As we settle into a routine around here, Dad seems bored sensless.

I know he is used to his routine at home and misses it. He seems to be wondering why he is still here, although I have tried to explain that it is just not safe for him to go home yet. What I am not looking forward to is the talk I will have to have with him explaining he may never be able to go home.

He is bored, all he can do is nap and watch tv, or do something on his Kindle Fire…but he doesn’t want to. I need to get back into a routine of writing if nothing else, studying for the course I was taking in transcription is not possible right now, because I need to be able to hear if Dad is trying to get up. When I’m studying, I’m wearing headphones (ear buds) so that is out of the question.

I’m bored too, yet busy cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. I can’t sit on the couch all day, and I can’t think of any way to entertain my dad. He is happy at mealtimes, other than that, there is not really any stimulation except getting up to go to the bathroom or walk around every hour to keep him from stiffening up.

The occupational therapist will be here today and the physical therapist may come on Friday. Maybe one of them will have some useful suggestions. Of course, PT will work him over and then he will be tired. I hate the idea that he is bored or lonely, but at least I am right here. At home, Sean works in a closed office and cannot come out except for an emergency, a break, or lunch. Here, I can go check in whenever I want to.

I wish I could mitigate his boredom, so any ideas you might have are welcome!!

This morning after we ate breakfast and did our bathroom routines to get ready for the day, I baked us a blueberry oatmeal so we have something different and delicious for breakfasts tomorrow and the next day. I just took it out of the oven, in fact. I hope it isn’t overdone! We will see tomorrow. If it is, I’ll warm it up in the microwave and pour some cream on it. 🙂

Tonight, we are having spaghetti, yesterday, Dave cooked fajitas. At least Dad gets three square meals and snacks here, and his meds are given correctly and on time. That also does not happen every day at his house. Sean tries, but buys from out too often or cooks things that aren’t exactly health food.

He has a lot on his plate right now too, like work, housework, yardwork and on his free time he goes out to his rented studio and makes music. He hasn’t had time for it lately, so while Dad is here, he can do that more. Also, he is going into the punishment phase of the DUI he got two years ago, and he is stressing about that. First off, it is expensive to pay his lawyer, and then all the equipment they will make him use, like the ankle monitor, the blow and go on his vehicle, periodic random drug tests…you play, you pay-especially here in Texas. Of course, he says he was not drunk, he stopped by to see a friend and had one beer. :-} Maybe he should have used better judgement, but then again, he is 30 something going on 16 if you know what I mean. Now, he is almost 40!!

Also, this morning I was not ready to get up at the crack of dawn to check on Dad, but it’s good that I did because he was in the same place and state as yesterday. Why won’t he stay in bed until we come get him like I asked??? Ugh! Dave helped get him dressed and up again before going to work, bless his soul!

Tonight, I think I’ll try an experiment and cut off the liquids for him at 9pm and then give him his half a gummy before bed. Maybe he will sleep better and stay dry. Praying that works, because daily laundry is getting tiresome. We put the absorbent pad and a towel on top of the bottom sheet, and he wears an undergarment, but he is still wet every morning. I think he moves so much in his sleep that they leak.

Well, I am going to sign off and see how much I can get written elsewhere today. I also need to journal, I haven’t done that in a long time!

Have a blessed day everyone!