Archive for February, 2009

When I picked him up after discharge, he told me that he ran from room to room looking for my car. “Sometimes, I’d just see your tail lights as you drove by.”

It broke my heart. I told him that I was not allowed to visit the entire time and there are a lot of cars same color as ours.

“I knew what time you arrived for work in the morning and when you were thru work.” (I am retired)

“I ran from room to room, just trying to catch a glimpse of you.”

My heart is aching – - -
(I forgot to mention that he ended his story with the Peep*ng T*m note – I wondered if maybe a staff said he couldn’t (understandably) go into a patient’s room in order to look out their window:)

This small thing has helped him/me.

I put filtered water on a towel in small jars by the fridge. If it’s in the fridge, he has to figure out where the fridge is, which compartment to open. If he sees it readily, it saves a lot of frustration.

For some reason, I feel he regarded respite as almost a punishm*nt. We were home only a few hours when he announced that from now on he would do anything I asked.

When pushed for an explanation, he said, “You know, going to the doctor or dentist.” As fate would have it, he had a hygiene appointment – I was going to cancel under our circumstances but it was fine, easier than ever before.

Also, he sits down beside me and asks if he can do anything or help me, etc. This is not new for the “former Wayne” but new in our journey.

I feel badly for him and keep reassuring that we are home together, it may be necessary again but he will understand next time and that I will be back to take him home – “If it’s ever necessary again”. If anyone has suggestions, I’d appreciate it. Thanks for all your support – it’s been a really trying week, I guess for both of us.

I can never “get” him with humor – he’s always one up on me.

Yesterday was incredibly bright, sun on new fallen snow. As we were ready to back out of the drive, I mentioned he could wear his sunglasses, pointing to them in the glove box.

Thanking me, he replied something to the effect he would just close his eyes.

“Me, too!” He at first said, “Hey, hey, hey. You’re the driver!” Then he got it and laughed and laughed.

Thru all our journey, he has maintained his sense of humor.

Since respite, I have to leave a large note for him if I’m going downstairs or shoveling the drive, etc.

This morn, I heard scraping in our drive and there was our dear neighbor, clearing snow. I dressed and ran out to help.

Very shortly I heard frantic banging on the window by the front door – he looked kind of panicked – as if caged and afraid. Ran in to comfort him and she finished. This respite has shaken him.