First, a blessed Christmas to everyone and the loved ones you care for. May the New Year give you patience, peace, and perserverance as you care for others.

The Monday of Thanksgiving week my dh hemhorraghed badly and I called my dear nephew to take us to the emergency room, as it was evening and I cannot drive after dark. He came immediately, my brother and his wife showed up at the hospital. Brother stayed with me until dh was admitted and then took me home at 1 in the morning. Prostate surgery on Tuesday. The Friday after Thanksgiving he came home.

Next Monday, he was increasingly quiet and almost non- responsive all day. Did not eat anything. By dinner hour he couldn't walk and I called the ambulance, back to the hospital where he was put on IV antibiotics for infection. My daughter came and stayed with me until he was admitted and then brought me home at midnight.

I see him losing ground more and more. We have gone to Social Security office and I am now representative payee for his social security income. This means more paperwork for me, keeping records of expenditures, etc. but I am happy to do it and am setting up the files I will need. I am in the process of compiling names and addresses of people and businesses that my brother may need to notify when the time comes, if I am too stressed out to do it. He has power of attorney for both of us, so when I get everything in place I can relax a little and enjoy my time with dh. If I have things in place it will be easier to get things done. I hope it is not for a long time yet, but dh wants things so I don't have to worry. I still worry, I tell him it's a wife's perogative. lol

MANY, MANY blessings to you and yours, Farmgirl. I hope that your holidays are filled with love and family!