I just posted a picture on Facebook of Bob relaxing (and sleeping) in the yard and garden outside Hillside.  So while he naps, I will write this month’s blog.  It is so pleasant outside with temps in the 80s as opposed to the upper 90s and 100s we had recently.  

The grandkids Nate and Libby (ages 13 and 20) were here for 10 days.  We had a great time seeing all the things they wanted to catch up on.  We went to the swimming pools frequently and Nate spent a day with his Dad at the tennis club with the temp in the low 100s.  But he played all day.  We went to see Pop Pop three times.  The first time he really brightened up when they came in the door and there seemed to be a flicker of recognition.  Libby did a great job feeding him.  When we left he very distinctly waved to them which he has NEVER done before.  The next times he was not as responsive.

He is still actively bleeding a lot in the urine.  We had a care plan meeting recently as is scheduled every 3 months.  There is a nurse and a social worker present.  I asked the nurse since my nursing background is not long term care (thank goodness) if this sometimes goes on this long with something like this going on.  She said NEVER!  So Bob continues to hang in there and amaze us.  Physical therapy has been working with him as his legs are contracting and they say it hurts him when they put his pants on as it stretches his legs.  So he has an abductor pillow now all the time between his knees.  Also PT is teaching some of the CNAs to do exercises so when the insurance for the PT runs out they can still exercise his legs.

I still go to see him 3 times a week and schedule it around the pickle ball times at the DeSoto Community Center so I can kill two birds with one stone.  It is a very friendly group that plays with the only objective being to hit a ball and have fun.  When I was working at the hospital and playing racquetball all the time, my boss asked whose face I saw in the ball when I really would give it a whack.  I just laughed at the time, but now I think when I hit the pickle ball with all my might, I see the devil’s face in it.  Who else would make this happen to my sweet Bob?

A lot of times I catch Bob looking at a picture on the wall.  It is a picture of the two of us taken at our niece’s wedding taken about 25 years ago.  We are both smiling broadly, so sometimes he smiles.  What is he thinking? Does he know that is us in the picture.  I tell him it is, but I don’t think he understands.  I hope he just knows they are nice people!

And so life goes on.  I just know there is a better one coming.  

Betty