Papa

My grandfather is not doing well. He's been living in a rehab hospital for about 9 years now. My grandmother died in 1997, he had a stroke a couple of years later, and has been living in this crap hole since. I'm sure for awhile when he was still coherent and able to stand up for himself, he was probably treated pretty decently. It turns out he has Alzheimer's as well as having suffered numerous strokes and/or heart attacks. My mother, being his executor, has had to make a few tough decisions over the last couple of days including instituting a DNR. It's been a rough couple of days emotionally for my family and I pray for a quick resolution one way or the other. I hate the thought of him being miserable and in pain.

Oh, and my best friend's grandpa is in the hospital, too. We're going through all this together, 5 hours apart from each other, hours or states away from our sick loved ones, trying to stay strong and supportive for everyone and each other. Love ya, Ang. Hang in there, my friend.

So, because I'm not motivated to do the cleaning, sheet changing, shopping, etc that goes along with having guests this weekend even though I am thrilled to death that our BFF's are coming out for a visit, I've decided to write a new blog post. :)

My son seems to have caught his obligatory 1st cold of the school year (3 1/2 weeks in - not too bad) and is behaving a little on the whiny side.* However, he coughs, sneezes, and breathes on everything in sight so I've been going around with alcohol/Lysol wipes cleaning every surface possible. Elizabeth thinks I'm a freak because of all the wiping I've been doing the last few days. However, she doesn't realize how many germs are all over the remote, phone, keyboard (oh dear God the keyboard!! Even without a sickness, keyboards harbor as many germs as your toilet!) And, children and husbands don't realize that when Mom gets sick, the world doesn't stop. We still have to get up, get everybody ready for school and do all the other Mom things we do each and every day even if we do fee like we're dying. Hubby can take a day off from work and stay in bed; Mom can't. Children can stay home from school (more work for Mom); Moms can't.

Anyway, so my children are laughing at me for being a clean freak but when I'm there to help them ease their aches and pains, get them a drink, find them the medicine they need, make them whatever they want to eat, I'm hoping there will be some appreciation there that the reason I AM able to help them is because I've managed to stay somewhat healthy so I CAN take care of them.

And God forbid, Mom gets sick!!


* I'm trying to maintain some integrity in not calling out my kids and husband too much on this thing. They do have their own lives and it's not fair to use my writing as an excuse to bitch about them constantly.

Men

What is up with men and their refusal to take medication?? My husband woke up Monday with a drippy nose and continued to drip and sniffle his way through the morning. I really hate that sound of sucking snot and phlegm back up inside your had - it really grosses me out. I asked him if he wanted something to take and he said no, it's usually gone by this time. Half an hour later and I'm still listening to him sniffle. Seriously?! Take a fricking cold and allergy pill already!! Due to my numerous issues with allergies I have all kinds of different meds -  ones that help you sleep and dry up your congestion, ones that don't make you sleepy, cough ones, you name it, I've probably got it! But, no, he won't take it.

He's also the guy that sleeps horribly. You know what I mean... wakes up 3-4 times per night, can't turn his brain off, thinks about work and how stressful his job is. Will he go to the doctor to get a nice little Rx for some Ambien so he (and in return, I) can sleep better? No. He won't.

My son comes home from school Monday and says his throat is killing him.
Me: Do you want a throat lozenge to help take the pain away and make it easier for you to swallow.,
Him: No, I'm fine
Me: Are you sure? I have the ones that don't taste yucky.
Him: No.
Me: Ooookkkkay...

By the end of the night, he's miserable, his throat still hurts, and he's whiny. Yea.

Woke up this morning, moping around the house, sniffling, coughing. Again, we have the same conversation with me adding in some cold medicine to help. Nope. Still refusing to take it. If he were younger, I'd force him to take it but at almost 12 (in 3 weeks), I let him decide. He heads of to school, no meds (sorry teachers and is fellow classmates - but it's just a cold.)

I just don't get the resistance to taking something that will help you feel a little better. If you have a headache, you take Tylenol or Advil; if you have diarrhea, you take an Imodium; if you are having allergy issues, you take a Sudafed; if your throat hurts, suck on a fricking lozenge!!