Still in Hospital
Dad is still in the hospital, being treated for a bad bladder infection. The illness means he is not thinking clearly, most of the time. Please pray that the antibiotics will take effect as quickly as possible.
Back in the Hospital
Yesterday at the rehab hospital, while my Dad was alone in his room, he tried to get out of bed without assistance. My brother-in-law Andrew found him on the floor, with a bruise above his eye and some cuts elsewhere. We don't know how long Dad was out of bed before Andrew's arrival, but my sister left 2-1/2 hours previous to the discovery. We're talking to the rehab hospital to see when Dad was last seen by an aide or nurse.
After being checked out in the emergency room, Dad was found to have a UTI and low blood pressure, but no broken bones (thank goodness). He was admitted to the hospital, and we're waiting to hear today how he's doing. He's not in pain, and slept peacefully last night.
Conflicting Interests
At the grocery store today, a cashier told me that Chicago will receive 10 inches of snow this weekend.
Oh, no! More cold, slush, and winter!
At the grocery store today, a cashier told me that Chicago will receive 10 inches of snow this weekend.
Oh, good! The kids can earn money by snow shoveling, and pay off some of their debts to us!
I'M NOT OLD
I really do hope to return to regular blog posts. It's been a very unusual school year.
Here's something funny I found on a piece of paper in our house. No telling where it came from.
I'M NOT OLD
I woke up,
I lifted my arms,
I moved my knees,
I turned my neck . . . .
Everything made the same noise:
'CrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccK!'
. . . I came to a conclusion:
I am not old,
I am crispy!
Travel
My sister just returned from a business trip to Germany. Her return flight on Sunday was delayed due to snowy weather (the same storm that hit Chicago last week). But I have to admit--I can think of many worse places to be stranded than Amsterdam!
Whose Fault?
Several weeks ago, we forgot to give ADHD meds to one of the kids, who then got into some very big trouble.
So who is responsible for the discipline problem? The child?
More likely--the parents!
Perspective
When Peter and I visited the Museum of Science and Industry, he received a small packet of Illinois coal. He didn't understand why the museum staff didn't give one to me, too.
"Because I'm not a kid, Peter."
"Yes, you are, Mom. You're a child of God!"
I Think It's Humor
My dad's clarity of thought varies, depending on the day. But sometimes it's hard to tell if he's confused or not.
A few days ago, I asked him if his leg with the large incision was hurting. He told me no, but also said that "a few hours ago, it was really mad!"
The Six-Day "Weekend"
Last Thursday, Peter's school dismissed their students at 11:30 am for parent/teacher conferences in the afternoon. Peter told us that school was also out on Friday for the same reason. We believed him, since this schedule has occurred in the past. On Friday morning, Peter rode with me on the long trip to Naperville to take Paul to work. During the drive, Jonathan telephoned that Peter actually DID have a half-day of school. I got him back for about an hour of class before another 11:30 am dismissal.
On Monday, Chicago celebrated Pulaski Day (a famous Polish-American hero from the Revolutionary War), and most schools did not meet. Jonathan watched Sarah, David, and Peter for most of the day, although I also took a turn. We breathed a sigh of relief that the schedule would finally return to normal.
You guessed it--a snow day on Tuesday.
Winter Storm
It's a winter wonderland here, with about seven inches of snow continuously falling since breakfast time. The trees and bushes are gracefully frosted, and the snow swirls in the air like the snowglobes I loved as a child. Many people complain about this weather, but I just smile to myself and enjoy the incredible beauty.
More About My Dad
I talked to my mother this morning and learned more about the rehab facility. Even though it was not highly recommended, and my mother/sister had to agree since there were no other options, Mom said the staff has been quite good. Other things about the place really bother her, but so far Dad's care has been fine. In the hospital, he developed a bedsore on his foot, but it is now healing.
Rehab Hospital
My dad finally moved to a rehab facility on Thursday. The entire week has been a nightmare for my mother and sister.
My parents have Medicare, secondary health insurance, AND a long-term care policy. Despite all this coverage, they faced numerous roadblocks to finding a rehab bed for my dad. Makes me wonder about all the people who don't have this kind of insurance. Sobering.
No Computer
A word of explanation as to my lack of blogging since the holidays. My computer crashed on December 27, and the church is working on getting it repaired. In the meantime, I'm using Jonathan's computer or the church secretary's. That usually means that only the most necessary things get done, like Sunday bulletins and finances. The good news is that I should get a computer back pretty soon.
