Good health is for sissies

This morning I was roused bright and early by the intent nudging of a mom who had just spend the better part of her morning regurgitating Christmas dinner. She insisted that I get to the hospital right away to take care of my dad so I left the house bleary-eyed and totally unkempt and found myself still bleary-eyed and a little less unkempt (I lip glossed in the car) in my dad's overly bright hospital room 30 minutes later. My dad greeted me with an enthusiastic, "Hey! You're here early! You know, if you want to go home I can stay here by myself. No? Ok, then let's fill out my meal ticket for tomorrow!"

My dad and I spent the day transferring to and from the wheelchair to make appearances at his various therapies. One bathroom disaster, one GREAT success, and one pinch sitter later I walked out the door smelling 10 times worse than I did when I walked in. One rather olfactory-challenged and evidently blind Fightin' Texas Aggie valet (who I actually met yesterday) didn't seem to notice my total lack of personal hygiene, which was refreshing given the fat day that I was having.

I picked up some applesauce and bananas for the nutrition-eschewing lady of the house and promptly passed out on the couch when I finally got home. After my nap it was my job to fetch Pepto-Bismol, extra blankets, 7UP, and rice for my invalid mother.

At some point you have to wonder just what kind of curse has been cast on my family (a huge mirror did fall off of the mantle only a week and a half before misfortune's wheel started turning) but then, I did mention a "GREAT success". This afternoon in physical therapy my dad was lying on his back and had his legs bent (at the knees) and draped over a cylindrical cushion. The therapist asked him to try to lift and straighten the lower half (knee to foot) of his paralyzed right leg. When he tried the first couple of times the therapist claimed that she felt a little twitch and saw a hint of movement in the muscles in his thigh. She pulled back the leg of his pants to get a better look and when she asked him to try again the muscles in the thigh quivered in a way that I didn't know muscles could quiver and then my dad lifted the foot on that paralyzed right leg from the mat straight up into the air 15 times. It was glorious! And any bad news just flew right out the window.