Sunday August 15, 2010

Wow Sunday already the days are running together for me.
Between going to Quincy to see Dad and work it is all beginning to be a big blur.
Here are some shots from today. They had put him to bed for the night by the time I got down there at 6:00 pm.
I had just washed off his face and cleaned his eyes off from all the sleep build up and gunk. Dad ate about 50 % of his food tonight not as much as he has been eating it seems his appetite is slowing down. here are his vitals from this evening I will have to type them as the nurse wrote them I know some of you will understand. 124/76 - 76 - 20- 98.4 she said his blood pressure is up from yesterday. his weight is 152.6.

Haspice commented on how Dad is still declining. He can no longer straighten his legs when he is laying down. I was going to take a picture of this but in order to show you I would have to remove his covers and he is so skinny it makes me cry. I felt that none of you would really like to see that.

Both hospice and the Nurses say it is a day to day with dad. even meal to meal. We do not know.

Just keep praying for him to have peace and comfort. He wants you all to know he loves you and you are just fine. That is what he told me. it took him a while to get it all out but he did. I think sometimes when he is 1/2 asleep like he was he talks a little better. probably because he is talking more from his sub conscience than when he is awake.

Any way I hope you are all well I love and miss you all Jo Ellen

sorry

Sorry I have not updated in a few days. Yesterday I was sick so I did not go and see dad. I have to work today and tomorrow so I will not be able to see him till Sunday. but will post on Sunday Love you all.

August 9, 2010

Hell everyone!!!

Today has been a hard day on me but yet good in many ways. I did not get down to see Dad till about 3:15 pm he was still in bed for his nap but awake and coughing. He was coughing quite a bit actually. after about 1/2 hour they came in to get him out of bed to get ready for his dinner. even though he does not eat dinner for at least 2 hours after they got him up. he has the 2nd. round of trays. the first round are self feeders and he is not a self feeder.

I spent much of my time with dad today just singing to him and telling him how much we all love him. and talking about how he was such a good dad to all of us. Holding his hand. he spoke a few words I understood mostly the word NO to the nurses and aids. He had a piece of dried food on his chin so I was trying to get it off and he said "ouch damn it". I said you swore and he kind of got a very little smirk on his face. it was so funny.

I found out today that they have been thickening Dads liquids for the last 2 weeks. This is something Dad and I had discussed long ago and he did not want it. he wanted to to have nothing to prolong his life no resuscitation no artificial means of life support no medications or thickeners or I V's. I must uphold his choices. So I told them to stop thickening them. This conversation was witnessed by Lee.


I do not feel it will be long but no one can give me a definite time frame. They said he could choke on his next meal and be done. Alzheimer's is so unpredictable. All they say is it won't be long. I know this does not help you but I can not give you any other answers.

If you would like to call Dad, the nurses will hold the phone up to his ear so you can tell him whatever you would like. the veterans home number is...... 217-222-8648 extension 402. I know I gave this number to you when he first checked in but thought you might want it again.
you can also call me any time my cell phone number is 217-357-4898 I have it next to me 24/7
If any one feel they need to see him my home is always open and I have room. Otherwise when the time comes and he passes away He will be buried in Kalispell Montana near Mom. His wishes were to have his children at a graveside service with children singing I am a Child of God.
Dawn if you could I would like you to write an obituary for when the time comes-it needs to go to the funeral home so they can put it in the paper. this has been prepaid to them. I will need help with the services so any suggestions and help are welcome.

I hate to talk about this now but the time is now to start these plans. sorry everyone.

I Love you all so much and I pray every day that our family can heal and move forward. I also pray that Heavenly Father will comfort each of you during this time.



P.S. the picture on the top is from today the picture of Jon and Dad is from Friday.

Happy 78th Birthday Dad.

Hello everyone this is a hard one to write. Dad turned 78 today as you all know. Me and Diana, Eric , Nichole and her 4 little ones went down to have cupcakes and ice cream with dad.











He is not doing well this week. He has gone down hill fast these last 2 weeks. He has been choking on everything he eats now, getting liquid into his lungs and who knows what else. I honestly thought that Monday and then again today I we were going to loose him in my arms as he was choking and unable to catch a breath.






Dad is very unresponsive now and today he said maybe 3 words none of which made any sense. he never opened his eyes today while I was there and his mouth most of the time just hangs open. He is very stiff and rigid now it is hard to get him to move or bend anything. like he is a board or something. If you were to ask me he does not have much time left I would say a week or two. acording to Hospice they said once he starts choking on his foods as well as his liquids then it usually is not much longer that they eat or drink anything. it goes down into his lungs and he will get pneumonia and aspirate. I know for a fact he is choking on his foods and liquids the nursed have commented on it as well as I have seen and herd it first hand. I Love you all and will keep you posted. Jo Ellen

Summer and Dad.

Well the summer is flying by to quickly. It has been very hot humid and rainy this year here in the Midwest. Our Family has been very busy with several activities. Eric graduated from High school this year. and has been going to the dentist and doctors appointments getting ready to turn his papers in for his mission.

Don had 3 weeks off of school in June it was nice to have him home for a while. but this semester he is gone 4 days a week instead of 3 so I miss him even more. 1 more semester after this one and he will be done with that part of his schooling. he will have his Baking and pastry degree next is the culinary arts degree. that will only be another 2 years. but he will have his bachelors degree. he is getting strait A's and is loving school. He is already getting job offers this is good. As for me I am working to pay the bills. it is hard to believe Don and I will be empty Nester's all to soon.



Dad's Alzheimer's is progressing little by little. I notice slight changes here and there. He has been running a low grade fever off and on this week (99-100). When I see him he most of the time does not respond much any more. He does like it when I take him out and when I take him to the coffee shop for some Ice cream or a root beer. He tires easily more and more every time I see him. here are some pictures from my last visit. the one shows some spots on his arm. I asked about them and they were not sure how they got there. they did say that he might have hit something. sometimes in the morning he get combative when they are trying to get him out of bed. He is not on any kind of medication that could cause the spots I am going to ask the doctor next time I am down there if they are still there. he is still choking on his liquids so you have to be careful that you do not give him more than a tiny sip. I did notice his hands appear to be curling in more and more. I will get a picture of that my next visit as well.

I hope you are all well I miss you all. Love you all so much. Jo Ellen

Fathers Day 2010

Wow how time flies.

Life here has been crazy we closed our Pizza place in Carthage and are opening in Nauvoo. so life has been crazy need less to say.

Dad is doing ok for the stage of Alzheimer's he is in. He continues to lose a pound here and there and then gain one or two here and there. but mostly he continues to loose. he talks less and less smiles once in a while. He is eating a little better but is chocking on his liquids most of the time now. This is because he is forgetting how to swallow. I tell him how much each of you love him every time I see him. I also tell him thank you for being such a good Dad. He smiled this last time and said thank you. He is still on Hospice car I am so grateful for this it means he gets more baths every week and he has lots of visitors.

Here are some pictures from the past few months of Dad as well as others. There are a few before and after shots of his hair cut.

There is a country song called Daddy's hands that I think of often
part of the chorus goes "Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was crying. Daddy's hand were hard as steal when I've done wrong. Daddy's hands weren't always gentile but I've come to understand there was always Love in Daddy's hands."


I hope all is well with all of you Love you all Jo Ellen

Hello Everyone I am so sorry I have not updated you anything for a while. I am running all day with Census work and the restaurant and visits to Dad that this is the first time I have had a chance to update you.

Dad was at the same stage for a while and there was nothing new to update but in the last month and a half there has been a progression of the disease.

Dad no longer opens his eyes at all and talks very little if at all. usually when I visit he does not respond except to squeeze my hand while I am holding it. once in a while I can get a smile out of him but it is getting less and less.

The Nurses continue to get him out of bed every day and put him in his wheel chair. it is a nice chair that tilts back so he can not fall out.

he is eating less and less all the time. unfortunately they only weigh him once a month so I could not report his weight until today he is down to 152 pounds. that means he has lost 11 pounds this last month.


He continues on hospice care thank goodness. this means he gets bathed every other day as well as visits from them.

I am sorry I have not sent pictures lately because he is so thin he looks awe full. it makes me cry to look at them. If any of you would like a picture I will take one tomorrow when I go down to see him.

We are supposed to have 80 degree weather tomorrow and I want to take him down to the flower garden and help him smell the flowers. He loved that last year.

Well I will write soon until then I hope this finds all of you well and happy.

I truly love and miss you all
Jo Ellen