Springtime MUD

  Bruce walked 175 steps in the harness and the brace (Herman). Bruce is getting stronger!
He stands up at home with the brace and the help of two ladies for 7 - 12 min in the morning.

As you can see, he has been spending time in the garden, that man is still tracking dirt in the house!
 
  I have joined the Diet Doc here in town and am learning how to eat healthy. Bruce loves the new recipes we are trying. I was eating too many carbs and wanting to sleep all the time.
I eat protein with every meal, some carbs and healthy fats. I've lost 17 lbs since Dec.

    Things I’ve Changed to Lose Weight

    My Fitness Pal – a FREE app - it balances your protein, carbs and fats – it turns red when you go over, ahem not that I would know… it adds the carbs, fats and proteins so you don’t have to! If you bite it, write it!

   Facebook – Diet Doc in La Grande - has recipes and food suggestions

BBQ sauce – G Hughes Smokehouse Sugar Free BBQ Sauce

BREAD – Famous Dave’s Thin Sliced – Good Seed or Powerhouse – this is expensive but most tasty – 60/80 calories

Cheese sticks - Light

Chicken – Grilled – 4-5 min on each side, no turning keeps it moist

CHIPS – Kettle – Baked, I don't like the rice cakes

DRESSING – Bolthouse Farms or Litehouse dressing – made with yogurt, the Salsa Ranch is yummy

Garden – plant cherry tomatoes, lettuce, spaghetti squash, spinach, yellow squash

ICE CREAM – Halo Top by the pint - just don’t eat the whole pint like I did, it was worth it…

MAYO - Avocado oil Mayo

MEAT – changed to turkey – bacon, pepperoni and sausage – added Canadian Bacon to breakfast

NUTS – almonds or walnuts

PIZZA - cut up pizza slice, eat on salad – pizza crotons!

POPCORN – use coconut spray oil and sea salt

SALADS – use Spring Mix – add crunchy foods – bell peppers, raw, green sunflower seeds, cherry tomatoes

TUNA - 1 TBS of avocado mayo and 1 tsp of virgin olive oil, chives

WATER – drink 2 cups of H2O before each meal and snack, you may not eat until you have drunk the water – 8 cups a day – she said research shows water dilutes the stomach acids as they digest the food so drink the water before eating

   Weekly menus - skinnytaste.com – she does weekly menus and you can search – most are edible, just try a new one each week

 So, the skinny babes grill the meat and eat fruit... sigh
I'm not giving away any Diet Doc secrets, I do not share their menus or pep talks.
I've also started doing sprouts, who knew they were so totally easy to do! The alfalfa sprouts are the sweetest.
  Duncan has decided to go to school in the fall in drafting at Klakamus and his brother and family said he could live with him. He is looking for a summer job, he has had several interviews.
   Andrew works at Skip Line in the old Bronson Lumber building, they employ 25 people. He solders computer chips for the machines that make the paint lines. Apparently there are only two of these companies in the US.
  I'm feeling more relaxed since I only care for Bruce every other week end, who knew this is so difficult?
 Please don't tell me to call you if I need help. Ask yourself, "What kind of help would you want if you were in this situation? " and then do that, cookies are good, pulling weeds is better, the best, take Bruce to lunch. I take someone to lunch every week so I am good.
  We pray daily to find others that need help and bless their lives with our junk, I mean things we no longer need, no wait, how about our presence?
  My skill is sewing, I help others by making quilts. I want all the quilts I've given away displayed at my funeral. That will be my legacy and KFC, I love KFC and they have grilled meat, so it is healthy.

I Love the Sunshine!

What a difference the sunshine makes! I feel alive again.

We began the week with accidents that include washing the sheets daily and one mid day change.
I am grateful the ladies come M- F and every other weekend.
  Tuesday was Lunch Bunch with four friends at Jax Dog. I had the black bean soup and homemade bread. I don't see how they make it with their limited selection, beet salad or baked yam does not appeal to me.
  Wednesday was Quilt Questors meeting and I showed off the three quilt tops I worked on on my retreat stay cation.
   Duncan traveled to visit 3 community colleges and stayed with his older bro Ben. Ben and Lindsey offered him their "spare om" for 2 years so it looks like he will be headed that way. He will look for a temp job here and if that doesn't pan out he will head to Corvallis for a job and drafting school in the fall.
 We went to the Central fundraiser for dinner Thursday evening and I had loaded baked potato soup and Bruce had the chili. Andrew went to Wendy's for a burger and fries. ahh youth
 I signed up for a Dresden plate quilting class on Wednesday. I've always wanted to do that quilt so this will encourage me.

  My friend Rosala and I went to Cove to the Shabby Shic shed. (say that fast 7X) We took the long way around, ahem we missed a turn, twice... I did purchase a couple of salt shakers on bamboo for planter stakes, a wooden box for the front door and this most wonderful, marvelous, can you guess? YES! an old window frame with diamond panes. I will create a matching quilt for our spare om! I love it! Or I might just get lazy and display old fam photos...
  Saturday I took Bruce to Grandescapes for 5 blueberry plants. I copied the planter there and purchase 3 items for a planter in the back yard. On to D&B for fertilizer and a grape vine trellis. No luck, so I hauled Bruce to Bi Mart and we decided their trellis is too flimsy. I did purchase a scales to weigh my food. I am exhausted and worn out. Clamping and unclamping Bruce leaves me tired, mean and grumpy, well worse than usual...
  I will go grocery shopping, get gas in the van and get a second wind to purchase fabric for the class on Wednesday.
  Sunday was church for 3 hours, you would think we would be perfect with all the church going we do... alas i need to stay here and keep Bruce in line.
  He came home from all day meetings and wanted me to smell him. I politely declined. He next asked Andrew and the child, I mean young adult, laughed at him. No thank you dear, just stay home. There was no time to change him, so we waited for our ever faithful home care providers. Did i tell you how happy I am they come?
 I hear Darth Vader in my bedroom, that means the sleep mask has once again become dislodged from his handsome face.
  That's all from Lake Kevan begone, have a pleasant week.

Sunday Morning

  I am back to writing. I am exhausted from caring for Bruce. I have anxiety, sleep deprivation and other things I don't want to talk about here. I do take time for myself, I give service, I went to a therapist, I just need uninterrupted sleep for a month...

We had the renovators in to put cabinets in the pantry and a desk/work area for Bruce.

It is really nice. I want to caress the wood just like I do my fabric.
   I went on a three day staycation quilt retreat at a local hotel with a hot tub with a friend. I sewed three tops, ate out, slept in, exercised and talked with friends. Does that rhyme?

This is the center of a pink quilt. I cut it out wrong, so I redesigned it. ahem

This is a giraffe wall hanging, which I don't like and will turn into a baby quilt and donate to charity. I do love the fabric.

This is a BOM, block of the month put together with a BQ setting. My friend, Rosala says I need to add 3 more blocks to make it bigger. 

Go away, Rosala.

  Bruce is improving daily. His spirits are up. He used arm braces in the pool to stand and sit, no walking yet. He is talking about going to Colorado to get some robot legs. We are not sure he will need them, he will confer with the Dr in Tri Cites at the end of next month.
 
 We have hired through private pay another gal, so I only work every other week end. This is helping. It is the 2 am turnings and anxiety that gets to me.
   
I entered 3 fabric art items for the Arts East exhibit this month.

 'Heart Puns', black heart, broken heart, etc.

This is 'Bruce's Garden'

This is 'Trauma', the shirt was cut off Bruce when he went in the hospital. They gave it to me before he left in the helicopter, neither of us can remember what he was transported in. ahem it has a couple cards from friends, a joke, and spirit prayers from our friend Pat who is Native american. He always wore his sleeves rolled up, ready for action.

This is the back side of the shirt. It has photo prints on fabric of the ex ray of his neck, the newspaper article, a joke. It is a good show 10 - 4, M-F. at the old library. 

No, this wasn't healing for me, cathartic, the shirt had been in the basement for 3 1/2 years, I will do something with the blue jeans next year. I'm thinking I need one of those bizillion $$ embroidery machines to create the next work of art... 

   I have signed up for two quilt retreats at Wallowa Lake in June and Sept. I doubt I will get much sleep there...
 My sistahs are both losing weight, I do not want to be the fattest of them all so I am going to the Diet Doc tomorrow for a consultation.
 
   We are improving, we are grateful for family, friends, neighbors, and community.
 
 

Walking in the Water

   Yesterday my friend Chris donated a huge garbage sack of quilts to Greenwood School for their Santa Mall. There was a corduroy quilt, an embroidered quilt, a monster patch quilt no several large quilts. She said her mom had made them and never got around to donating them to any one. I took them over to the school and they were delighted to have them. I suggested they do a raffle for the larger quilts. 

   I picked up two friends to go to our churches women's social group called Night Relief Society. We had an ornament exchange, a cocoa bar and some yummy treats I hope to get the recipe for. Mr Durfee and his wife and oldest daughter were there and we sang and listened to carols. It was a fun evening. 

  Bruce didn't have therapy yesterday and so he used his manual wheelchair around the house. He can get around pretty good on his own. Duncan took him to Big 5 to get a leg brace. He gets scratched up in pool time so that will help protect his leg. 

  He was able to take three steps standing upright on his own in three and half feet of water! He is really improving. 

 

Lift Assist

I suppose it is time I update on Bruce's shenanigans.

   As you are probably aware Bruce is doing most of his driving by himself now. He usually goes to therapy and returns promptly home. Alas, he made a side trip to the dry cleaners and while transferring he fell forward out of his wheelchair. The nice lady in the shop saw him and came out. She said she knew what to do to help him as her mom falls all the time. She called 911 and requested "lift assist". Two very nice young men arrived and lifted Bruce while crouched in the van to his chair. Bruce then drove home and did not tell us what happened until that evening while we dressed him for bed and saw a bruise and scratches on his white backside. He then said, 'I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want you to worry." 

  Knot head, the OT said he was lucky it wasn't worse. The PTs said now you know and can be prepared for it. So when he is exhausted after therapy he waits 10 min for recovery before driving straight home.

   New tile - no more diapers! Huzzah! That really delights me, only have had one wet incident since then. Who knew how wonderful this day would be!

   I am working on costumes for YCC, Youth Cultural Celebration for the Meridian Temple dedication. I only have three more dresses to sew. Friends are sewing bow ties and I only need one more tux, size 36 which we hope to find in Boise this week. The wards have come up with sewers and some of the 103 dresses are amazing! 

Such team work!

  Now it is my turn to fall. After returning from a morning practice in Baker I had to race to get Bruce to a 2:30pm afternoon meeting. I had left my purse in the van and wanted to retrieve it before Bruce backed in. I banged my pumpkin head on the side of the van so hard I fell backwards onto the ramp damaging my pride and landing on my well padded derrière. (That's French for behind) it knocked the breathe out of me and immediately the tears came. I got Bruce in the van and headed to the church wondering if I had a concussion. Upon returning home, I self medicated with a bowl of ice cream, maybe two bowls and some pecans. My friends said my eyes weren't dilated. No nausea, just wounded pride. Sheila says slow down. 

   We did get the fence replaced. Who needs bamboo screens now? And the ramp painted. 

Some YMare coming on Saturday to hack off the blackberries, take the netting off the blueberry cover, rack leaves and lop off a branch or two of an intruding maple tree. 

  Bruce will be very pleased his back yard is shaping up.

  We want to plant a peach tree in the spring and the grape arbor will be built too.

  

Bruce is Driving!

There is a doorknob on the steering wheel Bruce uses. They want his dominant hand to steer which is his right hand. The left hand controls the acceleration and brake. At first he had trouble getting the gas and brake mixed up but he is doing better.

Jungle Gym

Trip to Boise

   We were able to get the hand controls in the van. Alas the owners got the message mixed up and a chair is going to have to be ordered. They didn't realize Bruce has recovered as much as he has. They will also find our shotgun chair and put that in. We will return Sept 8 when Bruce gets his leg braces.

   We were able to get Bruce's wheelchair arm repaired, it was broken off and we found a Nu Motion store in Meridian that replaced it for FREE. Yeah

Duncan got a new pair of shoes and socks.

  We ate at a marvelous restaurant called Panera, a bread restaurant. It was a healthy, fast, friendly place to sup. We will go there again. I had a grilled chicken salad with greens on the bottom and fruit (sliced pineapples, blueberries and strawberries) on top with a poppyseed dressing. A side of baked chips in a bag or a delicious baguette was impressive.

  This week Bruce has developed a dizziness. His marbles in his ear are off balance. I did not know we had marbles in our ears... They treated him in therapy. (Canalith Repositioning) He has to sleep in the bed raised to a 45 degree angle for two nights. I slept on the couch. I have to be within hearing distance. My friend suggested I purchase a moniter so I can sleep in the spare bed in my sewing room. 

   They have almost finished putting the bark mulch on our landscaping. It is therapy for me to see such beauty in plants. The names of the hostas on the shade garden are fun, I kept the tags of the names so I can impress you with my botany knowledge, Big Daddy, Dragon Tail and Blue Mouse Ears. There are two Chocoholic plants, a Red Lightening and a Sea Heart. Do a drive by to admire it. They even put flowers in the back yard. Pink enchiladas, did I get that name wrong? And some black eyed Susan's.

This is the Red Lightening Heuchera, (yeah I have a problem pronouncing it too)

  FREE Market is today. I am taking some junk, I mean treasures to regift to others. I look forward to cleaning out stuff every year. Our church fills the building with items and we return at 6 in the evening to get what we need. I usually don't return as my home is full of things I am trying to declutter.

  Bruce's hands are turning off and on. He can feel them when he sleeps at night, during the day when he moves them around he feelings lapse.

  He stood 27 times in therapy last week. 

 We got a jungle gym added to the bedroom. Bruce uses it to pull himself over at night. No more 2am turnings for Duncan. I still get up to hand him his pill and fill the sleep machine. And speaking of the sleep machine, we had to get a chin strap for Bruce. No more Darth Vader a night, yeah.