Old Brain's Party Plan

Dad was quite chatty this morning. While i was feeding him breakfast he quietly said "Old Brain" I'm not sure what exactly that meant but he nodded and raised an eyebrow very seriously, as if it was something wise i should take note of. During the morning, when Mum was out collecting another prescription and i was sitting here dealing with work emails, Dad suddenly said "We'll have to make sure someone is responsible for drinks" I thought 'eh?' and asked which drinks. Dad told me we were having a party on Saturday and my brother should be in charge of the drinks. This was news to me (and Mum!) He hasn't said anything since that, but has just been sitting back in bed staring into nothingness. That 'party' conversation is the nearest any of us has got to having a conversation with Dad in weeks, so although it was meaningless really, it was nice. He has had a few moments of absence today where he has stared straight through me while i spoke to him and waved in front of him. I've also noticed that his right hand has jerked around on two separate occasions, like a local seizure of the hand alone and only lasting 10 seconds. It was especially obvious as his hand was flapping against today's newspaper. He is snoozing now. Drug-wise, yesterday we increased Dad's dose of morphine from three 5ml teaspoons a day to four teaspoons. He seems to be in more pain today again, so i'm not sure at what rate we should increase it, but the community nurse who is coming tomorrow will advise us. Dad is still on 8mg of dexamethasone daily.

Absent without leave - passive seizures

Dad has been very quiet for a few days. He thumbs a few pages of the newspaper but doesn't really read it, despite having read one every day of the 29 years that i have known him. He often stares at the television for long periods but we can't say how much he is actually interested and how much he is drawn to look in its direction simply because of the sound and motion. He is not interested in food, but mostly puts up with us spoon-feeding him and seems annoyed almost at our insitence that he tries to drink more too. He told me the other day "Stop trying to pump me full of water"
After Dad's recent seizures i realised that he has, i think, been having seizures for a while, but seizures of absence rather than active physical seizures. There are periods where he stares at nothing and it is impossible to get his attention through talking and waving at him. They tend to only last 10 - 20 seconds each time, but it has happened several times most days. He often says a few words of a sentence and then suddenly stops without finishing it. We had noticed that he 'zoned-out' every so often, but it was only after seeing him have an active seizure that i really thought about it. I'm sure he was only confused last night though, when he hiccupped loudly while the nurses were here and i said "Been on the sauce again Dad?" and he replied "No you've been on it for me!" Serves me right for being cheeky.

A chat with Grandma

Dad seemed more ready to wake up this morning than yesterday. He was stirring as i opened the curtains. He also had a small glass of juice, some papaya and most of a yoghurt for breakfast, when yesterday he didn't want anything. Grandma phoned this morning and Dad wanted to speak to her. He only really said "yes" a few times (i'm not sure how appropriately) but Grandma knows to keep conversation simple and not expect too much conversation from Dad now. He then looked keen to have a look at the newspaper, but has fallen asleep on page 2, with his arm across it. Mum's annoyed. Having gone out to the shop in the rain to buy it, she was hoping to have a look at it!