John is ill again and on antibiotics. Pneumonia is so very dangerous for those in precarious health stages and we are afraid it will settle in again.
Knowing he would be agitated by the antibiotics, mom decided we wouldn't fight with him to go to bed. We'd use his PRN meds (as needed) to calm him down and we'd go through the initial routine - bathroom, bed but when he came out, instead of making him go back to his bedroom, we'd let him sit on the futon and sleep there if he falls asleep. There was some minimal fussing. He got up, he wanted mom to give him more food or water but a few more circular routes - bathroom, bed, futon and he finally settled in and is now asleep.
When I got home tonight he was an angel. All smiles and even a hug. He's mimicing Angie now in putting his hand up when I go by so I can give him a 'low five' so to speak.
So another phase in the journey. Confronting his challenges from mortality to the banal "I wonder if he's autistic as well as having Down Syndrome - but would we treat him any different?
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Praying that John is feeling better soon and for all of you.
ReplyDeleteGod/dess bless you Hollie. You are such a wonderful sister. It sounds like a very hard life for you and your Mom. I hope there is as much joy as there is the difficulty you express in your posts in helping to care for your siblings. It seems a hard life.
ReplyDelete(FYI - I have 4-yr-old identical twin boys with Down syndrome and they have a loving older sister named Olivia. They're doing very well, all 3. You can visit my world at http://walkonthehappyside.blogspot.com)