Saw Daddy

My brain is mush. I went to the grocery store to turn in my pop cans (5 cents a can in Iowa) and I forget them in the trunk so had to walk back to the car. Got yellow flowers with yellow vase I'm sure Mom will like and a balloon. Got to the hospital and asked for his room number. Sorry I was too tired to write things down when speaking to Mom. Dad looks terrible. Very pale and arm skin getting folds, I'm guessing from losing weight. I noticed his knees are all swollen from the arthitis. Nurses kept entering to ask if he needed pain medication. Not if he doesn't move. He laid down reading the newspaper while Mom and I chatted. Asked the usual to Dad, How are they treating you, How are you feeling. Surgery is tomorrow early in the morning, 5 hour surgery. Then had to do tests and such before carving into him. Tumor is size of a fist, or orange. And it is new cuz he had an x-ray of his spine last November for his shrinking spine and that tumor not there, they double checked. Apparently this is a "they" not a single doctor making decisions. He has to wear a back brace and not lift heavy objects for 3 to 5 months. My sister from Nebraska showed up. Kids busy doing homework and playing on the computer as usual. My other sister in town came yesterday. She will stay with Mom and return tomorrow when he is in surgery. The hospital chaplain came by saying he will add his name to the prayer list for their next service. I stayed a couple hours and left when I got hungry. They have free pop and it triggered my appetite.

Got the update on my sick uncle in the nursing home. He was hungry for food one day so he must be improving. My aunt told him he can't swallow anything. I think they increased his feeding tube since then so his weight is stable. The nurses actuallly suggested to auntie that she should just put him in hospice care and be done with it cuz he won't live another 6 months so what difference does it make. I replied that it means a great deal to my uncle. That really upset her since her brother just died and his funeral is in the works. I guess the test results from the autopsy aren't in yet. Mom just thinks they just don't want to take care of him anymore. Anyway, he can't go to hospice cuz the doctor who makes that order possible says he is not ready for hospice.

Had another adventure. I was washing the windshield with the washer fluid when I ran out. So I got the pleasure of figuring out how to replace it. Bought some at the grocery store and checked the owner's manual. It is labeled and right next to the battery. The fun part was figuring out how to lift the hood. I pulled the release and it popped up, but I couldn't lift it. I looked underneath to see what it was caught on. Oh, you have to move a lever to release it again. I put up the wire pole I seen Dad do to hold up the lid. Found the labeled cap and poured the fluid in. It spilled as the bottle emptied and I had to tip it further. Got it filled up and some was still left in the bottle. Pushed lid back on with my knee. Found the brake fluid, coolant, and oil chamber tube while looking for washer fluid. It is nice to know where things are. Mom always said to let Dad do it or that's why we get a husband, but Dad is unavailable and nobody wants the job so I have to take over. Let's see. Getting ideas for Novel #3 spinning in my head. I might write the first paragraph tonight. Well, Precious stopped snoring on my foot and scratching at the door. Frodo is jumping ready to play. They have napped all afternoon. Better go now. Later.