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. 

Happy Birthday!!

        Bruce's birthday! Bruce says he never paid much attention to birthdays. Now we are celebrating the fact he is alive and having a birthday! He got sung "happy birthday" to five times from family. 

     Bruce's whopper cake with curly candles. Rosala said she made one for Don, he liked whoppers too. 

   I ordered a wheel chair accessible garden table for Bruce's birthday. Edna from Eastern Oregon Nurseries said it would take two to three days to make once we gave her the dimensions we wanted. We called back with Bruce's size suggestions and it will be ready this week. If we like it we will order a second table. 

   I met with Kitchens by Terri to discuss redesigning the kitchen. Man, she is worth the money let me tell you! She knows her stuff. She did this three dimensional work up that was fun to behold. She is going to put in a touch faucet, leg room under the sink, a double oven gas stove with down ward vent (into out basement), the knobs will be in the front where he can reach them, plus the top oven he will be able to open and close himself, she wants to turn the French doors into a single wide wheelchair accessible glass door (I need to see out, some days I feel really isolated), for more cabinet space, a fingertip touch shelf that has replaced the old lazy Susan design, a place for the microwave that Bruce can reach, a side by side frig with accessible water for Bruce and pull out drawers so Bruce can reach the dishes. Ta dah Needless to say I am somewhat excited. I have been nagging, ahem, pestering Bruce to get the kitchen redone for years, I mean months. 

     Our oldest son Ben and his fam from Corvallis came for a visit. Three boys and two girls are growing up fast. They helped trim the evergreen out from and the the lilac tree. Ben and the two oldest boys returned on Thrusday. Duncan and Ben and the boys helped trim the hedge, mowed the grass and dug up some lilies and iris.

      OT they are focusing on standing, balance while sitting and rolling over.

PT is working on strength and range of motion from the hips down. He couldn't get his hips off the mat but he could decrease the pressure off the mat. Does that make sense? He could feel that not all the weight was on the mat.

   He stood three times for a total of nine minutes. 

   

     Sorry about the posts. I thought they had published. Will have to stay on page longer to make sure they do.

   Our friend Bertha brought over a delicious breakfast treat. Biscuits on the bottom with eggs, cheese and hash-browns for the mixture with her me made applesauce. Yummy!

     Rosala and Debbie continue to surprise with culinary delights every Wednesday. It is a welcome respite from cooking. The minestrone soup and hot me made rolls were a real treat. 

   Alas we have cooked up all the meals from Greenwood school. They were wonderful. Thank you Greenwood School for caring! I am back to cooking. It is not so bad. Sunday I do a crock pot roast, Wednesday Rosala and Debbie bring us a meal, Friday is pizza night so the week goes quickly. I will give Andrew and Duncan a night for meals. Andrew is finished with sports for the year, so we all have time. He needs to learn to cook for his mission.

   We have changed turning to once a night. Duncan comes in every night and does the turning. Yeah! I couldn't do this without him, family, all the school, community, church family and the home health providers and neighbors. This is not easy. In our women's conference this weekend the council was to face your trials with cheerfulness and patience. Bruce is doing that, I am struggling. This is harder than twins.

    Will take the shelves down in the kitchen, Andrew said he would help me and will move the frig today. 

     

Walking in the Pool

     Monday Teija brought over some homemade bread, still warm. That didn't last long.

   Tuesday Ellen brought over some egg, hash brown and cheese breakfast food with homemade bread and a cake with raspberry topping. Thank you for breakfast treats!

   Wednesday Rosala and Debbie brought dinner. Rosala brought homemade bread and I mentioned it was cold and she said it was fresh just an hour and a half out of the oven. I suppose we will still eat it. We are spoiled with warm homemade bread...  I was teasing, the meat loaf and baked taters were warm.

   Got a fun goody bag from GeorgAnna. It had chocolate m&ms (don't throw away the w's), nuts, books, a music cd, a book on cd and stories to read. Thank you for thinking of us! 

     Austin, Meg, Noah and Gus came over to trim the rest of the trees. Noah, Gus and I blew bubbles and tried to roast marshmallows on my giant candle. We succeeded in getting wax on the marshmallow. I suppose I will have to break down and get a chimney to roast marshmallows. Noah says they roast hot dogs so I will get some of those for the grandchildren next week.

   Bruce visited Central school for the end of the month assembly. The children were concerned when they heard a helicopter they thought it was him. He wanted to reassure them he was going to be okay. They gave him an air hug because he didn't have time to hug all of them (staff was concerned he would get mobbed) and we are concerned about him getting cooties I mean germs from the children. In the past he would have a snot line on his ties from the children giving him hugs at school.  

     In swimming Bruce was able to take steps. Sorry I missed it. I took time to go grocery shopping for the visit from the grandchildren. They moved Bruce to the deeper water, five and half feet, they put a pool noodle under his armpits and the floatie under his neck. He was able to pick his knees up and do the walking motion. Ta dah!

  

    

    

    Peach blossoms from pruning the tree.

He Stood for Two Minutes on His Own

     

    Tuesday morning a couple of friends came over to do some much needed yard work. We dug up the old carrots, and cleaned out the blueberry and strawberry patches. They told the children to not step on the green plants. I gave them some Otter Pops from last year that were left in the freezer. The children loved them. The adults politely declined.

    Tuesday afternoon Bruce went to visit central school to set up a time to visit. He figured there would be chaos if he just showed up one day so he met with the teachers to see how to arrange a visit. Central school sent some coupons for me, how thoughtful!

     

    Jean brought over a very nice lap quilt for Bruce. She and Teija made it as an easy first project sewing experience. I might snuggle with it when he doesn't.

     

    Bruce with his feet elevated showing off the beautiful lap quilt.

    Wednesday we went to Boise. Our friend Tony helped us drive. Our son Duncan had an orientation to become a registered have me health care provider. It took us three hours to get there. We had a rest stop on the way there. We met with Dr. Montalbano for ten minutes. He showed us the X-rays of the surgery. And explained the vertebrae were removed and a metal mesh was screwed into place. He asked us if Bruce was taking vitamin B6 (and we said no) and said Bruce should take it, it would help with nerve regrowth. He also said he would see us in eight months and he wanted Bruce to walk through the door. Well needless to say we liked that.

    We went to visit a friend, Del in SWIACH. A short visit and many hugs and smiles from the nurses. I think Del recognized Bruce.

    Then we went to Access Vans where we traded our Idaho license plates for another set of keys to the van. We mentioned we couldn't find a driver manual and they said did we look in both glove compartments? What? So guess what we found in the top glove compartment? I thought it was the air bag...

   Three hours later we made it home and headed for the church Spaghetti feed and dessert auction. Our friend Lynette bought us two desserts. Bruce likes pie and she bid on the lemon raspberry and got a maple bacon spice cake for Andrew. She wanted to do that for us.

    Thursday morning we were up early for pool time. Bruce was a little bit worn out from the trip so we were slow to get moving.

   Our friends came back to gather up the yard debris and to finish another corner of weeding and cleaning out flower, garden beds. Thank you! The children remembered the Otter Pops and I found them some more.

     

    Otter Pops and giant carrots. We put them in five gallon buckets to give to some horse friends.

   Friday Bruce had an hour and a half of OT and it wore him out. He did get to stand in the stander with no help for two minutes. That is without braces and standing on his feet and leaning on his elbows! The helpers were there within arm reach but they wanted him to see he was doing it on his own! That was the highlight of the week!

    On Saturday I escaped to a women's church meeting in Baker. It was fun, Bruce wanted to go and I told him I needed the time away. So he stayed home and rested. He is a church leader and was invited to come. We skipped the welfare project, cutting fleece into blankies although I did bring one has me to work on. We stopped at the quilt store in Baker for some retail therapy. 

   Our friend Sandra brought us a delicious meal to end the day!

   Thank you for the gifts, food and fun memories! We have a schedule now. It is still a very difficult thing we do. Some days are hard and some are harder.