We went to see Dad today and I asked him how he was feeling, and he said "not so good". That was the first time he told me that. He looked pale and his eyes looked a little far away. He's weak and his speach is quiet, he's changed a lot in the last couple days. We visited for awhile, they brought him lunch, he ate some, but not a lot. Then his niece Cindy and her hubby Randy and their daughter Nikki came to visit. He was happy to see them. He thinks so much of that Nikki. The first thing he asked her is if she was reading. He thinks it's important for young ones to read. He's always commented on what a beautiful girl she is and also, so sweet. It was good to see them all.

Dad needed to be cleaned up, and they were suppose to transport him soon, so we took Gary to the mall, to a late lunch and we did a little shopping. Then we took him to get some dinner and took him back to his care facility. Then we went to see Dad at Fernview, we called the hospital and we knew they transported him around 5 pm. We talked to the Hospice nurse when we got to Fernview, who was a real doll and very sweet and helpful, we had to fill out some paperwork and then we saw Dad. He was totally zonked out, snoring, we didn't want to wake him but he heard us and woke up. He seemed peaceful, he said they were really good to him already. The hospice is getting an air matteress delivered for him tonight and he had a manual bed, but they are ordering a motorized one for him. He also does not have a TV, so we're bringing him my TV tomorrow night and we're going to get him some books on tape too and a CD Walkman or cassette player. He seemed to be fine in his room, he's alone right now, he has oxygen on all the time. They said he can have medication anytime he wants pretty much, but we knew he wouldn't ask for it, so we asked that they give it to him for the next couple days so it'll help his breathing and he can sleep. People are welcome to visit. Cindy, I couldn't find the website for the place, can you post it if you still have it please? But he's at 126 N. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, 91775. Phone is 626-285-3131

Don Keenan, could you please call us, I know you called once before but I assumed Mom had your phone number, and also if anyone knows Tom Maloney's phone number and/or email, will you email me at mitchypoo777@yahoo.com . Thank you.

Things are not looking great for Dad. They have moved him to another room but they are looking at moving him to Hospice. They had a talk with Mom today and there is really not a whole lot that they can do for Dad. His lungs and heart are working hard. He could have a surgery for his prostrate and heart, but he's too weak to survive it. It's not good news at all. They've tried to get him up to walk, but he's so weak. We've had to deal with the Dr. and nurse not wanting us to discuss any of this with him to them calling us today asking, so where are we moving him too? Huh? I mean geez, figure out what we're doing so we can deal with it. Got a really nice case manager that I spoke to today and she's trying to do the leg work for Mom. He may be moved to a Hospice in San Gabriel, it's suppose to be a nice place. But we're all I think having a hard time dealing with this news. It just keeps getting worse.

I think I will see if I can reschedule my exam, I just can't concentrate on it.

And if you get this blog notice twice, I apologize, I'm working out the kinks on the blog email group.

Continue praying please.

Mom and I went to dinner tonight, it was nice. We needed to sit and talk. Mom had a call from the hospital about Dad and his care. The prognosis is not great. He could need a surgery for his prostrate and his heart, but he can't take a surgery. There's something going on with his heart and lungs and it's probably not going to improve. They are talking about Hospice care, which upsets my mother because we are having to look at the reality of losing him. I can't talk about it anymore. Saw him tonight and he seemed a little better, they moved him to another room but we're not sure why. His Dr. and nurse do not want Hospice to speak to him yet, but again we're not sure why. It's day by day, it's scary. He was able to eat tonight, he seems a little disoriented, he told mom he woke up this morning and had no idea where he was. He wanted mom and I to go to dinner to night on him. He's very concerned about Mom and how it's affecting her, it's very sweet.

We'll go pick up Gary tomorrow and take him to visit Dad soemtime but I'm having to really buckle down and study, Dad understands.

Pray for miracles...

Oh, I set up this distribution group and I would apreciate it if you would email me at mitchypoo777@yahoo.com and let me know if you got this post, I need to make sure it works.

Thanks, hugs, and have a great Weekend!!

Dad is still in the DOU, which I have no idea what that means, but it's one step down from ICU. He was doing better yesterday Mom said, he only had to have the oxygen mask or nose thing on, not the Bi-pap machine. I was there the night before and he was not able to eat without the machine, so that's an improvement I guess. Again tonight Mom said he was doing well but his nurse wanted him to get up to go to the bathroom and that really tired him out and he had to have a breathing treatment, so that isn't good. But I think it's good that they try to get him up. I went to go see Gary tonight and bring him some dinner, he's been feeling a little neglected I think, but he's OK.

Mom is handling things well, she's tired and stressed but feeling OK.

Dad was moved today to another room which is one step down from ICU but he still has to be monitored. He is on the Bi-Pap machine and still does not like it. Mom went right after work to visit and when I got there, she was getting his dinner. She needed to leave so I stayed to feed him. He had oxygen on with a face mask. He took it off to eat and quickly had to put the mask back on, like within 5 minutes. I think he started to not feel well again so he called the nurse and told her he couldn't breathe. She came in and checked him and she then paged the respiratory therapist who came quickly and I explained that he was trying to eat without the mask and that's when it got bad again. She said he could put the oxygen nose thing on, but he doesn't like that. I encouraged him to do that because he needed to eat. She checked him and said he had some wheezing again, so she could put the Bi-Pap on again and add a breathing treatment to the machine. He said OK, so I think he wasn't feeling well because he hates that machine. It closes off his nose and mouth and he has to breath with it and I can see how it'd be claustrophobic or uncomfortable. He told me not to stay because he couldn't talk well with that thing on. I asked him to promise me to try and eat after his breathing was better and he said he would.

Dad is still in ICU, we went to see him yesterday around lunchtime and he had lunch there but was not eating. He had a coughing spell, which tires him out, so they were hoping he'd calm down and rest a little. He looked a little flushed when I got there. We sat and watched the Laker game for awhile while he tried to relax. He didn't have his glasses so I had to keep telling him the score. Then the came in to do an electrocardiogram (sp?), so that took a while and then he was calmed down enough to eat. He ate about half his food. They said they were moving him to another room but he's still in ICU this morning. Mom came then and stayed the afternoon, his breathing was labored the whole time that we were there. They said he has some pneumonia from when he vomited with the respirator tube in and that's why he's having such a hard time.

Our neighbor Michael was down at the hospital last night to see someone else and also went to see Dad. He came up to tell us about his visit and said he was still breathing like that. It was nice of him to go visit. Also, my best bud Julie brought us some homemade chicken soup last night and we visited for a bit. She brought us some chocolate covered cherries and some Harry and David Truffles too, yum! Chocolate makes everything better.

I called this morning and Dad had an "episode" with his breathing again but the nurse said he's doing better now. We'll go see him tonight.

Thank you all for your kindness and prayers, it means so much!!

**updated at 6:43 pm. Mom was at the hospital right after work and Dad was on a breathing machine, a different one that he doesn't like. The episode this morning was similar to what happened at home and it really scared Dad, he told Mom he thought he was a goner. The nurse said he was as bad as he was yesterday when the paramedics first brought him in. He asked the nurse to call Mom and have her come down. They called and left a message at the house? Duh. She told them again to call her at work and/or her cell. He calmed down and was better the rest of the day but now has to do this other machine which he hates, and he told the Dr. The Dr. said fine, if you don't want the machine I'll sedate you, knock you out and put a tube down your throat. Which would you prefer? He preferred the machine. They have not moved him, he's still in ICU. I went down to see him but Mom caught me on my cell in the parking lot and said that he was starting the machine and he can't really visit and he was tired, so i went home. He is suppose to be on this machine all night tonight. I have studying to do anyway. I failed that test last week. So, it's still not good news. Cindy if you know the machine i'm talking about would you make a comment.

Oh Geez....where to begin. OK. Mom took off Thursday so that she could go get Dad, which she did. She remarked on the way home, Gee, Denis, you seem like your old self....and he agreed, he said he was feeling well. He came home, had some lunch, had some problems getting to the potty, mom had a kind of bad afternoon with him , then he asked for a breathing treatment, but he hasn't had a treatment since he was in the conv. hospital, but his breathing was labored so she gave it to him, it didn't improve. She got him in the car and took him back to the Emergency and they kept him.....

So he was coming home today. Mom and I got up there around 9 when the Dr. was suppose to be there, she didn't get there til 11, Dad had had some tingling and tightness in his chest and arms and told us about it, they weren't concerned, I think they maybe ran a test, but they released him. And the Dr. talked to all of us about maybe part of the problem is anxiety, so she was giving him something for that, and the cat and dog were discussed too although Dad doesn't think it's the cat and he didn't react to them at all earlier. But we were going to get him some Claritin and she prescribed something else for him for allergies too.

We get him home, he's tired from the walk from the Van to his Chair. We give him his puffers, an Ativan and some water and he's trying to get his breath from the walk. Then he had to potty, mom brought the comode near the bed, he didn't have to go far. Then he was having trouble breathing and asked for his nebulizer again. Then she called me and said to stay with him because she was calling his Dr. and while I'm with him, he's really having trouble, and then he's saying 1 word sentences, and then he's telling me 'hot' and he was cold and clammy and then he wasn't talking at all and then his eyes were half open and he was unconscious and I wasn't sure he was even breathing. Mom had called 911, she called back and told them to hurry. It was just so awful. The paramedics came in and he was unconscious and they got him on the floor and he had a pulse, but a low blood pressure and they rushed him down again. Mom went down, I called my brother to explain. Our Neighbor Maryellen saw mom on the street and went down with her, and then I came down and they made us wait there and wouldn't let mom be with him which we thought was a bad sign. Then Maryellen's son Michael came down and brought us all a soda. That was so nice. Then I went to check on him and they let Mom and I in the room and Dad was on a respirator with a tube down his throat. It was kind of shocking, he was really out of it but not unconscious but he had the tube down his throat and was not happy about that. And he was coughing so it was uncomfortable. They said they were going to sedate him and we should go have some dinner and then he'd maybe be in ICU when we got back. We did go eat, came back and he was still in Emergency, but he was not on the respirator! He vomited a little and they took it out and he was able to have it off. He was a little agitated and confused. He didn't understand why he was there again. He seemed to remember being home but then he didn't remember the paramedics, he was asking odd questions. Mom just got home a bit ago, they hadn't got him to ICU yet but he had a good nurse and she assured Mom she'd be with him and she'd make sure he was able to sleep tonight. The Dr. came in earlier too and Mom just kind of looked at her, she was not happy that he was released, but I'm hoping they'll be more careful now. She mentioned that Dad may never be able to come home at this point. We didn't really want to hear that, but we have to consider it.

It's been a day, especially for Dad.

Dad is coming home tomorrow! Mom is taking the day off and bringing him home. They are retraining his bladder and the catheter should be out by when he comes home. Yeah! Don't know what we're going to do about care on Friday, and not really sure how much care he'll need at this point. We shall see what happens.

I guess I've updated a few times and forgotten to email everyone to let them know. Sorry. I have school this week and it was pretty intense. I tried to update but forgot that little item.

Happy Easter to all! We had a brunch at the house, got ready, and we all went to go see Dad. We took him some goodies and the basket of Easter eggs to have egg fights! You know where you all have an egg and then you count to 3 and hit eachother's egg and whoever breaks, loses, then you do the other side and if your egg cracks both ends, you lose and get to eat your egg. Dad had the Champion Egg this year. He was doing well. He's going to a urologist tomorrow and very hopeful that he'll get that catheter out and be on his way home soon. Let's hope.

He said that Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Butch came by today to visit (or maybe it was yesterday) and then my cousin Chris and his daughter Sarah also came by. He enjoyed your visits.

I found a computer at the hotel where i'm taking my prep class so I can give you a quick update on Dad. He seems to be doing well. He's doing physical therapy and getting stronger. They took out the catheter but then found that he has a bladder infection and so they had to reinsert the catheter. And they are giving him antibiotics for 7 days by IV. He's not thrilled about it but like he told me, at least now they have a plan. We're hoping he'll be able to come home after the antibiotics but we shall see. No Easter celebration with Dad, bummer.

Mom has been going to see him and my brother this week since i have this class and have to study 4 hours a night (or am suppose to) to prepare for my State test next week. I got to talk to Dad last night on the phone but won't see him until Sunday afternoon I guess.

Dad is still in the rehab/convalescent hospital and we have not heard when he'll be able to come home yet. We took Gary to see him today and we stayed for a couple hours. He was doing well. He's gaining strength in the right arm and leg and also doing some work on the left side as well. He's eating well, but not thrilled about the food there. Mom brought him some peanut M&M's and he was hiding them under his covers to enjoy later. It's OK, he's not having sugar issues anymore. I went out and got us all dinner and we ate together in his room. He was moved to another room and has a roommate who keeps falling out of bed. That bothers him. I won't be able to see him during lunch this week because i'm doing some schooling, but Mom will go a couple times after work and i will too if i'm able.

Ken B, Dad's friend from highschool called tonight, it was nice to talk to him. Thank you all for the continued prayers.

Went to see Dad on my lunch break today, he's not too far from my work. He was in bed and not very happy. The bed was manual and they hadn't moved him to a comfortable position and he hadn't slept well. He said he ate the food but it'd be better to give it to his dog Rufus. I asked if it was better than the other place, and he said yes it was. He also did not have a TV set up but it was in the room, so I set it up, but there was no remote, another thing he wasn't happy about. I told him to pick a channel, he did so he could watch Oprah later today. They were switching out his bed when I had to leave, to a newer mechanical one and they had found another TV stand that would work better for him and they were getting another pillow for him. A physical therapist came in and talked to him and he said he'll have to get up and sit in a chair and then try to start walking. I felt awful having to leave but I was late already. I told him to try and stay positive. Find some good in it. Easy for me to say....

Mom says his Dr. is ordering 80 hrs. a week home care for 1 year. And they are hoping he'll only have to be in the conv. hospital for about 1 week or 10 days. We feel better about the home health care situation, looks like he'll be ok.

I just heard that Dad is being transferred to a convalescent hospital this afternoon. Mom and I were both there last night to see him. He was the same. He's very weak. He is talking, but not the same. He's having a hard time finding the words sometimes. He's upset, you can tell. I asked him if he ate lunch, he said, ya, but i couldn't feed myself. He hates that. He told me that a physical therapist came in and worked with him. He stood, but he did not walk. The nurse bathed him shortly after i got there, i went to the chapel to pray. Then Mom fed him his dinner. He was pretty hungry.

He mentioned that Mr. & Mrs. C came to visit him yesterday, he liked that. We're going to have Ricardo the Eucharistic minister give him communion Sunday, but now that he's being moved, i'm not sure they will go that far.

Dad was the same last night, he was talking different, slower, and very weak. They had run some tests but weren't sure of anything yet. It looks like he had another stroke.

Well, Dad didn't get the catheter out last week as he hoped. They tried but he couldn't go and it's too dangerous to leave him like that, so it went back in. He was bummed about that but then he came home and really perked up, he was doing well.

But....he's back in the hospital. They took him about 20 minutes ago. He woke up this a.m. and he was different, he could hardly speak, he seemed really weak, he told Mom he could barely life the remote with his better right hand and if he can hardly move the remote you know something is wrong. Mom tried calling his insurance to ask what to do, no response, she called the hospital, they said to bring him in, but he didn't think he could get out of bed and we weren't sure we could get him to the car, the hospital said to call 911 which we did. His breathing was good. He was upset that he had to put us through this again....we don't care about that, we just want him well.

Friday he was so well that he spent parts of the day alone. He was getting up to go to the bathroom and walking well with his walker. And I have to say a big THANK GOD FOR GOOD NEIGHBORS! Mr.C came down before I left for work and stayed with him until about noon, sometimes leaving to go home and check on his wife, and then our other neighbor Mrs. K came over for the afternoon, made him lunch, etc. She also had to leave for awhile, but he was fine. We're very fortunate. The church came and gave him communion this a.m. too, so I'm sure he felt good about that.

I'll hopefully know more later.