Update on Dad 6-20-11

Sorry to be late again this week--with Father's Day and my son-in-law's birthday to celebrate yesterday, I wasn't able to write anything.

My report today comes from the weekend nurse who I spoke to briefly last night, from my sister Martha, and from my short conversation with Dad.

The weekend nurse said Dad has been pushing himself around in his wheelchair a lot yesterday. She was pleased because she thought that would tire him out and help him sleep better. Dad was asleep, and the nurse seemed reluctant to wake him, so I tried to accept that I wouldn't get to talk to Dad on Father's Day.

However, when I spoke to Martha, she said Dad's always asleep and she hadn't gotten to visit him any of the times she'd tried during the week, so she'd go to the nursing home and see if they could wake him easily. We agreed that if she could wake him, she'd phone me, so I could talk to Dad.

Martha called me from the nursing home, saying Dad had woken right up.

I was able to tell Dad Happy Father's Day. I told him again that my daughter, Christine, and her family would be coming to see him. He said something like, "Oh, it'll be nice to see them," a bit more than just one of his stock responses.

I hadn't really thought of what to tell him about the grandkids, so I just told him again that Evelyn's very cute and grins and coos. I told him that Jeffrey's intonation is very exaggerated, saying "WHY is EVelyn cryiiiiing?" I didn't get a response until I said something about it being very cute. Dad said, "Oh yes!"

I told him I loved him, and he said he loved me, and I told him I'd be visiting soon. He said he'd look forward to seeing me, and we said goodbye.

I'm sorry I won't be there when he meets Evelyn and sees Jeffrey again, but I hope he's able to be aware enough to enjoy them!

After Dad and I said goodbye, Martha and I spoke for a little longer. She said Dad was having pain around his catheter and that they'd arranged for him to get some pain medication and that she'd have them check the catheter to make sure there wasn't a problem.

Martha said Dad was cheerful and didn't appear to be confused at all about who I was--that's nice to hear!

My next time to blog about Dad is scheduled for July 3. I'll be in Utah then, so I'll try to make sure I let you know what's up either on the 3rd or the 4th.

That's all for this week. Thanks for reading!