Sadness

I have watched this week as my father has struggled with death. Dad has fought the good fight. Dad is still with us. I am sure there is some reason that God has made Dad struggle this week. I just pray now that God will take dad tonight. Dad has started with what they call the "death rattle". I can't imagine that it will be much longer.

I love my dad and will miss him each and every day that I am alive. I will also be sure that my future children will know their "Poppy" through me and my memories of him.

Final chapters

This is the same title that I named the post that I did earlier tonight for my dad's blog. I keep telling him that I love him. He just nods when I do. The only words he expresses now are pain and his needs. I have done things the past couple of days I never thought I would have to do. Who knew. Right now my dad is resting comfortably. I don't know if that will last all night or just for now. He has been in pain today. We are giving him the medication for pain as often as we can. We have been all saying our final goodbyes for we know our time is short. Maybe not hours but definatly not more that days.
My advice for all don't be a dope get your physicals. And be sure to get any cancer screenings done you can. They are vitally important.

My hero

As I sit here at my dad's house, I feel a bit overwhelmed today. Dad is doing better this afternoon than he was yesterday when we thought he might not make it though the night. I want to spend I the time I can not necessarily with him but around him. In his house with his things. I want to be able to get up from where I sit now (on the floor) in the living room and walk to the kitchen or den and look over into my dad's bedroom and be able to just look at him.

My dad has always been my hero. And I know our time together on this earth is coming to a close. But soon my dad will be with his adopted brother and best friend Ralph, his sister Beverly and his parents.

I soon will miss my dad. I already miss who he used to be. But my hero is still laying in the hospital bed in the bedroom just off the living room a few feet away.

I'm in California

My first impression of California (from the air) is that there are no trees and it is really brown. Since I have now been here in Sacramento for a few days and have had some time to sight see. I am as I type in my first class which is Records management in the information age which is being lead by Matt Singley.

I was in my first Executive Board meeting yesterday which was scheduled for 3 hours and at the end of three hours we were only half done. So we came back together again last night for three more hours but finally got done at 11 p.m. That is pacific time. In Eastern time that would be 2 a.m.

The APA blog is going slow. But I am hopeful that it will pick up later today after lunch...

New update on my dad

I got a phone call at work today from my dad he actually sounded happy and excited. I haven't heard that in a while.

He had a CT and saw the Doctor. The good news is the tumor is shrinking down about 30% now. Radiation started up again today and tomorrow Chemo will resume.

Dad's best news of all: he can eat

To keep an eye on my dad yourself check out Tom's Recovery blog.

Dad update

My dad is doing really well. He has had some bad days and Monday was one of them, but for the most part he is doing so well. His blood count went from 4.50 last week down to 4.33 this week. That is not a good change or a good number for you or me but for Dad it was a great number it ment he was able to have his chemotherapy.

Check out his blog and send him a note I am sure he would like to read it.

Public restroom rules

Recently Dott blogged about an open soda can that someone had in the restroom at work. Well my recent experience might be worse since it involves more than one person.

I was recently in the restroom and was at the sink washing my hands. When the other occupant came out of the stall and bypassed the sinks and soap dispencers and went straight for the anti-bacterial hand wash that we have recently had installed.

I bet you are thinking, well at least this person used the anti-bacterial hand wash?? I would too until you know (as Paul Harvey would say) the rest of the story.

As this other person left the restroom I was drying my hands and on my way out I hit the anti-bacterial handwash. As I opened the door I see the person who has just left in front of me open the door to leave the section of the floor we are on, this person still has one hand held in a position that tells me she still has not used the anti-bacterial hand wash.

She has now spread any and all germs she may have and any she has picked up in the restroom to everyone else who has come in contact with that door.

I will share that this was a guest to the building and not an everyday staff member. Maybe instead of the "cutsie" signs at the sink there needs to be one at the door about the germs you spread when you touch something after being in the restroom and not washing your hands and then using the anti-bacterial hand wash.

If you got all the way through this post are you sorry you read it??? Or does it re-affirm the need for your own personal cleanliness?