Weekend Whirlwind

On Saturday morning, the weekend helper from Ray of Sunshine service called to say she would not be out because her daughter was in the ER.   We have arranged to have Hospice come each morning Monday thru Friday to get Dad up, but we will pay to have a helper come on Saturday and Sunday.  Mom got Dad up and dressed, but she was still sick with stomach flu that started on Friday.  Amanda rode the train from OKC to Gainesville and Audrey headed south to Dallas.  Mom spent part of the day in bed so you KNOW she was sick!

On Sunday morning, Tammy from Ray of Sunshine Sitters came.  Dad woke up about 6 am saying he was cold.  The electric blanket had quit on Dad's side, so Mom moved him to her side.  When Dad woke up, he was confused and did not know how to get up from the other side of the bed.  Mom got Dad up and dressed before Tammy came, but she was still very sick with the stomach flu - nausea and vomiting.  Dad cannot comprehend that Mom is sick.  Because Mom was so sick and really needed rest, we decided to take Dad back to the care center.  Jordan, Amanda and I drove him in around 4 pm.  Dad was not happy to be there and could not understand why he was there, or even understand Mom was sick.  It was difficult leaving him there.  Jordan and Amanda went back to OKC Sunday evening.

Monday morning Mom felt much better - amazing what a little rest can do.  She slept well and later that usual.  The Hospice helpers came about 9:30 because they had not received the message that Dad was at the care center.  Jamai and Pat both came in the morning.  Around lunch time, the care center called.  Dad had been asking over and over about how Mom was, so he talked to her on the phone.  He thought he had been there 4 days and wanted to come home.  The hospice helpers went to the care center and gave Dad a shower and clean clothes.  Mom, Pat, and Jamai went in and picked Dad up in the afternoon.  Dad is still very confused and does not seem to understand most things going on around him. Jamai, Jake, and Bonnie were here for dinner.

Pat and Jamai worked on creating a calendar to spread the family visits. You can visit the Google calendar and see when someone is going to be at the Ranch.  Our hope is to have someone here almost every day to assist Mom, but not a huge number of people at once.  Although Mom does not require help, it is nice to have someone around to help with the little things Dad needs.  He spends most of his day in his chair in front of the fire and has frequently been refusing to eat or come to the table.  There is not much interaction since he can't hear well and is confused easily.  He has had the Sundown effect with agitation and repeating the same thing over and over around sundown.  Usually it revolves around Philip coming to feed.  Dad goes thru the instructions for getting the feed, placing the sacks in the back of the pickup, using a knife to open the sacks, etc.  Dad always says he will drive the pickup and we need to round up some boys to help.  He thinks he has 300 head of cattle instead of 25.