Update on Dad 5-22-11

Hi, All,

Today I have a report on the same conversation from my brother-in-law Bob Nickelson and from my brother Alan, and a report on my brief conversation with Dad tonight.

Bob phoned me last Sunday night after his weekly visit with Dad. He reported that Dad was very hard to wake up. Bob kept rubbing his arm until Dad finally was awake enough to visit. Bob reminded Dad that my brother Alan and his wife Janice are getting ready to leave on a mission to Brazil. Bob commmented that Alan would really appreciate a chance to talk with Dad.

Both Alan and Bob reported much of the conversation, with Dad sounding quite lively and participating in the conversation. Alan said that Dad kept saying to him, "Your voice sounds so good!" Bob reported that Dad laughed a couple of times as Alan talked to him.

At one point as Alan was describing what he was working on, Dad said, "I wish I could be there to help you," indicating that Dad was aware at least in that moment of what was going on.

Dad replied to Alan's message of love by saying, "We love everyone too." Bob wondered if he was sending love from himself and Mom--as he's done countless times throughout his life.

I told Bob that I thought he'd kind of warmed Dad up for the conversation with Alan, and I think his visitors tonight warmed him up for his conversation with me.

When I phoned and heard voices in the background, Dad agreed he had visitors, but I didn't ask who they were, assuming that Dad wasn't sure. He tried to tell me about some kind of family event coming up, but he couldn't complete his thought, so I wasn't sure what it was about. Dad sounded enthusiastic about whatever it was.

He told me he was doing, "very well, very well." I mentioned that I'd sent some baby pictures to my sister Martha, but he didn't think he'd seen them yet. I told him that Evelyn is smiling and cooing now, and he gave one of his stock responses.

I told him that when we come home from a ride in the car, I say to Jeffrey, "To market, to market to buy a fat pig; home again, home again . . " when I pause, Jeffrey will often supply the last line, "jiggity jig." I then say the second verse, "To market, to market to buy a fat hog; home again, home again," and Jeffrey adds, "jiggity jog." Dad chuckled. I told Dad it made me think of him--he'd often say when we arrived home, "Home again, home again, jiggity jig." Dad said he was pleased that I was thinking of him.

I told him Jeffrey's a little confused by "jiggity jig" and "jiggity jog"--"but why do they say those funny words?" Dad chuckled when I did--aware when I got to the punchline!

I told Dad that Christine and Michael would be coming to visit him in June and bringing the kids and that I'd come to visit in July. He responded that he was especially excited by those coming to see me. I'm not sure if he was confused about what I was saying about the visit or if this is his continued confusion about where I am.

When I said, "We'll be coming to see you," He said, "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

I sent love from me and the rest of the family here, and he said goodbye and sent love to us.

It was a good conversation, with Dad participating more that he often does. It's so nice to have those moments!

Thanks for reading, everyone, and thanks for caring about Dad.

Alison

Update on Dad 5-8-11

Hello, Everybody,

Tonight I have a report from my own short conversation with Dad and from my sisters Lucy and Martha.

I told Dad that the new baby, Evelyn, was smiling a lot, and he gave one of his stock responses, "Oh my."

I told him a story about my grandson, Jeffrey, that was longer than I realized it would be, but he did seem to enjoy it. I told him I'd forgotten how unanswerable toddler's questions are. (I had to tell him that there had been a royal wedding in London, and that I'd shown Jeffrey a picture of a footman.) Jeffrey asked, "Why ARE they footmans?" Dad chuckled.

I told Dad that I would be coming to see him in July, and he said he'd look forward to that. (I tell him every time we talk because he doesn't remember.)

Dad had to ask me to repeat myself several times--he was having a hard time hearing me.

For the first time, when I told Dad I loved him and sent love from the rest of the family here, he didn't send love back, just said he it was good to talk to me, and we said our goodbyes.

When I told Lucy that Dad seemed less responsive tonight, she said he's seemed tired and not very responsive to her or to her husband, Bob. But she said Bob can often interest Dad in pictures on his smart phone. Lucy said, however, that after a visit where Dad seemed tired and not up for much conversation, as Bob was leaving, Dad said, "Hope you have a good week at school"--indicating that Dad knew he was talking to Bob, a school teacher.

Lucy recently took Dad drawings sent from her daughter Britta's girls. She said Dad appreciates them even if he's not sure who the pictures are from.

Lucy also mentioned again how much the staff appreciate Dad because he's so good-natured and easy to deal with.

Martha told me that recently when she and her husband and daughter Emily visited Dad in the morning, when John and his family visited later in the day, Dad told him that Martha and family had visited earlier in the day--a surprise to us all that he remembered for that long!

Of course it's hard to know if Dad's fading more in general or just having a slow time for now. I think that I'll know better when I'm there to visit, but I may be able to tell and may not.

Thanks for reading!

Alison