Whats been going on? A rehash of the past few months.

July 2011, Blog entries
OK now just a little after 12:40 central daylight time as I start recording these entries. They may seem disjointed and jump a bit as I formulate my thoughts into words, still there is quite some ground to cover and it may well overlap previous entries.///

Well, I guess I can start with a rehash of things leading up to current activities.///

In November of 2010 I came down to Mississippi to assist my parents. My Father was very ill and wasn't letting on how serious his condition was. ///
Jumping forward to Christmas Morning 2010, I had Mom call the ambulance to transport Dad to the Hospital. His breathing was weak and he couldn't stand upon his own. He had wanted us to transport him in the sedan to the Hospital. Since he couldn't stand or walk that was out of the question. I used for the first time the Oxygen Kit I have for scuba diving emergencies on him. He was reasonably stable when the paramedics arrived however his condition worsened enroute to the hospital and he was diagnosed with a heart attack due to a blocked artery. A stent was emplaced through his left leg as his right leg was infected where he had a cancerous mass removed over a half year previously.///

So December went with him in the coronary ICU, being shifted to a private room after recovery and being released in January. The best part of the ICU time though was with him being on a lidocaine drip. Halucinations can be fun and he accused me of coming into the ICU room and moving about the cabinets bolted to the walls & floors.///

January, February, March and part of April saw me trying to assist to the limits imposed unpon me by my father. Also home nursing and physical therapy visits to try to get him up and moving. The Physical Therapist at her last visit was very prophetic and truthful. If my father wouldn't get up and walk he'd be dead probably within 6 months and a year at best.///

By mid April I had my father back in the hospital again, due to falls. Twice in january, once in February, twice in March and three times by mid April. This was the cause of much concern as his last fall he was less cognizent of his condition and had hurt himself enough to break the skin and bleed. By the time my Mom returned from morning Lenten Devotionals/Mass; I had my Dad cleaned up and dressed. He also agreed to be admitted to the hospital as I didn't like the quality of his pulse & blood pressure. Three days after admitting he was released but due to his condition we had him admitted into a Hospice Facility in Moss Point, MS.///

Perhaps the hardest aspect for my self was telling him he was going to be in a long term care facility, as opposed to the truth about being in a hospice. He was adamant about not wanting to be in a hospice, however in all honesty my Mom who is 84 years old couldn't care for him at home alone. Even I had things which required my attention back in New York State and wasn't going to be in Mississippi for about a month to a month and a half.///

April 18th found me back in NY state and reporting for Jury Duty. As the Defendent recognized me and knows my brothers I was dismissed from the Jury Pool. Later that week i went to my Dental and VA appointments which would provide reason to stay in NY state longer than I wanted to.///

May 4th; In the early morning I drove my two younger brothers to the airport so they could catch a flight to Mississippi to visit with my Father and Mother. About Mid-day i recieved a call from Hospice saying my Father had taken a turn for the worse and was actively dying. Since I knew that my brothers were supposed to be on the ground by then I called the Youngest on his cell phone. He had passed that onto the other brother to answer and I passed word on to them to go straight to the Hospice as there was bad news and Dad didn't have much longer.///

May 5th; Found me at my older brother's home in Pennsylvania waiting for him to arrive and pack and we's make the journey together to MS for our Father's last days. Well that journey wasn't to see him while he lived as we recieved word about 15:00/3:00PM EDT that he had passed on that afternoon.///

May 9th; Dad's funeral Knights of Columbus provided an cadre which also acted as Pall Bearers. Police escort from the Funeral Home to the Biloxi National Cemetery. My last act there was to play Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes. Then Mom, My Aunt (Dad's Sister) my brothers and myself went to a late luncheon.///

I drove my younger brothers to the airport again to see them back in NY state a few days later after my older brother & I returned back north.///

May passed uneventfully and after my final VA appointment I returned to MS for a handful of days just to fly back to NY again in June.///

June 15; flying to NY on a U.S. Airways express, travel time was supposed to be about 5 hours with arrival in the late afternoon. Uh right, we arrived about midnight and settled down after 01:00/1:00AM on the 16th. Time in NY was spent at graduation events for my oldest nephew and driving my mother about to visit friends. flew back to MS on the the 29th and what should of been about 5 hours travel time became another all day trip with a 6 hour wait sitting in the airport at Charlotte, NC (again).///

Finally July and what does it find me doing? Well, quite a bit actually; Stripping the shelves and clothes hanger rods out of closests patching screw and nail holes, getting ready to repaint the closet interriors, taking a bicycle over to a shop for repairs & service to make it ridable, trouble shooting a 16 year old dish washer (It may need replacingas the drain isn't functioning even after being checked for obstructions. and still trying to get out for a daily run. The worst part of Mississippi is the outdoors temperature. I find it too hot & humid outside to want to practice with my bagpipes.///

Well I guess that pretty much sums things up for me. Also I find it too hot outside to even consider riding the motorcycle... Now that means conditions are uncomfortable.