Visits to Dad- Dec. 24-30

Dad is pleasant most of the time, but he continues to ask bizarre questions. Like did my wife die? I don't remember that? How did I get here? (his new place) Are the photos on the wall my wife? He spent Christmas Eve with us all day. He was pretty exhausted when we took him home. On Sunday we visited him and he forgot to go to Church again. He said he didn't know where it was and that they changed the time. I took him up one floor and showed him where the chapel was again. Then we spoke to MaryAnne, the owner and she assured Dad that the meetings were always at 10:30am unless there is Stake Conference. I picked Dad up on Monday morning because he was out of milk. He bought a few other food items. He threatened to buy a car again. He had tithing settlement at 10am. (I told him NOT to pay anything, because he overpaid by 200 percent last year!)Tuesday night he was going to be picked up by his friends from Bountiful for Christmas party. I hope he went. He said he loves visits and gets so lonely. I told him all he has to do is step outside his door and he has lots and lots of friends. I've been taking his laundry home to do it, but I think today I am going to teach him how to do it. Sheryl and I believe it's best to start weaning Dad off of us a little bit, so maybe he will reach out to others.

Saturday 19 Dec, 2009

Ashling, my parents and me visited Dad this afternoon. He looks like very happy. He said he misses Gary as much as I do. I said "he is the best boy". He goes "No, no. I have 3 boys and 1 daughter. They all good." I said "That's right. But he is my best boy". I told him that Mike is in town today. He has not stomach any more. He said he wants only one meal a day. The fruit we brought to him 2 weeks ago still in the refrigerate. We took most of them away. We left a little bit new fruit for him.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Telisa flew into town today, so her, Bodie, Tiffany and Rylee paid a visit to Dad. They found him happy and excited to see them. His spirits were good today.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Took Dad to get his watch fixed today and then we went to lunch at Five Guys. He purchased a few things at WalMart- Phillips, new belt and stomach meds. He said he was feeling good today. He keeps asking me if the pictures of the woman in his apartment are his wife. I assure him, they are.

After one week on the market we have had one call and no showings of Harold's Condo. Not surprising this close to Christmas! The Condo is all clean and will show really well. The other unit for sale in Courtyard lowered their price $10,000 to $164,900! This is a short sale so I don't think we need to get in a price war with them. We can be patient.
I visited Harold yesterday for a few minutes. He wanted cash and some milk!

Dad's Visits

I've been visiting Dad daily. Most of the time, he is pretty amiable. He has complained about not getting enough food to eat, but in the same breath he says he doesn't want to eat very much. He says his stomach is feeling better. I have been bringing projects for us to work on, which he says is fun.
Today, Monday, the 14th, I went to Dad's place about 2pm today. He asked me what I was doing there. He said he was expecting company. Lisa, the girl from Edward Jones came and they discussed his stocks. He didn't really want me there to hear their discussion, so I left. I took his laundry and told him Tara would be coming at about 5:30 to cut his hair. I also gave him the number of the barber shop in his building that could cut his hair for only $10.00. He apologized for his rudeness that night before.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Todd & I went to visit Dad after work today. I asked if he wanted to have a little FHE and read an Ensign article. He wanted to tell Todd & I about an article he'd read - the First Presidency Message. He told us about all the bad things that happened in 1918 - President Joseph F. Smith dying, his wife dying soon after, WWI, and the flu epidemic. Todd got hold of the Ensign after and this was not the First Presidency Message. He searched the first half of the Ensign and couldn't find this article. We really started to wonder until we got home and I found the article at the end of the magazine. He had some of the details wrong (it was President Smith's son and daughter-in-law that passed away) but he was pretty close on most of it. We felt a LOT better after that.

Todd took Harold's form for his church membership records to be switched to this new branch to the office. The man that helped him is the Sunday School teacher for the branch. He said he'd get it to the right people.

Harold stressed that he really doesn't want a visit every day, but he does want a phone call. I've tried to call most days (I think I've made 10 and missed 4). I have his phone number listed by my phone at work to help me remember. Todd told him he'd try and call daily too.

Todd & I were just getting ready to leave when Tara and her girls came - time for Harold's hair cut. It seems like he wants it cut about every 2 weeks. I think we should have him use the hair stylist that visits the retirement home at least part of the time. I'm guessing every two weeks might be hard for Tara to manage with her busy schedule.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Sorry Todd & I have been so bad updating the blog lately.

Todd stopped by at lunch on Friday, December 4th to visit.

Todd & I visited Monday. We went down to dinner with him. The cost is $8.00 per person for dinner. You can pay then or they will add it to Harold's monthly bill. Harold wasn't very hungry because he'd eaten breakfast and lunch. He insisted three meals a day is just too many. He did manange to eat almost all his food. I balanced his checkbook for him.

Visiting Dad

I have been visiting Dad everyday. I don't have a minute to go into details. He's happy when I'm there. I take him on errands. He does complain of stomach pain occasionally. He seems to know a lot of people, but makes no effort to participate in any of the activities. He says he rather be lonely. He is forgetting whole days it appears. I put a guest book in his apartment, so please sign in when you come so he knows who comes to visit him each day.

All the repairs will be done by tomorrow. The signs are up to sell Harold's Condo. Now all we need is a qualified buyer!

I went to have Harold sign the listing documents and he is complaining of stomach pains now for the last three days. He says he doesn't want to see a doctor! I was there right after lunch so I asked him what he ate for lunch. He said hamburger. They served chicken! So I don't know if he went to lunch or just forgot what he ate. Based on his previous blood test, he might have a bleeding ulcer again. He really needs to have an endoscopy.

Today, new carpet was installed in Dad's Condo. Gail also cleaned the bathrooms, kitchen and hall cabinets. I got all the kitchen items in boxes. There are few more things that need to be done before we can put it on the market such as new vinyl in the laundry room (the water heater has been leaking and the vinyl has mold under it - this will be done Thursday), the disposal leaks and needs to be replaced and some walls need to be patched and painted ( I can do most of this). The other unit for sale in the project that was under contract had their sale fail (Bummer - it would be nice to be the only unit for sale!) From the handful of units that have sold in his development this year it appears to be worth somewhere in the low to mid $160,000's. He paid $184,785 in November 2007! I would like to put it on the market for $169,000 and go from there. Any comments?

4 Dec 2009 Visit Dad

Ashling, me and my parents visited Dad this afternoon. He does looks well. He is friendly and asking Ashling the questions about BYU. He said he felt better. He keep forget the meal time...
He showed me all the pictures in his apartment. I saw little frame on the top of kitchen cabinet. I could not see who are they. He told me "it is my family, this is my wife, this is...the boy died, i can't remember his name (I told him his name is Gary)".
I brought some fruits for him. He likes them. I told him we will pick him up sometime during the Christmas time for BBQ.
Yes, he looks happier. Thanks for all your guys taking care of a lot of things of him.

Last Week- Nov 30-Dec 4 2009

We are coming upon the end of the first week of Dad's new home! He seems to have adjusted pretty well. He has been friendly to the other inhabitants and seems to already have made some friends. Den and I visited him everyday until we left for St. George on Friday. I know Treavor, Sara and Owen visited him on Friday. I believe Lena and Ashling visited him on Saturday. I think Tristen and Tara were going to stop by while I was gone, as well. Thursday, I took him to my home while I decorated my Christmas tree. He watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and balled all the way through it. (my favorite movie too!) He had lunch at my house. We shopped at Target for a few things, Milk of Magnesia, even though he has tons already. Then he was ready for me to take him home.
For everyone's information, Sheryl and I organized all his meds into labeled bins in his front closet so he knows what he has.
I think he was a little nervous about me going to St. George. He kept asking me over and over again, when I would be returning from St. George.

Called Dad

Just called Dad to test the new number (1 801 281-6120). He didn't answer. I assume he is getting breakfast. I will try back.

We tested the Rescue Alert system yesterday and it works. Harold wants to get rid of it since he has the pull chains in his room but we convinced him that he should use it the rest of this month since it is already paid for. Hopefully we can get him to use it next year also. We also are encouraging him to use the elevator to go down stairs.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I moved everything out of the two bedrooms and bathrooms to the garage. I packed the canned goods into boxes to donate to the Food Bank. I took Harold three folding chairs, toilet paper and a few other items that where left at his house. I also found his phone charger and plugged it into his cell phone on the kitchen counter. He forgot that Kathryn posted the meal times on the inside of the kitchen cabinet! We still need to pack up the kitchen, pantry and laundry room. When Mike comes for Christmas we can meet at his Condo and decide what to do with all his personal items. As we all know, he doesn't want to give up any of it! Today, I called First Alert and changed the phone number and put Olympus Ranch as first contact since they are right there and could respond faster than any of us. One of us needs to test the system on our next visit to make sure it is working. Carpeting will go in Monday. We may also need to replace the vinyl in the laundry room. That black spot looks like mildew under the vinyl from a leak in the washer. We don't want to have to explain that to a potential buyer! Gail has agreed to go Monday and clean the bathrooms, walls and kitchen.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Part II

I didn't make it to see Dad during my lunch break. (With my new job, I'm only about 10 minutes away); but, I did call Dad and his new phone is set up. He had just had dinner and came back from seeing Mr. Krueger's Christmas. He visited with three ladies. Go Dad Go!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I called Olympus Cove this morning and talked to Dottie (the office number is 801-261-3889 if anyone needs it - fax is 801-261-9540). She said Harold was late for breakfast (it's at 8:00 a.m. not 8:30 a.m.) He said he was in trouble because he was late. She assured him it was ok, they expect the new residents to be late. When Todd & I talked to the staff yesterday they said to be 5 minutes early to the meal. This makes sure the serving staff can serve them and not the directors.

Dottie asked if he had his new move in packet and he said no. She had him go to her office after breakfast. There are some items we'll need to help him with. There's also a list of meals times, etc he can tape to the cabinet, door, etc. The zip code is 84121.

Harold told Dottie everyone left yesterday and went to St. George (I wish!). We were all there scurrying around setting things up and then everyone just disappeared. He should be surprised by your visit today Kathryn!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Todd, Sheryl, Dennis, Tara, Trinity, Grace, Jovie and myself moved Dad yesterday to a new Retirement Home called Olympus Ranch. Dad had cold feet the week prior to the move, but we spoke to him on Sunday at our Thanksgiving feast and rerouted his thinking. We worked hard all day to pack, move, unpack and get him all settled in his new place. His biggest request was he needs to have at least one phone call a day, preferably in the morning, to make sure he is still alive. So, starting this afternoon his new phone number will be 801-281-6120. Also, his cell phone does work, we checked it out. His address is: 971 East 5600 South #204 Murray, Utah 84123
My hope is he will make lots of good friends, eat healthier and find some peace in his life. I plan to visit him again today. I think during these first few months, we should visit him more often until he feels completely comfortable there. Meals are at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm, 5:30 pm and snacks all day long. If we visit during those times, we can eat with him for free.