Day 624-627
Don't fall over, I know it's only 4 days, but I feel like posting. We both got our new glasses, and it is nice to see again! Glenn is doing a lot of head bobbing to get used to the bifocals, but I told him that it's good for his neck! We'll see if it helps him read for longer periods. He hasn't actually tried a book, but the papers are easier. He was laughing though, when he is reclined, the TV screen is blurry. I don't know if he will take them off, or if I'll need to give him a pillow to prop up his head. The new lenses in my glasses bring the small print back to my world, so now I can thread that needle again too!
There is no more news, we are getting better. He finds he can move his right foot on the lino better than the carpet, so we practice walking in the kitchen. I think we'll try the hallway, that's a bit more traveling, so he should get stronger. I don't know if we'll fit, I stand beside him, and that could be too cosy in the hall. I also need to keep the chair close behind him in case we lose our balance, so all in all it is a bit of a trick. We'll figure something out though.
The kids went to Melville to watch a snow blower at an auction sale today. It would help us keep the yard clear, I hope they get it. They've never bid before, so I hope they don't get confused. They also have a limit. It's not a very nice day either, but the weather may be different up there. We'll see later today.
'Til next time,
Louise
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
October 12-21
Day 613-623
It's raining today, so no field work for a few days again. The boys are not able to get the breaking disked, and I don't know if the piles would burn now after the wet snow and rain. You'd have to use a lot of fire starter! The snow did disappear, and some combining was done this week. Everyone is disheartened by the dropping prices. All that work and nothing to show for it again.
Glenn is not using his thickener anymore. Even water is going down without too much trouble. He still chokes on it when he gets to the bottom of the cup, but for the most part it is OK. He had trouble with some salad the other night, so we are not out of the woods yet, but not much is holding him back from all foods. That sure makes preparing meals nicer. He is doing well without his medicine, and I think is actually feeling better without it. He is speaking in longer, more conversational phrases, and we do fairly well. More people are understanding him, but he doesn't have a lot of volume yet, so it is almost impossible to talk with him in a crowd. That will come too.
He decided to stand up at the sink to wash his hands and face the other day. I asked him if he had been doing that very long, and he just said that was the first time. He is pushing things like that now, and I'm happy about it. I think we're going to make it!
'Til next time,
Louise
It's raining today, so no field work for a few days again. The boys are not able to get the breaking disked, and I don't know if the piles would burn now after the wet snow and rain. You'd have to use a lot of fire starter! The snow did disappear, and some combining was done this week. Everyone is disheartened by the dropping prices. All that work and nothing to show for it again.
Glenn is not using his thickener anymore. Even water is going down without too much trouble. He still chokes on it when he gets to the bottom of the cup, but for the most part it is OK. He had trouble with some salad the other night, so we are not out of the woods yet, but not much is holding him back from all foods. That sure makes preparing meals nicer. He is doing well without his medicine, and I think is actually feeling better without it. He is speaking in longer, more conversational phrases, and we do fairly well. More people are understanding him, but he doesn't have a lot of volume yet, so it is almost impossible to talk with him in a crowd. That will come too.
He decided to stand up at the sink to wash his hands and face the other day. I asked him if he had been doing that very long, and he just said that was the first time. He is pushing things like that now, and I'm happy about it. I think we're going to make it!
'Til next time,
Louise
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Otcober 7-11
Day 608 - 612
It's been an eventful week and I'm feeling the effects of it a bit today. Nothing I haven't felt before, but tired never the less. We went to the doctor on Tuesday, and he discontinued a medication that has pretty serious side effects, so we'll see how that plays out in the next few weeks. This particular one interacts unfavorably with warfarin, so I expect that will show up in the INR (blood test) some time in the next week or two. I'm just as happy to not use it anymore, and the doctor said he rarely prescribes it himself, as it is at best 50% ineffective. That's pretty high. We got a good spot to park, (this doctor is in the Medical Office wing of the General Hospital) so that made life a bit easier. We did have to drive around a bit before we got this spot, so I was happy it opened up. We had to pick up some thickener while we were there, so I gave Glenn a tour of the hospital. He may have done some of it for his Mom, but probably not the food services part in the basement. Next day we went to the optometrist, and we are both getting new prescriptions and new glasses. I took Dad and he got a prescription too, although he didn't buy his glasses at the office. I think he may go to Costco to do a bit of price comparison. He has cataracts starting, and is showing early signs of Macular Degeneration. The doctor prescribed a multi-vitamin to help fight the effects of the degeneration, but he needs to go back yearly to watch how it progresses. We had picked Mom and Dad up and were driving them around for the day. That day was Ken's 60th birthday, so we met Ken and Sandra for lunch, and Bill and Ida Mae were there too. It was good to be with them all, and Mom picked up the tab. I guess you don't ever stop paying for your kids meals out!
Thursday was our regular therapy day, and I had planned on just going for that and coming home to catch up on some house chores, but the phone rang Wednesday evening, and it was Glenn's Auntie from Vancouver. She and her daughter were in Regina, on their way to Russell, Manitoba. Auntie's sister had passed away, and they are going to her viewing and funeral. Did we have time to meet them for lunch? Well of course we did, so after therapy, we had lunch. It was good to see them, and Glenn was happy to visit with his cousin for a bit. We'll try to see them again before they leave.
So now I was looking forward to a day off on Friday, but you guessed it, the phone rang. Could I come in to work on Friday? Well, I did, so the laundry had to wait until last night. My clothes are still draped around the house, because I didn't get a chance to look under the dryer and see if the fan is plugged up. The clothes get warm, but no air seems to be flowing, so I just have warm damp clothes after 40 minutes in the dryer. What next?
I'm at the store for my regualr shift, my clothes are clean and mostly dry, and we are going for turkey supper and birthday cake tomorrow. I guess I'll take Monday off! Glenn is just happily going from one appointment to the next, and shows no sympathy when I moan about how busy we were this week. What can I say?
'Til next time,
Louise
It's been an eventful week and I'm feeling the effects of it a bit today. Nothing I haven't felt before, but tired never the less. We went to the doctor on Tuesday, and he discontinued a medication that has pretty serious side effects, so we'll see how that plays out in the next few weeks. This particular one interacts unfavorably with warfarin, so I expect that will show up in the INR (blood test) some time in the next week or two. I'm just as happy to not use it anymore, and the doctor said he rarely prescribes it himself, as it is at best 50% ineffective. That's pretty high. We got a good spot to park, (this doctor is in the Medical Office wing of the General Hospital) so that made life a bit easier. We did have to drive around a bit before we got this spot, so I was happy it opened up. We had to pick up some thickener while we were there, so I gave Glenn a tour of the hospital. He may have done some of it for his Mom, but probably not the food services part in the basement. Next day we went to the optometrist, and we are both getting new prescriptions and new glasses. I took Dad and he got a prescription too, although he didn't buy his glasses at the office. I think he may go to Costco to do a bit of price comparison. He has cataracts starting, and is showing early signs of Macular Degeneration. The doctor prescribed a multi-vitamin to help fight the effects of the degeneration, but he needs to go back yearly to watch how it progresses. We had picked Mom and Dad up and were driving them around for the day. That day was Ken's 60th birthday, so we met Ken and Sandra for lunch, and Bill and Ida Mae were there too. It was good to be with them all, and Mom picked up the tab. I guess you don't ever stop paying for your kids meals out!
Thursday was our regular therapy day, and I had planned on just going for that and coming home to catch up on some house chores, but the phone rang Wednesday evening, and it was Glenn's Auntie from Vancouver. She and her daughter were in Regina, on their way to Russell, Manitoba. Auntie's sister had passed away, and they are going to her viewing and funeral. Did we have time to meet them for lunch? Well of course we did, so after therapy, we had lunch. It was good to see them, and Glenn was happy to visit with his cousin for a bit. We'll try to see them again before they leave.
So now I was looking forward to a day off on Friday, but you guessed it, the phone rang. Could I come in to work on Friday? Well, I did, so the laundry had to wait until last night. My clothes are still draped around the house, because I didn't get a chance to look under the dryer and see if the fan is plugged up. The clothes get warm, but no air seems to be flowing, so I just have warm damp clothes after 40 minutes in the dryer. What next?
I'm at the store for my regualr shift, my clothes are clean and mostly dry, and we are going for turkey supper and birthday cake tomorrow. I guess I'll take Monday off! Glenn is just happily going from one appointment to the next, and shows no sympathy when I moan about how busy we were this week. What can I say?
'Til next time,
Louise
Monday, October 6, 2008
September 28-October 6
Day 599-607
I was going to post on Saturday, but was busy enough at work to forget to do it. It is Monday, and I'm at work again, because we have various doctors appointments this week, and I was able to come in for a while today. I can't stay the whole day today, but it rained, so I should be able to leave early. Piano lessons are going well, although Glenn would like a TV working in the office, so I'll get the boys to work on that. We'll have to string an antennae wire to the office, probably through the attic, and I won't do that.
Glenn is doing well. His outlook is improving, and the other day while we were standing with the aid of the walker, I asked him if he thought he would walk again, and he teared up and said yes he does. That is a huge change on his part, because even this spring he was saying he didn't think he would leave the chair. The hope is now there, and the drive is returning. I'm thrilled, because there is only so much I can do, then he has to pick it up and go. That will happen now. Helen had him standing on his own in the walker, and I was brave enough to let him go too. His balance is improving, his posture is better, and he wants to go. What more can I say?
We have a few doctors appointments, and I hope to take my dad to the optometrist on Wednesday. Glenn and I both need new glasses, so I made an appointment for Dad too. I hope he comes with us. We are all concerned about his vision, but he is reluctant to go.
We went out for 'harvest is over' supper last night, and Chris picked up Shirley and brought her along. She is doing much better at her new home, and was saying that they have good cooks there. It is much easier knowing that she is well cared for now. Uncle Bob is back from the hospital, but I haven't gotten an update on his condition for a few days. Hopefully he has cleared up, but pneumonia is hard to shake when you don't move around a whole lot. Rose is visiting him regularly, and she herself is doing well after her heart surgery. It has been an eventful summer for them.
We are settling in and trying to get ready for winter. My car has mice in it, so I'm not sure what to do or where to take it to get them cleaned out. I'll do a bit of phoning this week and try to get them out, the heater will be working now, and they do smell!
'Til next time,
Louise
I was going to post on Saturday, but was busy enough at work to forget to do it. It is Monday, and I'm at work again, because we have various doctors appointments this week, and I was able to come in for a while today. I can't stay the whole day today, but it rained, so I should be able to leave early. Piano lessons are going well, although Glenn would like a TV working in the office, so I'll get the boys to work on that. We'll have to string an antennae wire to the office, probably through the attic, and I won't do that.
Glenn is doing well. His outlook is improving, and the other day while we were standing with the aid of the walker, I asked him if he thought he would walk again, and he teared up and said yes he does. That is a huge change on his part, because even this spring he was saying he didn't think he would leave the chair. The hope is now there, and the drive is returning. I'm thrilled, because there is only so much I can do, then he has to pick it up and go. That will happen now. Helen had him standing on his own in the walker, and I was brave enough to let him go too. His balance is improving, his posture is better, and he wants to go. What more can I say?
We have a few doctors appointments, and I hope to take my dad to the optometrist on Wednesday. Glenn and I both need new glasses, so I made an appointment for Dad too. I hope he comes with us. We are all concerned about his vision, but he is reluctant to go.
We went out for 'harvest is over' supper last night, and Chris picked up Shirley and brought her along. She is doing much better at her new home, and was saying that they have good cooks there. It is much easier knowing that she is well cared for now. Uncle Bob is back from the hospital, but I haven't gotten an update on his condition for a few days. Hopefully he has cleared up, but pneumonia is hard to shake when you don't move around a whole lot. Rose is visiting him regularly, and she herself is doing well after her heart surgery. It has been an eventful summer for them.
We are settling in and trying to get ready for winter. My car has mice in it, so I'm not sure what to do or where to take it to get them cleaned out. I'll do a bit of phoning this week and try to get them out, the heater will be working now, and they do smell!
'Til next time,
Louise
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