Dad 663: Two Old People

(Dad writes today! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another sunny spring day but temps only around the mid 40s. We are gradually marching towards summer. Please warm up!

 

It certainly is nice to be back to my pre-hospital schedule. I have been back to visiting Mary Lou on a daily basis for the past week. I am Tracy's relief on five days of the week now that she is working a two-day per week schedule. Tracy seems to like the two-day work week and enjoys the work that she is doing. Planned work that she fully likes (I think).

 

Mary Lou is carrying on her stay at the nursing home. She remains about the same as she has been for the past few months. She and I spend our time in the afternoons acting like two old people. Then I realize that is what we are. All in all we are enjoying each other's company and spending time with each other. In fact I'm getting ready to go to the nursing home shortly for the remainder of my day. So I'll talk to you next week.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

A Milestone

I finished up my fourth two-day workweek today.

Since I only worked three weeks in the job I tried out last fall, I think I should celebrate my current achievement!

I will celebrate tomorrow by lunching with a friend and then visiting Mom.

Blessed!

Following Up From Friday

We got food from Ken's Place today!

Remote, Remote, Where Art Thou?

My mother's TV remote control has been missing for a few days. This is the third time this has happened. The first two times the remote was found eventually, although the first one took months!

We have a backup remote control in a drawer in her room, all programmed for the TV and ready to go. I have a taped note with her name on the back of the backup remote, along with the message, "This is NOT the missing Panasonic remote." I want the staff to keep an eye out for the "real" one. Possible locations are the laundry room and the kitchen.

Dad and I decided we should probably have a backup for the backup, just in case. I got one today and programmed it for the TV.... And I put a taped note on the back, of course.

Here's hoping the Panasonic remote surfaces soon!

Roll Down the Sidewalks!

Although the first day of Spring was earlier this week, the real sign of Spring is when Ken's Place opens.

And it opened today!

I just looked out the window and saw that it is busy, busy, busy!

I imagine that Dad, Lew, and I will order something from over there within the next week or so.

Now waiting for Pier Fries to open in another month....

🌞

Dad 662: An Important Day

(An early post from Dad today! ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Pretty nice day today but temps are now in the low 40s.

Today is a very important day for me. I am about to visit Mary Lou for the first time in a month. Looking forward to my visit. Not writing any more today because this is my number one appointment of the day. I'll let you know about it next week.

Thanks to Tracy for her visitation schedule!

That's all for today. So....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Happy Spring!

A week ago today we were having a blizzard.

Today the temperature outside was supposed to make it up to 50 degrees or so. (I haven't heard for sure whether it did or not, but I do know it was pretty nice out.)

So here's hoping the winter weather is finally behind us.

Ken's Place opens this Friday!

Happy Spring!

A Laugh With Mom

I bring my mother a couple bottles of Ensure each day. She usually drinks both of them while I am there.

When she gets toward the end of the bottle, I have to encourage her to tip the bottle up higher so she gets it all in her mouth.  I sometimes do this by demonstrating with the (covered) bottle myself.

Yesterday I did the demonstration and said, "Tip it up high, high, high..." in a high voice.

When Mom took the bottle from me she did exactly what I had done — even saying the comment in the high voice.

Then she looked at me and started laughing! Mom doesn't have many moments where shades of her "old self" shine through, so this was pretty special.

I laughed with her.

💕

March Must be Mad!

The NCAA basketball tournament started today! The round of 64, anyway. The "first four" play-in games were Tuesday and yesterday; I guess those are technically part of the tournament.

There have already been some big upsets. A 15-seed beat a 2-seed. A 13-seed beat a 4-seed.

Mom and I watched the second half of Maryland's game this afternoon. Mom is from Maryland and attended the university for a while. So we were happy when they won today!

Play ball!

Dad 661: Back to Normal (Almost)

(Dad writes today! Also, Happy 203rd Birthday to the State of Maine! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! The storm is over and not as bad as predicted. Still about 40,000 without power in Maine. Rain and mountain snow predicted on Saturday. It seems as though our winter is in March. Please come soon, Spring.

 

Thursday evening, February 23rd, I was transported to Maine Medical Center as I was suffering from lack of movement and strength. I had been vomiting Thursday evening. I vomited early Saturday morning and at the time I was ready to "buy the farm." I was told I had a "bug" and the rest of my family also got it. I, however, had some vomit get into my lungs. As a result, I had pneumonia.

 

I was transported on February 28th to a rehab facility – the same facility where my wife has been a long-term care patient for the past three years. I managed to not see her during my short stay.

 

After a few days of PT and OT I was discharged on Sunday, March 5th, to come home. I have received PT, OT, and healthcare needs at home along with nurse visits. I have completed all of my home care and will be discharged by my home nurse on March 20th (the first day of Spring).

 

I seem to be back to normal and will be glad to see Mary Lou on March 22nd. Looking forward to it!

 

Enough for now.

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

My favorite Facebook post today was by a high school friend:

Great. We sprung forward so hard we're back to winter.

I did go to work this morning and fortunately we were done with our tasks by noon. The snow had started to come down pretty hard by then, but I just took my time driving home. (Lew was glad when I arrived!)

I guess it's supposed to snow all night.  Sigh....

❄❅❆

Getting Older As I Type This

A couple weeks ago I got a mailing from the Social Security Administration updating me on my full retirement age (67) and what benefits I can anticipate receiving depending on the age I start taking them.

My initial reaction was, "Seven more years before I reach full retirement age?" 😩

And then I realized, "Wait.... I'm old enough that they are starting to prepare me for this stuff!" 😲

After a quick perusal of the mailing again today, I did the only sensible thing: I created my online login and then filed the paperwork away. I've still got time. 😊

Fried Ice Cream

Lew and I met some friends for lunch at El Rodeo, located in the same building as our old diner (which we still miss).

I decided to have dessert after our meal. Fortunately the waitress brought two spoons since the portion was enough for two people. Lew helped me eat it.

I had never had fried ice cream before.

It. Was. Delicious.  🍨

A Rhyme: "Update 3/8"

Dad is keeping busy now that he is home. His weekly blog post will return next Wednesday, so today you will have to put up with an update from me.

I survived my first week at my new part-time job! I sure do like this two-day work week. 😊 This week I worked yesterday and today. Starting next week I will work Mondays and Tuesdays, for approximately 16 hours per week.

The job is a bookkeeping position for a local parish. The current bookkeeper is working through the first week of April — which makes the learning curve much easier for me to negotiate! All of my work colleagues are quite nice. I'm going to enjoy working with them.

I probably won't be able to visit Mom on days that I work, but I still will have five days per week to make my regular visits to her. It should work out well.

Blessed!

Post-Weekend Update

Friday evening and part of Saturday was spent de-cluttering the floor in Dad's bedroom, since he needs a clear, wider path to walk through. There are a lot of items for him to sort at some point. But Lew and I were happy with the progress we made.

We had the worst snowstorm of the year on Saturday. Heavy snow started during the night and lasted until the afternoon. Our plow guy came twice in order to keep it manageable. (He got stuck the first time; fortunately, he has two trucks on the road and the other guy came to help get him un-stuck!)

Yesterday (Sunday) morning Lew and I went to pick up Dad. We are all glad he is home. Jerry is especially happy.  😺🐈

I start my job tomorrow!

Updates 3/1/23

Dad's Wednesday blog post is pre-empted this week by his short-term rehab facility stay. He went from the hospital to rehab yesterday morning. He is regaining strength and working on getting his feet back under him. I must say he is looking so much better than he did last Thursday night!

Zach's basketball team's season ended tonight. The team that beat them in tonight's sectional game won the state championship last year, so it was a tough one going in. Congratulations to Zach and his Rockets on a great season! It was fun watching your games!