Thursday

Mom and Dad have not transitioned to DST so they are sleeping in every morning until 8:30 or 9. This compresses the routine that we were used to while in the asylums. The morning is almost over by the time Dad gets dressed, has breakfast and swallows all the pills. It is fortuitous that the home health crew has been coming late in the morning or early afternoon. They didn't expect anyone to come on days that Dad has a Dr.'s appointment, but Wednesday a nurse and an OT called and came by before noon. The nurse checked Dad out and changed the dressing on his leg and the OT did a few exercises with Dad and made some suggestions about how to handle the shower. Jamie III arrived a little after noon and had lunch with Mom and Dad. 

Jamie III assisted Dad to the car and got Dad to the surgeon without any problem. I got there just as the nurse was taking vitals and checking the leg wound. It has healed up quite a bit since the last time we were there and shows no new signs of infection. The doc that did the surgery saw Dad today and basically gave Dad a pep talk, more talk than pep, and told Dad to stay patient and vigilant with the rehab. He doesn't have to go back for 3 weeks. Dad is getting used to transferring to the van from the wheel chair and it seems to get easier each time. We got home and Jamie and I did some chores and did our own assessment of the safest and most efficient way for Dad to take a shower. Nathan (pep and talk, mostly pep) came by and we sat around and shared ignorance, and put Dad to sleep. The busy routine has been cutting into his nap time. 

Today, Dad had another full day of home rehab. He had a new PT come today and he worked Dad hard. He started with some exercise on the bed and Dad said he was cold. The PT said, "You won't be cold very long." Dad said,"He was right!" Dad liked this guy and asked if he could petition for him to be the lead PT during his recovery. He said that would be fine but he couldn't assure him that it would always be him. About the time he was finishing up, the aide came and took over. She was very experienced and had the shower thing figured out posthaste. The shower was good therapy. Refreshed, Dad was ready for lunch and the afternoon round with the OT and nurse. He was tired when I got there at 8 pm but he looked robust and his voice was strong and he was engaged. He had even done some extra work on his own.

He has the first appointment with his primary care doc tomorrow. This will be the first time he has seen him since the heart attack. I hope that the plethora of doctors will be winnowed down to 1 or 2. I really don't know why he needs to see the surgeon again or even the cardiologist for that matter, unless symptoms arise that would direct him there. At any rate, the choir is now a trio and there are fewer voices to listen to. 

Nancy and I will accompany Mom and Dad tomorrow and Cindy will be coming for the weekend. 

Dad got several cards today including, one from a boy who had heard Dad's name over and over as someone who needed prayer. He told his mother he wanted to send Dad a card to let Dad know he was praying for him. Another came from some folks who had just learned about Dad's ordeal. The cloud of witnesses continues to synthesize. God continues to be faithful in bolstering our hope and strengthening our resolve.

Ps.36

[5] Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
thy faithfulness to the clouds.

God is good!