The Case of The Missing Blogger

Monday, 29 January 2007

Well, it seems to be true that I have been missing a few blogs since 2007 started, not because I haven't wanted to write a few things, but mainly because my life has been super busy, so busy that I haven't even been doing Bikram yoga. Geez, what a slacker! (No, but really, I have better excuses than that.) My life has been consumed with the following (in no particular order):

1) Planning a wedding
2) Hunting a wild mother pig and baby piglets
3) Watching Dad
4) Making Invitations
5) Shopping
6) Trying to Sleep
7) Trying to Eat
8) Walking

To recap, 1) Yes, I have been planning a wedding...And, if all goes as planned, I will know that it is indeed possible to plan a wedding in 5 weeks.
2) For the past few weeks, or perhaps it's been a month, we have been rudely awakened by barking dogs and rustling in the bushes. Finally, I saw it with my own eyes. We have feral pigs (a brown sow and two black piglets) running around our property, eating avocadoes that have fallen from the tree, and making their way down the hill from about 7 pm to 2 am each night.
3) Watching Dad is the same routine. But of course not without some humorous stories. One day, after I showered and dried him, he instructed me to pull a chest hair and save it for myself. For what you might ask? "For DNA testing," he said. So in a labeled ziploc bag it went. This past weekend (1/27), he had difficulty being off the bi-pap machine for more than 40 minutes. So he didn't bathe that day. We may have to consider sponge baths in the very near future as his ability to sit upright without assisted breathing is getting extremely difficult and scary.
4) After daily trips (over a week) to Ben Franklin Crafts store and Kinko's and one late night of Miya and I gluing, embossing, and tying ribbon, the invites were finally mailed out. (And, as people are RSVPing, Dad is trying to see how many more he can invite. Yikes!)
5) Bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, little guys'outfits....
6) With the dogs and pigs waking us up at least once a night, sleeping soundly is hard to come by.
7) For about a month and a half, I had difficulty eating my favorite foods. I'm feeling better now.
8) Because I haven't been doing yoga and I have not been disciplined enough to do the video, I've tried to walk up and down the hill at least 3-4 times per week, sometimes with Kaliko by my side.

And, now who's wedding am I planning you might ask? Well, surprise, surprise...Yes, it is true. Chris and I are getting married on Saturday, February 17th, so that my dad can "walk me down the aisle". Since we're accelerating this for my dad, we can only invite family and close friends. I plan to have receptions later down the line in Hawai'i, Seattle, and California so that those that couldn't come on such short notice can attend and celebrate our new beginnings with us.

Planning

Thursday, 11 January 2007

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, but let's just say it's been a busy start to the new year....and I have a feeling 2007 is just going to get busier.

I've been busy planning a luncheon for next month, and with work starting today, how did I spend it?? Well, working on all 43 report cards that I've put off these past three weeks since being on vacation. The students come back tomorrow for one day before the three day weekend. This weekend will be spent shopping, planning, and more planning. But, Chris and I do have a fun outing on Sunday night, going to listen to Blue October in concert (after they cancelled the concert because they were scared of the storm that hit us back in October.)

Hospice has been checking in with Dad each week since Christmas. He is pretty much dependent on the bi-pap machine in order to breathe. It helps him to breathe easier during the day, sleep through the night, helps him to talk, and helps give him more energy before bathing. The pulmonologist said if he gets a headache, then goes on the bi-pap, and then the headache goes away, then that's fine. It shows that it he needs the bi-pap machine to push out the carbon dioxide.

But, if he has a headache, goes on the bi-pap, and then the headache still doesn't go away and he starts getting drowsy, then that means the pressure needs to be higher on the bi-pap.

Yesterday, we lost one of our members of the support group to ALS. She had just signed up with hospice recently.

Hospice volunteers can help give us respite care, bathe Dad, and even will take him into a home with nurses, for a weekend, if my stepmom needs respite on the weekends.

That will be helpful as Bernice is now sick with a cold and is busy taking my stepsister Lindsey shopping for winter ball and prom dresses.

Today, I talked with one of my coworkers (who actually was my 4th grade teacher when I was in school) about Dad, and she reflected on how helpful hospice was when her mom was sick. It's a tough time, but she emphasized the importance of talking to your loved ones before they go. "Do you talk to your dad?" she asked me. "Yes."

Even through tough times, it's nice to be able to sit and talk with my dad, make plans, and continue to live each day to its fullest.

Being Courageous

Thursday, 28 December 2006

I came across this comment on the "Living with ALS" chat room today, and it is a great follow-up to the previous post on "The Perils of Mute Communication" written by Dov Wisebrod. As we continue our daily routine with Dad and focus on making him comfortable, it is important to remember how courageous Dad has been with this horrible disease over the past two years.

"ALS has taught me patience in all things - with other people, with
myself, and especially with my body. I've become accustomed to my
mind racing ahead of my body's ability to catch up and put in effect
all my ideas. I've learned to think, reason, and plan before
beginning a project like writing or programming. So I knew what I
wanted to write before I started.

I initially wrote an article that was about half the final size, and
it was rejected by one paper. (Boo-hoo, but I've had legal articles
accepted and rejected by law journals, and I was executive editor of
a law journal, so I'm used to rejecting and rejection.) So I beefed
up the article, constantly edited it, and when I was finally
satisfied, I submitted it to a better newspaper. They did a wonderful
job, giving it a full page on the front of a section with an
excellent illustration.

I don't feel courageous, though I've been called that by almost
everyone who wrote to me after the article was published. In fact, I
think anyone who accepts a diagnosis of ALS is courageous. It is
irrelevant to me whether the person chooses to live with the aid of
machines and medications, as I have, or not. The very act of
consciously choosing to live or die (whether assisted or unassisted)
is courageous in and of itself. After making that inherently
courageous decision, all that follows isn't courageous at all. It is
simply the consequence of that single courageous choice.

That is my opinion."

Dov Wisebrod
wisebrod.com

Calling on Hospice

Wednesday, 27 December 2006

Now that Christmas is over, it's back to the grind. But this time, I can sleep in later, wake up later, and finally clean the house (hopefully!). Today, we had a family meeting with two people from Hospice Hawai'i. Since Dad has decided not to get a feeding tube or to get a tracheostomy/ventilator, we have called on Hospice to help us make him comfortable. His ultimate wish is to die at home, not in a hospital or nursing home.

A social worker (who is actually a friend of Jay's, his age) and a nurse came. They will provide social support for the family if we need someone to talk to and nursing assistance. They even provide respite care for caregivers if needed, as they have volunteers that can do 4 hour shifts. The nurse will be the main liasion between doctors now. The bi-pap is seen as "comfort care" so he can still use that, but typically patients do not see doctors once they sign up for hospice or get any procedures done as that would revoke hospice. They will be helpful. In the end, they will aid with pain medication and such so that he can die with dignity in the home. So, we don't call 911 in an emergency. We call hospice. They will even help with funeral arrangements and such. Both Joy (the nurse) and Joanne (the social worker) will check in with us weekly or as needed.

Dad can eat better and has more energy to talk and breathe with the bi-pap, so he uses it often. Still, he chokes easily when eating and cannot cough or rid his body of the mucus. But, he managed not to get sick this Christmas, so that is good. I got him the Magic Bullet for Christmas, so perhaps that will help to blend his food.

Hope everyone was able to spend time with their loved ones this Christmas. As for us, we take each day as it comes.

Do I look like I'm tired of making popcorn or what? 

What could this be?! You're looking at Chris' creative wrapping job..........using all masking tape! 

The sailor statue must be a collectible because it was the gift in contention at the Christmas party. 

Kimi, Peggy's daughter-in-law, hides the wanted sailor statue and carries it like a baby. 

Peggy Chun and Tanya 

The lit tree at Peggy's house looks like it goes through the roof. That's why she puts a little one on her roof as well. 

Peggy Chun, a well-known local painter who has had ALS for 4 years now, communicates using her eye transfer board, with her husband and nurse by her side. 

I led the white elephant exhange game at the ALS support group Christmas party at Peggy's house. 

Divina, the party hostess and wife of an ALS patient, welcomes everyone, including Ken, another ALS patient on the right. 

Warren, another ALS patient on the left, and family caregivers from the support group hang out at Peggy's house. 

Gary pushes Dad into the house. 

The Parks & Rec Gang with Dad. 

Keora, the director of Kahala Rec, where Chris and I grew up going to Summer Fun, says bye to Dad. 

A popular local grocery store called Daiei just got remodeled and taken over by the Japanese chain Don Quijote. Although the fire department made them take away the jungle like furnishings hanging from the ceiling, the store still remains a "jungle", with confusing aisles and products arranged in small, crowded spaces. It makes for an entertaining visit. 

A strange welcome sign in Don Quijote. 

Funny aisle markers