Tuesday with Harvey (and Mildred!)

When I arrived yesterday, Dad and the Speech Therapist were working together. I say that tongue-in-cheek because she was working and Dad was doing his best to aggravate her!!! In fact, I watched until she said that he was showing off for his audience! I took the hint and said I was going to check on Mom and didn't go back in the room until she was done! She had a lot of things laid out on Dad's lap, screwdriver, book, thread, etc., and had him find the item that she would name. Her book was one of those tiny gift books and she and Dad went round and round about that one...he would not agree that it was a book!!! Next, she had him practice vowel sounds and "m." Lastly, at least before I left the room, they were working on saying numbers. Dad does well with one, two and three, then she kind of loses him after that. Not a lot of progress in speaking, but he's only been home for 2 months! It seems so much longer, but that's not a lot of time in the scheme of things.

We have ordered a special pole that should be delivered today. It will be installed in the bathroom to assist Dad getting on and off the pot by himself (hopefully). Mom said that he is getting out of bed on his own and that the last time she and Dad went out in the car that he got himself out of the front seat and into his wheel chair all by himself. That's a little scary to me, but I'm sure it gave him a strong sense of independence to be able to do that. Mom and Dad's intent is to be able to have only part-time help during the day. We are "monitoring" that so that we are sure that she won't be lifting Dad or doing anything that risks hurting her or allowing something to happen to him, like falling, God forbid!!! If they had their way, they'd make a change today, but we keep encouraging them to take their time and let Dad make more improvements before they try to limit their assistance.

I have asked the company that is providing the home care to order Mom one of those alarm buttons to wear around her neck. Mom I mentioned it to Mom a long time ago and she has finally agreed to it! Someone is always there to check on Dad, but, if Mom needed help in the middle of the night or when she is outside, the caretaker might not hear her. Mom concerns us because this all rests on her shoulders. She still won't allow the caretakers to do much in the area of housekeeping or meal planning or prep, and she pays the bills, manages the house, etc. We gently work on getting her to let go of more, but it's a slow, on-going process! I adore and admire her...I don't think I know a "stronger" (that's my nice way of saying hard-headed/stubborn) person!!! God love her!!!

A bunch of us will be at Mom and Dad's Saturday...Glenda is hosting burgers for Clint's birthday. It'll be good for all of us to be together at their house because that's where Dad is the happiest! He loves having his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids around him! That's when I see him smile the most! He and Mom do love their family!!! We are so, so blessed!!!