Recovering at Camp

One week ago (on Thursday), my dad got out of the hospital. On Friday, we drove back to camp. Originally, we all thought he would stay at my house for a few days or even a few weeks. I wasn't sure how many follow up appointments he would have, and we didn't want to rush off to the woods if he still might need to go to a doctor.

But his follow up appointment isn't for two weeks and there was no reason to stay at my house. In the 24 hours he was there, he was already starting to go crazy. No matter how comfortable I tried to make the spare room or the rest of my house- he wanted to be at home. His home. In his bed. With his stuff. His surroundings. When you don't feel well, you want to be in the place you feel most comfortable, so being at my house wasn't going to work.

Also, we are in a unique situation- I can work from anywhere, so I didn't have to take time off from work. I also just happen to live at my dad's house for 4 months a year, so moving with him wasn't difficult either. I was going to move to camp in the middle of May anyway- moving a month early wasn't a big adjustment. My brother and my aunts all live in the city, so moving 3 hours away up North meant that they wouldn't be much help, but ultimately, this is about what is best for my dad, not what is most convenient for all of us.

We've been here a week now and it's going well. My dogs are thrilled to be back at camp, living the dream life, relaxing outside and playing until they pass out. I don't have to drive to the office in the morning; I've pretty much worn sweatpants 24/7 and with little to entertain me, I've been incredibly productive with both camp and school work.

And my dad is improving- 3 weeks ago the doctors said he might die. So the fact that he is out of the hospital is a huge improvement. Recovery is going to be a long road- he needs help putting on his socks and he naps several times a day. We take two walks a day- just slightly farther than the mailbox and back, which still requires several breaks and he usually has to nap afterwards. He has to use oxygen 24/7, which he hates and he is on a strict low sodium diet, but he's improving every day. He gets frustrated sometimes, but this is just a small speed bump along the road of life. Maybe someday we will look back and laugh, or well, if not laugh, at least be able to say, "remember that short period of time when it was kinda rough- I'm glad that's over!" So we'll move forward, one day at a time, until this is behind us.