Tuesday

Well I will try to get this done before we lose power.

Monday morning was a beehive of activity at WRMC. Every body who was anybody came in to check out Dad to make sure he was ready for the move. Normally, they would wait until mid afternoon to transport him but because of the threat of ice afternoon, they were trying to get everything in place before noon. Thank goodness we were thinking ahead of them and were packed and ready long before they were. We barely got Dad's meds down him before the ambulance driver got there. I guess she thought Dad could get up and get in the wheelchair by himself, and then started to manhandle him. I jumped in and said I would help him. we got him in the wheelchair and off she went. No time for goodbyes or good luck or anything. Poor mother was trying to keep up. Well we got him into the ambulance and Mom asked her what entrance she would use to take Dad in. She said, "I just pull up to the front door, and we go in." I said, "We are going to Regency in Fayetteville right?" "Oh no we are going to Springdale Rehab." I said, "Hold on, before we leave here I am calling the liaison." I got her on the phone and let her explain to the driver where we were supposed to go.

We got to Regency and they didn't have a bed in the regular unit so we went to the ICU portion where they were not ready for him. Mom was anxious about the weather and I did not want her to go home by herself so we left Dad in the wheelchair while they made up his bed. I should have gone back immediately but because I knew one of the staff, I gave her a brief on Dad and trusted that they would get him settled into the room. I went to work because we had a very important meeting. I called my son Nathan and asked him if he could go by there, and check in on him. He said that he would be happy to. He spent a good part of the afternoon with him and I felt a little better about the move.

The ice moved in and we have not been able to get by there since. It is the worst ice storm I can remember. We closed the store early Monday night and got home okay, but today has been horrible. We were without power for 2 hours this morning and the Mall closed at 2 pm. I nearly did not get home. Not because of the ice on the road but every tree in Fayetteville has been effected. I tried 3 routes home and could not get home because of the trees across the road. I finally drove under two power lines that were partially down and wove around trees and under one more widowmaker and got home. Mom has had two limbs fall on the house, no major damage that she can tell yet but she has lost power. She does have gas heat so she is hunkered down. We have on auxiliary heat so if our power goes we are going to have to bundle up and wait it out. Lights are flickering as I type.

I did talk to Dad a few minutes ago and he has had trouble breathing today. He has had two treatments but he sounded horse. He said that they were understaffed today and that he was not sure about the level of care. When we dropped him off Monday, there seem to be a lot of staff there. I don't know what their roles were. So tomorrow, if I am able to get to the highway, I will be checking out what is going on in depth. Dad says that he is fine and not to worry. I will be calling him a couple of more times tonight.

Pray that he has a good night and that we can see him tomorrow.

If you are in NWA, stay safe and away from the widowmakers. I hope none of you have had trees fall on your homes or cars.

God is good!