Update on Dad 10-17-10

Hello Everyone,

I wasn't able to talk to Dad tonight, but luckily, I have information from a couple of other sources to report on:

My brother, John, has been so busy with his work that he's been unable to visit Dad recently, but he told me that his wife, Elaine, and her mother, Marian Monson--a dear friend of many years--visited Dad and found him much the same as he's been.

My brother Alan's daughter Beth and her husband, Rick, and their five kids visited recently. (This is as reported to John by Alan). Dad was eating a meal when they came, and after Rick introduced the kids--who love their Papadaddy so much, he seemed to lose interest, and he didn't even appear to realize that they had come to visit him. I'm sure that was a disappointment to all of them!

I phoned Beth and Rick with a suggestion for next time, but I just had to leave it on their voice mail: next time, plan a little 5-minute "program" for him, where the kids sing a song, give him a picture they've drawn, sing another song or two, and say goodbye. I explained that Dad can't really hold up his end of an interaction anymore--at least not consistently. I do hope they'll try again.

Christie (my sister in Pittsburgh) told me she spoke to Dad a week ago, and that Bob, our sister Lucy's husband, was there, so they had a three-way conversation. She thought Dad was more comfortable with that kind of conversation--as we've noticed before. She said he actually made a comment himself at one point in the conversation. When I pressed her for details, she said that was it really, but she clearly enjoyed the conversation and felt Dad was enjoying it also and was more engaged and aware than last time they talked.

When I phoned tonight, the nurse explained to me that Bob had just left after a very short visit because Dad kept falling asleep. The nurse didn't feel like it would be a good time to try to get him into his wheelchair and out into the hall where they have to take him so their cordless phone will work. I agreed with her but was sorry not to get to talk to Dad or tell him my stories about my grandson jumping into a pile of leaves and showing off for the web chat with my son-in-law's family. Christine says he loves to see himself on the computer screen and gets very hyper--"high as a kite" as Dad would say!

Thanks to all of you for your love and interest in my Dad, and I'll sign off for the night.