Sept 6th morning Update on Todd

While on the Medical floor they let Todd wear his hat, made him feel good. They won't let him have it on the Psych Ward.

How can I begin to describe what has been going on this week with Todd and I.  As I've posted in previous post, early Sunday morning, Todd had two seizures.  He was in ICU for a while then moved to Medical floor.  The staff there, was for the most part doing great with Todd, always having someone with him. (except when I was there, then they let us have our time together, but was always there, to assist if I needed help).  

   On Tues, I came home from the hospital to make some lunch for Kristi and I and after lunch, I told her, I didn't feel well, like my whole insides are shaking.  She encouraged me to just go lay down for awhile.  I did manage to sleep for maybe 20 minutes.  Shortly after awaking up, I got a very disturbing phone call.  I guess someone out there, doesn't think I'm doing a good job with Todd, or just wanted to be spiteful and mean.  Who ever this misinformed person is, they reported me to Adult Protection Agency saying I was abusing and neglecting Todd.  I was like WHAT?!!!  Amazing how in this country, you don't have to identify yourself to report someone, and that person reported is guilty until proven innocent.  I'm not sure where anyone could even get the idea of abuse and neglect with Todd and myself.  Lets see, I 24/7 watched him, bathed him, wiped his butt, cleaned up his messes, help him brush his teeth, helped him shave, provided good delicious food (way better than the hospitals)  laughed with him, cried with him, prayed with him, sang with him, up all night with him, trying to get him to go to sleep (I won't bother to continue, I think you get the picture).  But I guess in someones eyes that's abuse and neglect.   

    Todd has made improvement since the seizures on Sunday, and is back to walking better and more like he was before the seizures. His tongue is still swollen, but is healing, and he's eating much better now, and can finally feed himself again.  

    Then yesterday afternoon, while sitting with Todd in his room, and nurse came in with some papers saying "I just need your signature, before the transfer."   I said, "We're going somewhere?"  She then replied "No one's talked to you?"  I said I hadn't had a doctor talk to me since Tues. (yesterday was Thurs)  She got up and left the room.  One of the social workers came in to speak to me (not the doctor, who still has not spoken to me).  He (the social worker) said they want to move Todd back to the Psych Ward cause it's a locked unit, so he can do his wandering with out their worry of loosing him.  The Psych Ward is NOT a good place for Todd, I know cause that's where he's been for the last 3 weeks.  He's not crazy and does not have a psych issue. He has a brain injury with dementia symptoms.  What really makes me mad is no doctor spoke to me, and also on Monday (or was it Tues) the Neurologist told me he would not go back to Psych cause this is not a psych issue, this is a medical issue.  There's something  else wrong.  They have stopped the Parkinson's medication as they no longer think this is the issue. I never did think it was.   He is still on anti-seizure meds.  And of course they keep him doped up hoping he'd sleep.   When he got moved to the psych ward, I did speak to the Social Worker there, and told her how upset I was with this move, and the care (or lack of it) he's gotten on that floor.  All she could say was she'd speak to her supervisor.    

    All I can say, is in this country there is little place provided for the brain injured.  If you're mental retarded, there's provision. If you're elderly and have Alzheimer's, there's provision. But if you're young (I still view Todd and myself as young) and have a brain injury, there's not much out there.  People don't want to be bothered with you, and most people just don't understand it at all. 

    Now that Todd's back on the Psych Ward, I have very limited time I can visit him.  There's only one hour time slot in the afternoon, and 2 hours in the evening I'm allowed in.  I REALLY hate this!  

    On the home front, Kristi and I started our home school the day after Labor Day (when all schools should start by the way) and this makes the 21st year for me as a home school mom.  Kristi is also taking Band and Art at Century High School.  Tonight she'll have her first pep band performance at the Century football game. (don't ask me who they're playing cause I haven't a clue).  Kristi has been such a trouper, getting her work done here at home at CHS and also visiting her Dad.  Yah, she's still the same, she doesn't say much, but when she does, you better listen cause she has something usually profound and insightful to say.  Love that girl!

   The boys (Tyson and Philip) along with our wonderful daughter-in-law, Sarah, have kept in frequent contact with me.  Both boys wish they were here to support, but it's totally impossible, as Phil just started his internship in Colorado Springs, and Sarah is about ready to have her baby any day now. (her due date is 9-11)  But babies come when they want to.  I so want to be there for the birth, but know that might not be possible. Sarah's mom, Amy has promised to Skype or FaceTime me when the baby is born so I can see our new little bundle of Joy. (Tyson and Sarah live in Tulsa).  I can't brag enough on my kids, how they've supported me, and love me and their father so much.  I truly feel blessed beyond words.

   About 1 am this morning, I awoke, and was thinking about Psalms 23.  It keeps being a repeated theme over the last month for me.  But I got to thinking about it from not so much a shepherd and sheep, but maybe a cowboy's perspective.  So this is what I came up with:

The Lord is my cowboy, I don't have to worry about anything, cause he's got all my needs covered.

The leads me to lush green pastures,(rotational grazing of course) and makes sure all my water tanks are full.

He gets all my thinking straight, and leads me to places that are good for me.  I brag about him all the time.

Even when we're walking through rattle snake infested country, I'm not afraid, cause He's right there beside me, His rope and 6 shooter there to protect me.

He prepares my food all summer so I always have lots to eat.  He anoints my head with stuff to keep away the flies and fleas.  His care is nonstop 24/7 he's got me covered.

His cowdogs "Goodness" and "Mercy" follow me around, always getting me to barn where I'm sheltered and safe all my days.