Ron Is Now Vaccinated!

Waiting for my first COVID vaccination shot at the VA Outpatient Clinic

Hey folks! I got my first vaccination shot on Wednesday at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown, DE. 

I got the Pfizer vaccine.  My second shot is scheduled for March 24th. 

I am so relieved. I haven't mentioned it much but I was concerned that I would carry the COVID virus back to Bill. I tried to arrange a shot for Bill but they declined, saying in effect he was too old.

In a few minutes Bill's hospice nurse is scheduled to arrive for her weekly visit. Now that Bill isn't on home health care, the we're not receiving those two and three times a week visits from the home health aides, sometimes two at a time. Very disruptive although they were just doing their job. Those visits weren't helping us though, especially the last two where both times the aide advised me to take Bill to the local emergency room right away, which solved nothing as far as Bill's condition.

We're continuing to settle into a routine here. Every three days I help Bill take a shower. Daily I dress his right leg which is weeping from his edema condition. I'm actually getting pretty good at it. Nurse Ron here.

I have to say I do miss my twice a week stint at the hotel where I work as a front desk agent. I miss the interaction with the guests.  Working twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays from 3 PM to 11 PM) provided a nice break from my at home routine. Now I spend all my time at home. I've floated the idea of going back to work but Bill won't hear of it. He says "I don't have that long to go, I want you here."

I do have the option of temporarily placing him at the home like setting at the hospice center for a week every ninety days so I can get away and be on my own. He isn't going for that idea either. I know that probably sounds selfish on Bill's part but I understand his need. And I am glad that I have the opportunity to take care of him at this time.

Yesterday I took Bill to a local audiology provider for his new hearing aids. Bill has an ancient set of hearing aids now that were recently broken at the rehab hospital where he spent two weeks. It's going to take six to eight weeks to get Bill's new hearing aids but hopefully they will make his life a bit easier, and mine (I won't have to shout at much).

Bill waiting for his hearing aid appointment

The hospice nurse (Caitlin) hasn't arrived yet but I'm finished this posting. After she leaves we're off to one of my favorite places, the RESTORE (Habitat for Humanity) Thrift Store. I almost always find a "find" there. Plus, we also get Bill out for his daily ride. 

Have a great day everyone!

  

Finally,Geting My COVID Vaccination Shot

Me waiting for my eye doctor this morning - yes, I've aged a lot in the past  two months

 Finally, I'm scheduled for a COVID vaccination shot. 

It's been so frustrating trying to get a COVID vaccination. I live in Delaware, president Biden's home state. One would think I would have no problem especially since I'm in the second group (old, cancer survivor). But, I've signed up to three websites (Walgreens, Beebe Hospital, and a national website), and nada. I get the same response, "No availability." Then today I get a notice from the VA that they now have COVID vaccinations for veterans.  They sent me a link.  I click on the link and get five pages of verbiage. Where do I make the appointment? Coincidentally, while I was looking I received a call from the VA following up on Bill's macular degeneration eye condition. I told them that Bill was now in hospice care and we don't need a support group to help Bill with his loss of vision. However, I did tell her that she could help me to navigate the VA website to make a vaccination appointment. She suggested I contact my local outpatient clinic, which I did and viola! I have an appointment at 2:30 PM tomorrow afternoon, which is right in the middle of my daily nap time (which I've been able to resume late last week now that Bill and I have settled into a routine). Of course I will go tomorrow to get my vaccination. I requested a vaccination for Bill but his doctor turned that down which I understand. Bill is in hospice care and at his age (92), and condition, getting vaccination wouldn't be viable. 

As I mentioned earlier, Bill and I are settling into a routine, which is good. Our life is going back to some normality. I still have to help Bill undress, take a shower and dress.  I also have to daily change his dressing on his leg which has edema and is weeping. I'm managing. This is the new normal now. Bill is managing going to the bathroom by himself which is a big help. He's also getting his sense of humor back, which is another good sign. I miss my job at the hotel though. Working two days a week at the hotel provided the proper balance in my life, that worked for me. I hope I can go back to that routine sometimes in my life. But for now I have different responsibilities.

Oh, two more good things today, I had my eye examination this morning. I couldn't take Bill with me because they're only allowing patients in the eye institute because of COVID restrictions. For the first time since Bill came home I had to leave him alone for about two hours. When I came back home he thought something had happened to me (a car accident) and was panicking. He completely forgot that I told him I would be gone for about two hours (which I was).  I calmed him down and life is back to normal now. I don't need new glasses but my cataracts are still forming. My doctor told me I would know when I needed cataract surgery. I couldn't get cataract surgery at this time anyway.

Another good thing today, my Time Machine backup is working on my iMac. I changed my external hard drive. Don't ask me why one isn't working and the other is. Some of this computer stuff still baffles me. All I know is that this new backup is taking about fourteen hours for the initial backup. I have a lot of photos and videos. 

One more good thing, my first daffodil bloomed today. Spring is coming!