Day 243

Day 243

Tuesday, January 21 2014

Physical:

Clinic days are always exhausting, and this was no different.  If anything, they get worse .. DH’s weakness is more evident when each trip is a month later than the last. 

I got him up and dressed in the morning with no trouble; he’d slept well, and was reasonably alert.  

The appointment was quicker this time.  They were rushing because of impending bad weather.  The nurse did all the things he needed to do; and the doctor (the reason for the visit – Medicare requirement) was there less than 5 minutes.  We did not have to deal with the social worker or nutritionist.  Even so, by the time we left, DH was so tired he couldn’t even sit up straight in the car.

Fortunately, getting him in and out wa not a major problem. 

As soon as we got home, he wanted to go straight to bed, and he slept the rest of the afternoon.  I took him some sandwiches (he wouldn’t wake enough to eat earlier) for an early supper (that being about the only thing he can safely eat while sitting in bed!).  But, about 7:00, he suddenly decided he was tired of bed and insisted on getting up.  I’ve learned the hard way what happens if I refuse; and I can tell when trying to “talk him down” just will not work.  So, he got up; watched TV for just over an hour; and was ready to go to bed.

He slept fairly well all night, although I think he was disturbed, as I was, by that dratted barking dog just outside (on the side of the house where there are NO doors, so trying to run it off isn’t a viable option).

People:

DSS took us to the appointment.  He saw the nurse and doctor, then came home.  That was it!

Emotions:

I keep thinking a good night’s sleep will make me suddenly alert and energetic. L  Not happening.  I start out well, and tend to get a lot of things done in the very early morning – even though I really do not want to be awake then.  But by mid morning I’ve fizzled; and yet I still have the whole day … getting DH up and down, meals, pills, etc..  By early evening I can barely move; so within half an hour or less of taking DH his last pills, I’m asleep.  Which means I wake up in the middle of the night.

Last night, in addition to the barking dog, I believe there’s a litter of puppies roaming around that were on the porch.  I’m sure they’re starving, and were looking for any remaining scraps of the cat’s food. I don’t know what to do … I’ve already been told this county’s animal control will not come get them.  I was told I could bring them in .. and pay a ridiculous fee for EACH uppy to be spayed or neutered plus shots.  And then they will charge someone else to adopt them!  I think not.  But even if I would do all that, I have no way to catch and transport them.  If I did, I would have eliminatd at least 3 or 4 of the cats out there.

Every day I have every intention in the world of going upstairs and starting to make a dent in the cleaning.  And every afternoon, I sit down .. and fall asleep.  Then I wake up groggy and I just hate it!  But I feel so tired I just can’t help it.  The days when someone is here I do better of course; but as soon as they leave I crash.  At least *something* gets done those days.  It’s frustrating to have to pay someone to come help me tackle that room, but I just don’t see any other way to get it done.  I’m not tired of my Christmas decorations in general, but I’m ready to put up a few at a time.  I’m starting to have things piled up, and that is also frustrating.  I’ve worked very hard on getting the house at least neat and mostly uncluttered, and now it’s gotten junky looking again.

Even when I get up early and get things done, I seem to have a hard time sitting down and writing.  Actually, I guess I rarely just sit down to do something without having to constantly get up for something or other.  And if I don’t – I seem to fall asleep! 

Hospice is on a 2 hour delay today because of weather.  That shouldn’t make any difference at all since we never actually know what time anyone will be coming here.  I need to go find something that needs to be done while I can.  I’ll have to get DH up soon; clearly, this will not be a sleep til noon day.