Day 1

Well, finally! Here I go. It's really been hard to get to the point where I actually sat down and decided to begin my first blog. I want it to be a commitment and my plan is to blog at least five times a week. I wondered if I really had the time and the energy to do it! Last week I went back to work at Spindale Elementary after having my summer off. I'm getting up again at 5:40am and I'm exhausted. I already know that this year with Dad is going to be different from last year. Even though Dad walks and performs most motor activities, he is definitely slowing down at everything - except eating. He eats too fast. He pockets food in his jaw and keeps putting food in his mouth even when it's full. He doesn't like it if we try to get him to slow down. I have to portion his food because he would eat anything put in front of him. Tuesday night Dad refused to let me change him during the night. When I went in to get him up at 6:30, his Depend was lying on the floor by the bed. I pulled the covers back to find him in only a teeshirt. Of course the bed was soaking wet. I got him up and had him wash up and put his clothes on for the day. I walked briefly down the hall to put his dirty clothes in the washer and when I returned, there was Dad, back in the bed. The soaking wet bed. My goodness. I had to get him up to redress him with clean clothes. Thank heavens Van came in at that point to help out. This year I will be leaving the house at 7:00am to get to work. Van will take Dad to LifeCare - the adult daycare where Dad stays from about 8:00 to 5:00. We have our challenges, but we also have laughs and wonderful memories..... Susie