Update on Dad 4-11-10

Hi, Everybody,

Well, it's been a stellar two weeks for me in terms of talking to Dad--I've been able to talk to him three times since I last wrote!

My brother John called me at the beginning of April, and he happened to catch me when I was with my sister Christie, so we both got to talk to Dad briefly. His voice sounded good, he seemed happy and interested in what we were saying.

When we talk to Dad these days, we have to do almost all the talking, so I try to remember things I'm going to want to tell him. I can't now remember what I told him about on that first phone call, probably about going to DC to visit a friend of Christie's, to stay with and visit our brother Alan and his wife, Janice, to go to the temple, and to visit our niece, Britta Schroeder and her family in Harrisburg.

I think Christie told Dad a little about her plans--she and her husband will be taking a number of trips this summer.

Then on Easter, my friend Nancy Valdez phoned me while she and her sister were visiting Dad. I was able to wish him a happy Easter, and Nancy found out through her niece who works at the care facility that it's possible to phone the care center and have them take a phone in to Dad.

So tonight I phoned Dad, and his voice sounded strong, he sounded pleased to hear from me, and enjoyed hearing about my discovery about the nondescript bush in the back yard of our apartment. I usually only see it either from my bedroom window in the basement or from the kitchen window, and I hadn't noticed anything remarkable about it at all, but last week I looked out Christine and Michael's bedroom and saw the bush from above--it's an Eastern dogwood, and it's in bloom! (All the blooms face up, so you don't see them from underneath.)

I was excited to tell Dad about it because years ago, Dad planted an Eastern dogwood in our yard--a bush that's not supposed to grow in Utah's alkaline soil. It's flourished there for many years, and Richard Drollinger who taught biology for many years at the high school used to bring his students to see our Eastern dogwood. Who knows--it may be in bloom now in Utah, just like the dogwood in our backyard!

I also tonight had my grandson, Jeffrey, "talk" to Papadaddy on the phone. Of course he waved to Papadaddy instead of saying hi. I got him to say "Uh-oh," his first word and still a favorite, though "No" is a close second now. Christine got Jeffrey to do his lion roar--a soft little growl, and we got him to make the sound he makes for "tweet, tweet," a soft, high squeaking sound. Dad wasn't able to hear them very well but enjoyed the interaction with Jeffrey.

One of the things we were worried about with Dad going off hospice care was that Medicare won't pay for his variable pressure mattress pad which helps to keep him from getting bed sores, but Martha called me this week to tell that the care facility has decided to purchase a variable pressure pad for Dad to use--we're delighted and again grateful that he's in such a good facility.

Thanks to all who care about Dad and to all who let me know you're reading my blog!