Days of "my parents" lifes

645am. Time to get up, check email, read newspaper online, do Chinese exercises, have a light breakfast.

745am. Get dress and start doing the round. From the night before, the great aunt has to take priority over the other three. Post eye surgery. Eye drops every 4 hours.

800am. Off to see the 103 years old great aunt with the first meal - pork congee this morning. O no, she fell in the middle of the night. Tremor hands, involuntary limb and head movement. Pronounced at time. Hmm... not good.

845am. Wash dishes for her, Prep up her set of fake teeth, Arranged furniture

900am. Check on 95 years old father. Complain no appetite, want to eat something else, nurse babbling about something, Philippine maid asking for cooking directions for the day, check blood pressure, check on the 97 years old mother, same, appear lucid but cannot communicate, talk to the other Philippine maid. In the same time on the 5th floor of the same building, wife ready to get up, get dress and call the other 97 years old mother to see how her night was. Not good. No Strength, diarrhea, no appetite, want to have congee only; need Pepcip, need more medication, "when are you coming for a visit today?", "I cannot find my money! Someone must have stolen it!", "I don't want this maid.".

930am. my "mom and dad" have a quick confer with each other.

1000am. my mom walks to go see her mom.

1000am. my dad, sometimes get ready for a bus ride to China to buy supplies. Today, eye drops for great aunt. O gosh, she felt; has been sitting on the floor for over 1/2 hours!

1100am. Settled great aunt.

1130am. Prepare meal for great aunt, check on my dad's parents, pay bills - two households.

noon. delivery lunch to great aunt, more eye drops, give cough medicines

(by now, both parents have walked back and forth and have walked up and down 5 stories at least 3 times - for one that has a sore knee and the other with a degenerated S1 spine)

lunch plan...

230pm. visit great aunt. She fell again. need a walker fast!

By now, pretty much everything is a blur.... calling the other grandmother, the two elderlies downstairs .... my parents are waving white flags. More calls to see what's what. Calling housemaid to prescribe proper medication dosage, the frequency.

Afternoon nap? None.... The same cycle for the afternoon repeats as the same in the morning... 930pm... home resting...