Recently, Alan's middle daughter, Sandy, and her family were in Utah and visited Dad. I heard a bit from Alan about the visit and then spoke to Sandy about it.
Dad was asleep when they came to visit, but they didn't realize he's now hooked up to three different alarms, so the staff will know when he's getting up. As they came close to his bed, they set off one of the alarms. Greg, Sandy's husband, was able to get it turned off, and Dad woke up, not startled but just gently came awake.
Sandy said Dad was very alert and responsive. She didn't think he knew exactly who they were, but she was aware that he knew they were family--that they loved him and that he loved them.
He told them how well they were treating him at the facility, saying, "Everybody's treating me like I'm somebody important!" Sandy asked if Dad had seen Christie who was visiting from Pennsylvania, and Dad said, "Oh, yes!"--surprising when Dad usually can't remember who visited him earlier that same day!
Sandy said the kids were nervous (they haven't seen their Papadaddy in more than a year, I'd guess). But Zach, their 5-year-old, was the least nervous and sang two songs, with Andrew, their 8-year-old, joining in. They sang the "ABC Song" and "I Am a Child of God," and Sandy said she thought Dad could have joined in and sung along. He didn't, but he enjoyed the kids and the songs very much.
When they were ready to leave, Sandy suggested to their youngest, Ava, that she give Papadaddy a hug. Dad said, "I don't think she's quite ready for that!" Sandy was amazed that Dad was able to read Ava's cues so clearly.
Sandy emphasized that she doesn't think Dad is usually so alert and responsive, but she said that it was a great experience for them.
I'll write more in two weeks.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Short update on Dad 2/14/10
I finally had a chance to talk to Dad this week. Christie, who lives in Pittsburgh, is in Utah, and she called me on her cell phone while she was visiting Dad. I said hi to Dad, and Christie reported that he waved to say hi to me. He said he was doing very well, and he chuckled as I told him a cute story about my grandson.
I was glad Christie was there to help the conversation along because Dad said very little. Christie suggested I tell him about our trip to Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog Day. He chuckled a couple of times and made a few comments--"Oh, my," etc. Christie later told me that he was smiling and reacting to what I was saying, gesturing at times. That was good to hear.
Christie also reported that he'd seemed to recognize her and her husband, Duane, when they came to visit and had asked about their kids.
Christie also reported that Dad kept trying to get out of bed to urinate while she was visiting. He has a catheter, but kept feeling the urge to go. Dad's great nurse, Barbara, checked, and Dad has a urinary tract infection. He's on an antibiotic, but it's not clear if it's cleared up the infection. A staff member at the care center told me he's not trying to get out of bed as often. They will do another culture three days after they take him off the antibiotic to see if the infection is cleared up or not.
I'll write again in two weeks. As always, thanks for your love and concern.
I was glad Christie was there to help the conversation along because Dad said very little. Christie suggested I tell him about our trip to Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog Day. He chuckled a couple of times and made a few comments--"Oh, my," etc. Christie later told me that he was smiling and reacting to what I was saying, gesturing at times. That was good to hear.
Christie also reported that he'd seemed to recognize her and her husband, Duane, when they came to visit and had asked about their kids.
Christie also reported that Dad kept trying to get out of bed to urinate while she was visiting. He has a catheter, but kept feeling the urge to go. Dad's great nurse, Barbara, checked, and Dad has a urinary tract infection. He's on an antibiotic, but it's not clear if it's cleared up the infection. A staff member at the care center told me he's not trying to get out of bed as often. They will do another culture three days after they take him off the antibiotic to see if the infection is cleared up or not.
I'll write again in two weeks. As always, thanks for your love and concern.
A report from Bob from Jan. 4
I wanted to include this report on Dad from Bob, Lucy's husband. It was written on Jan. 4, but is so lovely and loving that I wanted everyone to be able to read it:
"I visited with Papa Daddy last night [Jan. 3] after working at the [Springville Art] Museum. When I first got there, his room was dark but he was wide awake and knew it was me entering the room even before I had rounded the curtains. He called me by name and said to me as always, “It is so nice to have you come visit.” I also observed that he lies in bed peering out through the light of the hallway shining from the slit between the curtains and the wall - watching and waiting for someone to come visit him.
"I also asked him questions about his day and if he remembered being visited by anyone today. I think he tried four time to say something to answer my question and each time he would start and then would get to a point where he struggled – he was able to finish his whole thought on the last try. He said, “My day has been mostly as an individual.” Although when I checked the guest book, Alison had been there visiting with him for about 45 minutes just about an hour earlier from when I got there.
"I tried to get him to talk to me about what it was like at mid-shipmen's school. He started off to answer with some thought hanging and finally said, “ That was so many years ago it is hard for me to remember--well, I remember but it is hard to recall.” He did say that it was different than pilot school in that in mid-shipman’s school they spent more time in the classroom.
"I shared with him some things about Louise’s plans while she will be in PA and told him I would miss her and that it will be the longest period of time she and I will have been apart in almost 28 years. He said that I most likely will manage. I told him that I was planning on coming over to visit with him more while she is gone. He said, “That will be good, that will be good.” Dad was alert and happy, he was glad to see me, he held my hand during the whole visit. He did say, “Oh, your hands are cold.”
"I noticed he had eaten almost everything on his plate from dinner or the dog or the cat cleaned it up for him. [Actually, it was me, Alison--I hadn't had any dinner, so I finished what Dad left on his plate.] Both of his fluids were mostly gone and he did not request any more drink or snacks while I was there.
"He again expressed a desire to have family members read to him from some of the books he read to the family years ago. Lucy found some of those books – maybe she can either gather them together for me to take over or she can help me post the list of titles in the blog for others to find and bring to read from their own collections of books.
"As I was leaving Dad I gave him a hug and a kiss, and I told him I loved him, and as always he replied, “You know how much I love you too.” Thank you all for everything you all have done – even though I too desire that Dad will comfortably die and continue on his journeys – I am ever so thankful for his love of me personally and I feel a wonderful strength from him that supports me in all that I do – just as I am sure all of you do. I give thanks to our Father in Heaven for allowing me to be part of his life and all of your lives. I am a much better person because of you all. May the Lord bless us all as we help make life and dying a time of joy and love for Papa Daddy."
"I visited with Papa Daddy last night [Jan. 3] after working at the [Springville Art] Museum. When I first got there, his room was dark but he was wide awake and knew it was me entering the room even before I had rounded the curtains. He called me by name and said to me as always, “It is so nice to have you come visit.” I also observed that he lies in bed peering out through the light of the hallway shining from the slit between the curtains and the wall - watching and waiting for someone to come visit him.
"I also asked him questions about his day and if he remembered being visited by anyone today. I think he tried four time to say something to answer my question and each time he would start and then would get to a point where he struggled – he was able to finish his whole thought on the last try. He said, “My day has been mostly as an individual.” Although when I checked the guest book, Alison had been there visiting with him for about 45 minutes just about an hour earlier from when I got there.
"I tried to get him to talk to me about what it was like at mid-shipmen's school. He started off to answer with some thought hanging and finally said, “ That was so many years ago it is hard for me to remember--well, I remember but it is hard to recall.” He did say that it was different than pilot school in that in mid-shipman’s school they spent more time in the classroom.
"I shared with him some things about Louise’s plans while she will be in PA and told him I would miss her and that it will be the longest period of time she and I will have been apart in almost 28 years. He said that I most likely will manage. I told him that I was planning on coming over to visit with him more while she is gone. He said, “That will be good, that will be good.” Dad was alert and happy, he was glad to see me, he held my hand during the whole visit. He did say, “Oh, your hands are cold.”
"I noticed he had eaten almost everything on his plate from dinner or the dog or the cat cleaned it up for him. [Actually, it was me, Alison--I hadn't had any dinner, so I finished what Dad left on his plate.] Both of his fluids were mostly gone and he did not request any more drink or snacks while I was there.
"He again expressed a desire to have family members read to him from some of the books he read to the family years ago. Lucy found some of those books – maybe she can either gather them together for me to take over or she can help me post the list of titles in the blog for others to find and bring to read from their own collections of books.
"As I was leaving Dad I gave him a hug and a kiss, and I told him I loved him, and as always he replied, “You know how much I love you too.” Thank you all for everything you all have done – even though I too desire that Dad will comfortably die and continue on his journeys – I am ever so thankful for his love of me personally and I feel a wonderful strength from him that supports me in all that I do – just as I am sure all of you do. I give thanks to our Father in Heaven for allowing me to be part of his life and all of your lives. I am a much better person because of you all. May the Lord bless us all as we help make life and dying a time of joy and love for Papa Daddy."
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