I heard a loud thud the other morning around 3:30 a.m. I checked my monitor but he'd once again turned it to the wall so I was unable to see if he was still in bed. I went downstairs right behind my sweet husband and dad was on the living room floor moaning and holding his head. He'd fallen. Hard.
The first picture is the day of the fall. The second is the day after. The black eye keeps blossoming. He has a gash on his head, hidden by his silver hair and he skinned his shoulder/arm. He's a mess.
Was he using his walker? Nope. 85 year old toddlers cannot be told what to do. Or rather, they can be told what to do, they simply won't comply. Ever. In fact they get down right angry and throw fits. It's not pretty.
His physical therapist came to the house the next day and strongly told him to use his walker EACH TIME HE STOOD UP. Has he? Nope. Nyet. He was very angry with me yesterday because I kept asking him to use his walker. Also, I asked him if he would put aside his dislike of the beach cabin (WHO HATES A BEACH CABIN???) and go for two days so that Julie and Charles (my sis and bro-in-law) could come over and do some crabbing over the fourth. He is adamant that he's staying home. He's fine. He can do it on his own. He can take care of the animals. He can get himself meals, etc. I told him that his colorful face told a different story and that he could not be left on his own. Not now. Possibly not ever. I asked him very nicely to allow us to bring him over. If he didn't, one of us, either my sister or myself would have to stay home. I told him that two days would not kill him. He angrily said that they would. I mentioned that we have given up a great deal to care for him and couldn't he just give us two days? Nope. He refuses.
So, there we are. For now. I love that man so much but like I've previously said, he tries my patience daily. I've held him in my arms as we've talked about how difficult this journey is for him. To lose his independence, not be able to drive, barely able to walk and not be able to do all the joyful gardening that he's loved his entire life. I've commiserated with him, and told him how sorry I am. That I'm only trying to help keep him safe. He sees me as his jailer. It hurts. He says hurtful things to me. He gets angry. He's not the dad I grew up with...he's not. And that is one more painful layer to this already excruciating time for us. I love him. It's what keeps me here. I'm on watch 24/7. He's my job. A labor of love....
After his fall he talked to me at the dining room table. I taped it, because it was hilarious. He said he was going to accuse me of elder abuse and have me put into prison. I later showed him the video and said now I had proof he'd be lying. I've tried to airdrop it here to my Mac but can't because issues. Oh well. At least I'll have it to show the coppers when they come round to take me in.
The first picture is the day of the fall. The second is the day after. The black eye keeps blossoming. He has a gash on his head, hidden by his silver hair and he skinned his shoulder/arm. He's a mess.
Was he using his walker? Nope. 85 year old toddlers cannot be told what to do. Or rather, they can be told what to do, they simply won't comply. Ever. In fact they get down right angry and throw fits. It's not pretty.
His physical therapist came to the house the next day and strongly told him to use his walker EACH TIME HE STOOD UP. Has he? Nope. Nyet. He was very angry with me yesterday because I kept asking him to use his walker. Also, I asked him if he would put aside his dislike of the beach cabin (WHO HATES A BEACH CABIN???) and go for two days so that Julie and Charles (my sis and bro-in-law) could come over and do some crabbing over the fourth. He is adamant that he's staying home. He's fine. He can do it on his own. He can take care of the animals. He can get himself meals, etc. I told him that his colorful face told a different story and that he could not be left on his own. Not now. Possibly not ever. I asked him very nicely to allow us to bring him over. If he didn't, one of us, either my sister or myself would have to stay home. I told him that two days would not kill him. He angrily said that they would. I mentioned that we have given up a great deal to care for him and couldn't he just give us two days? Nope. He refuses.
So, there we are. For now. I love that man so much but like I've previously said, he tries my patience daily. I've held him in my arms as we've talked about how difficult this journey is for him. To lose his independence, not be able to drive, barely able to walk and not be able to do all the joyful gardening that he's loved his entire life. I've commiserated with him, and told him how sorry I am. That I'm only trying to help keep him safe. He sees me as his jailer. It hurts. He says hurtful things to me. He gets angry. He's not the dad I grew up with...he's not. And that is one more painful layer to this already excruciating time for us. I love him. It's what keeps me here. I'm on watch 24/7. He's my job. A labor of love....
After his fall he talked to me at the dining room table. I taped it, because it was hilarious. He said he was going to accuse me of elder abuse and have me put into prison. I later showed him the video and said now I had proof he'd be lying. I've tried to airdrop it here to my Mac but can't because issues. Oh well. At least I'll have it to show the coppers when they come round to take me in.
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