April Showers

    Bruce wasn't worth much in pool time on Monday. (With stake conference and sitting in a wheel too small for him so we could get him up the steps to the stand. He was conducting and then had a talks,his left leg went numb.) He was stiff from the weekend. He couldn't stand up, and didn't do well pushing off the side of the pool. He was able to tippy toe across the pool a couple of times.

  For dinner we borrowed a friends oven (thank you Delphine) and baked some lasagna my DIL had prepared for us. It was very tasty. Thank you Lindsy, you are my favorite DIL this week.

   Tuesday in OT Bruce is standing with 130 pounds of his own weight. He stands for a couple of minutes and then repeat. He is getting stronger.

    Tuesday evening was awards night for SRs. Andrew got a special tassel for vocational arts. He has taken all the classes and did a job shadow in a cabinet shop. There were quite a few scholarships and awards. We were pleased not just academic awards, but arts, science, language awards were handed out. 

    Wednesday Rosala and Debbie brought us some KFC, strawberry jello with real strawberries and cheesecake, four different kinds. Heaven, I'm in heaven, tra la. Thank you! Sometimes I forget to say thank you. 

   I got to go to my monthly quilt meeting and be inspired to sew. When the cabinets are finished I will dig out my machine. 

   Thursday Duncan grilled some hamburgers and bratwurst.

   The crew came in to sheet rock. And it was finished by noon.

    I love the silts they use to mud and tape.

Paint man, Fredie was here on Friday to paint and it was finished by noon. Tuesday the cabinets should go in. 

  Friday is pizza night. Chris brought over a stuffed pizza from Papa Murphy's already cooked and watermelon. Wow it was good and we only needed one piece each however some people had two pieces...

     We went on a field trip to D&B, Bruce wanted a special kind of seed and spray for the cherry tree. I got a couple of hanging plants and we found a Y2K rain barrel. Apparently they are recycled, had olives or pickles in them (that is a lot of pickles). With the drought we want to save rain water, since it has been pouring lately, for the plants and flowers. We do have a well but it is surface water for the garden and lawn. Andrew will build a platform so the barrel is higher and will drain better.           

        

Saturday my quilting friend Earlene brought us some taco soup with chips, shredded cheese and sour cream. Bruce even tried the sour cream topping. He usually doesn't. It was very good, spicy enough for Bruce and not so hot for me. Thank you!

  

A good week, only one night with spasms and leg falling off the bed and no bowel problems having to change sheets. Sigh 

Jolly Jumper for Adults

   We skipped pool time this week for a jaunt to Walla Walla to see our new Dr. Marsh Jr. Duncan was our driver, we describe him as a gentleman's gentleman. We arrived early so we made a visit to Burger King for a lunch repast. 

    We found the Drs office on the second floor, his dad by the same name is on the second floor too and we did not get the offices mixed up. We had a nice one hour visit with Dr.  Marsh Jr. and he told us most spinal cord injuries would reach their peak of recovery at eighteen months. So Bruce said we have a year " to get her done". Dr. Marsh specializes in four areas, muscle spasms, pressure sores, bowel care and sex. Ahem

    Tuesday afternoon at OT, Duncan and I and our home care providers, Gregg and 

Delphine were instructed in how to help Bruce with a slide chair transfer. We hope to eliminate the sling and lift as the transfer will be quicker. 

Our sweet neighbors brought us some homemade bread, still warm. Bruce described the Banana huckleberry bread as 'deadly'.  Hmmm good from Eli and Rocky. The bread was war and moist and melted in our mouths. I told Ely to give his mo a hug from us!

   Our new kitchen cabinet installation was post phoned. Apparently the electrician is over booked and can't make it til next week. They did begin on our new back door. We are going from French doors to a 36" glass door with blinds in between. 

   Monday is tear out the cabinets, install the softest and mud and tape. Tuesday the electrician comes and Wednesday we get an inspection. I explained I needed it finished by Saturday as our son is graduating from high school. We shall see.

    In PT Bruce is in a 'jolly jump up' for adults. At least that is what he called it. It is a harness that supports 130 pounds of his weight and he stands with 100 pounds by himself. Will have to get Duncan to get a picture of it.

   Friday Bruce and the boys went to the Father/son camp out at Catherine Creek Lodge. No hamburgers, they had pulled pork sandwiches. They were disappointed. They stayed for the campfire and came home. Usually my daughter and I would enjoy a movie night and ice cream with m&ms. So I called up a couple of lady friends and we watched Aubrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole in How to Steal Million. Carma bought caramel popcorn and Chris brought jam tarts. We had fun. Carma fell asleep but she said she had fun anyway. 

   Saturday was our Stake conference meetings. We get training and inspiration on how to be better and help others. Bruce conducted the evening session. We did a slide transfer into a small manual wheelchair and the boys lift him to the speakers stand. Bruce needed help with the second transfer after the meeting. He was tired.good thing our boys are strong.

  Sunday is more meetings (we are a meeting bunch). Bruce spoke for ten minutes about the fasting and prayers of our Stake (that means 13 congregations) and how other churches joined. He testified he could feel the power of prayer and he was lifted up and began to be healed. He said thank you to all those who prayed for him. 

    Sunday evening was Sr graduation night for the five Srs graduating from high school. They each had a table of items displaying their talents. Andrew had his Eagle Scout notebook and bb awards. The Relief Society made quilts for all the graduates. We ended the celebration with brownies and ice cream. 

  I'm tired. This week should be easier...

Mother's Day

  Pool time Bruce was able to double his standing time. He stood in the three foot water for six minutes. He was also able to tippy toe across the pool several times.

    An OT three month goal is to have Bruce standing at the parallel bars. 

Wednesday, Rosala and Debbie provided a delicious dinner of beef and bean burritos, with a banana and apple salad and a a delightful chocolate fudge cake. Thank you for bring us a meal every Wednesday, it is a welcome break.

    The new kitchen cabinets arrived! They are stored in the garage with a new gas stove and dishwasher. Yeah. Haven't opened the boxes yet. Don't want to get too excited. Am going through cupboards and getting rid of stuff. Where did all this junk come from? Talk about your de cluttering. 

Thursday we were treated to a yummy dinner of chicken burritos with sour cream, watermelon slices and a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. Thank you Amy!

   Andrew received an award at the high school and Bruce went with him. I had already committed to help at the Family History Center. 

   Duncan is sick with a cold and I have been doing his duty. 

    Friday at OT Bruce was standing and the third time he stood, all the muscles in his right leg fired up. He can do slide board transfers without assistance on a downhill angle. That means he slides using his bottom on a wooden board form the chair to the mat with the chair being taller. Yeah! 

     Saturday is our day of rest. Bruce took a three hour nap. I emptied cupboards for the new kitchen, went grocery shopping and got my hair and bangs trimmed. Our friends, David and Daniel came over to help us weed the garden. We figured it would help us get caught up and then we will be able to manage it. 

    Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day by going to church and eating a crock pot roast dinner. Andrew made the taters. Thank you! Heard from most of my children. Sometimes I just need to hear their voices to know they are alright. You think Heavenly Father feels that way about us?

The Merry Month of May

   Monday pool day, Bruce was able to stand up in the three foot deep water three times for about a minute each time. He said it wore him out so he was only able to walk the length of the pool twice.

    Christie took me to lunch at Golden Crown. We had a nice visit and talked a lot and did some eating too.

   Tuesday, Andrew mowed the lawn and made dinner. Gorilla cheese samiches and mater poop. (grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, we like to play with words at our house) He did work hard that day. Bruce sat out front enjoying the sunshine and reading a Cat Who murder Mystery. 

     Bruce is doing well in OT and has almost conquered the slide board transfer. His goal is to be able to do it for Stake conference in two weeks.

     Wednesday Rosala and Debbie brought us beef stew with taters and carrots, a delicious fruit salad and rice Krispy treats with chocolate frosting. We are blessed.      

                   Bruce went to the Dr again for his ear. She flushed it out once more and then referred us to a local ENT. Bruce apparently has wax build up right on the ear drum. So in a couple of weeks another DR we will meet. Bruce was able to uncross one of his legs today by himself. He usually stiffens up from sitting and can't move his legs. We cross his legs for him to give him a break and lo and behold he moves it himself. We hope to see more of this in the future. 

   The young girls in our church brought us a delightful bouquet of cookie flowers. There was much noise, smiles and laughter. Oh to be young again...

  A third grader from Central school is very concerned about Bruce and wanted to bring over cookies and do service. She and her mom, brother and baby sister came over with cookies and bright flowers and stayed to pull dandelions! We have a plethora of dandelions, sigh. I got to hold baby sister while the children and mom found puff balls of dandelions to eradicate. They filled two bags and were very hard workers. Bruce held the baby too.

   Thursday Duncan made pigs in the blanket with croissant dough. They were surprisingly good. 

     The week ends with us being tired, overworked and very happy.