Monday, November 15, 2010

Respite care is wonderful for caregivers. Although I didn't sleep well on Wednesday night, I did sleep better on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The rest made me feel rejuvenated and we really enjoyed spending time with Zeb and seeing his bike races. He did great!!! Because his last race yesterday was at 2:30, Betsy picked Dad up at Black Mountain and took him to her house for dinner. She met us at our house around 7:30. Right after she and Dad came in, we were talking and Dad was sitting at the bar. I looked over and Dad had stood up and was unzipping his pants. I shouted, "What are you doing?" and Dad said, "I need to pee!" I grabbed him and said, "Let's go to the bathroom!" He said, "But I need to pee!" I took him in the bathroom and told him he needed to pee in the toilet. He did, but when he came out, the back of his pants were soaking wet. I took him back to my bathroom and also realized he had pooped. I could tell they probably had not been able to get him in the shower at Black Mountain. I got him undressed and to his dismay, in the shower. He took a good shower and I washed his hair and got him in his pajamas. Then he sat in his recliner. Betsy and I didn't even get to talk, because she had to leave. During the night, Dad got up four times. He used the bathroom a couple of times and I changed him twice. He never got real wet, which was good. Every time I got him back in bed and turned the lights out, he would say, "Turn those lights on!" But I didn't. The first time I tried to get him up this morning, he pulled the covers back over himself and said, "I'm not ready to get up." I went in a few minutes later and tried again and he got right up. He seems to be catching a bit of a cold as he was sneezing and blowing his nose a lot last night. I'm going to pick him up in a minute and take him to Mudbones for dinner. Simon is playing the guitar there again tonight. Hopefully, Dad will get back in his routine and sleep better tonight!!!! Susie