Anther Week

   Bruce had pool time on Monday. Duncan took a couple of videos and posted them on face book. You will have to be his friend to see them. I think is shared a couple of them. Bruce is able to kick off from the side of the pool. He was having trouble   walking he legs were too stiff from inactivity over the weekend. He comes home pretty tried from swimming. We received Cookies, a yella mum and a big on Monday from Ranee.

    Tuesday morning we were greeted with a French toast breakfast from Ellen. That is a great way to begin the day. Bruce is learning how to do transfers on a board so we won't have to use the lift and sling to move him. He is getting stronger. 

     I wanted to start back working my shift at the Family History center. I left at 9am to do a shift and discovered I was supposed to be there for the afternoon shift. Dang, at least I got the day right. We will see what shift they need me to work.

    We got our new microwave from Sears. It doesn't fit in the old cabinet so we are having to learn a new spot for it. Andrew was very put out as that is the clock we use on the micro wave so I had to find a battery for an old clock to replace it.

    Wednesday dinner from Rosala and Debbie was most excellent. I love KFC! Rosala made a yummy apple walnut salad with banana bread and a creamy raspberry cheese cake to live for! T and T dropped by to check the water heater. There was H2O on the floor in the basement which does not bode well. Turned out the water was set too hot and it caused it to spill. Yeah a quick and easy fix. 

    Thursday the new frig was delivered! The water is not hooked up but Bruce will be able to get his own drinks when that happens in two weeks. 

    Bruce woke up at midnight with an earache. I repositioned him and gave hm Tylenol. Looks like we will be going back to the Dr this week. He said he slept well after the Tylenol. I couldn't sleep with his snoring and spent a restless night on the couch. Nap time tomorrow.

   Friday was a plate of cookies and a nice visit from Christie. Friday night I helped set up our churches third annual quilt show. It took us two hours. Not as many quilts as in the past. And wouldn't you know it I misplaced the one top I finished, maybe it will be ready by next year. 

    Saturday I got Bruce set up, he does a lot of catchup sleeping on the weekends. I left to help with the quilt show. We had 84 people come to the show. Some of those quilts are works of art, some are functional and some are beginner. I enjoyed my time with the girls. The finger food was excellent too. 

   Andrew had a Prom date Saturday afternoon. He asked Diana from Russia. We practiced questions for him to ask her so he could keep a conversation going and not get tongue tied. Andrew did not like our suggestions. He said he didn't want to give her the third degree. We are not bossy, just concerned... They began with a one o'clock date playing frisbee golf at EOU, then dinner at 6:30 at Moys with a group of friends. Andrew found out he does not like egg drop soup. Then to our house for flowers and photos. Finally off to the Prom. They went to Walker's cabin afterward to play card games and then Andrew took Diana home. I asked him what he liked best and he said the hug he got. 

    Made it another week. 

   

New Sensations

   The week started out great, pool time for Bruce and a mani/ pedi for me at Hi Tek Nails. I love the massage chair. It is so relaxing. I hadn't been since September.

   

     On Tuesday, Bruce had an ultrasound, nothing alarming, they just want to check up on things, after Bruce finished the exam, on his bladder and kidneys, the nurse was wiping off the goo they use and Bruce said he was ticklish from her wiping. So Bruce pinched himself on the side and he felt that too. New sensations! Too bad St Patrick's day has passed...

   Tuesday,  Andrew and I have the flu, aches, nausea and intestinal difficulties. Ick, good thing Duncan is feeling better to care for Bruce. 

   In OT! they had Bruce take his over the head sweatshirt on and off three times and then they had him stand up and sit down in the standing table. They usually have him stand as long as he can, but they wanted to try something different. He said it wore him out.

    Donna brought over some warm homemade French bread and tater salad.

  On Wednesday Rosala and Debbie brought us dinner, corned beef and taters, a fruit salad and chocolate Carmel brownies. 

   I called in sick to excuse Andrew at the High School, Pam answered the phone and asked about Bruce. I told her of his progress and she said no wonder he is doing better, with 1000's of people praying for him, God has to hear. Made my heart happy. It is great to hear that other people pray. One doesn't normally talk about praying in everyday conversations. 

    Amy brought over a delicious barbecue chicken pizza with home made Oreos! We are in heaven. We love to be spoiled.  

     Bruce is working on upper body strength. He is able to do the slide transfers on a board with minimal help. That means we will soon be able to give up using the lift which takes a longer to transfer him from the bed to the chair to the toilet. 

    Friday dinner was an English delight! Our friend Liz brought us Bangers and Mash, and Bubbles and Squeak, with onion gravy and for dessert, Yorkshire Yum. Yeah I had to ask for a translation several times. What was this called again? Bangers and mash is small sausages and mashed potatoes very yummy and bangers and squeak is vegetables in mashed potatoes. The Yorkshire yum is cut up cake, with strawberries and whipped topping, and a dollop of meringue, healthy and yummy! 

      Saturday I had some retail therapy at Potters house purchasing wedding gifts. Lynette called and went for a bumpy drive with her up and own hills on a gravel road to a place I hadn't gone before. (me and Star Trek) it was very nice to get away and talk and listen. (yes, I occasionally listen) 

    Went to Kathy Biggs book signing. She has written three non fiction books. I have an idea in mind to write a book about ancestors during the Civil War, (three brothers joined on the same day, must have broken their mothers heart) would have to do more research. 

     Bruce sleeps a lot on the weekend. He needs to catch up and heal some more.

Slow and Steady

    On Wednesday Bruce tried the standing chair several times and it just didn't work. He was pretty tired and his muscles weren't functioning. So they put him on the mat and he started moving his legs like he was riding a bicycle. He was pretty excited about that. I told him to show me and he wasn't able to because his muscles were tired.

    Bruce uses a hydraulic lift to get from bed to chair and bed to shower chair. It takes two people to put him in the sling and shift him over. On Thursday Bruce started using a slide board transfer, which is using the strength of torso, hips and arms, he can move from place to place with moderate assistance. He can hold himself up right with his torso by himself, his hips are stronger, he needs to get his arms stronger. So with the help of two assistants he can do a transfer from a taller power chair to a shorter mat using a board and then they raise the mat and he slides back into the chair. We were excited about that and figure in about two months we won't need the sling and lift anymore. 

   On Saturday my friend Bonnie from quilting and her two handsome young grandsons brought over a delicious scalloped potato and ham casserole, homemade cookies and rolls. Thank you so much that was a pleasant surprise. And needless to say it didn't last long.

    Today in pool time Bruce was able to walk back and forth in the pool four times.

He was also able to kick his feet up while sitting in the transfer chair in the water. He is worn out from pool time.

    We are making progress, slow and steady.

    

   

Standing in the Pool

    Bruce has been complaining he can't hear. We took him to the Dr. and she saw wax in his ear so we are giving him drops and hopefully that will dissolve the lump. She tried rinsing it in the office and the wax was too hard. 

   The Dr has increased his dosage for spasms. I was having to get up in the night and move his legs for him to stop the spasms or retrieve his leg as it had flopped off the bed. 

   Met the urologist this week too. Bruce said his children used to go to Central school. The Dr. suggested we need an ultra sound for his bladder and kidneys to make sure everything is working so that will happen next week.

   Terri came by and took final measurements for the cupboards. I signed a contract and they are ordered. They will be here May 4th. Will purchase a frig and microwave this week. The boys helped me move the frig to the new spot and we still go to the old place when we need something out of the frig. Old habits die hard. Tra last. I do love spending Bruce's moo la. (money) 

   Bruce had two bad days this week, he gets really tired and just wants to sleep. He drags by the afternoon. We rested this weekend by watching general conference on TV.  I only fell asleep once. Bruce feel asleep twice. 

  Our dear friend Lynette brought over some warm lasagna and a braided french bread. Yeah. Andrew picked out the olives, otherwise it was delicious and we love the smell and taste of fresh baked bread. 

   Bruce's monthly evaluation was this week. His legs haven't improved but his left hand is stronger and he is able to sit forward and is more stable in his torso. As long as he is improving we will be able to continue therapy. 

  I finished sewing two small lap size quilt tops. Our church is making them for the graduating Srs. They just need to be tied. 

      Pool time today Bruce stood up by himself with straight legs and hips. Yeah!! He did it three times for a total of 8 min.