Topic: My Dad's Situation, "At Rehab" UPDATE!

[bill440cars]

Paul, I pray that things improve for your sister, and that you all know comfort and clarity in their due time.

Bill, stay the course man!  You're doing a good job.  I pray that you have continued strength and courage!

         Thank you for that, Mordechai. I really do appreciate that. Lord knows I need it.

[HavocTurbo]

Kick some ass my man....

I'll be cheering you on!!!!

[333]

Puppies and Kittens, Bill.

Remember this mantra to keep the blood pressure down.

[bill440cars]

Puppies and Kittens, Bill.

Remember this mantra to keep the blood pressure down.

[bill440cars]

Kick some ass my man....

I'll be cheering you on!!!!

           Thanks Guy, Every bit helps!

[Ecosse]

i'm still pullin' for y'all. righteousness always prevails in the end.

[bill440cars]

        BTW, as of today (20 Jan 09), My Dad has his own cell phone, has progressed fro the Nursing Home in Perryville, to the Nursing Home in Greenwood, then a Rehab in Fort Smith and NOW, in n Assisted Living Home up here. Also, he's progressed from laying in a bed in a Nursing Home  and making ANY move in a wheel chair to Sitting up in HIS OWN RECLINER AND making his moves using a WALKER! He gave me fits the 1st 3 times I went to be with him at the Rehab and finally mellowed out (I know the change from the Nursing Home, a place & people he had become familiar with, to the Rehab was something that rattled him) and when I was checking him out of the Rehab to take him to the Assisted Living Home, he gave an indication of starting up again. But, you know, I just started talking stuff and think I might have gotten him distracted and he started thinking and realized that this was to give him a better chance of getting his life back (that S & S had taken away from him) I am in hopes that his thinking might have gone something like this:

         They "Dumped him in that Nursing Home, supposed to be SHORT TERM for REHAB- It wasn't, It was LONG TERM! PERIOD!

          I Told him that I would not let him stay there-- I Didn't!

          I Got him out of there and out of the area and put him in a Nursing Home in the town where I live, told him that it was SHORT TERM AND IT WAS!!

          I told him that I would help him to get back on his feet AND (with the help of a REHAB) I DID!

          I old Him that, when I could get him in an Assisted Living Home, I'd get him setup with his own oxygen equipment so he could come and go as he pleased  AND I DID! AND he's up and on his feet, using a walker (and I creatively attached a short oxygen bottle in a bag, to a walker to make it easier for him go from his apartment to the dinning room and back). I told him that I would get him a cellphone on my account and I did that today (20 Jan 09). Our Lawyer called me this afternoon and says that we really need to make, yet another attempt to meet with David (with the same conditions). Personally, I think it's more than we should have to do, but I'm no Legal Know-It-all! So, even though the time is running out, we will try to set up ANOTHER meeting (supposed to be) with David by himself! The Lawyer feels like that the whole thing will be dropped, but I Just Don't Know. David can be SO STUPID about things and when backed in a corner (like I think he is), he just keeps digging in deeper!

                               Later on, Bill      

[bill440cars]

i'm still pullin' for y'all. righteousness always prevails in the end.

         Thanks for that Bill, I'll tell ya, I was going in so many directions yesterday and had so many things to take care of and get done, I was physically AND mentally drained by the end of the day. I moved a bed, computer desk, 2 recliners, a small table (goes between the chairs) and his chest of drawers in that apartment by myself yesterday, along with getting the oxygen folks over to set him up with their equipment an then to find out that the tv cable couldn't get hooked up til Friday! My Dad likes his TV and I was really worried that he'd start showing himself, because of that. But, he hasn't. (need a "Sigh Of Relief" smiley). I had hoped to take him to Denney's (one of his favorite places to eat) today for lunch and I couldn't manage to get back over there til almost 12:00 and when I did, he wasn't in his room, nor was his walker or his oxygen bottle. I found him in the Dinning Room getting ready to dig in on a nice looking plate of food. I can not tell you how relieved I was. I went over and apologized for not being able to get back to take him out to Denney's and that I was concerned about the length and elavation of the handicapped ramp to the front door. He was so sorgial and asked how long and how much of an angle the ramp was. I explained, using distances in the dinning room and indicated the angle of the slope of the ramp and he told me that he'd work up to it because he likes to eat out. Went back over this afternoon to give my Dad the cell phone i had gotten, put our phone numbers in his phone and called the numbers so that all he'd have to do is push the send button, select which one he wants and push the send button again. Didn't get back over there til about 7:45PM and my Daughter Karla and I walked in (after I lightly knocked) and found him in the bed sound asleep! At that point I had not attached the short oxygen bottle to the walker, so I did that and we quietly left. DAMN, it does my heart good to see him so relaxed and sleeping so peacefully!

                                 

[medic09]

it does my heart good to see him so relaxed and sleeping so peacefully!                  

That right there shows you how much good you've accomplished.  To restore some of a person's peace of mind, so they can relax and sleep, is a truly great gift.

Good job, Bill.  We're all really glad to see your dad have this opportunity.

[Sam Green Racing]

Things are looking rosie Billy, well done mate.

Sam.

[fuzzybutt]

i truly got a tear in my eye seeing how relaxed your dad is and that he's in assisted living now. it's always a good thing saving someone from such a bad situation but 100 times more so when it's a family member. good on ya bill, keep up the good work

[bill440cars]

         Guys, It IS really touching to me ALSO. So far, my Dad is doing well, When he gets up to use the walker, he is so much more stable in his moves. He is taking it quite well that the TV cable won't be turned on until this Friday (23 Jan) and, when he heard that another chance at a meeting, he didn't want to even go there. But, when I told him my thoughts and what the Lawyer said about that this could bring about the end of this thing, Dad said, "Let's go and see if we can get this over with!" Now, personally, I don't think that they will drop it just because my Dad is doing well and all. I don't believe that for one minute. I would come closer to believing that they might have actually realized (with convincing from their Lawyer) that they can not win and it could end up costing them alot of money (that they don't have, since the "Sponge" has dried up)! Hey, listen to this, I told my Dad today that we could bring a motorcycle into the apartment and work on it! But, that probably wouldn't go over well with the administrator! So, I guess we will have to wait til better weather and do it here at my house. Maybe, after some time, we'll have some details and photos of a "Project" (like the 250 Jawa, a 450 or something along that line).      

[333]

So, has he made any new friends at the home yet?  My Mom and my Mother-in-law live in these type of places, and "new meat" typically gets pounced on and welcomed in grand fashion.  My Mother-in-law met someone who went to the same high school in the same time period.  My Mom plays poker(!) and has joined a band, and is learning to play an autoharp(?).

[bill440cars]

      Well, he's met a few folks there, but he mainly stays in his apartment except for Meal time. He's not gonna miss any of them, if they are worth having. He sits in his apartment as much as he can and ether plays Solitaire on a hand held game or does his Word search. Supposed to get the TV cable turned on this coming Friday (23 Jan) And THAT will become, once again, part of his routine. Now, that administrator of the place, will get them out of their rooms now and then yo try to get them active in something and that's good. He still seems pretty content with what I'm doing. We're supposed to go to Little Rock to see about meeting with David, on Monday at noon. Now, the same conditions are in place as before (he is supposed to lock my Dad's van up on his driveway, bring the keys, the billfold with contents, his personal effects AND leave HER at home! Now, if SHE comes with him AND comes in, WE ARE OUT OF THERE! I also will have some Back up should David and/or Jan get stupid on us! Soon as the weather gets a bit warmer and I get some things settled, He and I are going to be doing some things. He likes to go and browse places like Harbor Freight, Atwood's (a large place that deals with Hardware, Farm stuff, Automotive and misc other), Flea Markets, Car Shows, and such. SO, at this point, 5 days and a "Wakeup" til "Another Attempted Meeting" and then, on that Friday we are scheduled to be in the Court Room. I Can Not Tell You All How Much I Am Wanting This To Be Over and Let my Dad (and us) get on with our lives and let Him be Get on with his life. He more than deserves to be able to do that. I'm going to go for now, I feel a huge Rant building and I've done quite a bit of that over time already.

                               Til then, Bill    

[78 k550]

Yea Bill,
getting closer. She in your eye's just want to make thing's difficult for you and dad. I hope that she isn't there also for you and dad. Ranting is good. it get's it off your chest for awhile and that can make all the difference.
Were still here for ya.

Paul

[DarkRider]

Hmmmmm whats that sound i hear? whimpering in the corner from S&S? Realising they are screwed?

Chris

[bill440cars]

Hmmmmm whats that sound i hear? whimpering in the corner from S&S? Realising they are screwed?

Chris

        Hey Chris, Good to see ya back, guy.

                 So it would seem, just hope that I'm not getting the wrong signal here. With what my Dad & I have in place AND with the progress that he's been able to make, I don't see how they could have a Prayer! Wait a minute, they don't even know WHO to send the Prayer too!

       4 Days Til "The Meeting" and/or
       8 Days Til "The Court Date"     

                            Take care, Bill

[bill440cars]

     He was still in good spirits today and that's good because yesterday morning wasn't so bright.   (Yesterday) I arrived at the Retirement Home about 8:15am, right off, a worker cornered me to let me know that my Dad would not come out for Breakfast, he was still in bed, but he DID take his medicine. I went in to check on him and he was just in a slump. His outlook was so bleak! I started to try to perk him up and he was just so lifeless. Then, I was telling him that I was doing my best to do what he had asked me to do and wasn't sure where I'd messed up. Well, he put his hand on mine and let me know right quick that I was doing a great job, he had no complaints there, It wasn't ME, It was HIM! Eventually, I managed to get him to get up, get cleaned up and go into the living room and, when I had to go take care of some things, he was feeling and acting a lot better. I checked on him a couple more times (staying for a bit each time) and the last time I went yesterday, I took the info that he had given me a couple of years ago, that was all about "Hopping UP" the Jawas from the 50cc to the 350 Twin. He was already in bed, but when I told him that I had that info with me and was going to go over it with him, but said I guess I'd wait til the next day, he said "Turn the light on and we can do it now. We went through all that, with him making specific comments and recalling how he really used to shake up   those larger motorcycles (especially the 500cc Triumphs) with his little 250cc 2-stroke single! He seems to be back up again (morale wise) and the TV cable was turned on today, and that helped some too.

      3 Days Til "The Meeting" and/or
      7 Days Til "The Court Date"
      (question is, will there be a court date?)
 
                               Take care, Bill

[Ecosse]

That comment about his getting a second wind for the Jawa project really makes me smile. Really something there. And so it goes that life's truly special moments are the little, unexpected, and seemingly inconsequential things.

Once more your tale brings back memories pretty much exactly as you describe. I remember good day followed by the not so good... repeat, routine. It would blind side ya often times. No matter what they would be down... use to really pain me to see someone I loved so much feel so down and be powerless to help. I learned to not try too hard to bring spirits up as it would often come off as forced and manipulative.

Each day I would take as a do over and put yesterday behind me. Relish those up days and make the most of it. I got use to living in the moment. Not always a bad thing, yes?

I know nothing at all about your dad other than what you have described. But if I may be so presumptuous I think he must be one hell of a guy. Firstly, he's a gearhead with impeccable taste in machinery. Second, he seemed to have done a bang up job in raising a stand up chap as yourself. What you're doing and what you're enduring for his sake speaks volumes about your character.  Just my opinion.

[bill440cars]

       There are several things that, if I can get my Dad into a conversation about, his mind seems to jump into "overdrive" and away we go! Those subjects are: My Mom (how they met, some of the experiences they had Before I came along & how he has never regretted marrying her), Motorcycles in general, Motorcycles he's built (wish I had pictures), That Purple Jawa 250 (details about building it AND details about surprising people with it), The Indian Warrior/Scout mix (also about building it AND surprising people with it), The New 55' Indian/Enfield 250 Fire Arrow (that he built into an off road bike and how it performed), Military Experiences, how he had to build his First motorcycle (and that's why He had me do the same thing, even though some of His was done for Him and mine wasn't ) and I'm sure I've missed something, but I'm sure you get the idea. When he was down a couple of days ago, it was like his Fire had gone out. I'd NEVER seen him like that. Oh, I've had him get argumentative, but this side, I'd never seen and he promised me that it wasn't me or anything I'd done or hadn't done. I just tried to, ever so gently, get his thoughts over into an area that would (I guess you'd say,) give him a boost. And it worked and seems to be holding. If I can just keep him going until this mess is over, which it seems like getting past the Guardianship Lawsuit, will where we will be on a downhill dun to (hopefully) "Smooth Sailing". And then, he can relax, try to put this whole ordeal behind him and look forward to better things.

          Bill (and all), my Dad means a whole lot to me. Oh there were (of course) times in our lives that I was mad at him and my Mom, about decisions that they made concerning me (like that's new!) and such as that, but as I got older, I realized that being the 1st born, I was subject to being treated differently that any that were born after me and I got past that sort of thing some time ago. Besides, that was long ago and this is now. 


                    Take care All (and thanks for caring), Bill        

                           

[CBGhia]

   SO, at this point, 5 days and a "Wakeup"

Bill, 

Were you a soldier?  I have never heard that used outside of the Army. 


I am so happy to hear he is in assisted living.  This is one of those threads I follow religiously.  I can't wait to see what comes of this!  Take Care.

[bill440cars]

   SO, at this point, 5 days and a "Wakeup"

Bill, 

Were you a soldier?  I have never heard that used outside of the Army. 


I am so happy to hear he is in assisted living.  This is one of those threads I follow religiously.  I can't wait to see what comes of this!  Take Care.

          Yeah, I spent a 6yr obligation with the U.S. Air Force (4 active & 2 inactive) and 22yrs U.S. Army Reserves, which could have something to do with me saying things like that. I ALSO still write out the date like 24 Jan 09, got that from the military too.

          I really appreciate any and all support from you all on this too. Not only does this give ME a place to tell of the happenings, it gives me a place to unload (as I need to do off and on), it gives others a place to share experiences, lets us ALL know that there are varying experiences that others have gone through (helps those who might not have had to approach this situation yet, to be ,more aware of what could happen in the best or worse cases) AND learn about the things they need to know that can help prevent some of the problems that can arise.

          In our case, I received a letter today, that was a copy of one that our Lawyer sent to their Lawyer. He stresses the hope that, after the meeting, David will realize that my Dad is being well taken care of by me, that He does not in any way want or need a Guardian & definitely does not want Jan to be anywhere near him, much less his "Guardian"! The Lawyer also brings up the fact that David CAN NOT act as my Dad's Guardian because of his felony and that Jan has in fact been charged with a felony but made some kind of restitution (but it's on record anyway). He's pushing their Lawyer to get them to drop this and IF this does go to the hearing phase, our Lawyer will be going after them for the court and attorney fee's. We'll see how it goes.

                                   Take care, Bill    

[Jay B]

Bill, sorry I haven't post here for a while. I've been thinking of you and your Dad, sounds like you got things under control. Man I'd love to sit and chat with him about the old days of biking. Keep the faith Bro, you will succeed.

[fuzzybutt]

go get em Bill. sounds like theres going to be a happy ending. for you and your dad that is 

[bill440cars]

Bill, sorry I haven't post here for a while. I've been thinking of you and your Dad, sounds like you got things under control. Man I'd love to sit and chat with him about the old days of biking. Keep the faith Bro, you will succeed.

     
         Jay, With all that you've got going on, I'm surprised you don't meet yourself coming AND going. Don't you even worry about not posting much, you've got a pretty full plate and I try to keep up with what's going on with Bre and you all too! Yeah, if we can just get to the part where they drop this "Guardianship thing", give his things back, get out of that house (and area), we will be doing ALOT better! And, oh yes he has some stories to tell. If all goes well, with his health and such, I hope to get him and myself to "The Barber's" event this coming October. Last night I took the CD of photos that (excuse me if I'm wrong, but) I think okie sent me last year and he really was impressed and enjoyed them.