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.

  

  

  

  

Hands on Fire!

    Bruce said he woke up this morning and both hands were really warm. It stopped and he could move both Hands and had touch sensation in his fingertips. The numbness was gone. What a miracle! He is still healing. Thank you for your prayers.

  Bruce won a blue ribbon in the fair this year. I, alas, got two reds. I'm blaming it on the long arm quilter. bah humbug. Next year

  We leave Friday for Meridan. We will get the van changed over to hand controls and  Bruce will be doing in town driving to and from therapy and to his Stake meetings.

A big step to independence. 

  They put a handicapped entry way in the stake center, allowing him to park at the FHC entrance and use the automatic door so he can enter and leave the building without any assistance. Now we need to find an accessible bathroom for him. 

   The valley is socked in with smoke from fires. It burns my eyes when I go out in it. Rain on Friday so hopefully that will clear it up.

  The sleep machine isn't working so well. Bruce's jaw drops down and breaks the seal. We are looking into getting a chin strap. 

  Bruce has had another bladder infection. He had to do double duty doing temple recommend interviews this month as other leaders were on trek. Once he is on antibiotics he recovers. He keeps going. He was really tired on Sunday evening, it catches up to him. 

  My friends took me to the new Jaxdog cafe above the former Looking Glass bookstore. We had the most delicious chicken curry salad. The home made bread was fresh and warm. I brought some for Bruce. I want to go back and taste some quiche. They have a very small kitchen and limited menu. It is on Facebook so you know what they will have that day. They have tables downstairs so Bruce will be able to go with me. The owners are very friendly even when I asked the cook to marry me and he politely declined. Two thumbs up! No, no kickbacks for me, just fine food.

  Andrew went to test drive a small car and ended up driving a red BMW. He was set to purchase it and a friend talked him out of it as there is no place in town if it needs repairs. If you hear of a small car or pickup, let us know. I do not like not having a car around for me to drive as Andrew takes mine to work. And no he refuses to ride a bike to work. 

  We plucked several tomatoes off the garden vine this morning. They have black spots on the bottom. We will have to change the way we water. I love homegrown maters. 

  Some wonderful friends gave use some huckleberries! I made a cheese cake pie that didn't set up, however the freezer works wonders.

   

  

  

Stuck in the Mud

  Last Saturday I did some compassionate service with a friend, we went to an estate sale in Union to purchase fabric for $2.00 a pound. I came home with a few bags of good quality fabric for baby blankets, and lap quilts for dialysis and maybe something for me.

 Meanwhile Bruce was in the garden picking the raspberries. One of his wheels went off the bricks and he was stuck, apparently he was there for 2 hours. Andrew was still in bed, remember he doesn't get up until the crack of noon and I left before I could ask Duncan to keep an eye on Bruce.

  Bruce had his hat on so he wasn't sunburned. He said he practiced whistling for a while. He tried yelling for the neighbors and they couldn't hear him, not enough lung power. He tired rocking back and forth to get out like you downed you are stuck in the snow, that didn't work. He finally sees a neighbor across the alley yells, "howdy neighbor". He tells him he is stuck and he meets Peter. Peter tries to get him out and ends up knocking on the door for Duncan, they can't get him out and they wake Andrew. The three can't get him out. (should we write a song about a little old man that was swallowed by the mud?) peter shad he can winch him out. Duncan suggests they move some of the bricks and .bruce is able to get out.

  So next Bruce decides to work in the shop. He goes to open the back door and his feet plates ram the door and breaks off the lock. (he has the chair on rabbit not turtle.)

  Next he is backing up in the garage and his back wheels snag the underside of the front bumper of the Hyundai which is plastic and he removes that from the car. He and Andrew fix it before I return. 

  See, I can't leave him, he gets into trouble.

   Just one of those days. 

He said he learned his lesson and will take his cell phone with him. I will have to carry mine with me. It is not a habit I am used to doing. 

  

Leg Braces

  Bruce was measured for leg braces on Friday! They will be here in 4 - 6 weeks. We will go to Boise to have them fitted. Bruce said I need to go to learn how to put them on him. 

  We will go to Boise for the weekend soon for the van to be changed over to hand controls and Bruce will be driving himself. Duncan is making preparations to leave. He is working on a plan.

  The hinges are happening here, slow but steady.

   

 This might be what the leg braces look like. He will use them in therapy. I don't want him using them at home if I am here by myself, the idea of him falling scares me. They want him to use them for 15 min a day at home, they assure us he will not use them at home until he is strong enough.

  We went to La Fiesta for Fathers Day on Saturday night. Our daughter sent Bruce an R2 D2 charger, thank you for teaching me the love of Star Wars! We were able to hear from all the children. 

  Life is mostly good. 

  

Respite in Rural Virginia

I got to go to Virginia last week!

My dad turned 90!

  My two sisters, Elaine and Bonita joined me along with my 88 year old mother flying to Atlanta and then on to Charlottesville. My brother, Kevin drove his semi and was able to be there for three days. My sister Robin and DIL Angie drove two cars to pick us up. 

  We arrived late Tuesday evening. My sister and her daughter, Patty joined me and we stayed in a local hotel. Sharing two bathrooms with six females and four males might have caused some tension. I know they do it in the third world. We are spoiled. 

  Wednesday we were recovering from jet lag. I helped my sister move a computer and desk from dads basement apartment. We moved the furniture around to fill in the spot. My sister and I cooked taco salad for dinner.

  Thursday we left early for Bedford, Virginia in one car to visit the D Day memorial. We did the walking tour and came home with postcards and crickets. Crickets were used in communicating with the paratroopers. If a paratrooper heard the bushes move he would click once on the clicker, if it was an American soldier they would respond with two clicks. It doesn't sound like a grasshopper to me, just a loud click that the grandchildren will love. I should have gotten two so they could play in the bushes outside. 

  We also learned that Ike Eisenhower set the style with his bomber jacket.

One of the bronze statues has him gesturing with his hand out and this was taken from a photo of him talking to another soldier from his home state, discussing fly fishing. He was known for visiting the men. I figured Bruce would like that story. 

  We returned home and Bonita and Patty made chicken with a honey Dijon mustard, orange sauce and Patty made a salsa with mandarin oranges (or naval), cubed avocado, cashews, sliced cucumber, mint, chopped sweet onion and mint. It was delicious!

 Finally baby brother Kevin showed up. He drives truck and managed to get a load this way so he is here for a few days. Will continue this saga later. 

  View from my sistahs deck

   Update on Bruce~

  He passed his ham radio test! He said he only missed one. Four men gave him the test. He will use a hand help radio til he decides which kind to purchase.

  His leg braces are ordered.

He will get his drivers license in July. 

He is getting stronger. 

His next goal is to stand for Stake conference in November.

March Days

March 8

The OT ladies came yesterday to see our routine at home and make suggestions so Bruce can do more for himself, which means more work for me. we changed out the long body pillow and he is supposed to do as much as he can to roll over at night, so I have to wait for him to do his changes then I assist. I still have to get up to put water in the sleep machine and Duncan gets up to help too. It's an insurance thing, if they think he is not progressing fast enough they will stop therapy. So the OT have to make a report that he is more independent otherwise no $ for therapy. It would be our worst nightmare if that happened. Bruce really needs the sessions, he gets depressed it he is not busy. 

   I found a new book series called the Sisters Grim, seven books, juvenile fiction, they read pretty fast but are fun fairy tale detective stories.

I finished two small lap quilt tops, need to get them quilted. One is umbrellas for the library theme in April and the other is a challenge quilt from our group. Need to begin a log cabin quilt, maybe.

 

March 17

Thank you for the apple pie! It looks lovely. Duncan says he likes your crust better than Kaufmans! That is a compliment. An no he did share...

I went tanning again today for 7 min. Andrew says I am still pasty white.

I went grocery shopping this afternoon.

I took a long nap yesterday. 

Bruce has a sore on his nose from the breathing mask.

Andrew rolled his ankle at bb last night. He is alright.

Looks like I will fly from Boise to SLC by myself. Ben didn't want to pay $600 for tickets for the three of them. I'll meet my sistah and mom in SLC and fly from there. We will have fun, be loud and eat way too much.

Just found out Rob and Lindsey are going to have baby 5! Yeah in October.

Dan and Heidie texted a photo, they will have girl #3 in August.

March 22

The Dr. has okayed Bruce to drive, so we will go to Boise this summer to get the van changed over. Looks like Duncan will be out of a job soon. He will have to decide where he wants to go, Portland area, Utah or back to school.

   They just road swept the road in front of our house for gravel. I love it when they do that and the van was gone so it will be nice. 

Guess I better put some clean clothes away. I already did my dishes

March 23

I'm having a difficult time being positive so I googled things to be grateful for.

Things to Always be GRATEFUL for every day

Family and friends

A roof over my head

Drinkable water

Food to eat

Good health

The kindness of strangers

I can enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.

Access to the Internet.

The setbacks that have formed me and made me stronger.

Life 

Okay so that list wasn't long enough, I have modified it to fit me. Of course I alphabetized it, it is the English teacher in me... I would suggest making your own list. 

  Things I am Thankful For 

"I have loved only one man with a passion a flea like you could never imagine." From Second Hand Lions

Children - I have raised seven children, six sons, including one set of twins and a strong daughter.

My family - three sistahs, one brother

I have a college degree

I taught high school English for two years.

My parents are still alive

Air conditioning

Art

Bed to sleep in

Books

Breathing fresh air

Campfires

Cars

Cell phones 

The setbacks that have formed me and made me stronger.

Electricity

Food

Freedom of religion

Freedom of speech

Friends

Flush toilets 

Good health

Hearing

Holidays

Internet

The kindness of strangers

Laughter

Life

Military 

Modern medicine

Money in the bank 

Music

Oceans

Pets

Rainbows

Reading

Roof over my head

Safety and security

Sunset 

Sunshine

Tears

Drinkable water

The weekend

March 27

I just got another tan. I will slowly increase my time. I love going there.

 Ben and family left this morning. He texted Saturday they would be here Sunday. I miss the noise and chaos. I will try to keep the rooms clean so they can come and stay with us again. They all stayed in the front room. We had a sleep over. We rearranged furniture again. And vacuumed.

They will be in SLC tonight. They said they would try to get to see mom. 

Don't know how many days they will be there, they are staying with Rob and then off to Arches Park.

Cutthroat Scrabble 

Ben reading reading Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox to get the little ones to get them to quiet down.

Stand, Pivot, Sit

  My eye is twitching. The caregiver didn't come this morning or tonight, dead battery. Duncan helped me. It isn't too bad. I just don't like doing it without trained help even if I did the training.

Cabin fever is not good.

 Thank for listening to me that took my mind off Bruces urinal and backside. 

Rosala stopped by with a cute chicken pincushion. We were thinking we would use it for a door prize in April for the quilt show made from a log cabin pattern.

 Carol is going with me tomorrow to get yellow things for Renee. Liz couldn't go today bad cramps.

  I have a lap quilt we should give to Sandra if you want. Today we were supposed to clean out the t shirt drawer. I got three new ones in the mail for the men folk, Yoda snowflake. 

 Going to watch Poirot.

Bruce was able to do standing without assistance in the pool on Wednesday.

  Today Bruce was able to do 7 stands and 4 pivot transfers from his chair, used the transfer pole, stand and pivot and sit in a regular chair. Then he reversed it stand up and pivot and sit in his power chair.

My Birthday Week

    I asked for KFC for dinner and someone will make taters to go with it and a salad.

Bruce got me purple Passion flowers and Ben sent me pink and peach roses. Luke texted, Dan and Robert called and we got to Facetime with our daughter. My sistah sent me a card with $5 in it to spend any way I want. Shelia got me some m&ms. Life is good. 

  I love flowers, 

   I borrowed my friends die cut machine for fabric so I will spend the afternoon playing with it.

  Bruce is gone so I'm cutting out fun umbrellas for a quilt. I'm thinking I will buy more die cuts and we will be able to share. Win, win for both of us.

 I went to a fabric sale on my birthday and spent too much money. Shhh, Don't tell Bruce.

Duncan did the dishes for me. I have to put the laundry away. Thank you Duncan.

I had egg salad with bacon bits Sam itch for lunch.

     Must be time for a nap.

  Duncan and Bruce went to therapy and had the wrong time. They will go back in an hour. Bruce checked it and that is what our copy of the schedule said.

 I am doing 365 items for 365 days, they give you one thing to declutter a day. Today is the pantry, I'm going to Wal Mart and dollar store to get containers. People put items in baskets or clear boxes to organize items.

 We did clean out the clothes closet yesterday and have three bags of clothes and one bag of shoes to take to the DI tomorrow. Trouble is you can't even tell we cleared stuff out of it. How does that happen?

 I signed up for a paper piecing class at the quilt store. It is four green trees with a white background, I'm going to change it to white trees with a blue sky background. We don't have anything green in our house. It is a mini quilt table topper. People use these instead of dusting or doilies. Sounds good to moi.

  Finished top, need to quilt it. The ladies in the class asked me why I was there since I already know how to paper piece, I told them I just needed to get out of the house. I made new friends and learned a new trick or two.

  Nu Motion brought us a new seat cover for Bruce's chair. I take it off to launder and have a dickens of a time putting it back on. Now I ask one of the ladies that helps us to wrestle it back on with me. The man that brought it said they use cheap zippers, even he needed help putting it on the cushion. I was afraid my hand would let loose of the zipper pull and smack him in the face. He said he was aware of that and told me to be careful. We will see how long this cover lasts. Bruce was able to hold his bottom off the chair while we made the cushion switch. He wouldn't have been able to do that a year ago. 

  Bruce is still making progress albeit slowly. He is able to stand longer and walks with assistance. 

January Moments

JAn. 4

I joined this Facebook website for organizing your home in 365 days. She has you do one thing a day. Keeping up with it so far, today is clear off the coffee table which I did as the Christmas tree was on it. So will do a side table today with Andrews junk on it.

   I'm so tired been sleeping a lot. Bruce is going to the Dr. She needs to see him to talk about getting leg braces. Which will then be approved by insurance and then a trip to Boise to make leg casts. Not looking forward to it. It makes my eye twitch. 

 I also signed up for 100 days of real food, she sends you menus and recipes for six weeks. One week is giving up fast food and fried food, not sure if I can do that. This week it is eat two fruits or veggies with each meal, not so well on that. I do like my oranges dipped in chocolate. We'll see how it goes.

So I guess my goals for this year are organizing and trying to eat better and continuing with Zumba, I guess I better add take a vitamin for better health.

   For social I have my quilt group and volunteering at the school across the street once a week. I might sign up for some fun, fast sewing classes at the local quilt store too. It gets me outta the house. 

   For spiritual goals I'm trying to read my scriptures, saying prayers is not easy for me, I get too angry. I do not like my life right now, taking care of Bruce sucks the life out of moi. I will try to keep busy and whine less. Maybe

  For mental I do that Duolingo app to learn a new language and I read Agatha 

Christie murder mysteries. I'm doing better at cooking so that is a fun learning goal too.

Okay there, am I perfect yet?

Mark Twain said we are all perfect and pious the beginning of January and then it is back to normal after two weeks. I'll see if I can last the month.

JAn. 7

Church tomorrow has been cancelled. There is a blizzard outside. The message came from the area regional authorities. We have two inches and 5- 11 is predicted. We are supposed to do the lessons at home so when the boys get up in the morning we will meet and do the SS lesson and then RS/priesthood together if the boys want. Andrew works 2 - 7 tomorrow unless it gets cancelled.

I sewed a yellow strip quilt with grey sashing and will appliqué elephants and monkeys on it. Her baby is due in 4/5 weeks so the sooner it gets done the better. I will tie it.

 Went grocery shopping in case I can't make it out, got milk and eggs, we will be fine as long as the electricity doesn't go out. I have candles and flashlights, not sure if we have batteries. 

  The men are going to come and decide how to update the basement bathroom. The toilet leaks so it will have to be replaced along with a new cabinet for the sink. Will probably do linoleum instead of tile as it is in the basement, hope he has ideas what to do with the shower stall it is cramped in there. It will be fun, loud and will keep us on our toes.

  Luke moved to Portland area to work for a year and a half, then he will return to Utah to open an office there. They made it between storms so they should be set and unpacking today. William was sick so they didn't stop. Maybe we will see them in April. when the weather is better, we could meet them half way somewhere depends on Bruce.

  We won't have to go to Boise to get his cast done for his leg braces, that will be wonderful. They will do that here. Yeah!

   I made cookies before the electricity goes off. We are sorta prepared.

Jan 9

Bruces sister sent us three boxes of books. We sorted them for the ones Bruce wants to keep, some for moi and some to give to the library. The library already had a lot but I found a few to donate and the rest we will trade at the bookstore for credit. Thank you sistah Kathy!

I finished a Christmas quilt backing and then decided I need to make the quilt bigger so might add a border. I love the colors in the quilt.

  I saw I new pattern I want to try and figured I better finish a couple of ufos first. Then I will begin another quilt.

 The library wants to display a couple of quilts so we will do a heart theme for February. I have a couple of small ones they will use. March is green so will have to do some for that too. I like the small table topper quilts. Don't have to dust...

 Have some new recipes to try this week. That will be fun. I think I will do the chicken chili as I bought fancy bread on Saturday and need to use it up.

  This is part of the Ben and Dans family that helped Luke move into their new apartment in Tigard. His new job started on Monday.