Sunday, October 3, 2010

Dad slept pretty good last night. It was later than usual when I got up to change him, almost 4:00. I slept so hard, I only heard him coughing a few times. He slept in until about 8:30. When I went to get him up, I noticed he had spit a lot of mucus into the top of his sheet. I fixed him breakfast and he ate well, but didn't seem to have much energy. He wanted to get in his chair, so I got him to recline and covered him with a fleece blanket. I was feeling better, but still a little weak. Van went to get Dad's antibiotic and we started it right away. I watched the Sunday morning TV shows that I never get to watch, because I'm usually at church. Then I washed sheets and did some housework and paperwork. I fixed Dad's lunch and when I got him up out of his chair, I could tell we needed to head to the bathroom. I realized yesterday that Dad had not used the bathroom in the toilet one time. I changed him several times and he needed it every time. Well today he had the major poop. I knew it was going to be one of those "shower" poops and with Dad not feeling well, I thought he probably was not going to want to get in the shower. I had him sit on the toilet and clean up as much as possible and then I had him follow me to our bathroom. He was already half way undressed, so that helped. When I got him completely undressed, I said, "Now step in the bathtub". He put his hand out to feel the water. I said, "I'll turn it on when you get in. Stand at the back of the tub." He said, "I don't need to get in there." I said, "Yes, you do. We need to wash the poop off your bottom." He didn't say anything after that and I helped him get in and I started the water. I gave him several rags, one at a time, and the soap. Then I had him wet his head and I shampooed it. I think he probably didn't feel well enough to argue with me! He ate lunch and then got back in his chair. He's been there all day, mostly sleeping and coughing on and off. I've decided to keep him home tomorrow. I hate to send him to Life Care with his rattly chest and cough and with him having just started his antibiotic. Hopefully, he'll be feeling better by tomorrow afternoon........ Susie