Sunday Scribblings ... Listen up etc ... My Dad's health ...

The past week has been turmoil with the unexpected decline of my Dad's health.

Last December a bout of flu became pneumonia. Dad also had a mild heart attack resulting in heart failure which has slowly worsened and confusion has become dementia. Dad's conscious, his breathing is laboured, he knows who's around, he tells the staff to 'get nicked' when they tend to him! Palliative care has started.

This pic was on his 92nd birthday surrounded by staff at the nursing home. His major priorities, wine, women and food remained foremost despite his age!

Listen up this is important ... it doesn't matter about the man he once was, it's of no consequence what's transpired in the past ... he's my Dad. He did what he thought was right, he worked hard, he was a good provider, he did the best he knew how with what he had!

Now his dignity, peace and most of all his comfort are paramount. I'm sitting with him every day. This isn't a sad time.

Dad's made a comeback ...

Yesterday Dad was transferred back to the twilight zone aka nursing home ... but sent me into crackup mode when he "lost" his watch.

In the over thirty degree temperature with a nasty hot wind blowing I traipsed to buy him a watch.

Dad believes the more you pay the better it is - so I selected a $99 Citizen watch ...

As I returned, hot and bothered, at the nursing home gate I got a call to say the watch had been found ... in his bed.

I was livid ... yet another a useless excursion ... I was so over it!

As I stood beside his bed listening as he critised the watch. I cried like a big girl and through my tears I proclaimed "I can't do this anymore, you're a full time job, nothing I do is right or ever enough, I get no thanks from you" ... I flounced into the bathroom blubbing with the image of his eyes like saucers, at my performance, in my brain!

Did it shake him back to reality ... who knows ...

They did a mini psyche geriatric test on him before leaving the hospital ...

Dad scored 15/30 ... so does that mean he's only there half the time ?

We arrive as babies, why do so many people leave as them too?

Dad has a watch on each arm ...

I'm having a rest day today no visit till tomorrow ...

I'm tired, fed up and want my life back ... situation normal ...

Please don't let me do this to my girls ...

A Dad update ...

Dad's still battling on!

Battling with me, the nursing staff, the Geri Docs who he told to "Piss Off" and anyone in sight or earshot ... he's become and angry man.

He's had 'seizures' as well as mini strokes ... which may have some bearing on his changed nature.

After 12 days visiting, sitting while he sleeps, I'm taking a couple of days off.

On Thursday he was sitting out in one of chair beds. When I arrived he grunted and went promptly back to sleep.

A short time later he opened his eyes and said, "There's no need for you to be sitting there every day".

OK ...