Thursday evening

Seems like the house has been busy all day.

First, 2 CNAs came by to help with Danny for awhile. They took his vitals, cleaned him up, and put an egg crate mattress on the bed. Also changed the sheets, etc. I wasn't able to get him to take his meds this morning, but they finally got him to by putting them into a spoonful of applesauce. However, they also recommended liquid meds and a pain patch. They stayed quite awhile tending to him, talking to me. They told me another volunteer would be sent out to help with cleaning his room and doing his laundry. I generally just do the laundry anyway so she really doesn't need to do that. But the room cleaning would probably be a big help.

A little while after they left, an RN came to further see to his needs, assess things more closely, and show me some other things I can do for him. She also called the main office and a doctor and he can now have a different form of pain meds. Brandon is picking them up from the drugstore now. Hospice is covering that expense as well as some others.

She gave Danny an enema to help relieve his lower tract so he'll have less discomfort. The RN is a young lady that both Brandon and Elizabeth go to church with. She goes to Brandon's church on Sunday mornings and to Elizabeth's church Sunday afternoons. She does a lot of ministry work in Brandon's church, but said she goes to the other one so she can just worship. She's a very sweet young lady.

She also called Hospice and said Danny would need more than 5-day-a-week care - he needs someone here every day. Normally, they don't work weekends and especially this weekend, being Christmas, the regular schedule would wait till Tuesday for another visit. Another RN may also come out, but she'll be back Sunday afternoon and anytime we call and ask for her. She said anytime, day or night, that we feel we need an RN out here to just call and Hospice will send one out.

I put in a Merle Haggard tape for Danny and he relaxed and is napping now. He's had a lot going on today and been rolled back and forth for a number of reasons. So, he's really tired now.

As for me, I'm near exhaustion myself. Even though the women who came were helping, and I thank God for them, it's been a full day.

It turns out we couldn't put the rocking chair in the bedroom. It won't go down the hall. So, I'll just add a cushion and some kind of soft cover to a chair that's already in there. That way I can spend some time just watching him. Or anyone who comes can sit and visit with him.