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| Wednesday
- first day of water rationing, we got words Tuesday that from now on, on even days, there will be no water supply. so last night, I filled the tub with water. This morning, the toilet still filled up, the faucet was working. So I later learned that the water tower up on the roof top is doing its magic, providing water when needed.
I got up around 6, because Jenny had arrived and called. She said she was going to take the super rail. at 8:30, she would arrive. exactly 3 hours faster than bus ride. NO TRAFFIC. that's way better cuz I have gotten stuck on the way to the airport way too many times already. sigh!
I headed out with uncle around 7:50 to relieve the night care taker. and headed toward the rail station that is more than 30 min away.
on the way there, got a call from engel that she found out she had ovarian cyst, gall bladder stone, and the baby might have some genetic defects. that was hard to hear. I cried majority of the way to the station. asking God why?
picked up Jenny from the super rail, 760, from taoyuan to taibao, 30 bucks for bus to the airport. but I broke down when I saw her, and told her the news about engel and the baby.
drove back home first, and talked to Engel. and it was so hard to see and hear about everything.
then, we went to the hospital. by moped and car. jenny drove, and I rode. We gave my uncle the keys to the car, but the clouds moved in, and it poured.
For the next few hours, it rained pretty strongly. the hospital nurses showed us how dad had spoken 2 syllable words. it was impressive. it was comforting.
Took Jenny down stairs to the cafeteria to eat, Jenny got some squid stew, I got some fish soup, it was great for a cold day, (I don't know I am always cold here. dad would sweat if it's like 24 deg C, so I always turn the AC down to 23, but when I sleep at nights, I always sleep with 27 or 28.
in the afternoon, dad's gf came to relieve us, and so we went home around 2 or so. we dropped off aunt adn uncle adn went to old house and talked to Lin Mama, Ah jim, and other neighbors who testified on behalf of mom.
got some boba, not as good as I had the day before, when I had the grass jelly before visiting the nursing home.
met with the store ladies, explained to them that I understand that this was dad's project, and that he really wanted to continue, and so I would try my best to help him accomplish the continuation until he is well again.
got some pop corn chicken, it is so cheap here, and so good.
went to carrefour to pick up a white board and markers, so that dad could write more easily.
went to bao ah sai, a wonton place to have dry noodles and wonton soup. it's our favorite.
headed out to the hospital. when I was going up, I met up with the manager from the WHy & 1/2. he mentioned a few points that were tough to hear. no stores have a franchise owner that is not involved in everyday business except ours. all franchise store buy off their merchandises except ours, they take them back if we don't sell it. company is shocked to hear of the stroke days later, dont' like the fact that it seems like hiding and lying. all company stores exist in the department stores and so company will not take over the store. so it seems like 9/30 comes along, the store will be closed. by this time, I realized, I could do nothing.
I am now officially done with my visit, I know there is nothing I could do, nothing financially, nothing physically, nothing long run, and nothing about the store. it's all said and done. I am at peace, and I am not giong to worry about it anymore.
When I returned to the hospital everyone had left except the care taker, Jenny said that when dad saw the care taker, he wasn't too happy. So I talked to her, her boss, and the night nurses about observing her, and then, something really disturbing was that when we talk about the later, his eyes would well up iwith tears. at times, hecovered his face with his hands, and that is disturbing to me. maybe after 1 hour, dad finally said something about her eating when he was trying to sleep. I hope it was just that.
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| r Tuesday
Went to see dad in the morning. dad had improved a bit. The last two days, dad keeps on telling me to go to the store to help.
Rode to the store after being relieved around 1pm, and I walked in, the workers said, you must be Lao Shi (teacher, how they refer to my dad)'s son. I broke down in tears, I was surprised and relieved. they said I really look like my dad, and that they have seen my pictures. prior to walking in, I was still wondering how to explain to them who I was. I told them I would like to meet with them and see what I can do, because dad keeps on telling me to go and take care of the business. They told me that we could meet in the afternoon Wednesday. So I left, to check with the banks. This is with the idea that no one knew how to access all the bank accounts, since my evil aunt keeps on telling me that she doesn't know anything. And the banks were both helpful and not, they were able to share some information, but not in details. So that is good in some ways for dad and a bit challenging for me. I found out about a few transactions prior to the stroke, so I told evil aunt, to see if the money would end up with gf, but she was SURE that it wouldn't so I guess she knows where it would end up. So that's fine with me. since they have control over his money, and they don't trust me, I can only hope that they would care for him as well as they cared for his money.
Ate with neighbor Lin Mama's family at at a noodle place that was exceptional. Had a niu rou mian, chong you bing rolled with beef, beef dumplings, and hot and spicy soup over rice, I broke down for a bit, cuz engel would have liked all the food I had. After wards, we went back to their place, but kiwi insisted on riding with me on the moped. Funny kid.
I talked to them until 11, and went back home to talk with Ah Goh and Ah Dion until 12am, to tell them that I don't care about the money, seriously, I saved that much in 5 years, why would I need to mess with relationships when I can do it myself? And what did evil aunt do? she takes out all the bank books, all the atm cards, all the official stamp seals.....what a liar.... | | |
| Monday
at around 8am, I talked to my aunt, my uncle on the phone, they expressed that it is hard to come out. I was like, can't you just get over here by Taxi? they didn't want to do that. Taxi is expensive to them. and then, when I heard about dad's gf, her response about practicing chanting in the morning, how she can't come out until later at lunch, it infuriated me. I was like, dude, if you really want to help ME out, just come out, and replace me, not just come out AFTER you are convenient, I guess that's how it is supposed to run here, since neither of them, really could devout that much time into caring for dad.
last night around 7, we helped dad took the first shower in a week, but I think he caught a cold after that. He sneezed twice through the night, and when I found him in the morning sweating through his PJ, I tried changing him, but he started to sneeze a whole bunch, and his snot was like all sticky, so I had to ask the DR to give him cold meds.
I went through the mornign with him, changing him, feeding him, patting him, I was able to communicate with him more and more. It is very interesting to see his progress, but it was also mentally draining.
At around lunch time, his gf came to relieve me, I try to explain to her what needed to be done. and his progress, and I headed home. On the way home, I was exhausted, mentally, tears overwhelmed me various times in my short drive home. I asked God why, and I asked God if it's possible to take it away from me. Adn I told God, that 34 year olds should change the diaper for his kids, not the parents. I hope God has heard me.
I didn't eat breakfast or lunch that day, when I got home, I had a small bah zang, and some yogurt drink, while talking to engel about the whole ordeal 28 hours, flooding, crazy rain. and I broke down pretty badly.
Theresa called around 1pm to see if they could come see me, and I broke down on the phone. She quickly said a prayer for me. it was comforting. I think other than Engel and Jenny, I feel the closest with Julian, Jordan and Theresa, they are like my immediate family members.
I went to sleep, cuz I was exhausted. I slept a few hours, and woke up to have dinner with Jordan and Theresa and their kids with Julian and Ah Ghim.. It was still sprinkling at the time.
We went to some near by food place, food was okay, but company was great. I held the baby girl, she is so much like Toby, like a monkey, very interactive, vaey active, climbing all over the place, We talked about variously things, I had explained the situation. funny things, remembering the times we had gone to visit various places. like setting Jenny's undie on fire, and how Jordan's mom calls him out like my mom calls me out. Jordan said, how come everytime we meet, there is a natural disaster? with Jordan, we'd been through various floods, earth quake, power outage in the grandest scale, all in the times we had met.
They drove me home, before they left, they gave me a bottle of their favorite black tea, and said drink that to remember us. and I broke down again. I said, with or without the drink, I would remember you.
I went back to the apt, slept till morning. I guess I was exhausted. | | |
| ate some instant noodles around 5am. went on line.
drove out around 6:59am, didn't have teh garage opener, thank God the security opens it at 7am. I was supposed to meet the care taker before 8am and take over from her.
7:10am, about 5 min away, flooding on the other side of the road is really bad, so some drivers are driving on my side, towards me.
I drove a little too slow in the flood, the water got into my car, and car slowly grinds to a halt. I was sitting in the car, in the flooding road, watching flood water rise and rise.
7:25, car is good again, I drove/sped through another major flooding area (this is the place where it would get the entire traffic shut down for the next 14 hours)
Got to parking lot across to the hospital around 7:30am, bought some Nai Su bread with a Bee Ling (peanut milk) from 7/11 for 39 bucks and went up.
Met the caretaker. 12hrs of work is 1200 bucks, 8pm to 8am. but 24 hrs is 2000. I met her and asked her about what I should do. and then, she went on to her ways, since I thought I could do anything. Fed through tube - befoer feeding, I always had to feed water first to make sure the tube is clear, then, had to use a 60cc seringe to draw the formula, and feed it through the feeding tube that had been inserted into his nostrils. then, water again to clean the tube. patted his bacek- every 2 hours, I am supposed to pat his back to make sure the flem in the lungs would come out. changed diapers- had to change pee many times, water just doesn't stay in him, so many diapers changes. There is a BIG diaper for #2, and the little insert like a pad for #1. So, I changed a lot of inserts, and every 5-6 hours, I would change the big diaper. thank God I didn't have to clean any poopy diapers. that would have been nasty. and changed clothes. It's not the same as cleaning up the baby for sure. Flood water continue to rise, we watched the whole neighborhood submerged into the water. and of course, streets blocked off by raging muddy water. Originally I was only going to be there till lunch, but since the flooding kept on, the people who were supposed to relieve me was blocked by the flood, some of their cars were submerged in water as well. I stayed. Asked the nurses if I could take 10 min off, since no one can relieve me, I took the elevator down to B1, Had lunch at the cafeteria, $10 for any veggies, but meats was $25, like 3 pieces of nuggets. $55 for a bowl fo not so good fried rice, but I got it any ways, with 2 veggies and a meat was like 100. 10 bucks if I had gotten white rice instead. Rain and flooding was so bad, the parking lot called the hospital to inform anyone who was parking in there to move it. So I did. and the rain and wind literally blown me off of my tracks. I almost fell over. The rain coat I got protected much of me, but legs and shorts are fair game. I was smart though, I brought my jacket and my new long pants to change out of. (this would save me through the night) around 6pm, I found out about my caretaker, she never made it home. She was STILL at the hospital after 10 hours waiting to get out. Since everyone was flooded in, no one could get out. So, I asked him to help dad take a shower, she agreed, she was great, soaped him while I held him. from head to toe, she was very detailed. And I realize, that's some sacred work that she is doing. Dad insisted that she goes home and wanted me to call his gf to help, cuz she helped in the afternoon the day before 12-8, but she tried, couldnt' get out to the hospital, cuz at 6pm, it was still flooded. Our caretaker went home though, through an impossible route, by motorcyle. So I started prepping myself for it, mentally. I think it didn't help. Around 8 pm, I had wondered around the hospital, drinking a lot hot water. trying tonot get sick. I would stroll to the windows overlooking the path to Hsin Ying, I could tell there is water still. dang it.
I fell asleep around 10pm, but woke up around 12pm, just to check on him, and through out the night I was cold. even with pants and jacket, so I asked for a set of PJ's. so that I can wear it underneath my clothes. but I was found. by 3 different nurses. They asked why I was wearing patient attire, and I had to explain myself 3 times. I was cold, and I didnt' bring enough clothes. So, they were kind enough. and around 3am, they even brought over some blankets.
Too bad though, by 3, I was up, and can't go back to sleep. I wondered around the hospital, drinking a lot water. trying to calm down. I would stroll to the windows overlooking the path to Hsin Ying, it looks like it's cleared up. But there is no way I could get someone to help by this time.
4 came by, I called Engel, to let her know my almost 24 hour ordeal, no change of clothes, not enough clothes. flooding, the whole 9 yards.
5 am, the sky is lighting up a little bit. Dad is still asleep. It seems like he slept a good sleep. He needed it, cuz the night before, the neighboring patient was in pain from bladder infection fever, so there was a lot of commotion that caused him to sleep badly. there is more going on now. the hospital seemed to have liven up.
6am. Dad is still sleeping. it's allowed me to survey the hospital and checkout the view....
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| Saturday,
arrived 5:50am.
picked up luggage 6:30am
boarded the bus 6:45am
big seats on flying dog bus to Taichung 8:45am
sprinkling already
picked up ticket for He Xin to HsinYing 9:15am
actually left for hsin ying on a luxurious humongo bigger than our living room recliner seat at 9:30am.
Traffic jam due to bad weather
rain in pouring in the south Got to Hsin Ying around 11am.
Call Lin Mama to pick me up, Kiwi's mom and Kiwi picked me up. around 11:15.
drove the car to the apt in no time. 11:30am
Drove out to Chimei Hospital at 12:30.
stayed around for a few hours then went out to buy things
(all this time, wind and rain are blowing side ways, pushing me off my steps)
Got some slippers cuz I was slipping, got some rain coat, cuz umbrella wasn't working, and got some dandruff shampoo cuz Pert is cheaper than Head and shoulders.
Was blocked in by a car, none of the passengers knew how to drive, so I had to drive THEIR car out first, and then, drive Lin Mama's out.
Got some markers and index cards for writing big words, got major wet cuz umbrella doesn't work
Went back to Lin Mama to drop off the car, and she dropped me off at the apt.
met our tenent who resides in our old house, she'll be giving me teh rent
took a shower, that felt good.
drove out to carrefour, cuz that is the only place that let's me use credit card. bought water, pants, yogurt drink, instant noodles and some chinese sausage/fish balls for dinner.
came back to the apt, and cousin(peg's dad) brought over some Shan Yu noodles.
took another shower, and went to bed before 10. slept ok, weird not having to get up for kids and milk. woke up at 5am. | | |
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