Stuff

It has been 8 months since my dad came to live with us. 8 MONTHS! He has no idea. It's not like I hide the calendars. They are all over the place. It's not like we never talk about what the month is, or the day, or the weather, or activities that are coming up that day...we just talk in the moment, and that is where he is. He's having a good old time right now watching the Diamondbacks on TV. Between him and Tom, it's loud out there!

I've started the work towards having my dad stay somewhere for a month during the summer. My first choice doesn't take any temporary residents in the area where he would need to be. Darn. My next choice is close to our house, like a mile and a half, and I am playing phone tag with the powers that be. I better keep playing phone tag too. It's not that far away from July and I certainly don't want to hear, "we are all filled up." So on my list to do...call Sunrise Senior Living center every day until I get hold of whoever it is I'm supposed to get hold of!

The caregiver is working out very nicely! She is very conscientious and really wants to do well. And she is. She continues to engage my dad in games, talking, and they even went for a walk yesterday. Yeah! She has done my towels, dishes, floors, and I came home yesterday to find all the laundry done. Amazing! :) And - my daughter's dogs are here visiting for a few days and she really seemed to enjoy them. I'm so glad! My dad just loves them. He pets them and yells at them and talks sweetly to them too "oh yes, you are a good dog. oh yes, you are. I love you too but you have to stop licking me!"

The warmer weather has started my dad scratching again. Again and more. He gets these open sores from his scratches. When I get my box of fixin's for it, he says, "I didn't even know that was there!" (the sore) So I clean and bandage. Sometimes he has bandages on his head, neck, arms, ankles...and then I have to be sure to get those clothes away from him (we haven't been fast enough the last 3 days and he has worn the same outfit) as they are yucky!!! After the bandages, we get out the manacure kit and clean under his nails (he does this by himself). I trimmed his nails tonight. I must not be too careful, but I do try to be, because he jumps and yells like I am trying to cut off his fingers! Tomorrow night...wish me luck on the toenails. That is always fun!