We’ll start with last Friday, it was busy.

Jim woke me up at 5am to get to the baseball diamond early because the kids were starting their new season today. His kids are middle-aged and haven’t played baseball in 40 years.

We both had blood tests in the morning, which required fasting. So I’m already starting the day early and without coffee.

Happily, they let us go in together. I’m not sure how Jim would react to being in a strange place and not being able to see me while people poked him with a needle.

Then we went to the mall to grab a bite to eat before my uncle’s funeral.

I was worried about attending the funeral. I could picture Jim getting restless during the service and ‘whispering’ in his booming voice, “So, should we hit the road?”

In the end we sat in the cozy chairs just outside the chapel. It was perfect. I got to see my extended family and Jim mostly understood what was happening. At least until he got in the car and forgot everywhere we’d been.

Monday, I tried to get an updated referral to hopefully speed up Jim’s geriatric assessment. We were only 3 months in to a 9-12 month waitlist to even get an appointment. He’d declined enough that I knew I’d need more help long before we made it off the waitlist.

Well, the squesky wheel got the grease, our appointment is next week. Or, perhaps it was more about his increase to daily hallucinations and delusions, and the beginnings of swallowing issues, that bumped him up.

With that settled, all seemed to be going well until his foot started to hurt. He has diabetic neuropathy. There is very little circulation in his feet on a good day and he’s been sleeping a lot lately which apparently made it worse.

The podiatrist confirmed there was an infection but wasn’t allowed to prescribe antibiotics so 2x6hrs waiting for a virtual nurse practioner to take care of us. First appointment was cancelled due to the 6hr waiting time limit, we got through to the 2nd starting at 9pm.  Woot!!

Kudos to our virtual Healthcare system for working way past regular hours. (I had a separate appointment for me, that started at 11pm a few nights later)

Jim’s been good on his feel despite his shaky balance. But the pain in his foot caused him to forget how to walk. He couldn’t figure out how to put weight on his heel to ease the pain in his toe. Added complication, he couldnt wear his running shoes. He wore his slippers all day. They have no grip and made it impossible for him to stand up on his own.

Thursday and Friday I shuffled him to and from the bathroom on my wheeled computer chair. (Never have I been so grateful for wooden floors).

So far today, he’s walking normally and has been able to put his running shoes back on. I’m going to keep him moving as much as I can today to keep circulation moving through his feet.

Next up, we’re getting a rising recliner to keep Jim’s feet up to help improve his circulation, and a proper wheelchair.