Linear development

This blog for you grandchildren was intended to help you in small ways to prepare. However, I am learning that there is no pattern. As you have read I kept looking for patterns to help predict, but there are few if any. After very little sleep for two nights, Dad slept 10 hours straight. The next night only four the whole night. He pretty much stays awake all day to entertain his two female caretakers.
I did an admirable job cutting his hair. Last night I asked if any of his "girls" had noticed and commented on how nice his hair looked. He replied, "No, they both still have good eyesite" And that was all of last night's dialogue.
So in general Dad continues to weaken, but: His grip is strong, all systems function, he has times when he is alert, he can walk with the walker a short distance, he can recite a poem and forget where he is.
Yesterday, Heather made oatmeal cookies. She put four hot and fresh on his plate and set the rest aside. Dad reached aside and took one. Took a bite and set it on his plate. Took another, bit it, set it on his plate. After he repeated the one bite trick four times, she took the large plate away. Then Dad looked at his plate and said, "Guess I will have to eat all of these now."