It's Almost A Month Already?

Wow, I can't believe almost a month has passed since I last posted. Guess that shows how little time I've had for me.

There isn't a whole lot that has happened, but at the same time, I still feel like I'm meeting myself coming and going - does that make sense?

Both Suze and David are doing fine now. Terry is finally home from the hospital. He had been released two days before Thanksgiving only to have to return on Thanksgiving day. Seems that after a lot of dragging their feet, the doctors finally discovered that he had a infection near his lung and a lot of fluid build up also near the lung. After several weeks they finally got him on some powerful antibiotics, and drained most of the fluid. I believe he is doing well now.

We had to hospitalize my Dad just over a week ago. He was severely dehydrated, anemic, at times incoherent and his blood sugar was over 600. They gave him two units of blood and some antibiotics along with the regular drip stuff. The doctor suspects that there is some internal bleeding and I suspects because my Dad refused all the tests that they wanted to do. Well, I shouldn't say he refused the tests, he refused the prep kits! Guess it's kinda the same thing though. He is now back in the assisted living facility and we are trying to keep a close eye on him, that he eats his meals and drinks fluids. It seems that he has to be reminded to do almost everything. Unless we were to stay there 24/7 it's a almost impossible task. Let me say here, that I could write a book about the downfalls of assisted living facilities, at least here in Alabama. They will assist you with dressing, bathing, clean your apartment (once a week), do your wash and prepare meals. Oh, and give your your med's (pills). Will they go tell him to be sure and test his sugar - NO! (the staff on his wing is doing this even though they are not supposed to). They won't do anything else, like check sugar levels, give shots and the list goes on, much longer than what they will do. All for the low, low price of $2500 a month!!! I think you can tell that I'm finding the "truth" behind the assisted living options. If your healthy and wealthy and just want cleaning and meals done for you, than it's heaven - otherwise forget it!

Anyway, I'm going to visit a VA Home that is not far from here in Bay Minette, AL. I think that if my Dad keeps going on the path he seems to be on, he will be a candidate for a "home" where more is done for the resident. I just hope when I visit that I come away with good feelings. There has been so much bad publicity on nursing homes, particularly VA homes.

Dean had a elevation on one of his blood tests (our annual checkup one) and was referred to a kidney specialist. He feels like the problem is caused from some of the medication that Dean is taking and has taken him off it for two weeks to see if it changes the blood work. Hopefully that will be the answer. Dean has had no symptoms and feels great - as he told the doctor "If I felt any better, I couldn't stand it"! This is his year, as our regular doctor has him scheduled for a colonoscopy. He's been after Dean for the past five years to get on and finally put his foot down this year and said "no choice". That happens next Tuesday. Then our eye doctor wants to do a follow-up with him since his pressure runs a little high. He says that Dean should have glaucoma, but doesn't! I guess when our regular doctors heard that we would be staying here for the winter, they decided to get us while they could. I'm having a bone scan done in February, checking for any bone loss (osteoporosis). Here again, I was supposed to have this done five years ago and the appointment just never came about.

I guess that we were meant to spend the winter here in lower Alabama, but I have to tell you, there are a lot of other places I'd rather be.

I guess that about catches up with us for the past month. Like I said, not a lot new, just staying busy driving between Foley and Fairhope on a almost daily routine. The one day every now and then that we get to stay home is like heaven.

We are going to Montgomery for Christmas with Suze, David and my grand-daughter Morgan. We were going to take my Dad with us, but I don't think that he will be able to make the trip now. He is just to weak. I believe my niece will take him to her house on Christmas day. It's less than a mile away from the assisted living facility.

I doubt that I'll be posting before the new year so....

Wishing you a --Very Merry Christmas and a
Wonderful New Year.