Seems Like Only Yesterday

The Manriquez Family - Summer 1964

My Great-Grandmother, Me, Mom, & Grandma 1953

Me & Dad 1953

Dad Says Hello

I took this short RealPlayer video with my phone, so the quality is not all that great and I'm not sure how much you'll be able to hear. I asked him if he'd like to say hello to his brothers and sisters but he can't remember their names, so he looks at the family photo on the wall. He knows who you are...

Here are some photos of recent visits by Joyce, Bruce, Jeremy, Tabitha, and Kevin:

Dad's Latest Visit to the ER

We are becoming "regulars" at the Sutter Medical Center ER. Dad has visited the ER 3 times within a month. Here is what led to his latest visit (copied from an email I send Joyce and Bruce this morning):

Here's what happened. Dad is becoming increasingly obstinate and out of touch with what he can and cannot do. And, of course, he is weaker and loses his balance frequently (this past Sunday he fell 4 times of which I had to lift him 2 of those times and now I have a sore back). So yesterday, after seeing his doctor for a follow up, we stopped to get some burger since it was already 4:00 pm. I told him to go sit on his chair in his room and I'd bring him his food. Everything was set and ready. The next thing I know he is standing holding the TV folding table trying to figure out how it works. I go in and take the tray and tell him to sit down. Of course he is upset because I'm treating him like a child. As he turns around to sit, he loses his balance and falls sideways into the heater.

Now I'm struggling to lift him off the heater, that is on, and his foot is wedged under his bed so finally with Shelley's help we get him up and into his chair. He seems okay, just really pissed off and, not to be out done, I demonstrate that I am more pissed off because he won't listen to me. It gets ugly. And now he refuses to eat his lunch.
I am so upset I had to leave the house. I went to Target because I needed to pick up a new prescription for dad and get more Ensure and Depends. When I get back Shelley tells me that Dad is saying he's in pain and "It hurts like hell."
Shelley calls the nurse on call and he says to go to the ER. Getting ready to go to the ER, Shelley notices he's wet and she wants to change him. He doesn't want to be changed and is literally fighting us. I tell him his choice is to let me do it or I call the ambulance to have him restrained on the board. He relents somewhat and I get him changed.

At the ER, It's is deja-vu. Been here, done this, and it actually goes smoothly. What it comes down to is he has a fractured rib and is now on a heavy duty pain pill. It will take 6 week to heal and will take place at home. We are being given all this instructions on what to do and Shelley and I look at each with a look that says "[insert bad word]!"
So here I am writing to you two as my therapy and  because I'm trying to wake up after another bad night...
If you think this email is long, be grateful I didn't write the long version...

Today he seems to be doing better, however, he still refuses to use the walker and gave the nurses aide a bit of a difficult time for his bath. But it gotten done and he doesn't remember falling or the ER visit. This time, I told him, I took pictures to prove it!

Till next time!