Deep Breath

   Summer 2022 has been busy. We hit the ground running, before it was even really Summer.
Nickole had American Heritage Girls Camp the first several days of June. She was shown God's favor by being allowed to take part in their Drama program, which had been closed for registration when we were choosing her camp options. (Someone had dropped out after registering.)

   I picked Nickole up from camp, and we headed to Texas to visit my parents and step parents for a few days. My Dad had been having some issues with adjustments in medications for the Parkinson's that he has been stricken with. He was in the hospital for a couple of days. We had a good visit. I had to return home for Nickole's orthodontist visit.
The next Orthodontist visit could see Nickole measured for her retainers, and out of braces once those are made. She's pretty excited about that!

I was back to Dad's on Father's day, to sit with him while my brother Robbie took my Step mom to a Dog Trial.
I'm not sure what the dog was accused of, but they were gone pretty much all day.
Dad's mental acuity has been declining, with hallucinations that we had thought were from the medications. After research, I personally think it is Lewy Body Syndrome, which affects many Parkinson's patients. Dad is more alert and almost normal most mornings, aside from hallucinations he is doing his best to live with. He told me that he's seeing such terrible things, yet no one else is concerned about the things, so he figures they must be in his mind. He doesn't feel at home in his house, and repeatedly says he wants to go home. He will say he has no memory of being in his house before arriving from the hospital. He says he "doesn't recall building the place, though everyone tells him he did." But if you tell him something incorrect, such as "Ralph helped you put in the windows"... he will tell you exactly who DID help put in the windows... and it wasn't Ralph. He gets more agitated and confused as he gets more tired during the day.
I could see a difference in Dad's mental awareness from morning to afternoon. But it was really apparent in the two weeks since I had last visited with him. I made it a point to come back the following weekend... and there is a marked decline even over the 4 days I was gone. (I arrived the 18th, sat with Dad the 19th, and left to take Nickole to her next summer camp on the 21st. I returned to Dad's on the 25th.) He's fallen a number of times in the past week.
Dad had a regularly scheduled cardiologist appointment this week. He Doctor recommended Dad go into a full time care facility. That would just be the end of him, Kathie and Robbie agree. So, for now, it isn't even a consideration. The Cardiologist wants Dad to see his Primary care doctor ASAP, to be put on Hospice Home care. That's where the situation stands now.
He has an appointment with the only Parkinson's specialist in 5 counties... on January 28th. That was the soonest available appointment. (He's on the cancellations list).

Nickole has been to 2 camps already this summer. Kimber is currently visiting us. I took the two of them swimming at the public pool a couple of days ago, and to the Tulsa Zoo yesterday. Today is settle down and clean house/ do laundry day. ZERO plans to go/ do anything.
I bug bombed the house yesterday. Looking through facebook memories... I seem to have to do that about this time of year! The Zoo was a nice place to be for several hours.
While to dogs were shut out all day... Jaffa tore his dew claw. He came in dripping blood all over the house. It got wiped up, but today will be a thorough mopping.

The garden had to be watered this morning. I can't believe how much it grew in the 8 days I was away. I harvested some green beans... and with what I picked day before yesterday, we will have a 'mess' of green beans for supper, with some tiny 'new potatoes' given to us by a neighbor. Meatloaf in the slow cooker... good eats! I counted tomato plants a couple of days ago. We have 38. Not counting Bob's.  He has six? eight?... more.
In a couple of weeks... SUMMER is really going to hit me!

Tommy and Ruby are supposed to come visit this weekend. Looking forward to that!