Do you have an explanation?

ButterflyWings

I’m stumped. And thought you all would get a kick out of the recent conversation:

Just 5 minutes ago, DH paused in his repetitive folding of a corner of blanket and asked me…”What do you know about this?” Holding it up for me to see.

Hmm. My turn to pause. You all know the feeling. It’s one of those moments where you ponder what the question might mean, and how best to answer.

Obviously noting my confusion, he followed up with: “Do you have an explanation?”

(WHAT!?) This guy is so far from the barely alive person both hospice and I thought would not even see last week. Much less, be conversing and prompting me with clarifying questions, however brief the moment might be lol.

I said something like “Not really, it’s just a blanket, not something to eat.”

Crazy sounding answer I know, but he is late Stage (7), so the hyper-oral thing is real. DH recently has meticulously folded a covering to his liking and promptly started chewing (and swallowing any threads/shreds) he could snatch off with his teeth as I’m quickly trying to grab or wrestle it away before he succeeds.

So, DH remains more than line of sight supervision now, his care needs are actually arms length due to being hyper-oral, choking hazard, aspiration risk, fall risk and many other Stage 7 signs.

But he understood and accepted my answer to his shockingly clear inquiries, and did not try to eat the blanket this time.

Small miracles every day these days. I’ll take it!

concerned_sister

It's good that you are so in tune with your loved one.

Jeanne C.

It's amazing how you learn to speak his language. I know I've gotten good at either figuring out what he's getting at (or at least coming up with a satisfactory response). It's also amazing when you see him act so differently than what you've become used to. My husband (also in hospice) typically speaks with one or two words. He sleeps off and on all day. Yesterday he was awake, alert, and spoke in sentences a few times. We had a really good day. Today, he just woke from his second nap and is back to single words.

Hang in there, ButterflyWings. You're doing so well for your husband.

M1

I agree, you’re doing so well and faithfully by him. Whatever you said seems to have given him comfort…. I can imagine the shock of hearing a coherent sentence.

ButterflyWings

Yes, it really feels like we are in the twilight zone. For now, I am trying more than ever before to live as he does…in the moment. Every minute of the day. Not easy, but we currently are on such a manageable plateau that I'm not complaining.

mommyandme (m&m)

Thank you for sharing everything you have. This plateau sounds good, a positive turn of events from the last month.

Another beautiful day!