It's Starting to Feel Like Fall

The boys have been on 'Fall Break' all this week, and it hasn't been too terrible. Usually there is normal sibling bickering and fighting, but I haven't had to beat any butts. Which is nice. This morning the oldest has band practice, and as we walked outside to leave, I noticed that it was actually cooler outside than inside. It's enough to make one think that the weather here in the Valley has begun to cool down. The radio weather update even said it may be in the mid 80's this weekend. Fall must be arriving.... finally.

The Wife had yesterday off work so she could go with the MIL to take the FIL to his neuro doctor appointment. She goes when she can to help speak with the doc about symptoms, etc that Dad is having, and being in the medical field herself, is able to ask more specific questions about thing than the MIL. Seems FIL doesn't just have Parkinson's. In fact, I learned that there are several different types of Parkinson's, and even some "diseases" that aren't Parkinson's, but display the same effects/symptoms of it. From my understanding, it sounds like Dad has some sort of Parkinson's Plus (and a few other terms) which means it is worse than just plain old Parkinson's. The negative of it, is prognosis gives a lower span of years to love with it. Parkinson's patients will on the average, have a 20+ year span where the disease will steadily progress, but the patient can generally continue regular activities (as their body permits). This Plus version, shortens the life span down to about 10 years, and has advanced onset of symptoms, leaving the patient less able to do anything. In Dad's case, I think it has been about 3 years since he was diagnosed, and there isn't much he is able to do. Communication is pretty much gone (no speech or writing ability). Mobility is pretty much gone, though he can 'shuffle' between rooms with a walker, and someone there to make sure he doesn't fall. Anything further requires a wheelchair. Most days that I sit with him, he pretty much lays on the couch, sleeping, or staring off into the distance. The staring is one of the side effects. It gets pretty depressing, and I try my best to console the Wife, but anyone can see the hardship Parkinson's is putting on her, and moreso on the MIL.

The Wife's best friend's Mom gave a nice gift yesterday. Recently, her husband had passed away. He had some medical issues (I am not sure exactly what) but used some home furniture items that assists people with some mobility issues. The Mom gave the MIL one of those easy chairs that has the lift to assist in getting in/out of the chair. Yesterday, the Wife and I picked it up, took it to the MIL's and set it up. It will much easier now in getting Dad up/down. A big thanks goes out to her for giving it to the In-laws.

A couple of my friends are getting married tomorrow. They have been together for a few years (that's saying it lightly) and are just pretty much legalizing the paperwork process. I am happy to know that we are going to the wedding to celebrate with them. Plus, it's always nice to get together with friends to visit and do some catch up with some we haven't seen for awhile. They are doing a Hawaiian theme, so everything is pretty casual, and they encourage to dress for it. I found a shirt I think that will work fine. And I get to wear shorts instead of some suit & tie!

Still thinking on the changes that will be happening around here on the ol' blog. Joe has come up with a suggestion for the domain name (which doesn't have to match the blog name) and I pretty much agree with it. More than likely it is what I will go with, so that leaves only to figure some catchy, or descriptive, title for the blog. I am still open for suggestions....  With the changes to the blog, it will be time to update the blogroll on the side panel. I was going through them the other day, and realize that there are several now that seem to have gone away. I may remove them, or at a minimum, make it so they are inactive.

So, no major plans today. I may just mellow out and go through and do some clean-up on my ebook library. The son will need to be picked up around noon, then returned to school about 5'ish. I may even go have a beer after that. I don't know. Good part is, it's Friday!

PeacE

Gonna Be One Of Them Days

Some mornings, you just wake up and have one of those internal feelings, that your day is gonna be something. I don't get them often myself, or if I do, I don't notice it much. But every now and then, I can say from the time I open my eyes, that it is going to be a good day, or a bad day, or whatever. Today, it feels like Ick. Not Ick as in sickly feeling, just a bit different than Blah. Could be a good or bad thing.

I am done with the son. The three of us talked about grades, school, and future last night, with the result being that we, as parents, are giving him all the responsibility in completing/turning in homework. Not that we won't help when asked, but we cannot be hounding him about it, especially when he lies to us and tells us he has none. We gave him long-range possibilities of what would happen if he continued to not care about his schoolwork, including the chance of no financial help once graduated from HS, to even the extreme of sending him to some facility where delinquents were just short of criminals. Okay, the last one was more a 'scare tactic', but either way, I hope he got the hint. We made sure he knew that even though it was his duty to complete his work to the best of his ability, but if he was not proving he could do better (ie, if needs help, asking; show he is struggling with it, etc) then he is going to suffer repercussions. Hint: Grounding, loss of privileges, etc. Now to see if he understood.

Either way, it is going to help free up some of the stress I have been feeling the past couple days about that whole situation. I think it is working a bit too. He was up til after 3am this morning finishing up his research paper that is due today. Why so late? Because he was trying to blow it off I think. Not my problem now though.

Well, I think I need some breakfast this morning. I feel like I want to go back to bed, too, but have to head to MIL's to sit with FIL this morning. I guess he went to the doc yesterday, and his Parkinson's is still gaining on him. Wish so much there was a cure for it. Even the doc told MIL to seriously start looking for an assisted living facility. MIL has been trying the past year or so, to handle him on her own, but you can see the stress she has been under. Part of that 'in sickness and in health' feeling she has, and of course, it gets expensive, and that's if they don't make you sign over all your money to them (the assisted living facilities).

Okay, I am out. Have a nice Thursday!

PeacE

Babysitting Time

Parkinson's Disease is a terrible thing. I remember back years ago, I had no clue as to what it was. Images of Michael J. Fox announcing he had it, but you didn't see anything wrong with him. TV coverage of the Olympics, when Muhammed Ali was there to light the torch. You could see the trembling in his arms and hands. Ohhhh, that's what Parkinson's is, I thought.

My Father In Law has spent over 40 years working for American Missionary Fellowship (AMF) in the state of Arizona, and most of the SW region of the US. The job involved many, many hours on the road, traveling weekly among churches in his 'area', covering vacations of pastors, guest speaking, etc. About 2 years ago, aside from seemingly normal age-related things starting to happen, the family started noticing larger signs. It came to a head that summer while he was in Crown King with my daughter for Vacation Bible School, that his skills in driving had started to worsen. Luckily she was there and was able to complete the VBS week, and do the driving home.

Needless to say, after many tests, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It is crushing to watch the effects of the disease deteriorate this once active man. For many years, he would hike the Grand Canyon at least twice a year; three times a week up local mountain trails in town; constantly physically active, and the travelling. Now Parkinson's has him barely able to walk, it is hard for him to stay on track in a conversation, and process things being said to him. Memory lapses are more than common, though, some of things he remembers and brings up in slow conversations (at least with me) are still signs he hasn't given up.

This morning I am going over to sit with Dad so Mom can get out to get some grocery shopping down. I hate doing it, because I feel so uncomfortable having to stop him, almost like a child, from doing things he can't control (ie. getting into the ice cream, undressing in the living room, etc.). I love him, but some things I would rather not have to do. I guess I am a bit selfish about that. The family is talking and searching for some kind of hospice/LTC that can handle the daily care that is wearing Mom down, but the search is terrible. They either want them to lose money in income, or sign over all the income to them. It's ridiculous how that system works, though, some of it I can understand. But I also feel it should be based on individual cases.

Shrug. I can't change it today. I need to head over to Dad's.

PeacE