Fri, Apr 29, 2016

I don't call home much because I know that Mom is busy with caring for Dad and the house, and Dad is usually resting, and they visit Wheeling Hospital at least two days each week.

But I spoke with Mom this afternoon from 4:19 p.m. to 4:39 p.m.

Dad wasn't asleep. He was resting his eyes. He lounged on the living room recliner with Judge Judy playing on TV. Mom prepared a casserole for dinner.

Dad wanted me to know that he heard a Gray Catbird and a Baltimore Oriole around their house. I don't know when. Probably yesterday or today.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad planted onions and potatoes in their garden. Mom said that she printed the Farmer's Almanac Moon Phase Planting Calendar. Something like that. I may have check into that calendar. I'll use anything for an advantage to help the garden.

Dad's last visit to Wheeling Hospital occurred this past Monday, April 25. He received an IV bag of fluids on Monday, but he has not gone back for more fluids any other day this week. That's good.

This past Monday was scheduled to be a normal chemo day, but since Dr. Shinn and Dad agreed to a new plan, and since Dr. Shinn wants Dad to gain some strength, then Dad won't go back for chemo until Monday, May 9. He will have had four weeks off between chemo treatments. Hopefully, he eats more and maybe gets outside more.

Mom said that Dad is taking the prescribed calcium pills, and they are drinking their daily shots of the "tonic" that Deb bought them. We started drinking it too.

It's called "NingXia Red" which contains wolfberry fruit [?] and essential oils. Directions say to drink 1 to 2 ounces twice a day. Best served chilled. Shake well. It tastes good.

On Monday, May 6, the Home Health nurse will visit Mom and Dad's house to change Dad's pic line.

Mom said Dad still has the usual bouts of "back" pain, which is actually due to the blood clots in the lung that feel like cracked ribs. He usually takes a pain pill to ease the discomfort.

Dad is still taking cough medicine. He has coughing fits, mainly as night, although they don't last as long as earlier in the month. But he cannot sleep lying down. He sleeps in the recliner, sitting partially upright.

Mom said that they have not checked the bluebird nest recently. I assume that the female is incubating eggs.

That was the end of our call.