Summary of the Week

We've had a busy week, so I will try and summarize for everyone to get caught up.

Was getting ready for work Monday morning, and mom called about 7:00.  They had been up for several hours, and dad hadn't been able to pee.  Was in a lot of pain.  Because of the weather and fog, told her to call 911, and I would meet her at the hospital.  Dad was in sooo much pain when I got there, they hadn't put in a catheter yet.   He was doubled over on the hospital and shivering like crazy.   We left the room when they put the catheter in, and that gave him a ton of relief.   All of the tests on his kidneys and urine came back good, so the doc's thinking was dad probably had a swollen prostate and to leave the cath in for a few days, then got to his personal physician and get it taken out.

We took dad home in the afternoon, and got him settled on the couch.   Showed mom how to drain the catheter bag, and then Eric stopped by that evening.   He got dad settled in bed, then returned Tuesday morning.   Dad has had a tough time making it to the bathroom, so Eric showered him and got him cleaned up.   Ann came down that afternoon, and stayed for a few days.   She took dad to his doc on Wednesday, and the cath was taken out.   Dad didn't start going to the bathroom until later Wednesday evening, but at least could go on his own.

BUT - apparently, his innards are pretty sensitive, because he has been going a lot.   Ann left on Thursday, and mom was sad to see her go.   Friday wasn't a good day at all.  Mom said dad was mean, kept having accidents, and she was really on edge.   Eric and I both talked with her last night, and told her to just let him sit on his couch, and try to get him to bed later.   She did, and they had a good night until about 5:00 this morning.   Dad suddenly got out of bed, and was urinating on the bedroom floor.  Wouldn't let mom help him, was yelling at mom, and she called Eric.   When Eric got there, dad was sitting on the bed in his wet clothes.   Eric got him to the shower, but dad clenched his fists at him a couple of times and Eric was preparing to get smacked, but it didn't happen.  Got him showered, and ended up putting an adult diaper on him, just in case.   Tucked him back in bed, and dad slept for a few more hours.   I headed up about 8:30, and when I got there, Eric had just cleaned up from cooking them breakfast.  Dad was in his usual spot, and mom was pretty rattled.   We talked to her about getting a nurse in at night to help, and she is very resistant to this.  Told her that we aren't always going to be able to come over, and if Eric is out of town, as he will be soon, I am too far away.   Went to the store for her, and we both hung out until this afternoon.   Mom is pretty down on herself.  Feels guilty that she can't take are of dad, and that she gets upset.  I told her this is like anything else in life - you do the best you can do at the time, and she has done really good.  Dad has deteriorated a lot in the last 2-3 weeks, and mom just can't do it anymore.   She agrees, but still feels bad.  I did call the place and told them if a shared room opened up first, we would take that.   If he gets in a shared room first, he will be able to get to a private room when it opens up.

A nurse.....Deb and Eric have a friend who is a nurse and she is not working right now.  She would love to help.   Thinking she could go in from 7-10 each morning, then 7-10 at night.  This is when the worst times are, and it would help mom a ton.  Mom is still very hesitant, but agreed to meet her.  She could start Monday.   Eric is bringing them to dinner at his house tomorrow, and she will go over and meet them.  I think once she tries it for a few days, she will like it  It's just getting used to the fact that there is some help there.   It will only be until a spot opens up at Chancellor.  Hopefully, we will get a call in the next week or so.  You never know.  We are about 10 days behind....had we gotten on a list a little earlier, he would have been in there by now.  However, mom wasn't quite ready to do it, and we all get that.    Just hope a spot opens up soon.  At night, at least for now, it will be best to have dad in the adult diaper.  Never thought we'd be saying dad and adult diaper in the same sentence.

Mom needs all the support she can get now, so if you have some time, give her a call.