I got home last Wednesday. I was so emotionally drained when I got here that I pretty much fell asleep. It was so nice to be back in MY bed. I spent most of Thursday and Friday (well, Saturday and Sunday too) working. I’m almost caught up. I do still have a few things to do but my mind isn’t racing with tasks that need to be done.
It’s so nice to be back in my regular routine.
Well, I’m off…have a meeting at 5 and still have to get a couple things ready for it.
Till later…
So, Friday I went to visit my dad at the hospital and when I got there the nurses looked at me a little weird and said “He’s been moved, didn’t they tell you?” Uh, no. We knew he was going to be moved but thought it was a still a couple days off. The nursing staff was really helpful with finding where he was and getting me directions then I drove over.
The place isn’t too difficult to find, but once I walked in I wasn’t pleasantly surprised. It was definitely NOT what I was expecting to see. I guess in my head when I heard “rehabilitation center” I didn’t realize it would be a nursing home with very sick elderly people there. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve volunteered in home for the severely mentally handicapped and have helped with people after strokes who have medical problems and seriously considered going into nursing a few times. But, I wasn’t expecting to see MY DAD in a place like that right now and I think that’s what threw me for the biggest loop.
When I got there he was crying and looked so sad. He spent most of the time I was there crying which made me feel horrible. Getting him up is a pain because the staff doesn’t want to help and you have to be firm with them that his therapist said he has to get up and they have to assist him. It seems I’m the only one in the family capable of “taking on the nurses” and getting it done.
The facility also doesn’t have phones in the rooms and the television belongs to the man who is supposed to be in the bed next to him but was transferred temporarily to the hospital. So, last night I picked up and old cell phone from one of my brothers employees and visited Verizon to get the phone hooked up. We brought it to my dad today and he was happy. Now he can call us or my brother whenever he wants. (LOL, in fact, he just called to ask us to bring him batteries for the guys remote so he can use it :). )
Today he seemed a lot happier. He was so happy to see us and we went on a walk. He did so great getting out of bed (with my help) and into the wheelchair. Our walk was really nice. Luckily we got a phone call just when I was getting tired and needed to take a break. I never realized how hard it is to push a wheelchair along a sidewalk that slopes. He wasn’t happy when we left but he didn’t beg us to stay or cry — so that was a good thing. Not that we wanted to leave but there also aren’t any chairs in the room and it’s hard to sit on the bed with him too long.
So, last night the man across the hall from him died. Keep him in your prayers…it’s not a fun place to be and this is not something he wants to be dealing with right now. It’s different when you’re a chaplain in a hospital and a patient dies and when you’re a patient and someone across the hall dies.
Till later…
I’m not a super frequent flyer but I do ride the skies fairly often. I used to be an American Airlines customer but since moving I’ve had to choose another company. (I guess Hickville isn’t big enough for AA to service.) So, I tend to fly Southwest a lot recently. I have to say, I don’t really like Southwest all that much. I don’t like the “cattle car” feel that you get when you wait. I really dislike the pushiness of the customers….Southwest is the only airline I’ve flown that gives me that feel. But, I have found one thing that I REALLY like about Southwest so let me sing the one praise I do have for them.
They make it REALLY easy to change your flight. My first experience came when I purchased a ticket then they went on sale for cheaper two days later. I was PISSED! I called them to complain and the lady said “just repurchase the ticket”. See, Southwest has this policy that even if you purchase a “non-refundable” ticket you can still change it and if the price is cheaper you get a credit for future use. You don’t get your money back, but you do get the credit to use with them again later.
Also, if you need to change the day you are flying all you do is rebook the flight and apply the amount from the first flight to the second. SUPER EASY! This trip I’ve already rebooked my flight two times. Didn’t cost me a penny. No other airline does that.
Now if they’d just let you go stand-by for free. See, with American Airlines if you get to the airport early and haven’t checked baggage you can ask to be put on an earlier flight. If there’s room they’ll let you go earlier for no charge. Not Southwest…they charge you for a new ticket. Pretty dumb if you ask me. Why not let someone take up an empty seat earlier. But, oh well. It’s actually pretty rare anymore that I fly without checking my baggage.
Till later…
Trick-or-Treating that is. LOL I talked to my brother this morning. I guess my niece really likes the trick-or-treating thing. A LOT. LOL They prepped her throughout the day and when it got dark they went to some friends to hit their neighborhood with them. They ate dinner first then they hit the streets. I guess my Ally was a little unsure when they went to the first house but then she figured it out and hit the road running….literally.
She would walk up to a house and say “Trick-or-Treat” then after they gave her candy she’d say “Thank you” and then politely stand there so they could see her then shoulders up, elbows in and off she’d go to the next house at a full run. After about the third house she added a step and would stop at Daddy on the way from the house and hand him her bucket of candy and say “Here Daddy, it’s heavy” then off she’d go.
My brother said they walked (well, she ran) about a mile and a half last night (but admitted that might have been a slight exaggeration). I’m a little sad that I missed that.
Till later…
So, my dad’s transfer has been delayed. We’ll survive…I’m sure he’s not happy, though. But, he’ll get to rehab eventually.
Till later…
I am a self-employed virtual bookkeeper. I work from my own office assisting companies around the nation with their bookkeeping needs. I love what I do and love the businesses I assist. I live in the beautiful Idaho Panhandle. I love to share tales of my life in the north.
