Grandpa was out of his mind. He was talking at 90 miles an hour (unusual for him) and was confusing reality with things he was seeing.
Daddy called right after church was over (he'd taken Grandma down to the hospital) and told us that we were probably losing Grandpa. We left immediately after some of us (Katherine and I) scarfed down some lunch. As many of you know, we go to church an hour and a half away. It took us two hours to get to the hospital because it is about 30 minutes from where we live. (The local hospital stinks. No one goes there unless they can help it.)
Anyway, when we got there, Grandpa was talking and he never let up the entire time we were there. I massaged his tummy for at least an hour. The massage was intended to help push the gas out of his insides. I don't know if I did any good but I stood there and rubbed :)
When dealing with a person who is sundowning, you must play along with them. Pretend that you can see whatever it is that they imgine they see. I got told yesterday that I wasn't a genuis or super-smart (suprise!). Poor Grandpa didn't know what on earth he was talking about and he didn't mean some of what he said. I got to laugh with him over silly stuff...that made it all worth it.
At one point he had to unrinate and I asked my uncle if he'd hold the jug. I've never done that part of the process before and I didn't see why with two men in the room I ought to have to. I would have if one of the uncle's hadn't done it. I found it interesting that the uncle who hates hospitals (and I think is terrified of old age and death) was the one who got up and held the jug.
Grandpa has an infection in his lungs, the obstuction in his bowel is still there, and they continue to pump his stomach. Mama and Daddy were to have a meeting with hospice people at 1:00. I have no idea how that went, but I will find out when they come home.  Today
...I got my 'interview' with Mr. Hendry transcibed. (Did that take long enough or what?!) I rather hope that when we shoot the real interview that he won't say 'um' quite so much. The man certainly has an interesting voice and way of speaking, so I trust it won't be boring.
And now I'm ready for my supper...seee ya!
Racheal
Ladies and gentlemen...Grandpa is very ill. When he was taken to the hospital on Thursday (or was it Wednesday?), we all just assumed that the medication he had been on was still somewhat in his system and making him unreasonable. That and the fact that we figured he was dehydrated as he wasn't drinking much at all and he had diarrhea pretty bad. The next thing we know, we have been told that he has an obstruction in his small intestine and stage four colon cancer and that he might have as little as just days left.
Last night and this morning, Grandpa had a bowel movement. That could be a good sign, but I'm not going to jump up and down until we have any better information. They gave him at least three x-ray's yesterday and so far one today (that I know of). Daddy is real put out with the doctor (as if I could blame him) for not giving up information before he left for the weekend.
Katherine and I went down with Mama to see him yesterday. He was sleepy and it seemed like every time he went to sleep someone would come in and wake him up. Because he was so sleepy he wasn't the clearest of mind. However, I didn't get the impression that he was sundowning. At one point a lady (nurse of some sort I think) came in looking for another gentleman (who was sharing the room with Grandpa). He wasn't there at the time and so the lady asked Grandpa if he was this other gentleman. Without skipping a beat, Grandpa said, "No, I'm George." (NOT!!) I said something to the effect of "GRANDPA!" (with a large grin of course, I know the old man and his silliness of this sort) and he laughed a little and admitted that he wasn't George, but neither was he the other guy. I hope the lady didn't get too confused, but it's something you have to put up with working around old men...they like to tease the nurses ;)
At the times when I wasn't in the room, I looked at magazines, read part of a newpaper, watched TV (did you know that info-mericals can be an hour long??), and did a puzzle with Katherine. I also evesdropped on other waiting room occupents conversations and tried not to look like I was listening. Somehow I don't think that that one group would really have minded in the least.
Racheal
Grandfathers--plural, that is. I've been with both today :) I helped get Grandpa to his easy chair this morning and then once again dressed and out the door for a doctor's appointment. A funny incident happened at that point. I was behind him and between him and the 'co-pilot' chair and he said something like "I have to sit down." Well, Mama and I were trying to keep him on his feet for another minute or two and I thought he was going to continue standing. Anyway, he ended up sitting on my lap! It was hilarious!!! Poor Grandpa was so sleepy he didn't really get it, but it really was funny. I was suprised that he didn't feel heavier than he did.
I took Granddaddy his lunch and he actually talked a little bit! I asked him, "Is it supposed to rain?" He looked out the window for a minute then kind of chuckled and said, "They tell you one thing one day and the next something else...It's not supposed to rain Thursday or Friday..." There was a little more, but I don't remember what it was. I do know that he ate his entire lunch minus two slices of red pepper that I ate. (He had left the table already and I knew he didn't want them.)
In just a few minutes I have to head over and feed him supper. He's got some rice over there, so I'm going to take the remaining egg in the house, along with some more red pepper, and his tea over to his house. Once there I will warm up the rice and cook the egg.
So, see ya later alligators! (And I'll go ahead and respond for you: After 'while, crockadile!) *grin*
Racheal
The day started before I was done reading my Bible, eaten my breakfast, or washed my hair. I might as well add, before I was properly dressed. I had just finished my coffee and was part way through Ezekiel 20-something, when Katherine poked her head in my door and said something like, "Mom's calling you." Now, Mom calling me at that time of day, right after her cell phone rang means one thing--head for the RV! I did and I saw why as soon as I got there. Grandpa was semi on his knees beside the bed (I still don't know how or why exactly he was in that highly uncomfortable position.) Mom got the gait belt on him and we heaved. Nothing. I was in a bad position for the attempt and I decided I'd be much more useful if I grabbed his legs and shoved while Mom picked up and pulled his torso. It worked that time. Next he needed help rolling over. (This not eating, drugged like situation has not been good for him.) Then he was laying on his arm. So I grabbed ahold of him and picked him up enough for him to get it free. After that we got him sat up and a pair of shorts on him. I had to do some lifting then too.
Mama went and got him half a mug of chicken broth. He drank all of it, but it took some prodding to get it all down. She then asked him if he'd like a slice of toast with some butter on it. He didn't say no, so she headed to the house to get it ready. (Daddy fixed an egg to go with it.) I attempted to get him to get up and walk to the table, but he didn't want to try until Mom came back. When she got back, I helped him up by hauling on the gait belt and I hung there until he was safely deposited at the table. He walked fine until he got even with the fridge and then he started leaning on it and things got kinda cockeyed. Anyway, he got in his seat and ate the egg, the toast, and half a banana.
Lunch time: He ate most of an omelette. The time: About 2:10 p.m.
The Place: The Motor Home
The grandaughter, with her hair piled on top of her head like a beehive, arrives to check on her grandpa and see if he is getting ready for his doctor's appointment. Her grandma is getting ready to attempt to help him out of his damp shorts and into a 'Depend'. Realizing this is no time to be squeemish, the girl continues in and pitches into the activity. Afterall, her grandmother is incapable of lifting the man, nor should she even attempt it. Indeed, it was the girl that put the 'Depend' on her grandpa, modestly keeping her eyes on his feet. Four times, the girl hauled him to his feet before the dressing stage was done. As the power was out in the motor home, the A/C wasn't on and it was hot. The grandpa was red-faced and hot, so she gave him his root beer and he drank some of that.
Shortly thereafter, her mother arrived, "Is Racheal out here?" "I'm here!" the girl stated, "I figured I might as well come out and make sure he was dressed." "Good, I was hoping you were here..." A few minutes later, the job of getting the older gentleman out the door and into the car commenced. First, they got him on his feet and coached him in his walking to the 'co-pilot' seat at the front of the RV. Then the mother went and got the car while the grandaughter attempted to get him to move himself from the co-pilot chair to the lift seat. That eventually happened, but it took two people and some bullying from the girl's part. [Actually, it wasn't bullying. I was on the chair on my knees and I refused to move and basically forced him to hold his own and get his bottom over the lift seat before I let him down.] Her mother went to go talk to her mother (the girl's grandma). Meanwhile, the young woman squoze out between the seat, the lift, and the door jam so she could lower her grandpa out the door.
Once down, he performed well, only getting rather weak and wobbly at the car. The girl shoved him at just the right time to get him on the seat. Then she put his feet in and buckled him in, closed the door and wandered off so her grandma wouldn't have to worry about hitting her with the car (or vice versa). Such is life. Honestly though, it can be somewhat draining standing around in a hot RV trying to get your grandpa to get up and not convince himself that he needs to sit down. Usually, he can hold on longer than he thinks he can and at times I push him to do so. Live and learn...I have learned how to deal with old people and hopefully how to age and how not to age gracefully. I've also learned not to be as squeemish as I used to be (not that I was ever really squeemish, but the idea of putting underpants on my grandpa is something I would have recoiled at a couple years ago.) I've learned not to let little noises and smells bother me, to be blunt with him when needed (brutally honest at times), to be patient (most of the time--I'm probably more patient with my "old folks" than with anyone else--besides small children), and to down right ignore some stuff that otherwise would drive me nuts. (aka--the bickering and sharp wit)
Oh, and I wasn't kidding about the beehive... Racheal
No, I haven't exactly been AWOL....
I came down with a cold on Wednesday and spent the next four days propped up in bed reading mysteries and writing a story (which isn't finished yet.) I like reading mysteries when I don't feel good. Normally I grab an Agatha Christie off the shelf, but I think I may have read them all already (at least the ones down here). So I read three Dorthy Sayers instead. Lord Peter Whimsy is a interesting character. I like Bunter--his valet--even though he normally doesn't feature very prominately.
Yesterday we stayed home from church because three of us were sick (Daddy, Momma, and I--Savannah has it this morning.) It was probably the oddest Lord's Day ever. (I've said that before...) Really though, we didn't get around to listening to a sermon until afternoon! I spent a majority of the day writing that little story (I don't know if is falls under the 'short' story category or not really.)
Katherine made a very wise observation yeserday afternoon: "It is providential that you got sick because otherwise we wouldn't have been here yesterday or today." It's true to...Saturday had been planned as a Church cleaning day--it got canceled due to the sickness in this family. Saturday, Grandpa was throwing up and not well. Since we (leave me out--I didn't know what was going on until 1 or so) were home, we (everyone else) was able to take care of him. Daddy was on and off the phone with a nurse all day...the ladies coaxed food and drink into Grandpa...etc. Mama thinks that the Prilosec which he was given for his ulcer (they found that on Tuesday during his upper GI endoscopy) was reacting with his Gleevec (for his cancer). Now he is acting like he's going through withdraw--even though he was only on the drug for three days! (He was taken off the Prilosec, by the way.) I hate drugs...
Daddy and I will go down to where my horse around 11:30 because Matt (the wonderful pro horse trainer who has helped me some--he is a great teacher) is coming out to worm Snip. (Last time he was wormed was the very day I broke my wrist--also Pearl Harbor Day.) Daddy doesn't feel so good today, but he wants to learn how to do it. Snip has gotten somewhat more ornery this winter--he's got to quit it. I plan on talking to Matt about getting the bit into Snip's mouth (how do I retrain him to stop acting an idiot about it!) and the slide stop business. (I'm tired of damaging myself trying to teach him to slide in on his back feet.) Maybe once I'm all over this cold I can ride this week--we'll see :)
Racheal P.S. CHECK OUT KATHERINE'S BRAND NEW BLOG!!!
|
RSS Feed
