Day 225-230
The end of September is always so sudden, where the heck did the month go? I thought that it would be different without harvest driving us, but I guess we are busy with something else that is all consuming. That means October is going to fly by too. Perhaps its is just age that makes the difference. Not!
Well, we are into a routine, and doing alright so far. I haven't dropped Glenn or anything drastic, and we are keeping him fed and watered. The therapies are good, and our friend who works with Glenn when I am at work is as determined as anyone to get him back on his feet. They seem to enjoy each other any way and that is a big bonus. There is no word on the funding end, but I'm still hopeful. I must admit that it is very time consuming, and I have to find those jobs I had when the kids were home-you know, the kinds you can pick up and put down - because I'm busy with Glenn's needs, and do the other stuff in between. I had a snooze this afternoon to recharge my batteries, and asked Glenn if I had been snoring. He just smirked and said no. Hmm... that usually means yes!
Next weekend is Thanksgiving already, and that means a whole lot of birthdays and Anniversaries to remember. Mom and Dad officially celebrate 60 years on the 10th of October, so I don't know if the family meal out is a go, or if they are just doing Thanksgiving dinner, but whatever else happens, we will be well fed!
I had a busy day at work yesterday as it was month end. It sure made the day go fast. The weather is fantastic, and the boys are working on the third house shingling job this weekend. It is a bit tougher job, as the house is old and has a very steep roof. So far I haven't had to patch anyone up, so that is good. Colin went to a wiener roast on Friday night, so that is always a bonus for the end of September.
I just reread this post, and feel as though it is just a report on everyday life. We have come a long way, and although there is a fair way to go, this is feeling better all the time. The biggest news will be when Glenn starts to eat, but that could be a long time in coming. Or it could be tomorrow. This recovery is not going by the books at all, and Glenn has beaten some fantastic odds already. I'm trying not to be too impatient, but would like to pull that tube out of his stomach already! That would involve cooking a fair bit more than I am right now, but I think I'm up to it!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
'Til next time,
Louise
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
September 22- 24
Day 221 - 224
It has just occurred to me how much different our lives are, and how much we have had to adapt in the last few months. What a blessing to be able to change to meet the challenges presented! Glenn is doing so much better, and has become determined to do as much for himself as possible. It is hard to sit and watch him struggle, but I know it is the best thing, and is far more encouraging than if he were just sitting and expecting to be waited on hand and foot. The urge to do for him is strong, and lots of times I find something else to do while he is doing his job. He dresses more all the time, and takes off his AFO once in a while. He is working more on the computer, and is becoming interested in the quest for a vehicle. He has downloaded information and pictures for me to look at, and has gotten all sorts of specs on mileage and performance ratings. Just like old times.
We went to a wedding and he enjoyed seeing his old friends. He couldn't talk to them very long, but still enjoyed being out. On Sunday we had lots of company, and just got ready for the next week. He does rest better and works harder in PT and OT than before I think. We are lucky enough to have avoided the 'flu and cold bugs going around, so hopefully that will continue. He has to have blood tests every week, so we do that after therapy on Thursday. We have a fairly good routine going right now, and seem to have time to do some cleaning up around home too. That is a relief, I'm afraid I got a bit behind with that. I also made a batch of salsa today, so that is a good feeling too.
It is better to post on the blog a bit more often, I don't have so much to blab about! Thanks for you responses, they are encouraging and we have heard from a lot of old friends. Hopefully we can get together and have a good time sometime in the new year, but I'm not promising anything, I have learned my lesson! Glenn had some alone time on Sunday, as the gift opening was in Edenwold. I went for a while, and left Glenn at home. He was happy to have me go, and I wasn't too edgy, I had the cell phone, and left the home phone with him. We will be able to do more all the time, but just bits at a time for now.
I have said more than I thought I would, so I will sign off.
'Til next time,
Louise
It has just occurred to me how much different our lives are, and how much we have had to adapt in the last few months. What a blessing to be able to change to meet the challenges presented! Glenn is doing so much better, and has become determined to do as much for himself as possible. It is hard to sit and watch him struggle, but I know it is the best thing, and is far more encouraging than if he were just sitting and expecting to be waited on hand and foot. The urge to do for him is strong, and lots of times I find something else to do while he is doing his job. He dresses more all the time, and takes off his AFO once in a while. He is working more on the computer, and is becoming interested in the quest for a vehicle. He has downloaded information and pictures for me to look at, and has gotten all sorts of specs on mileage and performance ratings. Just like old times.
We went to a wedding and he enjoyed seeing his old friends. He couldn't talk to them very long, but still enjoyed being out. On Sunday we had lots of company, and just got ready for the next week. He does rest better and works harder in PT and OT than before I think. We are lucky enough to have avoided the 'flu and cold bugs going around, so hopefully that will continue. He has to have blood tests every week, so we do that after therapy on Thursday. We have a fairly good routine going right now, and seem to have time to do some cleaning up around home too. That is a relief, I'm afraid I got a bit behind with that. I also made a batch of salsa today, so that is a good feeling too.
It is better to post on the blog a bit more often, I don't have so much to blab about! Thanks for you responses, they are encouraging and we have heard from a lot of old friends. Hopefully we can get together and have a good time sometime in the new year, but I'm not promising anything, I have learned my lesson! Glenn had some alone time on Sunday, as the gift opening was in Edenwold. I went for a while, and left Glenn at home. He was happy to have me go, and I wasn't too edgy, I had the cell phone, and left the home phone with him. We will be able to do more all the time, but just bits at a time for now.
I have said more than I thought I would, so I will sign off.
'Til next time,
Louise
Saturday, September 22, 2007
September 12- 21
Day 211-220
Wow, time has begun to fly by now that we are home and organizing ourselves. I can't believe it has been over a week since I last posted, but it has been 10 days. Fall is here, and the weather has reminded us a few times of the cold ahead of us, but the boys have taken advantage of the nice weekends, and have shingled one side of Colin's house, and the entire roof on Chris and Aryn's house. The plan is to do Einar's house this weekend, but the weather sounds a bit unsure for tomorrow.
I'm at the store, and taking advantage of a quiet morning. I think that harvest is pretty well wrapped up around here, with the odd field of flax still waiting to be taken off. The trees are really turning and the country is brilliant with their fall display. It would be nice if the wind would leave them alone for a few days, but that rarely happens, and if you want to see the full display, now would be the time, tomorrow or even this afternoon will be too late!
On the home front, Glenn and I are getting into a rhythm, and have a schedule of appointments we are following. He has new therapists in outpatients at Wascana, but they have worked with Glenn from time to time, and have followed his progress with interest. You will be interested to hear that he made an underwear joke the other day, so I said to the girls that he is really getting to know them well. He was wearing blue jeans and I was putting on his leather jacket, when his former OT walked by and commented on how spiffy he was looking. He told her she should see his underwear! Well , I was not surprised, but the reaction was good, Glenn looked smug and I knew he was feeling better!
He is feeling better. He sleeps better at home, stays up a bit later, and is a bit more relaxed as far as time is concerned. He vacuumed the living room yesterday, and has helped make coffee, and has dusted. I started cleaning too, so we made pretty good progress in the living room and kitchen. Last Sunday, we went outside and started tidying up the shop. I can do some on my own, but he knows where things belong, so he put away some things, and instructed me on where items should be stored. There's lots more to do out there, but it felt good to do something so normal.
Wednesday was a beautiful day. I had a dentist appointment booked, so had asked Colin to stay with Dad while I went. Plans were hashed because the shingling project at Chris's took longer than expected, so they wanted to know if Glenn could come into the city with me and stay at Chris's house while I went to the dentist. I said sure, so we took Glenn to the city, parked him on Chris's front lawn, and he watched the boys and handed out advice for a couple of hours. He really enjoyed that, and the boys were totally happy to have him there "advising" them. I had a cleaning and was surprised to be told that I had no cavities. I asked how soon they could care for Glenn and they said 6 months after a stroke or heart attack, so I could take him, but he says he can't open his mouth enough.
The last thing I want to share this morning (I could go on and on, but I'll keep it down a bit!) happened yesterday. Glenn practices standing at the kitchen sink, and while he was standing there yesterday, he told me that he thinks maybe he will walk again. I was so glad to hear him voice that, as he has been unsure and worried about being disabled. I told him I was sure that he would, and he teared up a bit, so I think that now he has decided it will happen, it will happen. What a lot of worry he is carrying, and when these small comments pop out, I get a bit of an insight. I knew he was strong, but am constantly impressed with how he is coping with all of the obstacles that crop up. He could be the most bitter of men right now, yet he cracks underwear jokes! I can't believe it sometimes.
I have blathered on this morning, but a lot has happened, and we are going to a wedding later today, and are invited to a couple of things tomorrow. Life is picking us up and carrying us along, thank God that we are still together!
'Til next time,
Louise
Wow, time has begun to fly by now that we are home and organizing ourselves. I can't believe it has been over a week since I last posted, but it has been 10 days. Fall is here, and the weather has reminded us a few times of the cold ahead of us, but the boys have taken advantage of the nice weekends, and have shingled one side of Colin's house, and the entire roof on Chris and Aryn's house. The plan is to do Einar's house this weekend, but the weather sounds a bit unsure for tomorrow.
I'm at the store, and taking advantage of a quiet morning. I think that harvest is pretty well wrapped up around here, with the odd field of flax still waiting to be taken off. The trees are really turning and the country is brilliant with their fall display. It would be nice if the wind would leave them alone for a few days, but that rarely happens, and if you want to see the full display, now would be the time, tomorrow or even this afternoon will be too late!
On the home front, Glenn and I are getting into a rhythm, and have a schedule of appointments we are following. He has new therapists in outpatients at Wascana, but they have worked with Glenn from time to time, and have followed his progress with interest. You will be interested to hear that he made an underwear joke the other day, so I said to the girls that he is really getting to know them well. He was wearing blue jeans and I was putting on his leather jacket, when his former OT walked by and commented on how spiffy he was looking. He told her she should see his underwear! Well , I was not surprised, but the reaction was good, Glenn looked smug and I knew he was feeling better!
He is feeling better. He sleeps better at home, stays up a bit later, and is a bit more relaxed as far as time is concerned. He vacuumed the living room yesterday, and has helped make coffee, and has dusted. I started cleaning too, so we made pretty good progress in the living room and kitchen. Last Sunday, we went outside and started tidying up the shop. I can do some on my own, but he knows where things belong, so he put away some things, and instructed me on where items should be stored. There's lots more to do out there, but it felt good to do something so normal.
Wednesday was a beautiful day. I had a dentist appointment booked, so had asked Colin to stay with Dad while I went. Plans were hashed because the shingling project at Chris's took longer than expected, so they wanted to know if Glenn could come into the city with me and stay at Chris's house while I went to the dentist. I said sure, so we took Glenn to the city, parked him on Chris's front lawn, and he watched the boys and handed out advice for a couple of hours. He really enjoyed that, and the boys were totally happy to have him there "advising" them. I had a cleaning and was surprised to be told that I had no cavities. I asked how soon they could care for Glenn and they said 6 months after a stroke or heart attack, so I could take him, but he says he can't open his mouth enough.
The last thing I want to share this morning (I could go on and on, but I'll keep it down a bit!) happened yesterday. Glenn practices standing at the kitchen sink, and while he was standing there yesterday, he told me that he thinks maybe he will walk again. I was so glad to hear him voice that, as he has been unsure and worried about being disabled. I told him I was sure that he would, and he teared up a bit, so I think that now he has decided it will happen, it will happen. What a lot of worry he is carrying, and when these small comments pop out, I get a bit of an insight. I knew he was strong, but am constantly impressed with how he is coping with all of the obstacles that crop up. He could be the most bitter of men right now, yet he cracks underwear jokes! I can't believe it sometimes.
I have blathered on this morning, but a lot has happened, and we are going to a wedding later today, and are invited to a couple of things tomorrow. Life is picking us up and carrying us along, thank God that we are still together!
'Til next time,
Louise
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
September 7-11
Day 206-210
Here we are at home, and it is going quite well. Glenn is happier to be able to watch TV and work on the computer. We have all the food and medications for now, and have got a schedule for therapies started. We try to work through the stretches at home, and have improvised some weight bags. I just had some wheat samples hanging around yet, so I taped the bags together, and voila, I had effective weights to hang over his leg to give him a hamstring stretch!
We had lots of company on the weekend, Colin shingled the south side of his house with help from his brothers and a friend, so I had to actually cook for a group of people. It seemed weird to do that after all these months of eating out or just feeding myself. Everyone was full, though, so I guess I haven't completely forgotten how to make potato sauce! Glenn's aunt and uncle from Vancouver came, Grandma Mitchell came, and all the kids were here too. It was a house full, but very good to be home. Friday night, my sister and her hubby from White Fox dropped in on their way to Mom and Dad's. They were going to a wedding in Moose Jaw on Saturday, so since it had rained at their place on Thursday, they decided to take a road trip to see everyone. Glenn and Dale were driving out, and I was following them in the half ton with the wheel chairs when the cell phone rang, and gee it was Elaine wondering where we were. I told her we were close to Balgonie, where was she? She was waiting at the Edenwold corner, so I told her to stop at our house, we would be there shortly. In the meantime, Colin passed them on his way home, so they followed him, and knocked at his door. He was a bit surprised to see them! We had a good visit, and settled in at home.
I went to work yesterday, and another friend who has moved to BC walked in and said hello! She and her husband drive truck, so he dropped her off at her daughters, and she drove out to visit us. We had a good talk, then she came here to see Glenn. She used to manage the Co-op, so was really happy to see Glenn was home, and doing pretty well. I don't know what to expect next.
Tomorrow we are scheduled to start out patient therapy at Wascana, and I have made an appointment for Glenn at the doctor, so we can now try to co-ordinate trips to Regina. I do not miss the daily drive at all. I wouldn't be a very good commuter.
Glenn just started to laugh last night. He was lying on the couch, and I asked him what was funny. He said it just felt good to be home. I guess we are doing the best thing for now, and hopefully the weather won't be too unreasonable tomorrow for our outing, but it has started to rain here now, so I'm going to guess we will get wet tomorrow too. This will put harvest on hold again though, so that is frustrating I know. The Jewish holidays start tomorrow, and the old folks say that you don't do much harvesting through those holidays. It looks as though that may be true this year.
'Til next time,
Louise
Here we are at home, and it is going quite well. Glenn is happier to be able to watch TV and work on the computer. We have all the food and medications for now, and have got a schedule for therapies started. We try to work through the stretches at home, and have improvised some weight bags. I just had some wheat samples hanging around yet, so I taped the bags together, and voila, I had effective weights to hang over his leg to give him a hamstring stretch!
We had lots of company on the weekend, Colin shingled the south side of his house with help from his brothers and a friend, so I had to actually cook for a group of people. It seemed weird to do that after all these months of eating out or just feeding myself. Everyone was full, though, so I guess I haven't completely forgotten how to make potato sauce! Glenn's aunt and uncle from Vancouver came, Grandma Mitchell came, and all the kids were here too. It was a house full, but very good to be home. Friday night, my sister and her hubby from White Fox dropped in on their way to Mom and Dad's. They were going to a wedding in Moose Jaw on Saturday, so since it had rained at their place on Thursday, they decided to take a road trip to see everyone. Glenn and Dale were driving out, and I was following them in the half ton with the wheel chairs when the cell phone rang, and gee it was Elaine wondering where we were. I told her we were close to Balgonie, where was she? She was waiting at the Edenwold corner, so I told her to stop at our house, we would be there shortly. In the meantime, Colin passed them on his way home, so they followed him, and knocked at his door. He was a bit surprised to see them! We had a good visit, and settled in at home.
I went to work yesterday, and another friend who has moved to BC walked in and said hello! She and her husband drive truck, so he dropped her off at her daughters, and she drove out to visit us. We had a good talk, then she came here to see Glenn. She used to manage the Co-op, so was really happy to see Glenn was home, and doing pretty well. I don't know what to expect next.
Tomorrow we are scheduled to start out patient therapy at Wascana, and I have made an appointment for Glenn at the doctor, so we can now try to co-ordinate trips to Regina. I do not miss the daily drive at all. I wouldn't be a very good commuter.
Glenn just started to laugh last night. He was lying on the couch, and I asked him what was funny. He said it just felt good to be home. I guess we are doing the best thing for now, and hopefully the weather won't be too unreasonable tomorrow for our outing, but it has started to rain here now, so I'm going to guess we will get wet tomorrow too. This will put harvest on hold again though, so that is frustrating I know. The Jewish holidays start tomorrow, and the old folks say that you don't do much harvesting through those holidays. It looks as though that may be true this year.
'Til next time,
Louise
Thursday, September 6, 2007
August 30 - Sept. 6
Day 198-205
September 1st was the 200th day of this journey of ours, and it was a very nice day except for the wind. We had been invited to a wedding, but only Colin went in the end. He didn't take the wedding package, so someday I'll have to drop it off at the Mom and Dad's ( they are our neighbours) and convey our best wishes that way.
The news of the week is that Glenn has been released, and will come home tomorrow. We have set up his out patient therapy schedule, I'm rounding up his medical supplies, and we have a helper for home care, so all we are waiting for is funding for our helper, and who knows when that will go through. Sometimes you have to get organized, and hope for the best. Everyone who is farming will understand my unwillingness to wait for the beaurocracy to get organized, so I did it, and will have Glenn home now, not in some distant future. I suppose that means that I am picking up a lot of the responsibility, but the bottom line is Glenn and his well being. I will jump through all the hoops I have to to get funding for this arrangement, but feel Glenn needs to be home ASAP. I'm so excited to have him back, and today he looked at me and said "I'm going home!" and teared up. Well, what more can I say? This is the right thing to be doing right now.
The therapists have been writing up regiments of exercise programs for us to work with Glenn on, and he will go twice a week for PT and OT, so really he may have more exercise here than at the hospital, and we won't have that time consuming drive everyday. You will be happy to know that he spends a lot of time catching up on the computer, and although his typing is slow, he can use the mouse very well with his left hand, and could probably buy something on Ebay any old time!
The other exciting event yesterday is that his power chair came! We are figuring out how to bring it home, so that worked out very well. He will be able to tour around the yard on his own now, and may be able to use it in some areas of the house, although it is quite a bit larger than the regular wheel chair. Things are falling into place again, so I am very happy about that. I took some time today, and went to the General hospital because I have to get some of his feeding supplies there. I didn't get too lost, and a very helpful gentleman pointed me in the right direction in the end, so I was successful there. Now I just have to pick up his medicines and cans of food, and we should be pretty well set to go. They have supplied us with the food and meds for this weekend, so I have a bit of time to get the rest of our supplies. It has been pretty busy doing all this, but it felt good to be doing something constructive for a change. I'll send a few emails to some of you to be sure you don't come visiting at the hospital tomorrow. We should be gone around 4:00 , but you never know. They have booked Glenn for another Botox injection tomorrow, much to the surprise of his physio, so that will happen after his other therapies are done. Then we can go and settle in at home. Glenn's Uncle and Auntie from Vancouver are here, and plan to visit us on Sunday, so their timing is excellent too.
I have been so busy telling all the exciting news, that I didn't really cover the 5 day home trial last week end. It went well, although I dumped Glenn on the floor once. I was in too much of a hurry and out he came. As we stood him up he started laughing and said it wasn't too bad, but I was not happy about it and probably was more upset than he was. I hope that doesn't happen again, and will be more careful of how I move him around. Other wise everything went well, and it was sure nice to just be home together. All the rest of this week hinged on our success last weekend, so we should be OK. I know it will be lots of work, but I will be careful to have breaks, and to have the kids stay with him while I do other things. This is doing me a world of good too, and I'm only just realizing how much I miss being at home with him. OK, no blubbering, this is a time of joy and the result of a lot of prayer and hard work. I know that, and we also have a lot of work ahead of us, but at least we will be home!
Speaking of prayers, thank you for yours, I know that lots of you are keeping us in your prayers, and it helps tremendously to know that. I couldn't have borne this without prayer and faith that Glenn would get better. God has purpose for us yet, and time will reveal what that is. Now I'm getting mushy, so I better go!
'Til next time,
Louise
September 1st was the 200th day of this journey of ours, and it was a very nice day except for the wind. We had been invited to a wedding, but only Colin went in the end. He didn't take the wedding package, so someday I'll have to drop it off at the Mom and Dad's ( they are our neighbours) and convey our best wishes that way.
The news of the week is that Glenn has been released, and will come home tomorrow. We have set up his out patient therapy schedule, I'm rounding up his medical supplies, and we have a helper for home care, so all we are waiting for is funding for our helper, and who knows when that will go through. Sometimes you have to get organized, and hope for the best. Everyone who is farming will understand my unwillingness to wait for the beaurocracy to get organized, so I did it, and will have Glenn home now, not in some distant future. I suppose that means that I am picking up a lot of the responsibility, but the bottom line is Glenn and his well being. I will jump through all the hoops I have to to get funding for this arrangement, but feel Glenn needs to be home ASAP. I'm so excited to have him back, and today he looked at me and said "I'm going home!" and teared up. Well, what more can I say? This is the right thing to be doing right now.
The therapists have been writing up regiments of exercise programs for us to work with Glenn on, and he will go twice a week for PT and OT, so really he may have more exercise here than at the hospital, and we won't have that time consuming drive everyday. You will be happy to know that he spends a lot of time catching up on the computer, and although his typing is slow, he can use the mouse very well with his left hand, and could probably buy something on Ebay any old time!
The other exciting event yesterday is that his power chair came! We are figuring out how to bring it home, so that worked out very well. He will be able to tour around the yard on his own now, and may be able to use it in some areas of the house, although it is quite a bit larger than the regular wheel chair. Things are falling into place again, so I am very happy about that. I took some time today, and went to the General hospital because I have to get some of his feeding supplies there. I didn't get too lost, and a very helpful gentleman pointed me in the right direction in the end, so I was successful there. Now I just have to pick up his medicines and cans of food, and we should be pretty well set to go. They have supplied us with the food and meds for this weekend, so I have a bit of time to get the rest of our supplies. It has been pretty busy doing all this, but it felt good to be doing something constructive for a change. I'll send a few emails to some of you to be sure you don't come visiting at the hospital tomorrow. We should be gone around 4:00 , but you never know. They have booked Glenn for another Botox injection tomorrow, much to the surprise of his physio, so that will happen after his other therapies are done. Then we can go and settle in at home. Glenn's Uncle and Auntie from Vancouver are here, and plan to visit us on Sunday, so their timing is excellent too.
I have been so busy telling all the exciting news, that I didn't really cover the 5 day home trial last week end. It went well, although I dumped Glenn on the floor once. I was in too much of a hurry and out he came. As we stood him up he started laughing and said it wasn't too bad, but I was not happy about it and probably was more upset than he was. I hope that doesn't happen again, and will be more careful of how I move him around. Other wise everything went well, and it was sure nice to just be home together. All the rest of this week hinged on our success last weekend, so we should be OK. I know it will be lots of work, but I will be careful to have breaks, and to have the kids stay with him while I do other things. This is doing me a world of good too, and I'm only just realizing how much I miss being at home with him. OK, no blubbering, this is a time of joy and the result of a lot of prayer and hard work. I know that, and we also have a lot of work ahead of us, but at least we will be home!
Speaking of prayers, thank you for yours, I know that lots of you are keeping us in your prayers, and it helps tremendously to know that. I couldn't have borne this without prayer and faith that Glenn would get better. God has purpose for us yet, and time will reveal what that is. Now I'm getting mushy, so I better go!
'Til next time,
Louise
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