally does...other times I think it looks like a hilarious orangutan. I REALLY want to get it cut before I go. I dont think he is going to let me...he wont even let me trim his sideburns.
Yesterday, Sunday, was transition day to the new facility. Richard already had anxiety about it. I got up early and brought the trusty egg mcmuffin, some starbucks and a smile.
First thing he says...DONT TALK TO ME ABOUT ROSSMOOR! I give in. I talked to him about it anyway. It was hard for me to decipher what all the anxiety was about but I finally came to peace and understanding that this is alllll about new environment, new people, learning the rigamarole again. he had already figured everyone out at Tunnell. He had them all labeled as good guys bad guys and now he'd have to start over.
I went through all his drawers and closet and packed everything in going to new place going to apartment bags. Talked to some staff a bit - spent about 2 hours with him. His shoulder is still very sore so I went down to walgreens and picked up some icy hot to give him a massage. It felt good when it started setting in, but apparently he had a reaction to it after I left and they had to towel it off - area got red and inflamed. His pec on that side is yellow from the bruising. I swear it looked like he impaled his heart from where the bruising is.
Anyway...I left and Arlene and Lee were on their way to take him in their van over to Walnut Creek. I packed up a table from the apartment to add to one side of his bed, so rearranged a little bit when I got there, restrung electrical, extended his light pull with twine and tied it to his bed, got his cell phone connected and charging - EVERYTHING was in the same place as it was at tunnell with the added things we brought like a table lamp, clock, the picture frame that I finally finished (thank you to everyone for sending me pictures!).
He gets there and is pissed. Everything is cluttered, the place sucks blah blah. He was busy complaining this as I was running for dim sum...yes....I sourced a place in walnut creek, introduced myself to the owner and said see you tomorrow ;)
This is his room as it was Saturday before I rearranged Sunday
Eating helped a little bit - it was a bit of a flurry getting him checked in, paperwork, meeting people, getting him something to drink etc... He's still pissed. He cant see the damn pictures its too blurry - I mean everything was BADDDDDDDDD
I get home and am there for less than an hour before the phone is ringing and its him. Still pissed. he doesn't care what I have to do, but I need to get him out of there and back to Tunnell as soon as possible. His roommate wont turn down the TV, and he is pretty sure that the staff wont help him get up and into his chair because his roommate told him they don't do that here... /sigh.
So I ate pizza. I would have taken a Valium if I had one....and pretty much any other illicit downer drug. I also was asleep before 10pm and slept until 8am. I needed that.
The good news is my sister talked me off the cliff with the last moments of our conversation being...this is his schtick! Oh yes! how true that is. I told him that today and he laughed.
Of course today was a different story, and a new song. I get there just as his PT is interviewing him. This girl is FANTASTIC! Hes in a better mood. He eats a little bit of the dim sum while she is talking then they start their thing. I have a video of it but its boring and hes just walking (but its on my Youtube channel should you REALLY want to see). She said hes taking long left foot steps and short quick right foot steps and is asking if that leg has pain. We had a long talk about how the stroke was displaying itself. He is in no pain other than his shoulder....and when that get janked he says JESUS CHRIST! i thought this was a no chaplain zone?!
He walked the full perimeter of the building (a lot) and then went into the PT room and she put leg weights on him and he did leg lifts. He did well.
Back to the room she helped him change his pull up - CNA came in to finish - Kirk. Every single person Ive met here is an incredible person. not hurried, very caring, explaining what they are doing as they are doing it. Kirk was the same. He helped him back to bed and explained to him the best palce to sit on the bed to be at the highest point. Helped him get situated. Took his BP - 120/78 yeah! the BP issue is all but GONE!
Then its just us again....and dim sum. Hes happier. He says the food is better. He's liked every person hes met, same as me. I said I was so glad and explained how hard it was to find a place with a limited choice, and that we had felt this was the best place offering the most to him...
His nurse came in and commented on his hair that it reminded her of Albert Einstein...it totally does...other times I think it looks like a hilarious orangutan. I REALLY want to get it cut before I go. I dont think he is going to let me...he wont even let me trim his sideburns.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
11/19 Anxiety
I slept straight through my alarm this morning so I met Arlene at Walnut Creek instead. she did a good job picking out a few new pieces of comfortable clothing for him.
When I got there she was in the admissions office and we were not allowed to get into the room. This is of course the entire reason i just drove almost an hour to be there....
They needed to clean, sanitize, rearrange....she asked for a few hours so we went into the mall at Walnut Creek and had lunch at the Mr Gattis of salad, and then went over to Macy's to smell perfumes. Im still on my quest.
When we were leaving we were just going to go see Milly, but the phone rang and the room was ready. We hung baskets, photos, organized power cords, clocks, lamps, hung clothes etc...and met a few staff. His roommate is a very nice guy who has had a terrible accident leaving him a quad. I don't know how it happened.
Went back across the bay to find him sleeping and full of anxiety about the whole thing. Im going to get up early and go over there and sit down and talk to him about it further.
When I got there she was in the admissions office and we were not allowed to get into the room. This is of course the entire reason i just drove almost an hour to be there....
They needed to clean, sanitize, rearrange....she asked for a few hours so we went into the mall at Walnut Creek and had lunch at the Mr Gattis of salad, and then went over to Macy's to smell perfumes. Im still on my quest.
When we were leaving we were just going to go see Milly, but the phone rang and the room was ready. We hung baskets, photos, organized power cords, clocks, lamps, hung clothes etc...and met a few staff. His roommate is a very nice guy who has had a terrible accident leaving him a quad. I don't know how it happened.
Went back across the bay to find him sleeping and full of anxiety about the whole thing. Im going to get up early and go over there and sit down and talk to him about it further.
11/18 Big Day
Got up early walked Buck and left quickly for the East Bay tour of facilities. We had three on the list..two were of the same parent company as Tunnel, and one was a privately owned 5 star facility I sourced yesterday.
First stop was Milly, Arlene's mother. No one ever loves their mother as much as I love their mother, and I love Milly. No really....I do. She lit up like the sun when she saw Arlene walk around the corner waving hello ...so happy! Plus she told me I was beautiful and who can complain about that!
Next stop was the first Tunnell family facility in Walnut Creek, CA. This is the next exit down the freeway from Milly. Town streets have fall colors, major stores, very folky small town feeling with a Trader Joes, Starbucks, Safeway, BoA etc... all major shopping right there. Upper middle class Id say.
The grounds here are obviously impressive. Most of the place is carpeted. Its BIG. It didn't smell...much. Mostly carpeted which gave it a nice feeling. Two dining rooms one assisted the other where they serve you literally appetizer, entree, dessert...both have flat panel TVs. On site therapy.
Next stop is a drive back over to Alameda, CA. Both of the others are there. Alameda is old and being revamped...ship channel, major shopping. First stop was the Tunnell parent company place. I wanted to walk out as soon as I walked in. It STANK...people looked miserable. While we are walking the halls Igor from Tunnell calls me and say the Walnut Creek facility has accepted Richard and they'd like to transfer him TODAY. Im like hold your horses we are looking at more places.
Next was the privately owned place. It was on the water, I liked it well enough. It was older, but the staff was very very nice and happy. The dining room was on the water looking out. They have hospital CATS that roam the place! Activity calendar was packed. Definitely more service oriented. Problem is they wont take him medicaid pending without a big down payment, and she confesses that a hospital is taking over the management very soon....all I can think is budget cuts.
So we went to lunch to talk and make phone calls.
Walnut creek is obviously the lesser of all evils, not only is it more convenient, it was just better looking and more comfortable. Turns out Richard has been there to sing in the Gay Mans Choir he was in before Patrick made him quit out of jealousy.
VA says they will continue to transport him for Parkinson's clinic visits only. That's okay.
Walnut Creek says we can come back over the weekend before transfer to look at the room and set it up prior to his arrival. Because he would be in the more long term area can bring in his things from home. The room they are offering is a patio facing room, and offering him the patio side bed....big bonus, so its settled.
Arlene doesn't have to have panic attacks trying to fly all over the area to see him, her mother, work, grand kids, husband. Lee works close by and can stop by a couple times a week as well to help him in strength training. Lee is in incredible physical shape. And the place is much less institutional...and since he has a sliding glass door to the patio right there he can go right out with his Kindle and relax.
So they took me back to my car and we all headed back over the bridge to Richard to talk to him, get him to sign some SS papers for Arlene to work on Medicare, and talk to the staff there basically saying goodbye. Little bit of tears in that part. Despite all our struggles everyone has grown close to him, and us along the way.
We are transporting and transferring him on Sunday....and we're taking him in the car, not a paid transport.
He really is doing better. His voice is better, his motor skills are better. Hes still a little confined in his body but hes leaps ahead of where he was in Sept.
After some time with him I left to get back to Buck....it was 5pm already. Arlene and Leeare following shortly behind to help pack a suitcase for him with some clothes. no more sitting around in hospital gowns. I got back and started gathering things, lots of things....desk lamp, baskets for walls, clothes, anything I could find that I thought would help him feel more like it was his space and his stuff and familiar. Meanwhile Jordan is here packing up for a red eye to Mexico.
I just have to pause and say that Animal from the muppets is playing the drums on Jimmey Kimmel Live. hilarious. is ther anything better on the planet than the muppets? I think not!
Arlene and Lee come nix some stuff pack up the clothes while labeling everything like we are sending off our child to summer camp, and tey leave with the clothes, hangers, extension cord, power strip, halogen desk lamp blah blah....
I spent the rest of the night finishing the photo project. Carolyn bought a multiple photo frams from Bed Bath & Beyond for him while she was here and when we got back it was like a giant jigsaw puzzle trying to find the right pictures in the right orientation to get it filled. Over the last couple of months Ive been slowly collecting pictures from people and I'll be darned that sucker is done.
So tomorrow Im meeting Arlene back across the bridge again. We are going to meet at Ross and pick him up some inexpensive loose pants and v neck shirts. Then caravan over to Walnut creek and get his room set up, things hung on the wall, scope out the space for his TV etc...That way when he comes on Sunday its more welcoming and home like feeling.
I suspect I'll spend the next couple of weeks getting that perfected, then I'm going to go ahead and head back home. He has been invited to his friend Charlotte's 95th birthday on Dec 11th. the invitation came and he opened it up and its something that HE designed for her! I told him I'd stick around and wait for that and if he was up to it Id drive him out there. Its in Palo Alto. Arlene said she would join to help.
First stop was Milly, Arlene's mother. No one ever loves their mother as much as I love their mother, and I love Milly. No really....I do. She lit up like the sun when she saw Arlene walk around the corner waving hello ...so happy! Plus she told me I was beautiful and who can complain about that!
Next stop was the first Tunnell family facility in Walnut Creek, CA. This is the next exit down the freeway from Milly. Town streets have fall colors, major stores, very folky small town feeling with a Trader Joes, Starbucks, Safeway, BoA etc... all major shopping right there. Upper middle class Id say.
 | |
| Entrance from under the gazebo |
 | ||
| Looking back at the Gazebo and parking |
 |
| Foyer - that's Arlene on the left - fireplace rear center - patio entrance either side |
 |
| Patio with sliding glass doors from select rooms |
Next stop is a drive back over to Alameda, CA. Both of the others are there. Alameda is old and being revamped...ship channel, major shopping. First stop was the Tunnell parent company place. I wanted to walk out as soon as I walked in. It STANK...people looked miserable. While we are walking the halls Igor from Tunnell calls me and say the Walnut Creek facility has accepted Richard and they'd like to transfer him TODAY. Im like hold your horses we are looking at more places.
Next was the privately owned place. It was on the water, I liked it well enough. It was older, but the staff was very very nice and happy. The dining room was on the water looking out. They have hospital CATS that roam the place! Activity calendar was packed. Definitely more service oriented. Problem is they wont take him medicaid pending without a big down payment, and she confesses that a hospital is taking over the management very soon....all I can think is budget cuts.
So we went to lunch to talk and make phone calls.
Walnut creek is obviously the lesser of all evils, not only is it more convenient, it was just better looking and more comfortable. Turns out Richard has been there to sing in the Gay Mans Choir he was in before Patrick made him quit out of jealousy.
VA says they will continue to transport him for Parkinson's clinic visits only. That's okay.
Walnut Creek says we can come back over the weekend before transfer to look at the room and set it up prior to his arrival. Because he would be in the more long term area can bring in his things from home. The room they are offering is a patio facing room, and offering him the patio side bed....big bonus, so its settled.
Arlene doesn't have to have panic attacks trying to fly all over the area to see him, her mother, work, grand kids, husband. Lee works close by and can stop by a couple times a week as well to help him in strength training. Lee is in incredible physical shape. And the place is much less institutional...and since he has a sliding glass door to the patio right there he can go right out with his Kindle and relax.
So they took me back to my car and we all headed back over the bridge to Richard to talk to him, get him to sign some SS papers for Arlene to work on Medicare, and talk to the staff there basically saying goodbye. Little bit of tears in that part. Despite all our struggles everyone has grown close to him, and us along the way.
We are transporting and transferring him on Sunday....and we're taking him in the car, not a paid transport.
He really is doing better. His voice is better, his motor skills are better. Hes still a little confined in his body but hes leaps ahead of where he was in Sept.
After some time with him I left to get back to Buck....it was 5pm already. Arlene and Leeare following shortly behind to help pack a suitcase for him with some clothes. no more sitting around in hospital gowns. I got back and started gathering things, lots of things....desk lamp, baskets for walls, clothes, anything I could find that I thought would help him feel more like it was his space and his stuff and familiar. Meanwhile Jordan is here packing up for a red eye to Mexico.
I just have to pause and say that Animal from the muppets is playing the drums on Jimmey Kimmel Live. hilarious. is ther anything better on the planet than the muppets? I think not!
Arlene and Lee come nix some stuff pack up the clothes while labeling everything like we are sending off our child to summer camp, and tey leave with the clothes, hangers, extension cord, power strip, halogen desk lamp blah blah....
I spent the rest of the night finishing the photo project. Carolyn bought a multiple photo frams from Bed Bath & Beyond for him while she was here and when we got back it was like a giant jigsaw puzzle trying to find the right pictures in the right orientation to get it filled. Over the last couple of months Ive been slowly collecting pictures from people and I'll be darned that sucker is done.
So tomorrow Im meeting Arlene back across the bridge again. We are going to meet at Ross and pick him up some inexpensive loose pants and v neck shirts. Then caravan over to Walnut creek and get his room set up, things hung on the wall, scope out the space for his TV etc...That way when he comes on Sunday its more welcoming and home like feeling.
I suspect I'll spend the next couple of weeks getting that perfected, then I'm going to go ahead and head back home. He has been invited to his friend Charlotte's 95th birthday on Dec 11th. the invitation came and he opened it up and its something that HE designed for her! I told him I'd stick around and wait for that and if he was up to it Id drive him out there. Its in Palo Alto. Arlene said she would join to help.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Buddah
I see thus every night when I walk. Why is he so familiar to me? Did he live under our stairs? In our garden?
11/16-17 a okay
They are doing one of those muscle contraction machines to alleviate the soreness in his shoulder. He was in much better condition regarding it yesterday.
He called me early complaining about too many damn grapes. He called Arlene to tell her too...give the grapes a rest. LOL
Arlene only brings them and fruit and such because its also like getting a sweet drink and well...its wholesome. He wants mushy food. Greasy food. Sweet treats. Hes got the munchies.
I brought him a grilled ham and cheese which appeased that side.
Arlene and I split a list of places to call today and there is essentially nothing in SF proper. Because his 100 days are up medicare will not pay further - it will fall on medicaide. So any place you call will not be able to bill medicare and they know it. He CAN stay in the Kindred system and there are a ton of those around. tomorrow we are going East bay to do some walk in visits of places.
I didn't think of it until just now, but should probably do the same in SF. There is ONE place here that has a bed...not sure about the part of town being okay though. Only reason to have him here is VA really.....maybe able to get around that as well if we have VA do the transport to the new place.
Buck is doing better. Switched his diet up dropping the kibble all together, and been bathing him more often. We went for a bath today which we got for free..YEA...and more food. Everyone in that store loves him and invites him for a treat when he walks by then he goes spastic doing all of his tricks at once...sit speak shake all together now....
He called me early complaining about too many damn grapes. He called Arlene to tell her too...give the grapes a rest. LOL
Arlene only brings them and fruit and such because its also like getting a sweet drink and well...its wholesome. He wants mushy food. Greasy food. Sweet treats. Hes got the munchies.
I brought him a grilled ham and cheese which appeased that side.
Arlene and I split a list of places to call today and there is essentially nothing in SF proper. Because his 100 days are up medicare will not pay further - it will fall on medicaide. So any place you call will not be able to bill medicare and they know it. He CAN stay in the Kindred system and there are a ton of those around. tomorrow we are going East bay to do some walk in visits of places.
I didn't think of it until just now, but should probably do the same in SF. There is ONE place here that has a bed...not sure about the part of town being okay though. Only reason to have him here is VA really.....maybe able to get around that as well if we have VA do the transport to the new place.
Buck is doing better. Switched his diet up dropping the kibble all together, and been bathing him more often. We went for a bath today which we got for free..YEA...and more food. Everyone in that store loves him and invites him for a treat when he walks by then he goes spastic doing all of his tricks at once...sit speak shake all together now....
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
11/15 Tunnell meeting
After plummeting into a depression after the VA Parkinsons clinic visit he bounced back by mid week and was doing quite well. He had a good day on Wed, thurs, and I believe on Friday as well. I say I believe because I left town at 5am and didnt return until Monday. His speech was good and strong and he reported he felt well.
Saturday he also had a good day. Arlene spent a lot of time with him practicing on some physical stuff. I spoke with them both briefly that day, but I was in a no internet no cell service hole so it was hard for me to find a place with service. Thats 4 good days in a row.
Sunday however, he fell, and while he didn't break anything he is suffering from a very sore left shoulder.
I met him at the VA center Monday afternoon for his Neurological surgery follow up, and a visual field exam which was like chinese torture. That is the exam where you rest your head on the edge of a machine and press the button whenever you see a light. Well Richard has some cognitive issues, so sometimes it was press press press press....others was like he phased out and forgot the task and needed to be reminded. That put us behind for Neurology but turned out it didn't matter. They were only concerned with if there were symptoms displaying that might need surgical correction. That's a big fat no. Dr said he was ahead of expected recovery schedule however by noting that both left and right were displaying similar strength.
We didn't get out of there until close to 6pm. I brought dim sum and we rolled out to the parking lot to get it. he was famished. He ate half took the rest on the transport bus. I had to get back here and dreading the thought of having to unpack my car from 4 blocks away. Turns out I didn't have to but it was still a major chore. Finally get settled and unpacked and the phone rings. Its Tunnell asking me where Richard is. Its been over an hour since he was loaded onto transport?! He arrived back about 20minutes after that.... !#$@!%
So today we have an 11a state of the union meeting with Tunnell staff. I was surprised - blindsided - that his 100 days are up on Dec 7th. So its like what are we going to do after that?! Kind of in a rush to put the head down and start mass calling facilities. He can stay there but will get moved to floor 3 and lose rehabilitative services...at that point why stay there.
This is a msas of information overload that I am not prepared to absorb in my mind which consists of...what medical coverage will pay for, what facilities accept that coverage, what of those have beds, what of those have a not so scary facility. This seems an impossible task for 3 weeks.
I started to research today when I got back and quickly became overwhelmed. I dont even know what questions to ask. Nonetheless I think I have one general person calling me tomorrow morning which can possibly assist in narrowing the search.
Arlene of course wants him over in East Bay so she doesn't have to trudge back and forth...this is potentially an issue with transport to VA for his regular stuff. That needs to be sorted out.
PLUS he NEEDS rehabilitative stuff still. So have to figure out how to make that happen. I think it will be Medicaid to the rescue there...but again a mass of information to absorb to know what resources are available for what.
Today he was down...wanting to rest - his shoulder was killing him. I visited only for a short bit before we went into the meeting and when I came back out he was freshly showered and passed out. He of course didn't want to do any more therapy that day. This is such a huge deal that he doesnt even get. you cant have down days at this point but I didn't say anything.
Speech reports she sees an improvement with swallowing, and may be moving him to different liquids next week with continued success.
Occupational reports that he is potentially plateaued. Dont know how she can say that. She may be frustrated. I know its slow going...but it IS going.
Then all of that was followed with long discussions about a discharge plan. Which is now the task on the platter.
Saturday he also had a good day. Arlene spent a lot of time with him practicing on some physical stuff. I spoke with them both briefly that day, but I was in a no internet no cell service hole so it was hard for me to find a place with service. Thats 4 good days in a row.
Sunday however, he fell, and while he didn't break anything he is suffering from a very sore left shoulder.
I met him at the VA center Monday afternoon for his Neurological surgery follow up, and a visual field exam which was like chinese torture. That is the exam where you rest your head on the edge of a machine and press the button whenever you see a light. Well Richard has some cognitive issues, so sometimes it was press press press press....others was like he phased out and forgot the task and needed to be reminded. That put us behind for Neurology but turned out it didn't matter. They were only concerned with if there were symptoms displaying that might need surgical correction. That's a big fat no. Dr said he was ahead of expected recovery schedule however by noting that both left and right were displaying similar strength.
We didn't get out of there until close to 6pm. I brought dim sum and we rolled out to the parking lot to get it. he was famished. He ate half took the rest on the transport bus. I had to get back here and dreading the thought of having to unpack my car from 4 blocks away. Turns out I didn't have to but it was still a major chore. Finally get settled and unpacked and the phone rings. Its Tunnell asking me where Richard is. Its been over an hour since he was loaded onto transport?! He arrived back about 20minutes after that.... !#$@!%
So today we have an 11a state of the union meeting with Tunnell staff. I was surprised - blindsided - that his 100 days are up on Dec 7th. So its like what are we going to do after that?! Kind of in a rush to put the head down and start mass calling facilities. He can stay there but will get moved to floor 3 and lose rehabilitative services...at that point why stay there.
This is a msas of information overload that I am not prepared to absorb in my mind which consists of...what medical coverage will pay for, what facilities accept that coverage, what of those have beds, what of those have a not so scary facility. This seems an impossible task for 3 weeks.
I started to research today when I got back and quickly became overwhelmed. I dont even know what questions to ask. Nonetheless I think I have one general person calling me tomorrow morning which can possibly assist in narrowing the search.
Arlene of course wants him over in East Bay so she doesn't have to trudge back and forth...this is potentially an issue with transport to VA for his regular stuff. That needs to be sorted out.
PLUS he NEEDS rehabilitative stuff still. So have to figure out how to make that happen. I think it will be Medicaid to the rescue there...but again a mass of information to absorb to know what resources are available for what.
Today he was down...wanting to rest - his shoulder was killing him. I visited only for a short bit before we went into the meeting and when I came back out he was freshly showered and passed out. He of course didn't want to do any more therapy that day. This is such a huge deal that he doesnt even get. you cant have down days at this point but I didn't say anything.
Speech reports she sees an improvement with swallowing, and may be moving him to different liquids next week with continued success.
Occupational reports that he is potentially plateaued. Dont know how she can say that. She may be frustrated. I know its slow going...but it IS going.
Then all of that was followed with long discussions about a discharge plan. Which is now the task on the platter.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
11/9 Quit drooling!
He just called me to say the pullups are WONDERFUL...and then something I couldn't understand about drool and wanting to get a 4x4, and he told the nurse he wanted them to get him a 4x4 and they looked at him like he was speaking greek...lol.
I think he meant something absorbent...but you know when I cant understand him well he gets frustrated and is all like okay go back to sleep...
I'll figure it out tomorrow...the botox shouldn't kick in for another few days here...they said about a week.
I think he meant something absorbent...but you know when I cant understand him well he gets frustrated and is all like okay go back to sleep...
I'll figure it out tomorrow...the botox shouldn't kick in for another few days here...they said about a week.
11/9 Depressed
Hes been depressed since Monday after the VA appointment. They even have him on a depression watch and have called in a psychologist to speak with him.
Possibly doing the thinking / memory evaluation got him down on himself? Possibly eating the pizza which was a mess and difficult got him frustrated? I don't really know what the trigger was and Ive been trying to get it out of him for two days. I just keep encouraging him and telling him to keep his sunny side on.
Today I said that and told him not to be sad. He looked at me and said I'm not sad. I'm just done. Next phase is just me, you, Buck and dim sum.... /sigh
Last night he called me and was insisting I help get him on a catheter. He is having difficulty holding his bladder and/or getting a significant early enough signal that he needs to go. Probably emotionally crushing when this happens, and I don't think he is getting much compassion from the staff.
I decided to go early this morning and bring him an Egg McMuffin which always cheers him up. When I get there he is in the hall outside his door reporting the catheter broke. He didn't really have a full catheter, but rather a sort of condom thing. Pretty far on the awful side of things that had ripped off him and taken a chunk of pelvic hair with it. I was pretty mortified by the whole thing. I also dont like the idea of him having the ability of just laying in bed and not making the effort to get to the commode.
We talked about what was the difficulty again and he says sometimes he knows he needs to go but cant get there in time and makes a mess, which compounds the problem. That sometimes at night he just goes and doesn't realize hes going then has to sit in it.
Considering the awful sight of what the current option was, I asked if he would consider some pull ups that would still allow him to use the commode if he could make it, but would also catch a spill should he not, and he agreed to try.
Michelle, his speech therapist came around wanting to talk about what happened at the VA that got him so down. We talked for a long time. She says, like me, she can walk in and know almost immediately how he is doing by looking at his face. Part of Parkinson's is kind of a blank stare / loss of facial expression. She reported last Thursday ish he was doing so well with his swallowing she was about ready to move him to a different diet, then he back slid again. We had a discussion about trying to figure out what the difference was between those great days and the not good days. She was ready to do his therapy and I left them alone to go find Syndney the Ocuupational therapist to talk about dexterity exercises.
If you watch last Monday's VA appointment you can see that is right is actually significantly slower than his left. I don't know if this is because he is concentrating so hard on repairing his left or what, but wanted to ask her to do those same exercises with him. She said she was already. She also wanted to talk about the depression. We talked about the catheter and using a diaper instead and she said oh please get him pullups instead. That is like the kiss of death for an older person to be in diapers. They don't have the pullups there - only ones more like diapers, so they put one of those on him and I ran down the block to Walgreens to buy him a pack to try.
He just called to say it was working out well....YEA!
While there, he asked me to check his phone for him. When I pick it up he says to call myself...just to test it out. I go to his phonebook and EVERYTHING is deleted with one blank entry labeled BJGD. I loaded that phone when it came in with every single contact he had in his phone system here plus a few more. I have no idea how that happened but its essentially empty with only me and Arlene in it now, as I dont have all the rest of his contacts in my cell phone :/
Possibly doing the thinking / memory evaluation got him down on himself? Possibly eating the pizza which was a mess and difficult got him frustrated? I don't really know what the trigger was and Ive been trying to get it out of him for two days. I just keep encouraging him and telling him to keep his sunny side on.
Today I said that and told him not to be sad. He looked at me and said I'm not sad. I'm just done. Next phase is just me, you, Buck and dim sum.... /sigh
Last night he called me and was insisting I help get him on a catheter. He is having difficulty holding his bladder and/or getting a significant early enough signal that he needs to go. Probably emotionally crushing when this happens, and I don't think he is getting much compassion from the staff.
I decided to go early this morning and bring him an Egg McMuffin which always cheers him up. When I get there he is in the hall outside his door reporting the catheter broke. He didn't really have a full catheter, but rather a sort of condom thing. Pretty far on the awful side of things that had ripped off him and taken a chunk of pelvic hair with it. I was pretty mortified by the whole thing. I also dont like the idea of him having the ability of just laying in bed and not making the effort to get to the commode.
We talked about what was the difficulty again and he says sometimes he knows he needs to go but cant get there in time and makes a mess, which compounds the problem. That sometimes at night he just goes and doesn't realize hes going then has to sit in it.
Considering the awful sight of what the current option was, I asked if he would consider some pull ups that would still allow him to use the commode if he could make it, but would also catch a spill should he not, and he agreed to try.
Michelle, his speech therapist came around wanting to talk about what happened at the VA that got him so down. We talked for a long time. She says, like me, she can walk in and know almost immediately how he is doing by looking at his face. Part of Parkinson's is kind of a blank stare / loss of facial expression. She reported last Thursday ish he was doing so well with his swallowing she was about ready to move him to a different diet, then he back slid again. We had a discussion about trying to figure out what the difference was between those great days and the not good days. She was ready to do his therapy and I left them alone to go find Syndney the Ocuupational therapist to talk about dexterity exercises.
If you watch last Monday's VA appointment you can see that is right is actually significantly slower than his left. I don't know if this is because he is concentrating so hard on repairing his left or what, but wanted to ask her to do those same exercises with him. She said she was already. She also wanted to talk about the depression. We talked about the catheter and using a diaper instead and she said oh please get him pullups instead. That is like the kiss of death for an older person to be in diapers. They don't have the pullups there - only ones more like diapers, so they put one of those on him and I ran down the block to Walgreens to buy him a pack to try.
He just called to say it was working out well....YEA!
While there, he asked me to check his phone for him. When I pick it up he says to call myself...just to test it out. I go to his phonebook and EVERYTHING is deleted with one blank entry labeled BJGD. I loaded that phone when it came in with every single contact he had in his phone system here plus a few more. I have no idea how that happened but its essentially empty with only me and Arlene in it now, as I dont have all the rest of his contacts in my cell phone :/
Monday, November 7, 2011
11/7 VA Parkinson's Follow up
This weekend he started going a little loopy again. He was calling me at off hours, particularly Sunday and today very disoriented. Sunday he said hes up and in his chair and not sure what to do next. I missed the call, and finally got him back about 10 minutes later. Arlene had already explained where he was and what he was doing, but he still said to me, I'm very disoriented, could you come be with me? I said sure...and bring Dim Sum...he says. Well Richard its 10:30am they don't open for an hour now....he said okay I'll hold out..HAHAHAHAHA!
I bring him ALMOST the same thing every time and every time he mmmmmms and ahhhhhs like its the first time hes put it in his mouth.
Anyway...Saturday was Arlene, Lee, and me all at the same time and he ate like a horse. Arlene always brings him healthy fruit and things from her garden, and I bring the fat laden dim sum. He ate an orange, grapes, and the majority of his dim sum. Arlene noticed he has a medication patch on his arm...I go to ask about it and it is Excelon (for dementia). He was pretty good that day....and he had TWO on.
Sunday after they opened I was there and he again ate very well. He got himself out of bed to sit at the table and eat. He is getting the memory of moving his body well, and was able to get himself back into bed on his own and I only helped with elevation of the bed. He only had one patch on....and he went pretty crazy from Sunday through today.
Today was VA Parkinsons follow up from last month. I got a parking spot at the opening of the driveway and beat him there for the first time.
When he got there he was out of it. He was asking me if I heard all the racket in the apartment telling him to wake up and eat breakfast etc....that he saw Jordan...I said no because you were at Tunnell and we were at the apartment and he said well thats a pretty good reason not to hear it ;) then a man walks in with his wife and he says...Hello Elton John! We're all like...huh? Man I wish Elton John walked in at that moment...sing me Goodbye Yellow Brick Road please...His wife says well his name IS John, but I don't think its the same John he thought it was...Richard said he though it was a Servas person.
The end result of this is that the Excelon patch and the ropinerol are probably competing so they again cut the ropinerol in half. This should improve his thinking. It may exacerbate his parkinsons and if so they will up the dopamine instead. The idea is to get him off the ropinerol all together and replace it with ramping up the excelon.
No follow up for 3 months but please call in with effects of medicine changes and they can readjust on the fly.
...and he got his botox injections so he can stop drooling.
We spent a good hour or more in the cafeteria afterwards. He had an order of onion rings and a massive slice of pizza. This is his meal...ALWAYS. Found something he likes so sticks with it. I'm juicing right now so he ate while I drank coffee, and entertained him with stories. Even after he was done he wanted to sit and just watch the bay and visit for a while.
Then off to the bat phone to call transport and we were out of there!
I ran a couple errands on the way home, and now Ive got some digging to do to try to find his Medicare card.
I bring him ALMOST the same thing every time and every time he mmmmmms and ahhhhhs like its the first time hes put it in his mouth.
Anyway...Saturday was Arlene, Lee, and me all at the same time and he ate like a horse. Arlene always brings him healthy fruit and things from her garden, and I bring the fat laden dim sum. He ate an orange, grapes, and the majority of his dim sum. Arlene noticed he has a medication patch on his arm...I go to ask about it and it is Excelon (for dementia). He was pretty good that day....and he had TWO on.
Sunday after they opened I was there and he again ate very well. He got himself out of bed to sit at the table and eat. He is getting the memory of moving his body well, and was able to get himself back into bed on his own and I only helped with elevation of the bed. He only had one patch on....and he went pretty crazy from Sunday through today.
Today was VA Parkinsons follow up from last month. I got a parking spot at the opening of the driveway and beat him there for the first time.
When he got there he was out of it. He was asking me if I heard all the racket in the apartment telling him to wake up and eat breakfast etc....that he saw Jordan...I said no because you were at Tunnell and we were at the apartment and he said well thats a pretty good reason not to hear it ;) then a man walks in with his wife and he says...Hello Elton John! We're all like...huh? Man I wish Elton John walked in at that moment...sing me Goodbye Yellow Brick Road please...His wife says well his name IS John, but I don't think its the same John he thought it was...Richard said he though it was a Servas person.
The end result of this is that the Excelon patch and the ropinerol are probably competing so they again cut the ropinerol in half. This should improve his thinking. It may exacerbate his parkinsons and if so they will up the dopamine instead. The idea is to get him off the ropinerol all together and replace it with ramping up the excelon.
No follow up for 3 months but please call in with effects of medicine changes and they can readjust on the fly.
...and he got his botox injections so he can stop drooling.
We spent a good hour or more in the cafeteria afterwards. He had an order of onion rings and a massive slice of pizza. This is his meal...ALWAYS. Found something he likes so sticks with it. I'm juicing right now so he ate while I drank coffee, and entertained him with stories. Even after he was done he wanted to sit and just watch the bay and visit for a while.
Then off to the bat phone to call transport and we were out of there!
I ran a couple errands on the way home, and now Ive got some digging to do to try to find his Medicare card.
Friday, November 4, 2011
11/4 Happy Birthday, Jon
Today is my brothers 45th birthday. Happy birthday, Jon. You have grown into a very patient and kind person, and a great father. Oddly, however, I'm pretty sure it was about 10 years ago that you were jumping off the shed onto the trampoline, and hiding your motorcycle at the neighbors ;)
This morning I woke up singing Nina Simone
indeed....
Richard has the war of the worlds going on with one of his CNAs. In the beginning of this journey, he was asking me to give this guy money. Tonight he called me in a panic saying he needed an immediate meeting with the entire hospital staff. Arlene made the call for me so I didnt scream at anyone.
He is basically ignoring Richard, refusing to help him, bringing his food and not helping Richard get to it, bringing him water but bringing him 2 tbsp of water in a giant mug....yeah. Tonight he said to Richard I'm not your slave, and Richard replied oh yes you are honey.....haha...hes been removed from his case.
Secondly there was an issue with his meals today. The dietician made him go downstairs to eat in the cafeteria since he has an early meal. Just not plausible for a multitude of reasons. His morning CNA explained the whole thing to me and he had gotten the ball rolling to fix it, but I still dont have a final resolution.
Here is his hair - its jut combed and hes freshly shaved.
This morning I woke up singing Nina Simone
indeed....
Richard has the war of the worlds going on with one of his CNAs. In the beginning of this journey, he was asking me to give this guy money. Tonight he called me in a panic saying he needed an immediate meeting with the entire hospital staff. Arlene made the call for me so I didnt scream at anyone.
He is basically ignoring Richard, refusing to help him, bringing his food and not helping Richard get to it, bringing him water but bringing him 2 tbsp of water in a giant mug....yeah. Tonight he said to Richard I'm not your slave, and Richard replied oh yes you are honey.....haha...hes been removed from his case.
Secondly there was an issue with his meals today. The dietician made him go downstairs to eat in the cafeteria since he has an early meal. Just not plausible for a multitude of reasons. His morning CNA explained the whole thing to me and he had gotten the ball rolling to fix it, but I still dont have a final resolution.
Here is his hair - its jut combed and hes freshly shaved.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
11/3 at the dog wash
With the exception of the dim sum feast, Ive been eating clean organic and raw for days...this is my dinner last night. My sisters salad of fennel bulb with Nicky's wild picked mushrooms.
Today I ate a panko fish filet....and chocolate...and am sitting here considering taking a bath in a bottle of sparkling wine. Woe is me.
One of my reasons to be sad is Buck. Still suffering on his skin from either fleas or the sprouted bread incident. And I ran out of food for him that I brought from Houston. So yesterday we took a winding walk down to the Fillmore pet store. I met the owner in the park a bit back and we walked out of the park talking about my situation and Richard. When I tell Richard about it, he says hes good buddies with her, and that Polo's picture is in the window there. He has asked me since if i have gone to see her, and , being broke and out of food, I decided to see if she maybe had samples of a real raw diet. She did. Tuns out if Buck wanted to do a raw diet he'd have to eat 48 of these little things a day... yeah...not unless I win the lottery. But when I get there she recognizes both me and Buck and says oh I remember you! How is your friend doing? I said you aren't going to believe this but its my uncle and my uncle is Polo's dad, and Polo is the cat that you have a picture of...then she interrupts me and says SHIT, RICHARD!
She tells me a funny story of the first time she met Richard, she had just recently purchased the store from the previous owner. She had to leave in the afternoon and came back and Richard is standing outside the door. Says You've left me standing here waiting for you for 15 minutes and I spend upwards of $200 a month in here yammer yammer yammer... funny thing is I can HEAR his voice saying all of this. that was the beginning of their relationship. He says he hasn't seen in her in a long while because it depresses him. I explained why...we did our thing which included more poop bags for the king of poop, and she said to be sure to let him know that she has two cats of her own in the store now who are great mouse hunters.
Good times.
So despite the fact that I could probably visit every pet store in the neighborhood for a free sample to feed my dog, today we went to Pet Food Express. Its just down the road, and has his normal food which she does not carry. They also have a self service dog wash which is like a car wash. Put your token in and get 25 minutes. Turn the dial to warm water, several flavors of shampoo, and the dryer. Crazy. Soap comes out with the water just like a self serve car wash.
Well the food is almost $15 more than I pay in Houston, the flea treatments they only sell in 4 or 6 packs for $70-$100....I cant afford that right now...so we stuck with a bath and food. Woe is me.
They have a vet on Saturdays for an hour and a half they said could give me a single...I may just walk down to Richards vet tomorrow instead and see if I can buy a single without an exam fee.
Poor guy behind me had a toddler in a shopping cart and two dogs he was bathing and somehow he miraculously pulled it off without any bloodshed.
Richard's hair is certifiably hippy. I tried to get him set up for a haircut and he said no, no no! then tried again when we were at the VA - they have a barber - he said no Ive used her before she is horrible. Not sure who the fashion party is for, but it just keeps growing. Its got this flip up in the back going on now.
Anyway...I forgot to post this picture the other day. This is his scar.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
11/1 - 11/2 Nicky, Dim Sum and the way of the VA
Yesterday was great. Nicky picked me up while I was sitting on the stoop with buck talking to my client. Hes having a heart attack at the bill I just sent him. Im having an internal woe now knowing hes not going to pay the whole thing and wondering how am I going to survive without that money that I was counting on.....
Something will work out Im sure.
Nicky's daughter met us for lunch. Beautiful with a good heart. We had the feast of feasts..literally. Our table was covered in food. all delicious. got Richard an order of calamri to go and headed over to see him.
Arlene called us asking about his lunch. Apparently she and Lee were there already and we were just rounding the corner looking for a parking space.
I had called Richard in the morning reminding him that Nicky and I were coming after lunch and to save his tray so he had room to eat what we brought while it was still hot. He was telling Arlene that and she was just wanting to make sure.
He said he was feeling lousy and disoriented and to not waste money of good food for him. That was at around 11am. He also said he just woke up. We sort of agreed that might be why and I was bringing it anyway.
He was sitting up eating some fruit with Arlene and Lee. He ate all of his treats from us as well. I dont know how long Arlene and Lee were there, but probably an hour as they had to go for the meter....and nicky and I stayed for the same time, so he probably had an hour and a half of visitors.
He got himself up and back to bed sitting up before I left. I also wheeled him over to the scale and with the wheelchair he was 197.3 - wheelchair is about 41lbs. so he has gained some more weight.
When he was at his PCP appt last week he didn't want to get up to be weighed, so I was glad to see this. Last time I had him on the scale there he was 185.7 with the chair.
He has a VA neurology follow up next Monday the 7th. He is asking for an eye exam so I called today and got his a 3:30p appt for the 14th, just before his 4p follow up with neurological surgery. Then they want a follow up again on the 28th.
Lots of VA trips this month.
Monday, Nov 7th 9am - Parkinson's Neurology department follow up
Monday Nov 14th 3.30p - Eye and ENT clinic for visual field exam
4p - Neurological surgery follow up
Monday Nov 28th 3.30p - Eye and ENT clinic follow up
Monday, Mondaaaaaaay!
I am probably not going today. Have some research to do, and need to do some shopping for both Buck and myself.
Something will work out Im sure.
Nicky's daughter met us for lunch. Beautiful with a good heart. We had the feast of feasts..literally. Our table was covered in food. all delicious. got Richard an order of calamri to go and headed over to see him.
Arlene called us asking about his lunch. Apparently she and Lee were there already and we were just rounding the corner looking for a parking space.
I had called Richard in the morning reminding him that Nicky and I were coming after lunch and to save his tray so he had room to eat what we brought while it was still hot. He was telling Arlene that and she was just wanting to make sure.
He said he was feeling lousy and disoriented and to not waste money of good food for him. That was at around 11am. He also said he just woke up. We sort of agreed that might be why and I was bringing it anyway.
He was sitting up eating some fruit with Arlene and Lee. He ate all of his treats from us as well. I dont know how long Arlene and Lee were there, but probably an hour as they had to go for the meter....and nicky and I stayed for the same time, so he probably had an hour and a half of visitors.
He got himself up and back to bed sitting up before I left. I also wheeled him over to the scale and with the wheelchair he was 197.3 - wheelchair is about 41lbs. so he has gained some more weight.
When he was at his PCP appt last week he didn't want to get up to be weighed, so I was glad to see this. Last time I had him on the scale there he was 185.7 with the chair.
He has a VA neurology follow up next Monday the 7th. He is asking for an eye exam so I called today and got his a 3:30p appt for the 14th, just before his 4p follow up with neurological surgery. Then they want a follow up again on the 28th.
Lots of VA trips this month.
Monday, Nov 7th 9am - Parkinson's Neurology department follow up
Monday Nov 14th 3.30p - Eye and ENT clinic for visual field exam
4p - Neurological surgery follow up
Monday Nov 28th 3.30p - Eye and ENT clinic follow up
Monday, Mondaaaaaaay!
I am probably not going today. Have some research to do, and need to do some shopping for both Buck and myself.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
10/31 Halloween
Had to backtrack to dim sum and discovered a new variety of pork and peanut which was off the hook. He looked like he was asleep when I got there, but when I said how are you he said not good I cant sleep. I said its 3 in the afternoon you shouldn't be sleeping anyway, and he said oh well then cancel the call. Didn't realize what that meant until a CNA came in later because he had pushed the call button to get sleep medicine.
Took him a while to get his bed situated correctly but he did. He pretty much devoured everything. His Physical Therapist came in right when I got there and I asked her to give us 30 minutes which she graciously did. Ended up being perfect amount of time for him to eat.
He said his occupational therapist was on his ass about celebrating in his victories more. His accomplishments for the day were that he had gotten to the commode independently 3 times, and dressed himself. I said well that is awesome and worth celebrating, that's moving towards independence right? Sort of blank stare and an mmmmm....Celebrating is not really in his personality...LOL. On a relative scale to September 1st this IS a huge success. He still flops a little bit so Arlene had requested the work with him on getting up and sitting on the commode with purpose and not aim and flop. Same for getting into bed...sitting in a chair - all of it. He needs to strengthen those thigh muscles to hold him all the way down to a seated position. Right now its about 1/2 the way...longer if you remind him to go slowly. He needs his own brain to remind him rather than outside ques, so practicing will hopefully give muscle memory.
I went to bed early and got up to watch the sunrise today.
Nicky is picking me up in a few hours to take me to that awesome Dim Sum place this afternoon. For clarification, I go to a little walk in and order from the counter place for Richard daily...not this nicer sit down place. This is the same place that Carolyn and I went to, and I later went back with Steffi and Michi Naess.
Besides the fact that she is good company, Nicky is a master mushroom hunter, so I'm hoping to learn a little bit more about that and give my forest walks with Buck a little purpose.
I still haven't actually BOOKED a cabin rental! I am down to about 6, but need my darn paychecks to get here to be able to pull the trigger.
I told him we'd come after and asked if he wanted us to bring him a whole order of anything and he said yes. I said which he retorted which do you think. Calamari? Yes.
PT came back and it was my exit. They were going to work on stairs. Thigh strength is good. Not sure where Roel went. He said to expect him Monday but he wasn't there. This is a pregnant woman that he had in the very beginning.
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