Monday, October 31, 2022

 Monday, October 31, 2022

 

 I was up at 4 a.m. I did my in-bed exercises. I set my alarm for 5 a.m. because I had to drive B. to Waimea this morning for his rotator cuff surgery. I got out of bed shortly before 5, tried to turn off the alarm, and discovered the phone was locked. I figured I'd take care of it on the drive up, but then my phone rang. It was B. I hoped the phone would work for incoming calls; it didn't. B. called again while I was walking Elsa. B. had to be worried about what was going on with me. Was I still in bed? Would I get up in time to drive him? When I got home, I finally dealt with the phone. I knew what to do to reset it. I had tried it once already without success. I took the cover off this time before going through the button routine. I have an iPhone 12; first, I have to press the up-volume button, then the down-volume one, and then the on/off button. Without the interference of the cover, it worked quickly and easily. I called B. to assure him I was up and ready.

 We had to be there by 6:40. I thought we would leave around 5:45 to be sure we got there. We left at 5:30. I think B was anxious. His first scheduled surgery for the shoulder was canceled because he got pneumonia. He didn't want to miss this one. 

  B drove. I rode shotgun with Elsa. She hyperventilated the whole way. I perched her on my shoulders; she made an excellent headrest. It took her a while to settle. She lay down on my shoulders, but she never stopped panting. 

  The drive up to Waimea offers fantastic views. We saw dawn come up over Mauna Kea. It was worth getting up that early.

  When we arrived, I took Elsa for a walk in the parking lot. When I came back to the car, B signaled me frantically. He had thought the surgery would be at the specialty clinic. When it wasn't open by 6:30, he figured he had to be at the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital was within view. B pulled up to the entrance. He got out; I took care of the car. I told him I would wait until I heard from him to know he was okay. Elsa was calm on the drive home. Apparently, she was disturbed I wasn't the driver.

 When I got home, I got a call from a nurse at the hospital. B had named me the person who would care for him when he got home. He would be recovering from the anesthesia and had a sensory block on his shoulder. I had to watch he didn't walk into doorways and bang his arm. I told the nurse to tell B that I would call the police if he didn't cooperate with me. If he named me as his caretaker, his caretaker I would be. The nurse told B what I said and added, "She was only kidding." B said, "No, she wasn't."

   I called Netta, the friend who was picking him up, to tell her to make sure he came to my house instead of his. He underwent surgery around 9 and was released from the hospital at 11. Holy moly!! No wonder he needed someone to watch him.

  The nurse told me the best situation was for him to sit in a recliner. I had Mike's old one sitting on the lanai. Scott helped me move it into my bedroom. B. would have privacy there and easy access to my bathroom. The doorway is extra wide to be wheelchair accessible. Mike and I designed the bathroom to accommodate our end-of-life needs. Scott noticed that with the tile floor, the chair might slide as B got in and out of it. He put a large, heavy object behind it, and we put rubber pads from the kitchen under the front feet. B. likes it cool. Driving up, he set the temperature on his side at the lowest possible number. Scott and I set up two fans to keep him cool.

 B was reasonably cooperative. He had to go down to his quarters to get his medication. I walked him down and carried the bag with his provisions on the way up. B. spent most of the day sleeping. I let him go home to be on his own toward the end of the day. This was his third rotator cuff surgery. He knew the drill. He was stable when he walked. I walked him down, carrying his things so he could concentrate on navigating.

  I had an appointment with adolescent D. at two p.m. He did a good job blending four sounds.

  M & W's mom called as I signed into Zoom to tell me they were caught in Halloween traffic. Could they cancel for the day? Of course.

  I had the Sears serviceman coming tomorrow, and I booked a chiropractic appointment at the same time. Scott had a PT appointment at the same time. There must be an adult in the house when the serviceman is here. B probably wouldn't be able to do it. He would be recovering from his surgery and couldn't come up. The block would have worn off, and he would be in pain. I called my friend Darby, who lives down the street. She had a piano tuning appointment (She is the tuner.)  She said she could adjust if necessary.

  B came up before dark because I told him he had a package from his stepmother. I didn't expect him to come up immediately. It was clear he could come up to greet the Sears serviceman the next day. I called Darby to tell her I didn't need her; B could do it. I am so grateful for all the wonderful, generous people in my life.

  I finished watching Raymond and Ray. It was wonderful.