Dad came home from rehab on Sunday. He was supposed to stay a few days longer but Medicare said no. So far he's doing OK at home, able to get around the house using his electric cart, get to the bathroom on his own, etc. The doctor was able to get his urinary tract working again, which was a huge relief to me as I though I was going to have to learn to catheterize him, A daughter should NOT have to do that! His biggest issue right now is that he can't raise his arms much above chest level. He can dress himself except for the shirt, which so far I have had to help him with. I hope PT will help with that.
I'm quite impressed with the level of elder care resources that are available here. Yesterday an RN came to the house and spent a good two hours there assessing his condition and explaining how the system works. We will have a nurse 1-2 days per week and PT probably two days per week, 60 days all 100% covered by medicare. There's also a bath aide available (which my dad rejected.... we'll see how it goes), and a social worker who can help us set up whatever he will need after the 60 days is up.
Courtesy of cousin Jerry we now have a nice ramp going to the front door, which means dad can now ride his cart right out to the garage. Courtesy of daughter Vickie we have a LifeStation emergency button, which dad actually put on and has promised to wear. Waterproof and with a 1000-foot range, it should keep him from spending another week in the tub. Anyway, he will use the walk-in tub from now on.
I am enjoying the local farmer's market.... vine ripened tomatoes, cukes, melons, eggplant, and right now, the famous Michigan Red Haven peaches are in. I bought a peck of them this morning and will be peeling, slicing, and freezing for Dad this evening.
I am in the compulsive phase of a new hobby, millefiore (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millefiori)
using polymer clay. It reminds me of quilting in many ways.... you make lots of "canes", which are then analogous to quilting fabric or quilt blocks, and then you get to play around with slicing and combining them in pleasing ways. Also like quilting in that everything I make looks (to me) beautiful and it's hard to stop. So far I've been covering glass jars and ceramic cats, but soon I'm going to try out some earrings. Guess what all my friends are getting for Christmas? Leslie referred to the jars as looking "psychedelic", which made me think.... hmm, I wonder if I could sell them at the pot stores in Washington as "stash" jars? One of these days I'll post some pictures....
I'll be here in Michigan until October 22nd. Trying not to think about that being more than two months away. I've been away from home since April 18th, except for the less than 3 weeks between my bike trip and getting the dreaded Dad In Tub call. I am enjoying watching the seasons change here, and there is definitely a hint of fall in the air already. Cecil has finally arrived to cut the hay, and it's been fun watching the various pieces of antique farm equipment.... I doubt if he's got anything that was manufactured after 1960, and I know one of his tractors is a Farmall from the '40's as it's very similar to Dad's.
Thomas Evelyn Cat has gone to friends Leslie and Dave's house for the duration, has made friends with my god-dog, Maggie, and is being tolerated by the other three cats in the household. Friends and neighbors Gerry and Margaret are insuring my house does not get turned into a meth lab while I'm gone. I'm sure my yard has grown up to weeds and the horsetails and blackberries have taken over the hillside, but that can wait until my return.
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