Dad’s 91st Birthday Yesterday
As I indicated last week, the time has come for just a short update, as caring for Dad is now pretty well a full-time occupation. Basically, I’ll give you much the same report as I’ve just send off to our immediate family circle.
Let’s see, my last report was last week when Dad ended up in the Rosthern hospital, right? On Tuesday.
Well, by Thursday he was feeling much better and asked the doctor to let him go home. Dr. Bishop was happy to agree if I would.
I said I would if he could order a commode from Homecare, so Dad wouldn’t have to make the long distance to the .bathroom. We picked that up right after I had Dad in the car.
My sister Elsie, from Hope, B.C., came late that afternoon, and has been a huge blessing to us.
The next morning Elsie suggested getting a hospital bed for Dad.to cut down on his coughing fits at night because of lying flat on his bed. After a number of phone calls with Homecare and church friends, a man from church went to pick it up for us from the city. It was delivered by 4 pm.
Elsie had gone to the airport to pick up Jasel. They arrived minutes later, so big, strong Jasel, (age 24 and designing big expensive houses in Penticton, B.C.) and Elsie and I got Dad’s double bed put away, and the hospital bed in its place.
On Sunday morning Dad had a fall but Elsie and Jasel were right there to pick him up and put him in bed. Dad complained of a headache all day, and didn’t really want to eat He asked for the morphine twice and I gave it to him.
In the afternoon our cousin, June, and her husband Steve, were here for a while.
On Monday I took Jasel back to the airport, and Elsie did some baking for Dad’s birthday and after. (Kringle, which are knotted buns, cake, and a smooth custard). However, Dad still wasn’t eating and often said that he was “waiting for Jesus.”
That night was rough for him, as the morphine had made him constipated, and he kept wanting to “try.” So of course, we had to help him on and off the commode. About 5:19 am. he wanted to go to his recliner in the living room. He found that more comfortable than the hospital bed, even though we could crank the head end up. So there he slept his best hours.
About 7 I went down for my shower, and when I came up, Dad wanted breakfast! Since he hadn’t really had much to eat the last two days, it was a nice surprise. He ate it all too. However, as Dad, Elsie and I discussed it over the morning we decided that it would be best to take him back to hospital. Especially as he’s swelling up in his hands and feet, and it looks like his kidneys may be shutting down.
We took time for a birthday lunch so he could enjoy the angel food cake and the pear sauce Elsie had made. Then we packed things up and took him to Rosthern. His favourite nurse welcomed him back to the same room as he had last week. (He says when she gets a hold of him, he KNOWS he’s not going to fall).
Also, we stopped at the post office on the way out, and so at the hospital he was able to look at the birthday cards he’d received in the mail. He had a good snooze and ate pretty well at supper.
In the evening I took Elsie back to the airport, and replenished some groceries, but when I got home I fell asleep any time I sat down for a few minutes. 
I’m awake tooday, and am doing laundry and catching up here with emails before I go back to spend time with Dad.
I’ve just resized 3 photos from Dad’s 91st birthday yesterday. I’ll add those here.
Elsie and Dad cutting his Birthday Cake.
Dad enjoying a big piece of his cake
Dad eating his birthday supper in hospital