Would I Do It Again?

Ephesians 1: 8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He had purposed in Himself.

We're in the hospital for a few days, because my dad had a severe kidney infection. There were lots of lessons learned and that's why I have several different posts about this experience. I stayed with my dad each of the three nights he stayed in the hospital. Would I do it again?

Nope! Originally, I thought that I would be there to protect my dad by being able to get prompt attention when IVs run out. Instead it has put a strain on our relationship. They had to catheterize my dad, something he was not happy about.  The doctor came in to see my dad and asked me to have him breathe into this hand held breathing meter 4 or 5 times every hour. After several hours, I remembered that I was supposed to have him breathe into the meter and he refused. I'm the one who tells him he can't just jump out of the bed to go to the bathroom, because he has an IV hooked to his arm and a catheter bag hooked to the bed.

He made a less than positive comment directed to me. After much prayer, God helped me realize that my dad has had to deal with several new things that limit his independence and he connects all these limiting events with me. If I stayed home, it would have been the nurses who would give him the breathing meter. It would have been the nurses telling him he can't just hop up and go to the bathroom. It wouldn't have put such a strain on our relationship. I guess I can't make a blanket statement, because it probably depends on the situation. I will need to trust the instincts that God gives me at the time, because he always knows the big picture. Ephesians 1: 8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He had purposed in Himself.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.



Video: Insidermedicine In Depth-November 22, 2010-Falls in Elderly Hospital Patients
By: Dr. Susan Sharma, Insidermedicine via You Tube



Timing

James 1: 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

My dad and I have totally different timing for our eating. We are the complete opposites. My dad is very thorough about his eating. He has to be, because if he doesn't chew his food finely enough, he could choke on it. He consistently chews each bite of food what seems like 153 times. It takes my dad approximately an hour to eat a meal and I need to be mindful of this, so he never feels rushed.

I, on the other hand, wolf my food down in five to seven minutes.  I tell myself that I developed this bad habit as a Mom Thing. Mom's are often always on the go getting their family fed, trying to clean up the mess from the food preparation, trying to clean up the crumbs that are developing under the table, while throwing in the next load of laundry.

With having opposite timing, we had to find something that works well for both of us. We both sit down to eat together. It's not long until I finish wolfing down my meal. I know it's a bad habit, but it seems to be ingrained into who I am. I want to still spend time together, so sometimes I will get out the deck of cards and deal out the Solitaire game facing my dad. That way, I can play Solitaire while he eats, describing each play as I go. It allows us to spend some relaxing time together. I am very blessed to have this extra time with my dad. James 1: 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.


A Better Day

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 

Today was a much better day for my dad. What a difference a good night sleep makes! He was admitted into the hospital two days ago because of severe kidney infection. The first night we spent in the hospital was more difficult, because dad was still disoriented from his infection and fever. 

Neither of us got much sleep. That affected everything yesterday for both my dad and for me. He was cranky and uncooperative and I was overly sensitive, as well. This seemed to cloud all our interactions. Today, we woke up rested. We probably got a good night's sleep, because we were totally exhausted from the night before. 

This gives me a major message for when we return home. It reminds me that normal issues that might arise may be clouded by how tired or how well we are. It reminds me that I shouldn't take things so personally. Sometimes my dad might say things out of frustration because it's the only way he has of convey how he feels about all the changes in his life that he has no control over. I need to continue to focus on how blessed I truly am that God has given me this extra time with my dad. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 1 Thessalonians 4: 14 


Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
By: Sunnybrook Hospital via You Tube



Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Acts 13: 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine Own heart, which shall fulfill all My will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Dad's fever spiked shortly after he was admitted into the hospital for a severe kidney infection which made him even more disoriented. It's difficult seeing your parent having such a difficult time. In addition to this, it changed his personality, especially when he was disoriented.

He was less than cooperative with me and the hospital staff. We had a specifically difficult time getting him to remove his false teeth. He normally pulls them out every night, but wouldn't the night he was admitted to the hospital. The nurse tried to remove his dentures for him, but he wouldn't let her. I felt badly, so I put gloves on and tried to removes his denture, but he wasn't about to budge on it. It wasn't until around 4:30 a.m. when someone was taking his blood pressure that he finally agreed to take them out. It was a sign he was on the mend.

I was beside myself the next day when he kept sliding down in his chair teetering on the edge and wouldn't sit up when I asked him. He told me no if I offered to help him up or when I offered to get staff to help him. One of the nurse noticed and told me not to take it too personally, because he wasn't in his right mind with the kidney infection and fever. God blessed me by providing the right person at the right time to give me the moral support I needed. (Although this passage only ties in through the word "removed" I love the message foretelling about Jesus and used it anyway.) Acts 13: 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine Own heart, which shall fulfill all My will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:


Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.
By: CurePSPHowTo via You Tube



The Difference a Day Makes

Romans 10: 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Wednesday my dad had an exceptional day. His new physical therapist came and they had their first session together. I think he felt empowered. We had dinner together, watched a little TV together and he went to bed early, because he had a routine doctor's visit at the VA Clinic.

I got up around 5:30 a.m. because we needed to leave by 7 a.m. to get there in plenty of time for my dad's lab work. I decided to wake up my dad, because he likes to have plenty of time to get ready without having to be rushed.

He had a difficult time getting up and was still sitting on the edge of the bed with a new disposable undergarments in his hand 20minutes after I had given it to him. He was unable to dress himself after many prompts. It was almost time to leave and my husband ended up helping my dad get ready, so we wouldn't be late for his labs.

When we got to the doctor's appointment, we were told my dad had an elevated white blood count which was possibly an UTI. Because he had been somewhat disoriented through the day, we needed to go where they had more advanced medical equipment in case he needed further tests. 

We decided to go to the local hospital. They found that my dad had a urinary tract infection and they suggested admitting them to the hospital, but I declined because I thought I could watch my dad better at home. They told me that I should reconsider my decision. He didn't have a bladder infection, he had a kidney infection. They explained that either was a serious matter for someone his age where it wasn't as significant for someone my age and he could get Sepsis if the infection got into his blood. We admitted my dad with an agreement that I could spend the night in my dad's room.
Romans 10: 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 


Since these are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my experience, they may not reflect the whole meaning of the verse.

I'm including You Tube Video clips on caregiving that I found interesting, inspirational, or might be helpful to others, but am not responsible for the content in the videos. Always check first with a physician before trying any suggestions mentioned.



Caregiving Video: Bladder Infection Among the Elderly
By: Bart's Byte, My Care Journey via You Tube



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