A Lazy Sunday with Robert

6:45 a.m.:  Robert and the dogs sleep in!  Woohoo!  I go downstairs to let the dogs out.  From the sofa bed in the family room, Robert says “good morning!”  Good morning, Robert.

6:46 a.m.:  I give morning meds to Robert. 

6:50 a.m.:  Robert sits up and takes his soaking wet night shirt off as he tells me it’s dry. 

6:55 a.m.:  Let the dogs in; dry their paws since it’s raining outside.  Robert moves on to taking off his socks.

7:05:  Robert puts on his helmet and pushes his walker to the bathroom.  He takes his wet pajama bottoms off and I grab a pair of disposable gloves.  Note to self: invent a better diaper.

7:10:  Wet briefs are placed in the garbage bag I hold out for Robert.  Robert uses the bathroom while I strip the bed and throw a load of sheets, pajamas and blankets (just for good measure) in the washer. I turn the sofa bed back into a couch.

7:25:  Fill the sink full of soapy water and give Robert a warm washcloth to wash off.  I help as needed.

7:50:  Washed and dried, Robert starts to get dressed.  It’s Sunday which means he’ll wear a white shirt.

8:05:  Hubby starts making blueberry muffins.  Yum!  I throw another load of bed linens in the washer. 

8:15:  Robert finishes dressing and pushes his walker to the couch.  He takes his breakfast meds and starts to watch a church program that I’ve recorded for him.

8:35:  Muffins are ready!  Robert enjoys the muffins and makes sure he eats every last crumb.  Hubby asks if he wants another.  You have to ask? 

9:30:  Robert finishes with muffins, banana, cereal, juice & milk and returns to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

9:55:  Back to the couch to finish watching church.  I have another church program recorded for him so he’ll be busy for a while.

10:30:  Robert is sleeping through church.

12:30: I give Robert his lunch meds and start to make grilled cheese.  It’s a rainy day so grilled cheese and soup sound fabulous.  I find some sort of meat & pasta soup in the cupboard that teenage son hasn’t yet found so heat that up for Robert. 

12:40: Robert tries to eat half of his sandwich in two bites.  I scold him as he tries to shove bite #2 in his mouth.

12:50:  During lunch, I work on completing the paperwork for Robert’s neuro-psychologist appointment in the morning.  I have to ask Robert several questions and one exchange goes like this:

Me: Do you have blurred vision?

Robert: No.
Me: Do you have double vision?
Robert: No.
Me: Do you see flashing lights sometimes?
Robert: Yes.
Me: Really? When?
Robert: On police cars.

1:15:  Robert finishes his lunch and returns to the bathroom to brush his teeth.  He is very good about grooming!

1:25:  I decide to run errands while hubby is home watching the 49er game and doing homework.  The turtle needs food, Robert needs wet wipes and hubby needs a pair of jeans.  I say goodbye and check on Robert in the bathroom on my way out.

1:26:  I put my keys down and assist Robert in the bathroom.  I put off getting the wet wipes a bit too long.

1:45:  All cleaned up, Robert returns to the couch.  I tell him what I’m doing and review how to use the remote.  He chooses an episode of “Law and Order” and I leave.

2:00:  Hubby gives Robert his afternoon meds.

3:30:  I return home to Hubby telling me Robert got chocolate ice cream from lunch on the sleeve of his shirt and wanted to change. 

I told Hubby Robert didn’t eat chocolate ice cream.

3:31:  Give Robert a new shirt to wear.  Start another load of laundry.  Make use of the wet wipes.

4:00:  Play cards with Robert.  He wins two games and I win one.  Typical.

5:00:  Give Robert his dinner meds.  He drops two pills on the floor and Hubby and I scramble to find them.  Hubby spots them before the dogs realize anything is going on and Robert successfully swallows them on the second try. 

6:20:  We sit down to dinner.  Robert enjoys homemade macaroni & cheese, canned peaches and cauliflower.  He drinks his milk in seven drinks and his water in five (he likes to count).   I work on his neuro-psych paperwork and call Other Brother to help me remember how many grades Robert repeated as a child. We think he only repeated one.

7:30:  Robert polishes off some Rocky Road ice cream (his favorite) and prepares for the trip to the bathroom (helmet on; walker unlocked).

8:30:  Robert has finished shaving, brushing his teeth and changing into his pajamas and settles into the sofa bed and works on his word search puzzle while watching "Criminal Minds."  I finish up his neuro-psych paperwork.

9:05:  I give Robert his last dose of meds for the night (no mishaps this time) and tell him he has to go to sleep very soon since he has to wake up early for his appointment.  He tells me he has one more word to find and then he’ll go to sleep.

9:15:  Word has been found and he’s ready to sleep.  He will spend the next 30 minutes or so saying his goodnight prayers. 

Good night, Robert!