Update on Dad 10-31-10

Hi, All!

Well, I struck out again tonight--Dad was sound asleep when I called. This time I asked the worker when would be a better time to call, so I'm hoping to manage to speak to Dad next time I call.

I do have reports from Christie, from John, and from Dave (Martha's husband).

When my sister Christie called Dad last Sunday, she found him "quite chipper." Rather than just clicking his teeth in response to what she said, he said things like, "Oh, yes," and "Oh, my." Christie felt he was tracking what she was saying more than he has been and says he was in good spirits.

My brother John wrote me a long report about a recent visit with Dad:

Elaine and I went to see Dad last evening and he was more involved in the conversation and more animated than I've seen him in quite some time. He was gesturing (slapping his forehead at something ridiculous-sounding; reaching up to his glasses and resetting them to indicate a kind of "Hmmm" notion) much more than of late. We felt like it was more of a two-way conversation than we'd had in many months.

We were mostly talking about preparations for [their daughter] Lisa's wedding [in December] and he was very clear on what we were talking about. When we mentioned Lisa's in-laws-to-be, Elaine said she'd been very lucky in that regard. Dad said he felt the same way--and repeated it (out of context) just as we were leaving. It was a good visit.

When Martha got there for her recent visit, Dad was listening to a BYU assembly broadcast and she said he was attending to it and apparently following it. 

Dad's had problems with his catheter recently, so a urologist recommended that he get a permanent one. Apparently one of the advantages is less pain. He had the surgery this past week, and here's Dave's report about it:

The surgery [Monday morning] went very well, and Dad was fairly lucid before and after surgery.  We were with him from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  His surgery began about 11:30 a.m., and he was done by about 1:15 which included a 45 minute period in recovery.  Then, we waited with him until 3:30 when the Care Center van came to pick him up and take him back to Springville.

I read many excerpts to him from Opera Antics & Anecdotes, by Stephen Tanner.  It has some wonderful humor which Dad responded to very well.  We had a great visit.  Martha had to cancel her oboe lessons, but that's what was needed.

Dad still doesn't quite understand what the surgery was all about, what it was for, and forgets our explanations (quite a few) about two minutes after each time we or the nurse explained it to him.

While being with him, my mind was filled with many wonderful experiences we have had together over the years.  I can't imagine (I know, I'm  prejudiced) anyone having a greater and more loving, caring father-in-law.

Anyway, the deed is done.  He came through it in real style.

Tonight when I phoned, I asked the staff member how Dad's been doing with the new catheter. She said he had some pain the first couple of days, but since then he's been doing better with the new catheter.

Thanks for reading, everybody!