Today was a bit of a strange collection of moments so I have decided to write this post in point form:
- Son and I arrive at nursing lodge at 11.30am to have lunch with Husband (we had arranged meals for us too – amazing and only just found out we could do this any time!)
- Husband has difficulty getting out of the armchair in his room but the three of us slowly make our way to the dining room (Son getting grumpy, me getting hungry)
- We get to the dining room to find staff have set up a special table just for us out in the garden area (I am amazed and impressed by this thoughtfulness)
- Our meals are served to us as if we are in a restaurant and we all sit down (although by the time I get Husband into his chair and sitting comfortably, our roast dinner is getting a little cool and Son is beginning to grimace ferociously)
- We all begin to eat and Son and I take turns trying to open the special beer for Husband which requires a bottle opener which is not something nursing lodges have on hand
- Husband starts eating his meal as if it is his last meal ever (he has always eaten enthusiastically), so Son and I do the same until we are full then Husband asks for our leftovers – Son’s cauliflower and my potatoes)
- I try again with the stupid beer bottle and then Husband takes it from me and gets a fork and opens it easily (Son and I crack up laughing at our bleeding fingers and our ineptitude)
- Husband gives us both a twinkly-eyed look before telling us fondly that we are both hopeless and has a couple of sips of beer
- We exchange short, unfinished, weird conversations between mouthfuls
- Dessert arrives – some sort of creamy thing that Husband wolfs down in a state of pure bliss (I begin to feel a bit guilty that I haven’t made more desserts for him over the years!)
- Husband begins to say strange things and all of a sudden it happens; his eyes go dead, his head drops towards his chest and he is almost unconscious
- Son and I exchange looks, wondering if he is pretending (yes, Husband has a wicked sense of humour); we watch and wait and then realize it’s for real
- I go and get a nurse to come and see. I say, “This is what happened at home on Easter Monday when I got the ambulance. I just thought I should show you.”
- Several nurses come and get a bit of a shock because Husband’s eyes have rolled back, he has gone pale and he is unresponsive
- A doctor is rung, a senior nurse is contacted, a hoist is brought outside to get Husband into a wheelchair back into his room and to bed
- Son and I stay with him for another hour or so during which a nurse comes and takes his blood pressure etc. Gradually, Husband comes out of whatever it is and focusses on us but not quite – his eyes are still sharky and vague
- Son and I leave after tucking him in on his side, the way he likes to lie down and we put the ANZAC Day channel on the television for him
- Husband murmurs why are we leaving (by this time we have been there nearly 3 hours – okay, not long, but long enough)
- Son and I get home and have a bit of a tiff (neither of us are particularly upset, just frustrated I guess)
- We get out of our ute and I hear cheeping from the bush where the guinnea fowl’s eggs are and Son finds one little chick all alone, so I take him into the house with me, thinking the rest haven’t survived
- Son then discovers a dozen of them out in the back paddock with all their mummies, so we take the little one back to the group and now we are hoping they will survive tonight (I did a lot of quick research and made some phonecalls to people who know about guinnea fowl and the majority think letting nature do its best is a good call
- As dusk approaches Son and I discover that all but one guinnea mum have flown into the trees and this one dedicated mother has all the chicks under her in the paddock so we put both of our fox lights on either side of her and we are now hoping for the best until tomorrow morning
- I then ring Husband and finally get through and he says, groggily, “Where are you? I’m at home,” and I say “No, I’m at home and you’re at the nursing lodge because you had one of those turns again.” I then tell him about the guinnea fowl chicks and he is delighted in a subdued way, then asks, “But what about me?”
- “I don’t know,” I say, “Try to get some sleep, please!”(He agrees this is a good idea and I tell him I will be in tomorrow).
- I rang the nursing lodge a moment ago and spoke to a nurse who said Husband was calling out for me, over and over again and I told her I couldn’t get through to him on his phone so would she check him out and say goodnight for us and she said of course and reassured me
- And outside, between those fox lights, one mother guinnea fowl nestles her chicks underneath her and I hope for the best….
jmgoyder 
Are you tired? This is well-written. Thank you for sharing it.
Tired yes but okay! Thank you very much!
How long have you and husband been married?
Nearly 20 years now.
What a day for you! Bullet points was the best way to show how full and exhausting and trying your day must have been. Thanks for sharing.
Sally
Thank you Sally!
Such an emotional rollercoaster you’re on! Hang on.
Thanks so much!
Hope you’re all ok and the babies survived the night.
We can’t find them.
I often get like that after a large meal. I’ll be sitting in my favorite recliner, my eyes roll back into my head, my head falls back onto the cushion and I’m generally out for a good half an hour.
You poor old thing!
Your days may be physically and/or emotionally draining but they are always interesting.
Dear Julie, I can feel you and understand you… Should be a tired day today… But you are with your son doing so nice. I am sure it was a wonderful day for him and for you all too… Just I want to say this, my heart with you too dear Julie, angels and beauties be with you always, with my love, nia
Thank you Nia – you are very kind. Juliexx
Beautiful. Do the doctors know why these spells are happening? Is it usual for Parkinsons? I admire your patience. My H is such a baby when he is ill, I usually end up angry with him for his neediness. It’s not easy being married, is it?
It’s to do with both the Parkinson’s and the meds – terribly hard to get the meds right for this disease. You are so funny about your husband!
There are some nasty diseases out there. I’m glad my own problem is so mild.
I reckon Parkinson’s is the absolute pits of a disease – grrr!
When he took his “funny turn” when you called the ambulance, had he been drinking a beer? The only reason I ask, we Gave Momma some wine and she went EXTREMELY wierd, because of the intraction with her meds. Could be a possibility. Get some rest my friend k?
I wondered about that but he only had 2 sips. He did have a lot to eat though. Dr calls it a brain freeze thing to do with the rotton Parkinson’s
I totally understand that….it’s scary beyond all belief…been there… the only thing I know…keep on being what you are and…hold hands….may not make sense…but so be it, and it will make sense….trust me on this one…love ya J….
Thanks J – you’re the best! Jx
I’m sorry about husbands seizure, it must have been frightening for all of you. What a day… and baby guineas too! Why do guineas do that? They lay all their eggs in a communal pile and then leave them with one hen to fend for them? Strange. ~ Lynda
Yeah and now we can’t find the babies – oh dear.
What a day! Hope your husband is doing better today.
So do I – am about to ring up and see!
What a day! Nothing ever seems to go as planned, does it?
Never!
Sounds like your son was a trooper. We cart food to my sister’s house for each holiday, and we all cross our fingers that Mom will remember who we are (she has Alzheimer’s) or at least be in a friendly mood (she’s threatened to call the cops on us). My grandsons, 16 & 18, have gotten really good at going with Mom’s flow–wherever that leads. And they can actually jolly Mom up sometimes. Not always. Holidays are mixed blessings right now. For her and us.
Yes, it’s a bit surreal isn’t it – the dementia thing. So far Husband hasn’t failed to recognize me but the time is coming….
Anxiously awaiting to see how the chicks faired through the night!
It’s morning and we can’t find them – only a bit of hope – you never know.
That should say – read, not see!
What a day! Hope Husband had a good sleep last night. Luckily it was not a cold night for the little chicks and they are fine this morning. Hang in there.
Thanks Helen!
Thanks for sharing your interesting day, looking forward to your next post.
Thanks Lee!
And the grieving begins…dear penpal…my eyes are teary for you and Son. XO
I think I need to lower my daily expectations of things so I won’t get so devastated – silly me!
It’s just a strange time of life. I will say that there’s life on the other side, too, and hopefully brighter for you. 🙂
It’s certainly surreal at times – I need to stop wanting predictability!
Such a poignant post.
Yes, your blog is giving me my daily dose of the giggles so thank you very much!
Sounds like your husband is having recurring seizures. Can’t they give him medication for that? Otherwise I understand they can occur closer and closer to each other.
They’ve done the tests and it’s not seizures – it’s some kind of Parkinson’s-related ‘freezing’ thing that is happening to his brain. It is happening more often now and lasting for longer. It’s only going to get worse and I have to accept this.
Well, it’s too bad. Hopefully he isn’t in pain when it happens.
Thankfully no pain except at night when he has leg pain which he’s on a new drug for.
Deeply emotional days, Julie – strength to you and your family
Thanks bluebee – yes, all a bit surreal!