Thanks for the support, friends!

Today was HORRIBLE! Horrible, horrible, horrible! My poor brother was so scared, I think he thought he might die today. The way he looked at my sister and me and asked if we would please stay until after a procedure he had. Of course we did. He was just relieved that he wouldn't need open-heart surgery or even a stint. Tomorrow he is having some procedure where they give his heart a shock. He keeps talking about how they stop his heart for a short bit as part of that procedure. I kept telling him that they do that to many people for many things and it is not that dangerous. The odd thing is that if they can get his heart beating properly tomorrow, they may even release him from the hospital. He even said that if it works, he could even start working right away afterwards. That sounds insane, to me, especially since he is an electrician and it's a rather physical job. He told us that he is also diagnosed with diabetes type 2, as of today. So many people in my family have/had diabetes. I know that I better get my diet and exercise going or I could get it, too! I told him that he and my sister and I would work together to support each other in eating better.

My sister and I went to see my dad after leaving the hospital where my brother is. We have not told my father anything about our brother. My brother wants to tell him, himself, after he gets out. We were happy that at least the rehab joint connected our dad with the IOP near me. Poor Dad had to answer questions over the phone for 45 minutes. If you knew my dad, you'd know that would be a torture for him. He will still need to go for the intake. I told my sister that I'd like to give Dad at least a good 24 to 48 hours after his discharge. He has to get used to the assisted living situation.

I hadn't visited the assisted living joint my siblings chose for our dad. I went there with my sister after leaving Dad today. I don't know if it was my mood, or if I was right that the main manager there was kind of obnoxious. I don't think she seemed to like me much, either. I challenged her on a couple things. I HATE the fact that they serve alcohol at that joint. My siblings chose it. Not me! Yes, our dad has to say no, but I dislike that it'll be served to residents right in front of him. They at first said it's only wine. Then when the manager took me to the dining room to show me it to me, I asked "So why are there a bunch of martini glasses on the shelves there?" She got defensive. Yea, I guess they have a "bar". Expletive!

UPDATED THIS PARAGRAPH: I called my therapist to cancel my appointment tomorrow. I want to be with my brother. I will be with my brother while my sister picks up my father and takes him to the assisted living.

Next week my husband and I are going to Florida. Great timing, huh? There is nothing we can do about it. If we cancel, which my husband would never want to do, we'd lose all of our money that we paid for that vacation. The timing is just so unfortunate! Normally I don't give two fiddler's f***s about Thanksgiving, but this year is quite different. I do want to give thanks that my father is making a huge effort to be well. I want to give thanks that my brother will be OK. I would also like to give huge thanks to my sister, who has done SO much during all of this.

When I was talking to Dad this afternoon, I told him he'd be seeing a whole lot more of me because I'd be taking him to the IOP, etc. His reaction looked like he was about to cry with joy. Literally cry. That look and reaction is heartbreaking to me because I know that these past years I've been absent a lot because of his alcoholism. I also almost cried thinking how he'd would react if he knew my brother's situation.