This week has been a bit of a challenge. On Tuesday we drove to the VA center in a neighboring town, about a 45 minute drive. Stopped for breakfast to make it more enjoyable. When we arrived at the VA hospital to check in they first sent us to another building and up the elevator to the 4th floor. Cowboy was walking very slowly and a bit unsteady but we made it. Then they said we first needed to go to a place on the first floor. When we got there they told us his appointment was to be a teleconference and sent us to another office. When we got there they told us it was cancelled so we were sent back to the first place where they confired it was cancelled, no explanation. I am now thoroughly familiar with both the hospital and the attached clinic. At this point we are tired, frustrated and confused. So much for that trip.
We then went to the base in another town about 25 miles away to renew our sticker on the car for access on the base. This involved parking quite aways from the building and walking in the 105 degree heat and then waiting in that building for about an hour to get waited on. The lovely fellow that took our request could see that Cowboy was tired and he offered to go out and remove the old sticker and put the new one on. I was so grateful. They don't have to do that. Not sure Cowboy would have accomplished it, even back home on a cool morning and I literally cannot reach the place on the windshield where it is required to be attached. On to the PX to pick up a prescription that somehow they didn't have ready last week when I was there and another walk in the heat. What a day.
Wednesday, my much awaited day out went OK. Marsha came and did her usual magic of changing the bed, dusting everything in sight, cleaning the kitchen, etc. I am giving Cowboy his baths every other night at the moment so I can put lots of lotion on him so Marsha just looks after him and fixes his lunch. I made a run to JC Penney and Ross, the drugstore and then bought groceries.
Thursday was a much anticipated day with nothing on the calendar. I slept later than usual and so did Cowboy. I fixed a big breakfast and settled in with the paper when Cowboy said he had an insect bite on his arm. It was near his wrist. It was swollen and red and very painful to the touch, about 3 or 4 inches across. I called and talked to the doctor and was asked to bring him in. He was put on an antibiotic and told to drink lots of water and to come back Saturday if not better.
I also called the VA yesterday to see what I could find out about the cancelled appointment. The Va had made the appointment in the first place as part of the review they have been muckin around with since February. Per the case manager, the doctor looked at the file and decided to just review the file and make his decision rather than seeing Cowboy. I still don't really get it. Apparently he made his decision at the last minute after we had a letter and a phone call confirming the appointment. I wish there was better coordination around there.
Cowboy is getting picky about his eating again. Sometimes he does really well but is leaving lots of food on his plate a good deal of the time and just turns his nose up at many things he has always liked. I hate the waste. I fixed a chicken salad a couple of weeks ago and he really liked it. I fixed the same things today and he said he didn't like it. All he ate for lunch was a slice of watermelon and some grapes.
We went to the periodontist this morning for a cleaning that he gets every 6 months. Taking care of his teeth is difficult. He doesn't care much anymore whether he brushes them, etc. I have to remind him to brush them.
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