Travels with Old People...

Today was our appointment with the PCP to review the scans done in Florida.  Dad kept saying, "He should take her off coumadin today", Mom said, "What?  What's going on?"  I drank my oh-so-necessary iced coffee while waiting.  Doc came in, Dad didn't even say hello...started asking about the coumadin.  Being me, I stopped Dad, and modeled the appropriate behavior for him (Hello, Dr. so and so).  Turns out Mom has a partial blockage in the artery that goes into the carotid (probably cholesterol based).  Not in the written reports from FL, not mentioned at all.  Turns out a separate review of films is a good idea.  Turns out being on coumadin was a lucky choice of drug.  Turns out she's staying on the coumadin.
While Dad is going on and on, Mom is making the funniest possible faces at him, and sticking out her tongue at him.  I'm watching her, and trying to pay attention to what Dad's version of life with Mom is.  He was trying to get her Aricept upped again - says she's spacey...REALLY???  Of course, perhaps the lower dose of Aricept coupled with one less type of BP medicine may be responsible for her increased appetite, and ability to stay up a bit later.  So he's gotta keep a journal of when she is extra spacey to prove it's really happening (yup!  my idea).  He wasn't happy - says I interfere and judge him.  Yes, I admit to being controlling, but he can't make all the decisions now.  And I do judge him and interfere, but in a good Italian-Irish daughter kind of way...and I'm NOT gonna pussy-foot around with him.
On to the Bank - "Irene, you stay in the car." "Why do I have to stay in the car?"  "Mom, you can come with me."  "What are we doing here?"
On to the Big Y - "What are we doing here?"  Dad forgets we are with him, and races ahead with the carriage for his first trip to the grocery store since he landed in CT 2 weeks ago (yes, it has ONLY been 2 weeks).  Broken bone be damned, his sling hangs down as he places both hands on the carriage, his face is entirely focused (nose, eyes, lips pursed) on all the choices ahead of him.  Mom and I head for the Ladies'.  "How do I flush this?" "Button on the wall"...yeah, that was fun.
I go through with Mom to find Dad, gathering what I need along the way...Dad already has things in the carriage.  Now I do feel like I am herding cats..."Let's go, what else do you need? I'll get the grated cheese...the store brand of Honey Nut Cheerios is 1.99." "That has almond flavor.  Mom doesn't like that."  "It's HONEY NUT...NUT!!! Here's the Cheerios brand for 4.39...ALMOND FLAVOR."  Dad gets a Cheerios brand, and a store brand version, saying he wants the Cheerios brand, Mom can have the store brand...WHAT?  Then he does the same with raisin bread - Pepperidge Farm, and store brand.  I think I will switch the bags for the cereal - put the Cheerios brand in the store box, and vice versa.


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