Sunday, February 22, 2009
Back to Sea World
It was back to Sea World this week. We are getting our money out of these season tickets. Rob was suppose to have Friday off this week and he was going to stay home with his father, while Sarah and I went to the park with some other home school families. Alas, that did not happen. Rob was called into work and so we took Bob with us.
Most of the day the kids road “Kraken,” the roller coaster. Bob and I sat and watched. I did make him stand some and walk around a little bit. I think he was a little scared even with me standing next to him. He was very unsteady on his feet.
We saw more of the animals this trip and we learned where all of the best handicap restrooms are in the park. There are some that are NOT very handicap friendly. When I pointed this out at one of the guest relations they told me that all of the bathrooms in the park are being redone because of that reason. They circled all the new friendlier bathrooms on a map for me. I now keep that map in our Sea World bag.
Bob did well most of the day. He did get tired near the end and started complaining, but that is understandable. All the kids were tired and fussy.
Rob and I returned to Sea World on Saturday, to see Hall and Oates, a band from the 80’s, perform. The concert was included in the price of the season tickets. The band came out, and one of the lead guitar players on stage happens to be a friend-of-a-friend. It was nice to see a familiar face playing on stage with a big name act.
Bob had a couple of bad nights this week. He has returned to sundowning. He can’t work his TV remote at night and is constantly changing channels. I finally last night had to take the remote away and take it in our room so he couldn’t push the buttons anymore.
He also had trouble getting into bed. He doesn’t know how to lie down in the bed. When he lies down his feet are off the bed, his head isn’t on the pillow, he is lying on most of the blankets, and he can’t cover himself up. I had to get Rob Saturday night to help me put him in bed. I can’t lift him and he won’t work with me to move him in the bed. Rob had to come in and the two of us had to turn him in the bed so that his head was on the pillow, and I could cover him up.
He said Charlie has fussed at him to write some. Rob and I told him that we felt he should be writing. We have given him all the materials to do this. Encourage him this week to write something this week. Even if it doesn’t make since at least he will trying.
Most of the day the kids road “Kraken,” the roller coaster. Bob and I sat and watched. I did make him stand some and walk around a little bit. I think he was a little scared even with me standing next to him. He was very unsteady on his feet.
We saw more of the animals this trip and we learned where all of the best handicap restrooms are in the park. There are some that are NOT very handicap friendly. When I pointed this out at one of the guest relations they told me that all of the bathrooms in the park are being redone because of that reason. They circled all the new friendlier bathrooms on a map for me. I now keep that map in our Sea World bag.
Bob did well most of the day. He did get tired near the end and started complaining, but that is understandable. All the kids were tired and fussy.
Rob and I returned to Sea World on Saturday, to see Hall and Oates, a band from the 80’s, perform. The concert was included in the price of the season tickets. The band came out, and one of the lead guitar players on stage happens to be a friend-of-a-friend. It was nice to see a familiar face playing on stage with a big name act.
Bob had a couple of bad nights this week. He has returned to sundowning. He can’t work his TV remote at night and is constantly changing channels. I finally last night had to take the remote away and take it in our room so he couldn’t push the buttons anymore.
He also had trouble getting into bed. He doesn’t know how to lie down in the bed. When he lies down his feet are off the bed, his head isn’t on the pillow, he is lying on most of the blankets, and he can’t cover himself up. I had to get Rob Saturday night to help me put him in bed. I can’t lift him and he won’t work with me to move him in the bed. Rob had to come in and the two of us had to turn him in the bed so that his head was on the pillow, and I could cover him up.
He said Charlie has fussed at him to write some. Rob and I told him that we felt he should be writing. We have given him all the materials to do this. Encourage him this week to write something this week. Even if it doesn’t make since at least he will trying.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!! I sure hope you all enjoyed the holiday remembering those close and far away, I pray they are close in your heart no matter where they may be.
Bob spent Friday at the park where we had a Valentine party with Sarah’s home school group. He pouted at first when we pulled up at the park. I have learned not to give Bob information about where we are going. He frets too much about where, when and how. We just let him go along for the ride now.
Friday morning he was up, dressed, fed and then led off to the car for yet another adventure. Upon arriving at the park the sour look fell across the face and the “if I have to” attitude appeared. We got him out, and situated, and then the other families started arriving. The children first made Valentines for the VA. After a few cards were made we then gathered for about six different group games. Bob got to watch the children play silly relay games that reminded him of when he was in school and played similar games.
After the games it was time to eat. Everyone had brought finger foods to share with the group and we all dived in to finger sandwiches, cupcakes, brownies, and hotdogs. The brownies were Bob’s favorites. After we ate we let the kids run off and play while the adults gathered and talked about life in general. Bob had a good time after all no matter how hard he tried to pout.
After the party we delivered the Valentines to the VA and I was able to reschedule his appointment. Come find out, his Doctor had switched “teams” at the VA and so they had switched Bob with the Doctor. I know it is confusing. That is the VA for you. The good is that we get to keep the same Doctor and that is good because I like her. The bad is that we are on a new team and you have to learn how this team does things. They will tell you, “We do things just a little bit different from the other teams”. So now I have to learn all of those, “little differences” all over again.
He did get an appointment. It is this Wed. at 2:00. Yeah, I know it falls on my work day, but that is what they did and no, I can’t change it unless I want to wait three months. So I will have to work half a day on Wed., at least it will be done.
So, then after his busy day on Friday, I just couldn’t let the week end go by without taking him to Sea World on Saturday. Rob got to play with Johnny Bulford at Sea World and we now have season passes. So I dragged Bob to Sea World for him to watch Rob play and as a bonus we got to see Kenny Rogers. Bob did well from about 12:00 till about 4:00 and then he started complaining. He does not care for country music and did not want to hear Kenny Rogers at all. He was tired of sitting and his butt was hurting. I told him to stand up and walk some, but he refused. Well, when the kids start to whine it is time to head home, and that is exactly what we did. Since we have season tickets we can return at any time and stay till the kids start to whine again.
Give him a call this week end and let him share with you his trip to the park, and Sea World.
Bob spent Friday at the park where we had a Valentine party with Sarah’s home school group. He pouted at first when we pulled up at the park. I have learned not to give Bob information about where we are going. He frets too much about where, when and how. We just let him go along for the ride now.
Friday morning he was up, dressed, fed and then led off to the car for yet another adventure. Upon arriving at the park the sour look fell across the face and the “if I have to” attitude appeared. We got him out, and situated, and then the other families started arriving. The children first made Valentines for the VA. After a few cards were made we then gathered for about six different group games. Bob got to watch the children play silly relay games that reminded him of when he was in school and played similar games.
After the games it was time to eat. Everyone had brought finger foods to share with the group and we all dived in to finger sandwiches, cupcakes, brownies, and hotdogs. The brownies were Bob’s favorites. After we ate we let the kids run off and play while the adults gathered and talked about life in general. Bob had a good time after all no matter how hard he tried to pout.
After the party we delivered the Valentines to the VA and I was able to reschedule his appointment. Come find out, his Doctor had switched “teams” at the VA and so they had switched Bob with the Doctor. I know it is confusing. That is the VA for you. The good is that we get to keep the same Doctor and that is good because I like her. The bad is that we are on a new team and you have to learn how this team does things. They will tell you, “We do things just a little bit different from the other teams”. So now I have to learn all of those, “little differences” all over again.
He did get an appointment. It is this Wed. at 2:00. Yeah, I know it falls on my work day, but that is what they did and no, I can’t change it unless I want to wait three months. So I will have to work half a day on Wed., at least it will be done.
So, then after his busy day on Friday, I just couldn’t let the week end go by without taking him to Sea World on Saturday. Rob got to play with Johnny Bulford at Sea World and we now have season passes. So I dragged Bob to Sea World for him to watch Rob play and as a bonus we got to see Kenny Rogers. Bob did well from about 12:00 till about 4:00 and then he started complaining. He does not care for country music and did not want to hear Kenny Rogers at all. He was tired of sitting and his butt was hurting. I told him to stand up and walk some, but he refused. Well, when the kids start to whine it is time to head home, and that is exactly what we did. Since we have season tickets we can return at any time and stay till the kids start to whine again.
Give him a call this week end and let him share with you his trip to the park, and Sea World.
Monday, February 9, 2009
You take the good and the bad....
Birthday wishes go out to Bob’s brother Ronnie this week. Happy Birthday and we wish you many more.
It’s been a quiet week for Bob. The weather as you all know got cold for a few days. I had planned on taking Bob with us to a hike that Sarah had at the park. Bob wasn’t going on the hike with her, but I would sit and let him see parts of the park while she was on her hike. It was just too cold for him to go. I wound up taking Sarah to the hike and I sat in the car and worked on some paper work I needed doing. Rob stayed home with his dad.
Rob had a few old friends drop by for a short visit this week. They were down escaping the cold weather of the north. Bob didn’t remember them. His memory is getting worse, but there are other things that are improving. His new medication seems to be agreeing with him. He has been working on word searches. That is a fabulous sign. We have not needed to encourage him at all. He also has been asking to get on the bike and exercise. We have not needed to force him on the bike.
He had some trouble remembering who Ronnie, his brother, was this week. I took a card to him to sign so we could send it for his birthday. When he first signed the card he put “PoP”. I told him Ronnie didn’t call him that and he needed to change the “P’s” to “B’s”. He got a little upset and told me that Ronnie did indeed call him “Pop”. I was confused at this and asked him who Ronnie was. He told me that Ronnie was his son from his first wife Phyllis. Oh, Dear.
When I finally got through to him that Ronnie was his brother, and then we went through the family tree again, he realized his mistake. He changed the letters and fixed the card. I then sat and talked with him about the family and his children and close family members. He had a hard time remembering his second wife “Joan”. This is the first time we have seen a memory loss of close family members. Rob and I talked and are now going to make it a priority to bring Joan and his immediate family up in conversation regularly.
So while some things have improved, there have been other areas to decline. We have to take the good and the bad. He is having more better days since the new medicaion. He is much happier, and not as withdrawn as normal. He asks now in the morning what the schedule is and if we are doing anything. He remembers if he is suppose to call him, or he is to return a call. These are all very good things.
I know you all encourage him to work puzzles, and exercise. Keep encouraging him. He loves hearing from you all. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers this week.
It’s been a quiet week for Bob. The weather as you all know got cold for a few days. I had planned on taking Bob with us to a hike that Sarah had at the park. Bob wasn’t going on the hike with her, but I would sit and let him see parts of the park while she was on her hike. It was just too cold for him to go. I wound up taking Sarah to the hike and I sat in the car and worked on some paper work I needed doing. Rob stayed home with his dad.
Rob had a few old friends drop by for a short visit this week. They were down escaping the cold weather of the north. Bob didn’t remember them. His memory is getting worse, but there are other things that are improving. His new medication seems to be agreeing with him. He has been working on word searches. That is a fabulous sign. We have not needed to encourage him at all. He also has been asking to get on the bike and exercise. We have not needed to force him on the bike.
He had some trouble remembering who Ronnie, his brother, was this week. I took a card to him to sign so we could send it for his birthday. When he first signed the card he put “PoP”. I told him Ronnie didn’t call him that and he needed to change the “P’s” to “B’s”. He got a little upset and told me that Ronnie did indeed call him “Pop”. I was confused at this and asked him who Ronnie was. He told me that Ronnie was his son from his first wife Phyllis. Oh, Dear.
When I finally got through to him that Ronnie was his brother, and then we went through the family tree again, he realized his mistake. He changed the letters and fixed the card. I then sat and talked with him about the family and his children and close family members. He had a hard time remembering his second wife “Joan”. This is the first time we have seen a memory loss of close family members. Rob and I talked and are now going to make it a priority to bring Joan and his immediate family up in conversation regularly.
So while some things have improved, there have been other areas to decline. We have to take the good and the bad. He is having more better days since the new medicaion. He is much happier, and not as withdrawn as normal. He asks now in the morning what the schedule is and if we are doing anything. He remembers if he is suppose to call him, or he is to return a call. These are all very good things.
I know you all encourage him to work puzzles, and exercise. Keep encouraging him. He loves hearing from you all. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers this week.
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