Friday, March 9, 2012
The Peanut Butter didn't have a chance.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Catching up...
Ooops, too long in between posts. I told my Sister part of a couple stories I needed to get in here to post. She says she checks often if I have written anything so I suppose I best get with it and get something going. It's not that I don't have anything to say. haha Oh that would probably never happen unless my tongue was missing.
First of all, I have been preoccupied with some changes going on within the family and by the time I get around to posting, I am too pooped to pop. Or in this case, to write and think.
I am getting much done around the house though. I am still putting up Dad's shelving and cabinets....I have one cabinet of Dad's to sand down and stain before it goes up on the wall. I have let it set long enough. When Dad built this cabinet he made it to not show on the left side...but where it's going in his room, it will show so I have to finish the left side to match the right side. It's been on my to-do list.
Most of the time he deals okay with dementia but it's at night it is the worse.
That's when I need to sleep but he has many things happening at the very time my brain says to sleep. On the weekends when Rod doesn't work he gets up with Dad so I can sleep. The rest of the time is my turn. Last night was not especially pleasant. Dad argues with me as I have pointed out before...he won't take my word or anyone else's that what he sees is not really happening. During the day one can reason with him but in the middle of the night when he is half asleep....well, let's just say, if you are in the conversation with Dad, you might as well give it up and uh huh everything. haha. There is no winning the argument at 4 am.
He got on the phone the other day to talk to my Sister. You would think he is the doom and gloom bearer of news. "I can't go outside by myself", I heard him say. OUTSIDE by himSELF?? Where did that come from? If I told him to go outside you would think he was being tortured. haha. He has no desire to go outside...in fact, when I open his door to the outside in his room....first thing out of his mouth, "Where's that draft coming from?" He comes up with some good ones when he is on the phone. He tells his galfriend that he doesn't get to go anywhere and he stays here and sleeps all day!!! The truth is, he gripes that he has to go to so many places. I should make a little video of his daily routine and most people half his age would complain that they are doing too much. He stays as busy as one can stay at almost 92.
He has to stay busy and yes, I make him walk....he wants to park his butt in the wheel chair and I won't let him. I tell him over and over, the day you sit in that wheel chair is the day you give up walking. There are times when he is having a very hard time walking and I have him use the wheel chair but it is only temporarily. We start physical therapy again when that happens. Oh he hates that too! ha
So as far as his health and condition right now....he really is in good shape. He does have that back trouble that causes him not too walk fast. He walks all stooped over and can't stand straight up....but he takes pain medication for it. Enough to keep the major pain down but not too much to cause him to be konked out. There's a fine line in getting the right medication for someone Dad's age.
His Dr and I work to make sure he is never overmedicated. Dad has to be able to help me as much as he can physically do in order for me to take care of him.
His mind is clear most of the time. One thing Dad is very clear about is when it's time to eat! It's a big joke around here about Dad. IF we want him to wake up all we have to do is get some dessert and go in the living room with it and MAGICALLY Dad wakes up, WIDE awake wanting to know where HIS piece is!
So this is an update and stay tuned for some dementia stories....funny stuff to follow this post...
First of all, I have been preoccupied with some changes going on within the family and by the time I get around to posting, I am too pooped to pop. Or in this case, to write and think.
I am getting much done around the house though. I am still putting up Dad's shelving and cabinets....I have one cabinet of Dad's to sand down and stain before it goes up on the wall. I have let it set long enough. When Dad built this cabinet he made it to not show on the left side...but where it's going in his room, it will show so I have to finish the left side to match the right side. It's been on my to-do list.
Most of the time he deals okay with dementia but it's at night it is the worse.
That's when I need to sleep but he has many things happening at the very time my brain says to sleep. On the weekends when Rod doesn't work he gets up with Dad so I can sleep. The rest of the time is my turn. Last night was not especially pleasant. Dad argues with me as I have pointed out before...he won't take my word or anyone else's that what he sees is not really happening. During the day one can reason with him but in the middle of the night when he is half asleep....well, let's just say, if you are in the conversation with Dad, you might as well give it up and uh huh everything. haha. There is no winning the argument at 4 am.
He got on the phone the other day to talk to my Sister. You would think he is the doom and gloom bearer of news. "I can't go outside by myself", I heard him say. OUTSIDE by himSELF?? Where did that come from? If I told him to go outside you would think he was being tortured. haha. He has no desire to go outside...in fact, when I open his door to the outside in his room....first thing out of his mouth, "Where's that draft coming from?" He comes up with some good ones when he is on the phone. He tells his galfriend that he doesn't get to go anywhere and he stays here and sleeps all day!!! The truth is, he gripes that he has to go to so many places. I should make a little video of his daily routine and most people half his age would complain that they are doing too much. He stays as busy as one can stay at almost 92.
He has to stay busy and yes, I make him walk....he wants to park his butt in the wheel chair and I won't let him. I tell him over and over, the day you sit in that wheel chair is the day you give up walking. There are times when he is having a very hard time walking and I have him use the wheel chair but it is only temporarily. We start physical therapy again when that happens. Oh he hates that too! ha
So as far as his health and condition right now....he really is in good shape. He does have that back trouble that causes him not too walk fast. He walks all stooped over and can't stand straight up....but he takes pain medication for it. Enough to keep the major pain down but not too much to cause him to be konked out. There's a fine line in getting the right medication for someone Dad's age.
His Dr and I work to make sure he is never overmedicated. Dad has to be able to help me as much as he can physically do in order for me to take care of him.
His mind is clear most of the time. One thing Dad is very clear about is when it's time to eat! It's a big joke around here about Dad. IF we want him to wake up all we have to do is get some dessert and go in the living room with it and MAGICALLY Dad wakes up, WIDE awake wanting to know where HIS piece is!
So this is an update and stay tuned for some dementia stories....funny stuff to follow this post...
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