The blind leading the blind...

That is what we are dealing with here in Tennessee. The steroids cause my daddy to feel as if he is stronger than he really is and my mother has always thought she was strong enough to take on any task. Hence the fall in the garage yesterday.

Last night the boys and I went to Mc Donald's. When we left they were sitting in the livingroom watching TV and I told them, in no uncertain terms, to sit still, not to move until we got back. Those orders are based on fear of another fall in the garage. What happened?

We drove up into the driveway from McDonald's and they were sitting in the garage waiting for us. They have now both been threatened with the nursing home. Either that or restraints. I suppose a length of rope to tie them in place and keep them safe for a few minutes would be cheaper than a nursing home. All I know is that somethings gotta give cause we are dealing with people here who can't take orders. If this was the military they would have been kicked out long ago with a dishonorable discharge.

Elliott spent the night last night and when Taylor and I left a little after midnight my daddy was resting well. About 3:00 am he woke up and the rest of his night was pretty uncomfortable due to chest congestion. He develops congestion which causes coughing and last night was the first night that he has been kept awake like that.

Linda got there early this morning and called the Hospice nurse. I went over and made it there before the nurse. It was our first real scare since all this started. He was overly confused, not breathing well and talking about someone named Tom. Seems Tom is a coach and had passed away and my daddy was worried about making it to his funeral. We have no idea who Tom is so, if anyone reading this has any idea of who Tom might be please leave a comment and let us know.

The nurse said his blood oxygen level was only 78%. Evidently a reading that low means you should already be dead. She explained to us that the lower the oxygen level of his blood goes the more anxiety and agitation he will feel. He was complaining with anxiety last night and we were blaming it on the steroids and trying to figure out which meds to give him to help with his anxiety.

I felt very inept and out of my league this morning when the nurse told us the oxygen would take care of his anxiety. Something so simple had not even occurred to us. I guess we are all like the blind leading the blind.

When I left a few minutes ago he was resting. He had eaten a bowl of watermelon and his confusion and anxiety had lifted. The nurse said he could have his morphine every hour for the pain, so, we will now be pushing the pain meds as needed and giving plenty of oxygen.

I'm happy to report that, even with his confusion and our own over how to care for him his physical and emotional suffering is at a minimum. So far we have been able to relieve any discomfort he might be having fairly quickly. Please keep him in your prayers, pray that he is able to remain comfortable and at peace.