Dreaming...

Yesterday we stayed at home...the weather took a turn for the colder for a couple days. I figured Dad needed a good rest anyway.
Dad was on the sofa with his feet up dozing off now and then. THEN all of a sudden I hear him hollar out...."I WILL GET THEM OUT OF HERE. LET ME TAKE CARE OF IT."
I jumped up off the chair in my office to see what was going on. Rod had been out of room for a little bit so he didn't witness Dad's outburst, but he heard it all the way back to the bedroom. LOL
By the time I got to the living room Dad was trying to get up off the sofa. I think he was still half asleep. I asked him what was wrong...he stared at me for a second and then said he was going to get that bunch out of his house. I told him that there was no one here and that he was in OK and all was fine. He looked at me and THEN realized he was dreaming. He scared me for a moment because that was what happened when the dementia set in.
He told me who was in his house and tearing things up and taking his things and I assured him that was not so and to not worry. {a reoccuring dream it seems} Then he almost acted embarrassed that he even got that far with the dream.

It passed and Dad seems to be just fine again. For a moment I thought, Oh no. I sure don't ever want Dad to go through that dementia again. That's more torturous than a physical condition.

All is well today...he was anxious to get back to the Senior Center this morning. He had on his new shirt to show the crowd. I think Dad will miss some of these new friends when he takes his vacation to Indiana.

Birthday Party at Home...

Dad seemed to have a great time at his birthday party here. We had planned for a quiet evening at home since we had been on the run all week. Dad had PT Friday morning and his bath gal came about noon. Then off Dad and I go to run errands. We stopped at the bank to open an account for him. I asked Dad if he had ever been to Chick Fila and he said no, so that's where we had lunch. We topped it off with a peach shake and then off to Kohl's to spend my free $10 coupon. Off to Sam's to get the cake for that night. I didn't let Dad see the cake yet. Nothing was going to top the Durant cake though!
We got back at the house and Dad wasn't tired yet, it seemed. I suggested a nap before the party started but he stayed up for a couple hours watching TV. Rod gets home and then they BOTH fell asleep later.
Chris arrived first, then Amy and Monica arrived. Rod went to No 1 Kitchen, {which is excellent btw} for Chinese. The food party started. After the food we had Dad open presents. It was a lot of fun I must say. Dad entertained us with some funny stuff. Dad was moved by all the attention. When he read some of the cards he had to tell us all that he was very happy to have us to care. He said he was grateful that we took him in and he started to cry and Amy jumped up and gave him a big hug.

All in all it was a great night. His friend, Walter S. had called to wish him a Happy Birthday. I could hear him on the other end telling Dad how wonderful it was to see such a change in him. Afterall, Walter had seen him flat on his back and unable to move before we left. I am sure it was impressive to hear him on the other end having a party and talking as well as he was talking. I never tire of seeing it myself.

I took videos of which I want to edit....I haven't figured out the complexities of how this video works like I want to figure it out. {my camera is smarter than my computer and it seems that my computer won't process the higher speed SD card correctly...but alas I will figure something out so you can at least see the Birthday Boy in all his glory!

We settled in the living room to watch AVATAR, which had just come out the day before. Leave it to Amy and Monica to have the LATEST in videos!! lol Inside joke. The movie was great. I wouldn't mind having it myself one day. Dad stayed awake for half of it. lol It WAS 3 hours long. I asked Dad if he wanted to head to bed an hour into it and he said no, he wanted to stay with all of us....but at 11 pm I did wake him up to say it was okay if he stretched out in bed...the movie was almost over anyway.

Dad got some fun gifts....Nola made him 2 summer English caps, shirts that he wears to the center. Louise sent Dad MONEY, which always makes Dad's eyes light up. Rod and I got him 2 T-shirts of which I put iron on sayings on them. One was 90 and Single, the other was a photo of him with the words This is what 90 looks like! Oh the comments he got with the 90 and Single was way too funny. Keep in mind that he wore it all over town while we went shopping on Friday! I got him some new shortie socks....first he ever had and I thought he would not like them but he does. We also took him out to dinner at his choice for his birthday, remember?..the frog legs.
The guy at Braum's Dairy store wanted to know if he was advertising. lol I made Dad some business cards with the Durant on them...and his email address and this Blog address. I thought he could take them home and pass them around to his friends as he visits. Amy got him this awesome silver card holder...outside was OGR and inside was a personal message of love from Amy. It was so neat how it opened...it's magnetic so it will be so easy for Dad to get it open unlike the snapping kind. Chris bought Grandpa this HUGE bag of Russell Stover variety chocolates. They are individually wrapped and the ultimate chocolates. I told Dad I hoped he wasn't counting how many were in there and gone. LOL
Debbie V. sent him a another gift card from Panera. {His fav place to eat ya know.} We ate there yesterday. He sure loves it there but now is critiquing the tomato soup....it was a "little tangy". lol
Dad didn't want gifts he said...but tsk tsk tsk, ya gotta know that no ONE refuses chocolate!!! Not in this house. He seemed pretty content in spite of all that has happened to him. As he was getting into bed, he told me that he was a pretty lucky fella. "I can walk, I got all my limbs, and I feel pretty good for an old man."

Yep, Paw....life can be darn good at any age!

What a Happy Day!

Just a short note to say that Dad was the Center of Attention at the CENTER!
He almost cried when he saw the cake....I think he was overwhelmed with it all. I think he had a good time though. I can see he has some very nice friends at the Senior Center. I mean really caring people who care about him. John is one of his good friends there already. John is the man setting next to his left in the photos. I will add more later as I took many but here is one for now.
I have videos too. They need editing and will be working on that and getting them uploaded soon.

Dad and the Hershey Kisses...

Among the Easter half~priced candy Dad bought, he got a bag of Hershey's Kisses.
He was eating them last night while watching TV.
I was joking and said, "HEY, you could take the empty bag back to Indiana...hold it behind your back and tell Louise that you have been getting plenty of Kisses! But don't wait too long to tell her the rest of it and then pull out the bag!"

He thought that was funny....so this morning as we were driving to the Senior Center....he says, "I got a good idea....I will mail her the empty bag and tell her that I have been getting plenty of kisses but no hugs."

Let me tell you all......You are NEVER too old for Lovin'.

Dad Reading

Here's Dad sitting on the sofa in "his spot". I said smile and this is what I got.

Sneak Preview of the CAKE for the Senior Center

I retrieved the cake tonight but Dad hasn't seen it.
He has a bit of a headache due to getting some medicine at the Pain Center today. He got his steroid injection in the back and he is doing fine. He doesn't remember most of the day!! lol
At 3pm he wanted to know when was breakfast...that will give you an idea how well the medicine worked. He is still resting in the living room. I gave him some headache medicine and he was feeling better. He has his feet soaking right now getting ready for his pedicure.

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! I found 90 on party decorations and couldn't believe it.
I made T-shirts with clever sayings on them. The Senior center will get a kick out of them. I will take photos later at the party @ the Center and on Friday night.

We are planning a party at the house with Chinese food....one of Dad's fav...and movie night. Amy is in charge of the movie. We will have another cake surprise that evening.

Dad got the Motherload of Birthday Cards today. He said he gets more cards being in OK than when he was in Logansport. LOL I said you should come here more often on your Birthday!!
I will list who and what later he got as he gets everything open.

I need to get cracking here because I am making him a wild hat for Friday night.

Note to Self: Don't set half and half next to Dad at Breakfast table...

We were up and getting ready this morning to get to the Senior Center on time. I had an eye dr appt after I dropped Dad off. I was in the bathroom trying to get ready when I heard Dad walking down the hall and so I let him go for about a minute. I knew he would be chomping at the bit to get breakfast done. So when I got out there he was in the pantry looking for the cereal. I don't care if he gets his own breakfast BUT he never can find anything, reach it or finish finding it all. lol It if funny sometimes. He is trying to help but sometimes it just better if he lets me waite on him. So I asked him what he wanted and he ended up saying oatmeal. So I get the REAL oatmeal out and it took about 10 minutes to make....IN THE MEANTIME....I am getting a little pitcher ready of the little milk I had left and some heavy whipping cream. I had the cream for creme brulee, but that's another story. lol
So I mix the milk with the CREAM, hence the half and half. The little pitcher is clear with a spout on it....like for SHARING with your cereal????? So I turn my back and there is Dad DRINKING THE ALMOST over the line HALF AND HALF right OUT of the pitcher before I even have the oatmeal made. I nearly choked. But I thought....oh well, what can I do now... He finished his breakfast and off we go to the Center.
Comes time to pick him up and I had to call Rod to go get him because I was at another Dr appt and was running late.
I get home and Dad tells me the sad sad story of how many times he ended up in the powder room at the Senior Center. I am thinking to myself, IT'S NO WONDER with the CREAM you drank this morning...but I didn't say a word.
Oh but how I wish I had grabbed that cream out of his hand today and dumped it down the drain.....
I am cleaning dishes off the table, and Rod helps Dad a little to the bathroom....a minute later Rod comes walking briskly out to the kitchen with a grimace and says, "Uhhh your Dad made a big mess." {MY Dad....hahaha}

To make a long story short.....let's just say......DAD is NOT getting anymore Whipping CREAM and the Bathroom has been BLEACHED nearly top to bottom!!!!! Use your imagination!

So what does he say to me in the process of giving him a bath and cleaning the bathroom....
Well, girl, when you were little I clean your poopy diapers many times....hahaha I laughed and laughed, cause well, there was nothing left to do and I was the only one here brave enough to clean it.

So lesson for the day is: Payback is hell!

90th Year Rolls Around This Week.

Dad can hardly believe he is going to be NINETY this week.
He tells me stories about all the cake that is served at the Senior Center for the old folks there. He at first thought the staff was bringing it in for each Birthday party. He has said that all along and keeps up with all the stories until YESTERDAY.
Rod, Dad and I were in the kitchen discussing the upcoming birthday. Rod asked Dad if they would have a cake for him....Dad replies, "Oh no, the cakes are brought in by the family." I am thinking now where did he get that idea when he has told me since the gitgo that the staff was baking them. Hmmmmmmmmm. So Rod tells me to get a cake for Dad and to take to the center. I try to get Rod to hush about it cause I have already made plans even IF the staff brings cake in for each Birthday celebration.
So Dad started to get curious and ask about what I was up to and I told him it was a secret...and that just had Dad asking more questions. So I did to him what I always used to do to Amy, my oldest. I would threaten to tell the WHOLE story and what the surprise was going to be....and it worked cause Dad says, Oh no, I don't want to know. hahaha

So stay tuned for the story of the Birthday week celebration and the cake surprises.

Last night at Chili's...

I am surrounded by 3 men that think alike and oh boy, that's scary.
Dad plays right along with those other two and he knows just how to follow suite.
So last night after our diet meeting we take off for Chili's restaurant. I should have never let Chris and Rod sit together. I just wanted to take some photos for the blog and Chris started making faces and then Rod and then DAD! Rod thought he got the picture of Dad with his tongue out too which started them ALL laughing including the waiter.
We had fun though and I got proof! haha
Oh and YEP, it's official, Dad IS in his 2nd childhood...actually it might be his THIRD childhood. I think Mom said he went through the 2nd back in the 80's!!

A Tragedy...

Today was Senior Day Care time for Dad. He arrived at 10am and by 4pm I was signing him out for the day. We walked to the car and Dad commented on the nice warm day. The wind was blowing but it was still warm he said. I asked him if he got outside today and he said, "Oh yeah, I walked around the entire building and got my exercise."
I put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot and Dad says, "OHHHHH, there was a tragedy today. Oh it was a close one." I thought to myself.... Oh no, one of the old guys there had a heart attack and had to be taken out on a stretcher. I don't really like Dad seeing stuff like that but he is a big boy and knows it happens so I thought, well, he is ready to talk about it so okay.
So Dad continues," One of the gals that works there was bringing out the Birthday cake and she nearly lost it. {OMG, and I started laughing....ONLY to Dad who LOVES Cake and Desserts would consider THAT to be a tragedy!!} While I am still laughing, Dad has a grin on his face and continues," I saw her hand slipping and worried that she was going to lose the whole thing. But she got it JUST in time before it upset on the floor. She went down though but her hands were under the cake. The cake was a little messed up but that didn't stop us from eating it."

Yep, the cake was saved!! Dad said that he sat next to another old guy and they both were eating the cake saying how good it was even though it almost hit the floor. I told him wouldn't make any difference to DAD! He would scrape the dirt off and eat it anyway!!

Some past photos.....

Above is a photo I forgot to post. He was wearing the gait belt back then.
He sure doesn't wear it anymore.
He was up early this morning, shaving and got dressed and met us out in the kitchen for breakfast.
We had muffins, chocolate dipped strawberries and applesauce.
Dad looks down into the cup with his pills and says his usual comment...."ALL THESE PILLS???" hahaha

Also a video of him dreaming while napping on the sofa.
One night he said he got up and heard me tell him to hurry and get dressed, we had an appt. haha But it was like 2am he said. That was his clue he was dreaming and then he went back to sleep!

Weight

Weight is no longer an issue for Dad, well, other than he is told now by the doctor to watch it. lol From 130 pounds December 29th to 168.8 pounds this morning.
So the fun is over for Dad...no more half and half with his cereal as he likes. Plain old milk will have to do, and 2% at that.
No more carrot cake with cream cheese icing....no more lavish desserts with gobs of calories. I told him he better enjoy it while it was an option. He did!! He doesn't have to give up everything of course but the extra stuff has to go.
He still enjoys Panera Bread. I will imagine he will miss that while he is in Indiana this summer. Dad said he wasn't going to get groceries for the house while we are there....his idea was to eat out ALL THE TIME! I had to laugh at that because when it comes to eating out, let's just say that Dad has been....uhhhh, well, the word IS CHEAP! haha So I have explained to him that life is short anyway and him being 89 makes it a little shorter than the average and he SHOULD enjoy whatEVER he likes. PERIOD!
Like the other day we were at Walgreens. Dad was welcomed to the neighborhood with a $25 check with a transferred prescription. So naturally I am not going to let that go. I don't like Walgreens for prescriptions but this ONE time for $25 I will. He also got a $5 gift card on a $20 purchase in the store.
It's HALF PRICE candy season too....I know what I said about above and dieting but some of you don't know about my Dad and candy!! Especially chocolate. Well, he spotted the candy and asked if it was half price. Yep, Dad....half. So he proceeds to buy several bags. I didn't say a word. After all I just got done telling him life was short.....hahaha So he gets about 4 bags and then picks up a package of Andes mint chocolates. He asked me if they were on sale and I said I didn't think so because they were off the area of the Easter candy. So he proceeds to put it back saying these are the best tasting chocolates. I said then for heaven's sakes, GET THEM...Who cares if they are not on sale!! He hesitated, grinned and then placed them in the cart.
Dad...Chocolate and then a nap. Life is worth living huh Dad?

The Bimbo...

Dad has some colorful stories sometimes.
He usually has a story for me from the Senior Day Care each day he goes.
There is always the lunch review. He loves the lunches and says they did a good job. Dad has missed his calling as a food critic. For the first time on Tuesday he complained about the roll they served....harder than a rock.

He also watches people and guesses who they are, where they came from and why they are there. This Senior center is not the typical center...most of the participants are disabled in some way. Many have Alzheimer's, some have dementia, some are verbal and some are not. Most of them have been men BUT there are a few women. So comes the bimbo story.

Dad says there are these two who seem to be a couple. He doesn't think they are married but more of a woman chasing a man situation. Dad said he escaped her. Dad has mentioned several times that she would speak for him, ask him many questions and never listen to him. He would just sit there quietly.

Having said all that then I can get up to speed with the story. One day I picked Dad up and he couldn't wait to get in the car to tell me they had some exciting incident happen today. That man he told me about suddenly slumped over and all the helpers came running. They were on the ball he said. They swooped him up and away so quickly he couldn't see what was happening and no one was telling them what happened.

Then he said, "Whatever happened must have happened because the Bimbo that is always on his case."
I just started laughing not only because of the word he used but because he was figuring out on his own that it was HER fault.
Just like a MAN, HUH?
Blame it on the woman.

Red Lobster...

I thought I had posted this but I checked and apparently not. Last weekend or so ago we went out to eat at MY favorite restaurant...Red Loster. Dad has not had good experience the couple times I have taken him to the ones in Indiana. I have had ONE bad experience at a RL here in Oklahoma and they made it right.
So I was very confident that Dad would have a good meal at the one in Tulsa because we have 3 favorite waiters and we ask for them before we get a seat. Rod remembers their names better than me. ha Linda is one of them though. Anyway, we are looking through the menu and Dad is trying to decide what he might like. Dad used to be a fish out of water when we would take him into the restaurants we go to. Dad thinks they are fancy and they really aren't. Well, compared to McDonald's, haha, they are. Dad liked Arby's and we don't like fast food. If I am going to pay for a meal then they are going to waite on me because I have been waiting on people at my house.
Oh but Dad has adjusted just fine. He is no longer shy and afraid to ask for something. He will tell when it's not right and he knows I or Rod will get it fixed for him. So this trip to Red Lobster was about Lobster for me....I love all seafood but I especially love Lobster. So Dad decided he was going to try it as he has never had it before.
As it ended up, he liked it fine....called it rubbery~!!!!Bounced like a ball I think was the term he used. hahaha His favorite was Walt's shrimp, which is also mine. Dad has had more shrimp in the last month then he has had in his entire life and he likes it!! Another Recruit to my seafood world! YEA!

Time Flies By...

I mean to get back here each day but it's been very busy. We are doing yard work each day. Since I have been going back and forth to Indiana for several years now and staying months at a time, the yard is a mess. The fence needs to come down and little by little we are working on that. The new shed needs to go up and a dozen other things so it's getting in the way of me posting. Rod took us out to dinner last night since I was so tired from raking yesterday. I am paying for it today. Dad and I both have swollen legs....not sure what's causing it. I thought it was the rain but it's been doing on too long. The nurse visited today with Dad and she is concerned about his swelling. His hand is swollen and I had taken him to the Dr last week and he didn't seem to alarmed about it. The nurse has a call into him about getting Dad on a stronger water pill to bring this swelling down.
Dad is right now in the living room all propped up to bring down the swelling.
Dad is gaining weight still. Some of it is water retention the nurse thought. In fact, she thought it was too much water retention.
He says he feels fine though...he tried to tell the nurse that he has had this swelling since the 60's but she tried to tell him that was then this is now and he is 89! haha
I think he is taking in too much salt....but try to tell my Dad to leave it alone....his answer???? I am 89 and if I lived this long eating salt, it isn't going to be the thing that kills me now. *Hands up in the air* Dad, Dad, Dad....okay eat the salt and blow up like a balloon. I will just ROLL you out the door. Dad laughs and says, "Well, it's easier than me walking out the door."
Rod says he now knows where I get an answer for everything. haha
All these years Rod said I was like my Mother....LOL He has now found out different.

Besides the swelling, Dad is doing very well....for the last month he has been getting up by himself if he needs to go to the bathroom. No falls....he uses his cane. He had one day of knees wanting to buckle but that stopped that afternoon. I did get up that night with him to make sure it was gone.

Yesterday he went to the foot doctor. The doctor is okay but young and talks too much. {hope he don't read this} I mean he is a nice guy and all but tells us stuff in a long way. I would rather he do that instead of rushing us out but there is middle ground. Originally Dad was given these pads for the bottom of his feet. Long story but I wished I had not bought them. They were $25 and Medicare didn't pay for them. I hesitated when she told me that but I didn't want to seem cheap if the Dr thought he really would benefit from them. Long story short...they were worthless and they caused Dad's skin to become inflamed and I was NOT happy. So I asked for a refund a couple weeks ago...Dr tried to fix them and just made them worse and Dad had them off the moment we got home. Soooooo yesterday I insisted getting the $25 back PERIOD. He said he didn't deal with the money part so he would have to ask the boss. duh....but you better believe I got Dad's $25 back and a check will come from the central office this next week he said. Oh and if it isn't here....they will hear from ME again. haha I don't give up. $25 for these little pads that I could have made!! I think not.
I do Dad's pedicures and manicures...he is so spoiled. haha I can't talk because Amy, my daughter, comes and does mine. Dad just never had the luxury of such things. He is so used to it now that he tells me when it's time!!

Dad hasn't had any dementia for MONTHS! He does however, dream....he dreams and remembers them all. The other night I did get up to help him to the bathroom and before I could go back to bed, I had to listen to the two dreams he had. I about fell over listening but I swayed and listened. haha He won't let you go till he tells you. I will say can you tell me in the morning....he says NO, I will forget. Oh Lordie!

The Little Boy in the Old Man

I made brownies today....a picture is worth a thousand words...so here it is.
Note the icing on his nose. hahaha {Please note that if you click on the photo it will enlarge. Click again and it still gets bigger.}

He is getting lazy about shaving when he hangs around the house. Yesterday he cut his chin a bit and then asked for the styptic pencil. You should have seen the look on the nurse's face like what the heck is THAT? haha For those of you who don't know what it is either.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihemorrhagic
We did go to another garage sale this morning. At first he wanted to stay home while Rod and I went. I thought about it cause he is able to stay here for a short period of time. I said okay, if you go to the bathroom and then get comfy on the sofa and I will turn on the TV and then we will be right back in about an hour. He said, "Well, I might miss something at the sale if I don't go." hahaha So we all went and had a good time and Dad found more shirts and pants.