Day 16 of Jim's Recovery

Tonight's post will not be as long as last nights. There isn't much to report tonight, but what I have to report is funny. We are still in limbo with insurances, grants, medicaid, and all the lovely mumbo jumbo that goes with that. So we still do not know where Dad will be. We are told we aren't being rushed out and the same time we are told we need to make a quick decision. We then are told don't worry about moving Dad he will be here for 30 days, and the next we are told he will be moved Monday. So if you would like to go see Dad just send me an e-mail at jimsrecovery@gmail.com and telling me who the heck you are, and how the heck you know Dad! Since my purse was stolen last week I don't trust anyone I can't look in the eyes!! Anyways, I don't want to post his room number because this is a public blog.

So on with my reports for the day. Dad was in one heck of a mood today. He didn't want to do anything. He didn't want to try the puzzles, do the piggy bank, draw, watch t.v., listen to music, nothing. He seemed very frustrated and depressed today. I don't know what else to do to keep him entertained.

On the up side for us, the physical therapists helped Dad to walk today. Yes, that is right I said walk. He did have 3 PT's there to assist and they did need to help him slide his feet. BUT, he walked from the bed across the room to the couch and back again to the bed. Amazing. I didn't get to see it unfortunately, so I can't give you many details.

Dad was talking a lot more today. He is using new sounds and I caught quite a few words he was saying today. The speech therapist came in earlier and worked with Dad identifying numbers and days of the week. Again I wasn't there but Mom said that he pointed to the numbers as they were read and did the same with the days of the week. Huge improvement from yesterday.

The hardest thing with Dad today was that he would not stay in bed. He kept telling me he wanted to go home and when were they going to let him go. He doesn't understand why they are keeping him and his brain is not connecting that he is not well. Dad is getting quite a bit stronger and can sit up and push himself over to the side of the bed. This causes a problem because they no longer want to restrain him because he is too aware but he will try to get out of bed. So they have a movement monitor that will alarm if he moves to get up out of bed.

Basically today Mom and I just tried to keep Dad in bed. He didn't want to get in his wheelchair and was ornery when we asked him if he wanted to go for a ride. Okay, so I'm at the funny part, well I think it's funny. Dad and I used to get in punching wars. He would slap my arm and I'd get him back, each time getting harder and harder. It would always make us laugh or lighten the mood if we were down. With that little bit of history, Dad sat up and moved his legs to the side of the bed to get up. So I ran around to stand in front of him. He glared up at me and said "what? I just want to go." I tried to explain that if he stood up he would fall because his right leg was not working properly. He cussed and said "oh, man I don't mumble, mumble, mumble..." Then he looked down at his leg and with his left foot tried to kick me several times! They obviously weren't hard kicks and I was tickled pink to see him try. I laughed "Are you kicking me? Oh, bring it on Dad. Go ahead do it again." He just looked up at me then sat back on the bed. This seemed to lighten his mood and he relaxed for a minute.

I then started massaging his feet and he closed his eyes. I also started humming "Swing Me." After awhile Mom came in and that reminded Dad he wanted to get up so he sat up again and moved his legs to the side of the bed. Again, I stood in front of him, and again he asked me "why." So I knelt down so I could look up at him and tried to explain again why he couldn't get up. He wasn't satisfied with my answer so he started to lean forward, in my position I put my head to his forehead and pushed. I was surprised with how strong he was and he pushed back. Then I stood up and put my arm on his left shoulder to keep him from trying again. He grabbed my arm and threw it down. Again, I laughed "Oh, you want to bring it, eh? Punch me then. Punch me as hard as you can." Dad tried to kick me again then looked up at me and smiled at me. Then he looked at Mom and gave her those parent smiles that say "darn kids." I then told him to wait and I would get a nurse. So he waited until the nurse came before trying to get up again.

What a great day! Mom and I left shortly after that because we wanted him to sleep and were afraid that we were agitating him which made him want to get up.