Continuing Story Part 32

The next day Drake and Dahlia found some free time and Dahlia asked him to accompany

her to the jewelry store so that they could pick out his ring for their wedding. They walked to town, hand in hand, and window shopped at each store they came upon. Drake was explaining what items were placed in the windows for all to see. The two of them found themselves adding notations to what they would like to put in their own home. Drake opened the jewelry store door and let Dahlia enter. They went to the counter and Drake said they were here to find a matching band for the rings that he had picked out for his bride to be. The sales lady took out the order from his purchase and found a band that matched perfectly. Dahlia asked him if he liked it and did it fit alright, and Drake just gave her a big hug to show how much he loved it. She told the lady that she would take it and she pulled out her money to pay for it and then had the lady keep it put back for her until it got closer to the wedding. They all said good bye and then left the store.

With Drew’s illness, classes and tutoring the students, the two found time ticking quickly by. It was now two months before graduation, so they decided while they were in town, to go to the florist shop and actually place an order, instead of dream shopping only.

The florist was very nice and eager to help the couple. They each told about the colors they wanted and what time of day the wedding was going to be, and putting their heads together, they decided on red dahlias, that would be showing their full beauty on the day of their wedding to compliment their love for each other. They also ordered some rose petals to be placed on the church aisle where the two would be walking down to receive each other. There were going to be small white buds of different flowers that were going to have white ribbons surrounding them, and these could be hung at each pew. The cost of these flowers was more expensive than they had wished for, but they went ahead with it, knowing this would be a day they would never repeat with any other again.

After leaving there, they compared notes with what needed to be done yet. Drake had his suit, and he had her rings on hold at the jewelry store and she had her dress,and now his ring, and  the church had been reserved, the minister had been talked to and had committed to the date. The flowers were ordered. All that was left was the food and the finishing of the guest lists. The guest list was going to be small and intimate. Family, and close friends from school.

Drake had Drew who was going to be his best man, but Dahlia noted that she had no one to walk her down the aisle, but she knew that Sue was going to stand up with her. The two of them looked at each other and both knew where they wanted to go, so they headed back home, and went in and told Rachel and Ralph that they were going to pay a visit to Dahlia’s father, and then they got into the family car and took off for his house.

Upon arrival, they got out and went to the door and knocked. No one answered, so they knocked again. The door opened and Drake saw  Dahlia’s father standing  there looking like death warmed over. Drake and Dahlia entered and helped her father back into his chair.

The three visited and Dahlia asked her father if there was anything that needed to be done around the house and had he eaten lunch yet, and her father replied, he wasn’t hungry, and the house was fine.

Dahlia wanted to help her father, but she did not know quite how to be of help. She could cook though, and maybe this was a way of showing him that she cared about him.

She asked her father if he would be willing to let her  fix them some lunch, and he did not say yes or no, so she found her way into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and cupboards to feel  what was available to  fix them for the noon meal. Everything seemed so empty. There was an egg box with two eggs that were stuck to the inside.  When she opened the jug, she could smell that it was once milk and had now soured, and it was almost empty. There was a few slices of  cheese, but she could not tell if it was outdated or not, and the cupboards were not much better.

She walked back into the living room and took Drake aside and explained the despair of the kitchen, and he immediately told her father that they were going  to go to the grocery store to replenish his kitchen cupboards and fill up his refrigerator. Her father didn’t say anything, and  neither did he argue, but instead he pulled out his wallet and offered them some money, saying it wasn’t too much, but here is what he had.

She gave Drake a kiss and thanked him for his help and understanding and the two  headed for the store. They left him sitting at the house wondering why they were being so kind to him. After all he did not deserve even a visit.

Soon the two were  back and filled his refrigerator and cupboard shelves back to a decent spot. She then proceeded to fix them lunch. She took lettuce and washed it and tore it apart, and laid a leaf on three plates. Then she washed some tomatoes and cored them out and placed tuna mixed with eggs in the cavity of each tomato. She called out to them and let them know lunch was ready and soon all were sitting at the table, eating and talking.

Dahlia could feel  that this visit they paid to her father was a good one. In no time at all a quietness was turned into more laughter. He was glad for the conversation, and it took some of the loneliness out of his day. He enjoyed having his daughter in his presence.

After lunch was finished and the table cleared, they went back into the living room and all sat down. Dahlia told her father she had an important question to ask him and he said what is it. She explained that their wedding was coming up soon, in two months, and they had almost everything planned or purchased, but there was one thing missing from the wedding. Her father said nothing but was listening and paying attention. She went on to say, that their wedding would be perfect, if he would agree to walk her down the aisle.

Her father instantly teared up and tried hiding it by wiping his eyes. He told her that he never thought that this day would happen, that his little girl would grow up and become a woman and be happy. To be getting married to such a nice man and to want her own father to walk her down the aisle, could only be a miracle to him, a prayer that had been answered. He took a hold of both of her hands and said he would love to be involved, and nothing could keep him from being there. The two hugged each other, and then Drake  noted the time, and said that they needed to get back to the house. They all stood up and walked to the front door together and with hugs, they left him a  happier and healthier man.

Where Are The Tremors? I Heard They Leave In The Final Stage

Hi to all of my blogger friends! I had a couple of good friends ask where I was. I know I post too much, but you are the ones I talk to in my life, so I can not help it. Yesterday, I was barely on the internet, just popping in to see if there were any fires or emergencies. LOL.

I was down, and let me tell you, I hate it when I get down, and most of the time, I don’t even know what took me down in the beginning. I was fine when I woke up, and I think it may have started when I had to strip Al’s bed down to the mattress, as he had soaked his bed good. He had done this the night before also, and even today, during his nap, he wet, but I didn’t have to strip the whole bed, just had to make surface changes.

Yesterday, before I could start drinking my coffee, I had the complete bed change, Al to wash up and shave, and then fix him breakfast, and then drink my coffee. I spent the day floating from then on, but not really having my mind anywhere particular.

I switched out Al and my summer clothing and replaced with all fall and winter. I could see that I am going to have to purchase some smaller pants for Al,  just by comparing him to his sweats, there is much difference in sizes. I did laundry, and then felt so pooped half way through the day, that I ended up taking a nap.

I should not be feeling this way. I am middle-aged but I am not ready for the rocker on the porch thing, so I don’t know why I am so darn tired all the time.

This Parkinson’s is a tricky business. While Al can go from sad to happy in ten seconds, his tremors have slowed down immensely for several days. I read on a couple of web sites, that the final stage can bring a slowness in tremors, so while they are slowing, I am having to face the fact, that he is definitely becoming incontinent permanently. He is wet all through sleeping times, and he does not soak through the day usually, but he does wet, so while some things are slowing, others are speeding up.

Last evening, I was still down, but a very good friend of mine pushed me back to normal by talking to me through emails for a couple of hours. She is just what I needed, plenty of laughter, and complaining about our days, just girl stuff, you know??

I woke up still in a good mood today, so I am glad the sadness has left for today also. I changed his sheets and bathed him, got his breakfast, and then sat here at the computer with my hot coffee and wrote a writing exercise, and did a couple of quotes, and even played a game, that I love on FB.

Al has continued his calm tremors today and I have seen plenty of smiles, and a couple of laughs. He even refused his noon pain medications, but by supper he was freezing a little and staggering, so I gave him two of his pain meds.

I fixed lasagna for supper with biscuits and corn, and he acted like he had not eaten for years. He gobbled it up in no time at all. He is sitting on the couch reading the paper, and I don’t even hear the paper rattling like I usually do from his tremors.

All in all it has been a good day today. I can’t figure out the PD, but I am thankful for a good day and laughter from Al.

Less Tremors, More Naps

Yesterday was another one of those days where the tremors had decided to give Al’s body

parkinson (Photo credit: ibarakaldo)

a rest. Sunday was like that also. He has been more smiley these past two days than any other days. I wish I knew, once again, what it was that is allowing him more calmness, because I would make sure I kept that activity a priority. Again, though, it could be all the prayers, and it could also be the fact that he is now in his final stages of PD.

Parkinson’s Disease, from what I have studied and researched, can prove to have tremors become less and less in the fifth stages. I am not sure what causes this, but there is a part of me right now, that if this is true for Al, I almost wish the tremors would flare up to their normalcy again. This way I don’t have to think of any ending at all. I hope this makes sense to  you.

I love my brother and although he suffers many days, I don’t want to be unselfish. I don’t want to ever say goodbye, but that is selfish, and I have placed Al in God’s hands many months ago. I have to trust in God that he has this all in his control, and is doing what is best for Al and for me.

This morning, I knew that Stanley Steamer was coming to clean the living room carpet and the pathways of both bedrooms. I had put off picking up the small items until this morning, knowing I would have plenty of time. They were not to be here until the hours of 9-11AM.

Al got up at nine and we proceeded to get his breakfast fixed along with medications distributed. While Al eats his breakfast, I go into my bedroom and pick up throw rugs, and shoes, and anything else I see lying around.

I go into his bedroom and  pick up numerous coke items strewn on the floor. Now I tell him constantly not to leave items on the floor as it will cause him to fall easier, but he doesn’t listen to me. I go over to make his bed, and find the bed pad and the sheets soaked.

I was really surprised, because Al is always wet, but never soaks the bed or bed pads. I go ahead and pull  all dirty sheets off and start a load of laundry. I disinfect the mattress that is thankfully, plastic. I place the clean sheets on the bed and make it nice and clean for him. I clean the commode and the urinal, and then I go out to the kitchen where he is still eating, and ask him if he had any problems the night prior, and he says no.

I mention that the bed was a little wet and he says he doesn’t know how it got that way. Alright, whether he does or does not remember, is not a big issue, and I will not bring up any reasons for him to feel more guilty than he already does with the side effects of this disease.

So all is done in his room, and he is all finished eating, so I take him to his bathroom, and do a total wash up and get all clean clothes and a clean brief  on him. I breathe a sigh, as I know for now, he is all taken care of and smelling fresh.

I still have my house robe on and as I start to go to my bedroom to get dressed, the door bell rings, and low and behold, the cleaning company is well on time. I am forced to answer the door with hair unkempt, my pretty blue full length flannel house robe, and I try to divert their eyes by giving them my biggest fake smile I can produce. They both look at me, and smiled, saying, hi, we are from Stanley Steamer. I am thinking uh duh, I see the truck dudes!

I let them in and tell them I was just on my way to get dressed, could they forgive me while they get out their equipment, and they nodded yes. Well, they have come and gone, and the carpets look great! You have to wonder how carpets get so dirty when we both take our shoes off at the door, but they do, believe me!

So here I sit at the computer, Al is dozing on the couch as he is commonly found now, which I still have issues with getting used to. Al is a routine man, and he knows by his own rules, that there is no sleeping until three PM, nap time, so to find him napping mornings and evenings is still new to me. My white socks that I am to wear, waiting for the carpets to dry, which will be about four hours,  are already soaked. My feet are shriveled like prunes, my body is cold from having two fans running on the carpets, when it is only 50 degrees outside, and Al is lying with no covers on, head cocked to the side, sound asleep.

The day is good, Al’s tremors under control, clean bed, laundry working, my two cups of coffee drank, and carpet sparkling once again. Can it get any better???

I Normally Don’t Cuss

Today has been a hell of a day. There, I cussed, I said it out loud. The day started with me waking up in a good mood, but before an hour had passed, hell came in and sunshine left.

First our kitten, Cali, who is seven months old needs to be taught some manners. She has definitely come to feel comfortable here in our home. I had noticed that when looking for something last evening, I had gone into dust bunny heaven under my bed, and saw that the dark gray lining that hides the boards of a box springs, had a nice big hole shredded in it, and I don’t think the dust bunnies did it! Today, when I got up,my one framed picture hanging above the couch was all crooked. I think someone named Cali had been on the back of the couch, trying to investigate exactly what that was.

If I let her in my room at nights to sleep, she constantly bounces off and on the bed, wanting to play, causing the master of her to become very cranky, from lack of beauty sleep. So I close my door now for my sake and her sake of living. On the other hand, I can hear her out in the living room racing through the house, playing, and as I try so hard to ignore her and drift in to la-la land, I wonder what she is doing. The picture told me one of the things she did. I have used water bottles with sprayers, and it works as long as the water is being sprayed.

I steam cleaned my floors this morning, and she was biting the cord, and chasing the mop, while I was yelling at her and hoping she would not get burnt. I took a break from cleaning and was sitting here at the computer, and all of a sudden felt four claws go straight into my skin. OUCH. Oh man, that hurt. She raced across the back of the couch, I don’t know how many times. I sprayed her, she got down, and then she went to it again.

With Al, yesterday he fell early in the morning, and fell into his closet door bumping  his head. He is alright, but ever since then walking for him has become bad. It isn’t from the fall that he is walking bad, it is from the stiffness and freezing. All day today he has walked with great stiffness, moving very slowly, cussing with each step. I have seen  tears and tears and he has put himself down all through lunch today. So today, I either saw tears, or heard downgrading of one’s self, or seen Cali in motion.

After lunch, I finally got the house cleaned, and I went to bed to watch television and just relax. I ended up taking a nap the same time Al did, and woke up a couple of hours later. I had forgotten to set something out for supper, I realized too late, so I got on the phone with my yawny voice, and ordered a pizza from Papa Johns.

Already Al is up, he is barely, and I mean barely walking. Tears are flooding and he wants to go to the ER to get help with his pain. I told him that if his chest hurt, or his head, or

stomach, I would take him, but for his stiffness in walking and the freezing mode from Parkinson’s, that going to the ER would be a bad idea, as they were giving him the medications he needed now. I explained how the rotten Parkinson’s was bigger than medicines.

So now the kitten is playing with the broom bristles, that I would like to chase her with, Al is crying from pain, and the door bell rang with the pizza.

Real Or Not

I seemed to rough today, you may be saying to yourself. I didn’t ask the normal questions that I used to do. Instead I explained he was asleep and dreaming. He told me he was asleep, but someone knocked at his door, and it was God standing there when he opened his eyes, but yet he tells me he was awake when this happened. I guess you can take it as you wish. He was asleep and dreaming all this, or he was asleep and woken up and therefore awake for the conversation. I, personally, am not going to challenge this area, as I am still too tired.

We had a busy day yesterday, because of this photo. We got a new kitty. A female calico, whom we named Cali. She is six months old and very ornery. She had lived outside most of her life, and so training for indoor use of a kitty box was a challenge. The first night we had her, she slept  at the edge of my head until five in the morning, then she woke up. I brought her out to the living room where for the millionth time, I tried putting her in her kitty litter box, but each time I placed her there, all four legs went spread eagled and all claws came out. She didn’t go, but instead, chose to go in another area.

At five in the morning, I was not a happy camper! I stayed awake for some time, as she was ready to play, and I wasn’t. She was hungry, and I was not. We had purchased some kitty toys, which she played with for about an hour. My sleep headache kicked in. I hate these headaches, because the only thing that cures them is sleep.

She played and I cleaned up her mess. Finally, she settled down and I laid on the couch, but she didn’t want me to lie down. Instead she chose to jump all over me, and kiss my nose, and purr in my ear. Her play continued once again, and when she finally settled for her morning nap, and I was about asleep on the couch, a half an hour later, Al was up.

Up I go, and get medications ready and  help with breakfast, while that ornery little Cali, lie napping on the couch, that was once claimed mine. As soon as breakfast was over, the shower girl appeared. I had not even had time to get dressed, or maybe I was too tired to dress, but either way, I greeted her in my P.J.’s.

After she left, I laid down on the couch and Al watched television, the cat napped and played, and I slept. It was nice, but I felt so drugged out once my nap was over, because either my age or my body was telling me that it was out of its zone, that I had slept too late.

The rest of the day was spent outside in the shed, cleaning it out, and building a new shelf area, because I can’t quit buying new things I think the yard needs or my son adds his items to the shed, so we needed more space. I also kept putting Cali in the litter box, off and on all day, because I was determined to win this game. She was going to use the litter box or else!

My son and his family was here most of the day, and we grilled out brats and hamburgers on the grill and made some pasta and vegetables for side dishes, for our supper. After all clean up was done, I came into the living room to pick up the darn kitty and try once again, but I was in shock, because she, herself, was climbing into it just as I was going to pick her up and try again. She went! All by herself!. I was so thankful, I was thanking Jesus right there in front of everyone. I didn’t care, who saw or heard me, she was trained!

My son and his girlfriend left for a while, and I watched the boys while Al watched his TV and the boys played. As I was watching them , I noticed how dirty they were from being outside so much, so I gave each of them a bath. I fortunately had clean swim trunks of the oldest boy’s here, so he put those on, but I had no clean clothes for the little one, so I tied one of my sleeveless tank tops in a criss cross direction at the shoulders and slipped this on him. To me, he looked so cute, but his mom said what???? is that???? when she got back, and I explained the bathing, and you can change him to boy clothes when you go home.

By the time they left, it was late, Al was tired, the kitty had been worn out from play. I took a shower and we all went to bed, even the kitty climbed back up on the edge of my head and slept all night until five this morning. This time I didn’t get up, because I knew she knew the kitty box. My sleep wasn’t that good afterwards, although I never got out of bed with her, but she decided she needed to let me know she was awake, by bouncing and  playing all over the bed, after she pottied and ate.

I ignored her and rolled over and through the waves of the bed bouncing, I went back to sleep. I was woke up to Al saying, it’s time. Yep, I had over slept once again. I jumped out of bed, and glanced at the living room floor and it was clean. Cali had done a good job!

I got Al’s medications ready and helped him with breakfast. He needed help with his vitamin this morning from his tremors. Yesterday, the tremors seemed fairly calm, but this morning, they were full force.

I grabbed a cup of coffee and just sat here at the computer desk, looking around at the house, which to me was a disaster. Kitty toys everywhere, kitty litter on the floor. Spills under and around the table last night from Al and the two boys eating. I had to clean up, but I was still tired.

Al is having a very difficult time eating, and it took him quite some time to finish his breakfast, but about three-fourths way through his eating he tells me that God knocked on his bedroom door, and that God came over to his bed and sat down, and told him it is time.

This brought tears and it is also was  when that little bit of roughness came over me. I have heard it so much, that in my heart, I assume that is was another one of his dreams, so I just said calmly to him, you were dreaming bud, but he didn’t buy it, and I didn’t want to argue, so as he told his story, I drank my coffee and smoked my cigarette, and didn’t offer any words to him. I am not going to try to prove him or me right or wrong, what’s the use? He is still sitting here, breathing, crying and eating, so it isn’t time right this moment.

I can’t keep doing it! I can’t keep getting myself all worked up thinking that each word he says about how God visits him, I go to pieces, thinking I am going to lose Al at anytime! Watching him more than I needed to. It makes me stressed more than usual, and I don’t need this, and neither does he.

I sat down here to start this story, and got the first four words on paper, and I hear him come out of his bathroom, and ask me to wash his back. I said sure, and got up and went to his bathroom to help him. His body was covered in heavy sweat, which is beginning to be a normal thing for him daily for about an hour after he rises, so I washed him all down and  powdered his back and chest. I put his deodorant on him and placed the toothpaste on his toothbrush.

I looked at his room, and chuckled to myself. It doesn’t matter how much Al sweats, or how many tears are falling, or whether God came to him or not, he doesn’t budge from his routine.

There in his recliner, sat a pile of coca cola items, leaving him no  place to sit. He had taken  his dirty sheets off and they were lying on the floor. It is Thursday!, changing sheet day. Time for me to get to work on his room.

I placed my thoughts on hold, went in and moved all the coca cola items away from his bed so I could get in around the bed to make it with clean sheets. Al was standing in the doorway hanging onto both sides of the door frame, waiting for me to finish. When I was finished, he made his way to his recliner, and neatly placed each collection item back on the edge of the bed, so he could study them through out the day.

There is one piece that our dear friend had sent him in the gift box last month, and it is a Christmas, coca cola ornament. I have the baby monitor system so that I can hear him if he yells for me, and each night as I lie down to go to sleep, I hear a Christmas song being played, coming over the monitor. Al took this ornament, that he treasures so much, and placed it on the very top of his pile on the bed, and nearest to him, so he can play it through out the day.

We go through many changes in one day here, but Al’s routine never changes even through the tears, and visions and pain he endures. I chuckled again as I walked out of his room, amazed at what this man can endure, but yet keep his mind cemented to. I am now sitting here writing this. Al is watching television and I hear a bell in the background, letting me know that Cali is not napping yet. After I am finished, I will begin to clean the house up once again for the day.