After being sidetracked this afternoon to the Hershey Medical Center ER for a pulmonary embolism work-up (which came back gloriously normal), my dad is HOME. It was a looooong looooong loooong day. Did I mention long?
Between gathering everything together to get him out of rehab, spending the afternoon in the ER, getting him settled in at Meme's house, going back out to fill prescriptions and pick up some necessities, this little chickadee is SPENT.
My dad handled the day's activities really well though. I thought after all this hullabaloo (that's right I said "hullabaloo", it's a fun word, try it) that he would be extra fatigued and extra irritable. He was definitely tired but not as much as I expected and he only had a couple of irritable moments. One was when someone tried to take his pillow away and then about five times when I was trying to fix his hair. He HATES when I fuss over his hair but I swear it's like a compulsion. His hair defies gravity right now. It's like supercharged static electric bedhead. I feel compelled to comb it but I have to be really quick to sneak the comb in before he swats me away. When we were getting ready to leave the ER, Marty was the one who got Dad out of bed and into the wheelchair. Marty said "I'll help you get your coat on, but don't worry - I won't touch your hair". Apparently that went over well, my dad gave a big grin and turned to shake his hand.
He slept a lot this evening but got up to eat a big dinner. After just one evening at home I already notice a change in his affect. He's a bit brighter, more engaged. Our conversations were longer and more two-sided.
Tonight I'm going to sleep over here at Meme's on the couch to make sure that his first night out of the hospital goes well, but I have no doubt it will. It's kind of like a fun sleepover!
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