My oldest daughter, who had a baby late last summer, returned to her RN job following maternity leave, only to find a few weeks in that the hospital system was selling off the agency she worked for. The job was being completely changed to the point where she felt her patients were not getting the proper care, plus the job would no longer be compatible to parents who use day care. She turned in her resignation and managed to get a new job within a month's time. It is only part-time, but would work with day care hours.
Unfortunately, during the 8 weeks total time he had been in day care, my grandson managed to get croup, ear infection, influenza, stomach flu and numerous colds. My daughter and SIL were starting to freak out, as neither can really take days off from their jobs, plus the cost of taking him to the doctor was adding up. So, I did the thing I said I would never do . . . I volunteered to watch him in my home on the days they both work. This started last week. I love him to pieces, but it is exhausting entertaining a 6 month old all day, along with having to drive my other daughter with autism to her job. And now it's time to work on taxes!
During this time, my son graduated from college and moved back home to look for a job. The good news is that he has one job offer and another possibility that he's flying out for at the end of this week. Both jobs would involve moving 2-6 hours away in the next month. I'm burying my head in the sand with this one.
In mid-February, my Dad fell and was hospitalized for a week and is currently in a rehab nursing home. His main issue is vascular dementia and I'm worried that my mother can no longer take care of him in their condo. I don't think they can afford assisted living, so we are trying to figure out what the best solution will be.
Meanwhile, my husband and I had a business trip to Southern California at the end of February that we've been planning on for 2 years. I was worried the entire week leading up to it, not knowing what was going to happen with my dad, but we did end up being able to go, so I did my usual internet blackout, which I highly recommend to everyone!
So, there you have it! I will probably continue to be less present here, but I have no intention of leaving for good, so you're stuck with me! I look forward to catching up with all of you soon.
Damn, you sure have a lot going on. All generations keeping you busy. Babies sure want all the attention. Those daycares are nothing but germ dens, build up an immune system my fanny.
ReplyDeleteShe is still getting the daycare's emails and this week it's hand foot mouth disease in the infant room. I'm glad he's out of there!
DeleteUnderstood, that is quite a lot!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting used to my new normal.
DeleteMan, I just spent half a day with an almost-six-year-old and even he was exhausting, so I definitely hear you! Good luck with your juggling act - don't forget to breathe every now and then, okay?
ReplyDeleteKids can wear you out, first physically and later on in life, mentally!
DeleteI was just getting ready to email to see how you were, so I was soooooooo happy to see that you had posted. At first, I thought perhaps you were on vacation, somewhere warm and sunny!
ReplyDeleteBoy, you've been busy.
I'm so happy to hear that your daughter found another job, and so quickly! I admire her work ethic and resigning because she felt that her patients were not getting proper care.
So sorry to read about father. A similar thing happened to my friend's father in Florida. Her mother was not strong enough to take care of him, so they found a company that hires caregivers who go to the homes of people in need of assistance. That way, her father could get the help he needed, while her mother was present as well.
Glad to hear that you and your husband had a chance to get away to California in February. I bet the weather was fabulous!
GREAT to hear from you, my friend! And no worries about being busy and taking care of business. Whenever you find the time to post, your blogging fans will be here!
Take care and have a super week!
X
We are looking in to the home health aides. My dad went home yesterday, so I'm going to see how my mother is handling things. It's difficult because they live about an hour away from me, so I can't just run over at the drop of a hat.
DeleteThanks so much for your kindness, Ron. I'm going to blog about my trip soon!
Wow, that's a lot of things to deal with all of a sudden. Especially with all the medical costs you have over there. My father in law had vascular dementia but luckily he had plenty of money and went into a care home, where he died a year later. My mother in law was finding it impossible to cope with all his endless demands at home.
ReplyDeleteDementia is a cruel illness, isn't it? It's sad when the person is physically in good condition.
DeleteHaving a baby in the house sure changes the whole dynamic doesn't it, but yet aren't grandbabies the best!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have your hands full with everything that is going on with your family right now, I can relate to your situation with your dad because we are taking care of Cindy's dad ourselves, but then we have him right here at home with us.
Just take care of yourself, I was wondering about you not being around as much and it makes perfect sense now, and as they say you have to take care of real life first! I am glad we are all going to be stuck with you though.
Thanks, Jimmy. I know you understand the demands of caring for an aging parent. And yes, my grandson is certainly a joy to be around! That smile does me in!
DeleteI was not too far from where you live on my trip. I'm excited to tell you about it soon.
Ah, leading the popular life! Right with you, even if I'm not QUITE as popular as yourself.
ReplyDeleteIf your father needs assisted living at least pursue the possibilities. Here in New York we found that there was far more help than we ever imagined, if Mum hadn't progressed so fast to Hospice she would have been able to get assisted living by (Queenie) signing over her portion of pension and could have kept $14,000 for other personal needs. We believed other folk too much who we later found had actually never checked into things. Pop would have been able to keep his pension AND up to $74,000 of personal savings. You never know what you 'can afford' until you look into it. Get connected with your 'local' Alzheimers support group, they can likely help. That's where we found out there was hope before we realized we didn't need the help .....
I'm going to look into it more now that you tell me that. They don't have a pension and I think my mom is concerned about using up their savings as she is still in her 70's.
DeleteOh, and BTW- Also do some digging to find out if there are any alternative resources available. Mum is in a 'free' Hospice residence that is funded by donations and government grants. They don't charge for their services, they just ask that you give what you can and that you mention them first in the Obit for charities to give to as a memorial. Locally we only have the one hospice care facility but I have heard that some bigger cities have programs that also cover late-stage nursing home type care.
DeleteOh wow, you really do have a lot on your plate. I have watched my grandson quite a lot since he's been born. I didn't think that I would but things have a way of never going as planned.
ReplyDeleteI definitely know what you mean, Mary! Life generally just happens!
DeleteYou officially have a lot going on! Sound a little overwhelming. It's hard having adult kids living with you. My son and his girlfriend did for just a summer and it felt like a LONG summer. And not in a good way, in spite of the fact that I love them both. Life can sure catch you off guard.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed having him here, especially when he was shoveling snow for me, but it's time for him to launch.
DeleteWow...you certainly are juggling a lot of plates! Grandson or not, little kids are exhausting. There's a reason why you have kids when you're young. I hope life calms down enough for you to blog about it! I'm looking forward to the posts about your trip.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your grandson, and I hope you find a good solution for your Dad.
I will blog about my trip for sure. Traveling is one of my favorite parts of life.
DeleteOh, Bijoux, I'm so sorry about this stuff happening at once.
ReplyDeleteThere's a line from Hamlet that goes "When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions” and it sure sounds like you've been invaded!
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. My father suffered from dementia and it can be a very trying time. I wish you all the best and I hope things settle down very soon. And I like being stuck with you, so keep up the blogging!
Thanks, Rob. It was a particularly hard day today. My dad seems depressed now and my mom is not handling any of this well.
DeleteSo there you have it, all right. Sigh. Health should be everybody's main priority, right? I'm sorry to hear about your father. Let's say I can relate.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Blue. So many of us have either been through this or are in the midst of it right now. It's the price we pay for extending life. My dad had his first heart attack at age 59. I'm grateful he survived it, but it's hard to watch him be so miserable now.
DeleteI'm running out of parents. Birth-father died this past January. 'Step'-mom is in a nursing home w/ Alzheimer's. Birth-mom is still going strong as she turns 82.
ReplyDeleteFor us, the burden is definitely on dealing with our kids'dysfunction. We're fostering one of our grandkids, and another one lives with us half-time, 'cuz his mom is under our roof. Only one of our kids gets us a tax deduction, but at the moment, all but two are sleeping and eating here at least some of the time (to be fair, two of 'em are in college, but still. . .). We're getting close to something like a 'come to Jesus' family meeting. . .
Oh Craig, I know you've been facing these difficulties for a decade now? I don't know how you and Jen do it. Many times I've had people tell me they don't know how I deal with having a child with autism. I tell them there are people with kids who have much bigger problems than a disability. I'm so sorry for your struggles, my friend.
DeleteOh, I'm beginning to understanding that sandwich feeling with parents and children and their issues! Glad you were able to get away for your trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sage!
DeleteSo sorry you and your family are dealing with so many things right now. I hope it gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Danielle.
DeleteMan, it sounds like you have a lot going on. Bless you for helping your daughter out. That's got to make a huge difference for them. And again, congrats to your son. I wonder if the job market is finally better for recent college graduates? When I finished in 2011 the prospects were just abysmal. It was a really frightening and frustrating time to be a young person attempting to enter the workforce.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about employment. He had a lot of interviews, but the offers were slim. A lot of places seemed to drag their feet, putting him off for months.
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