Dad spent a lot of the day sleeping. Even slept right through one of four daily breathing treatments. He gets a mask put over his nose and mouth for a few minutes, apparently with a bronchial dilator. Even so, there is some concern about his lungs; he’s just not exercising very much and it is often difficult to get him to do the deep breathing necessary. The morning nurse Megan today told me he should be using the little ball and pipe affair about 10 times an hour. An x-ray or similar of his lungs was performed this afternoon, but we didn’t know the results when Heather left after supper.
Helen Brown left a wonderful card for Dad. Visitors, please look for it because it is lots of fun. Thanks so much Helen. And good times, Fred, now that you are retired!
Heather and Joan kept Dad company for the evening “meal” and apparently he was a bit more talkative with them than he’d been with me. They got him up, too.
The afternoon nurse was Jill, who’d I’d gone to school with at good old Main during its Junior High days. We appreciate the good and friendly staff.
–Chena
Just keeping track. Hope there’ll be some gain coming. Love, Harry
Sunday wasn’t too much different. Except we heard that his lungs don’t show pneumonia, just not getting a lot of inflation lately. Tell that to George W!
But speaking of inflation, I remember one of Dad’s elections was during years of inflation. Kevin Harun was doing the university work, and promoted an “Inflation Fighter” chili feed (real cheap) which true purpose was a Meet Niilo deal. I still have tickets to that one. Sure was fun, even if I usually hated elections. Elections were almost as bad as hospital stays…not being able to predict the future, signs up and down, lotsa talk and no action some days. People often commented that Dad didn’t seem too upset or worried during elections…he let others do the worrying and things turned out some way or another.
So Dad did a little bit of talking today, but not much walking when Joan and Chena were there early afternoon. He said his toe hurt, and the nurse said it might be gout. I couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not.
Less coughing and congested lungs today when we visited, and as reported by the nurse. Most signs are good. Not a bunch of forward motion, though. Maybe it is time to bring in the Finnish music, put headphones on, and get this guy in gear!
-Chena
Dad said he would like some Finnish music, but my little CD player doesn’t work. I think one of those Take-Along-On-Your-Walk types with earphones would be good.
Also, Dad’s left big toe hurt a couple of times while I was there, too – without being bumped. We should have them check for gout, as a painful big toe is the classic symptom of gout.
On another note, diet is progressing to soft solids again: I’ll bring some blueberry yogurt for him. -Heather
Other times I gently squeezed Dad’s toe and it didn’t hurt. If he had gout, he would have yelped!
hk