Leaving Town

It is time for my husband and I to get away, leaving V at home with her caregivers. Well in advance, I post overnight shift opportunities for her usual daytime staff. I keep a file on my computer of documents I will update and print out each time we go out of town. These include a form that gives my written permission for support staff to authorize emergency medical treatment in my absence, with hospital preferences. I leave printed instructions regarding meals and appointments for V and check her medications to make sure that there is enough to last until I return. Usually this involves a trip to the pharmacy to refill something before I go. There are grocery shopping trips to make sure that I leave enough fresh and frozen food for all of her meals and snacks to last until I return. I check the dash of the vehicle that will be used in our absence and make sure it doesn't need oil and the battery has a strong charge. The last time I went out of town for an overnight, the car battery died in a park, requiring the staff to get a jump start from Park Police. Yikes!
Well, there is so much to do and worry about before I leave home that I almost need the vacation by the time I go. I exchange phone calls and texts with the staff each day to see how things went and to answer any questions that come up. Her routines continue without me. This makes my absence easier on her. This is how she is part of the family but lives her own life, while I have my independence too. I won't always be with her, so it is good that she can be okay away from me for a week now and then. I will tell her I am going away today and I will say goodbye tomorrow before I go. She won't like it, but she will be okay until I return.