Birthday Week

Birthday Week

Monday was my birthday! 

We went to Walla Walla for a Drs. appoint for Bruce. We see Dr. Marsh. 

We had a 45 min visit and he answered all our questions usually with "we don't know, it is different for every patient." 

We ate lunch at Mc Donald's.

Because it was my birthday, we ate out at La Fiesta. I really didn't want to cook.

When we arrived home there was a delicious chocolate cake brought by Sandra, happy birthday to you, Sandra, she is a day older as her birthday is before mine. Ha ha

And a pkg with quilting magazine and fun stuff.

Also a bouquet of flowers and truffles from Fitzgerald's flowers that I thought were from Bruce but when I read the card on Tuesday they were from my first born son and fam. Thanks you. They are still beautiful.

The four boys and Crys did a group Skype, what a zoo. The loudest person's face shows up on the screen. It was great to see their faces and hear thei voices. This mom needs to be reassured they are healthy and safe.

Tuesday I had lunch with a friend with Chris at Moys. 

Bruce had a phone interview with a nurse from St Al's doing a follow up with a grant monies.

Mon sent a card and a small pkg with a book and gift.

Wednesday Bruce was in the pool, they had him walking on his knees, standing in waist deep water which means he is able to support half his weight.

My friend Sharon took me to lunch at Sub Shop and then to get a facial and massage. I loved the warm towel on my face, it was warm in the room and oh so relaxing. Thank you Sharon.

Thursday I stayed home. Bruce had OT. They are balancing him on the big ball and working on his left arm.

Friday the ladies had a pot luck and cake at Jean's house. It was fun to reconnect with friends. Chris gave me a sparkly scarf. Kathy gave me a red LED flashlight. Very nice, thank you ladies.

Bruce has moved to the fourth level on the push pedal bike.

My sister sent me $20.00'tomget something shiny. She knows I like bling.

We are making strides.

Weekly Progress

   Monday went to Quilt Therapy and spent way too much money. Bought fabric for backs. 

   Bruce wanted to get out of house so he went with me to run errands. We went to Wal Mart to purchase the circle push up with handles so he can use them for slide board transfers. Unfortunately the underside hurt his hands so will have to order some on line. We did try a slide board transfer and it took longer than the sling and lift. 

    Next we went to Safeway. It worries me to take Bruce with me, I need to keep an eye on him and still let him have some freedom. So I sent him off to check out the meat prices, he found some good deals. It is like having an adult two year old. 

     Bruce did his monthly evaluation, his strength has improved. He knocked the therapist over when she told him to push her. She wasn't expecting it, she then told him to do it again when she got her stance. That was the funny for the week.

   Bruce is doing a new exercise where he pulls up to the shower bar and using his thigh muscles he lifts his bottom off the chair. He was so proud he could do it. Every step is a triumph. 

   

    On Wednesday Bruce was able to walk in the pool, back and forth lifting his feet about two inches so more of a walk instead of a slide. He also does push offs from the edge of the pool. 

  Pool time was at two in the afternoon. This means getting home in bed to change him to his swimsuit, then back in the sling to the chair. Then an hour later, back to the sling to the bed to change back into street clothes because he is cold and wet and back to the chair. He took a nap, I did laundry, towels and such. 

   Rosala and Debbie brought over meat loaf, scalloped taters, green salad and a lovely chocolate pudding, cream cheese, cool whip dessert. I had three helpings. Thanks for staying and talking to me. Adult female conversation is difficult to come by in this house.

    Bruce had temple recommend interviews at the Stake center from 6:30 to 8:30 with President Chadwick.

   Thursday I got out of the house and spent a couple of hours with thenUFO group in the basement of the Methodist church. They are very nice in letting us use their empty spaces.  

We went to Jayces pre ception. It was very nice, red, black and white were the colors. Mud pies were the treats. 

    On Friday we fed the sister missionaries. One is from Georgia and the other from Florida. They liked our Papa Murphy special and I even made a green salad.

   Saturday Bruce had dance duty at the Stake center. Pres. Orton went to a funeral in Utah. Duncan took Bruce for a bout half an hour. 

   A good week, only one melt down, no wet sheets or bowel issues. Just tired.

   

New Year's Goals

   I took the tree down. It was really dry.

The room looks so much bigger now, will have to de clutter. 

Ann dropped by. She got a bunch of fabric from Quilt Therapy for 50% off.  We are figuring on using some of it for quilt tops and backing. QT is going out of business. They are having a sale. She will turn in her receipts. 

    I moved the furniture around in the bedroom. Bruce was complaining of a draft. It is not as big this way. Will see how it works.

It is so cold here I do not even want to go out. 

   Thursday - Had a crying melt down yesterday but am better today. I think it just builds up and I can't hold it in any more. I had to change the sheets down to the mattress pad and then the zip on mattress pad. I was sobbing on the floor on my knees, couldn't get the zipper into place, it took me 15 min. I suppose I should spend more time on my knees. I wanted to go to the quilt groups New Year sew in and talk and listen and eat. Maybe next year. Bruce needed the car, Andrew had the other car. I think it might have been Christmas stress too. Ann said I should have called for a ride. I just couldn't stop crying. 

No I don't want to take any pills, I don't want to deal with the side effects.

Have to go grocery shopping and take stuff to DI.

I set some goals and hope I can do them for at least a month.

Friday - Andrew had the day off today. I went to Ann's house and we used her design wall to put a twin quilt together. It is looking really nice. It was good to get out for awhile.

   My goals for the New year: in alphabetical order...

Emotional: learn to be grateful, say thank - you

Family: read scriptures together, pray with/for family, be nice to Bruce (he says I snap at him, Duncan says I am grumpy)

Physical: drink more H2O, take vitamins, exercise, no food after 7pm, desserts twice a week, go to be earlier or take a nap

Service: make baby quilts to donate 

Social: quilt group, UFO, volunteer at school 

Spiritual: pray daily, read scriptures,  do indexing

Bruce did really well with his day back in the pool on Wednesday. He stood up, and pushed off from the sides of the pool.

On Friday he was able to stand, squat pull himself up from his chair. Not to straight standing, but he was up. He is getting stronger. And he did it the first time.

Merry Christmas!

   I bought a new sewing machine. Did you know the new machines can cut the thread with the touch of a button? Amazing technology. Who thinks of this stuff?

   Spent most of the week getting ready for Christmas. I always want a perfect Christmas. But what is it? Time with family without fighting, eating and talking, togetherness. Pleasure or disappointment from gifts? We are grateful we can spend Chris at home this year. That is a bonus.

   We did get to skype with three of our children and a phone call from another. The children makes the time fun.

Bruce had four days of therapy, he is moving more, just gets stiff from his days off. 

He will begin swimming after Christmas. He is able to do more in the pool.

  It is too cold to take Bruce outside. 

Thank you for the cookie and goodie baskets. The bread and rolls are very nice. 

All Clear on the Wound

Monday -  Last time to wound Dr, yeah, will begin pool time in January.

Bruce took us to dinner at Golden Crown. We got Chinese and he gets Thai food and no dishes to wash. Andrew says he can cook dinner like that any night he wants.

  Tuesday was a hospital scan of his kidneys. One of the side effects from the antibiotics is damage to the kidneys. They found out he had a UTI so meds for that. Haven't heard result of scan yet.

  Thursday- Believe it or not I went out in this nasty cold, snowing weather to the UFO group and Teija was there with Carson, her young son! Yeah! She is sewing a surprise quilt. Ann was helping her. Carson and I ate cookies. 

I got some blocks sewn together, will have to add a couple of borders. 

  They are almost finished with greenwood school addition. the lights are on, cabinets in. And plumbing and painting done. It is looking good, supposed to be finished by Christmas break so they can move into the classrooms.

 I went to the QQ quilt group Christmas party and potluck last night. I took a strawberry pie, it was good they only ate half so I had a piece or two today. We did a pattern exchange. Eww, I don't like mine. Maybe I will trade with someone.

  I have to purchase a new sewing machine. The motor on my old one died and he said they don't make replacement parts for it as it is 10 years old. Rosala says to go three times and sew on the machines there before I decide what I want. Haven't had a car in a while and today went sewing, maybe Saturday I will stop in with a block or two.

Friday - 

I am sewing a baby quilt for a little girl. The fabric has owls with pink, brown, green, yellow and turquoise. It is cute. I think I want to keep it...

We went to the ward Christmas party. We left early when Santa came. We had ham and funeral taters, pink salad and cookies for zert. I loved the Frosty the snowman song Sara and Lindy sang. They knew all the verses.

The boys are going to see the Star Wars movie tonight. I like the quiet.

   Our regular worker wanted an evening off and the sub got sick so called one more person. So happy she could come, I needed her and she was a trooper. (bowel care problem) I couldn't do this without our caretakers. 

The new freezer arrived. Our old one was over 30 years old. We got our money's worth from it. We borrowed Kevin's truck and picked it up and Kevin hauled the old one away. Kevin mud and taped the hole in the wall the electricians left. And his lovely wife sent over jams, jellies and delightful cookies. 

Ellen stopped over with a basket (for me) filled with bread, cookies fudge and candy.

Chris brought over some homemade bread.

We learned about Temperance in church, something about controlling our appetites, will have to work on that after the holidays...

 

Wii Therapy?

   Bruce did a load of laundry today and made his own sandwich. Only needed minimal assistance with getting a plate down. Might have to lower the  plates.

  Took Bruce grocery shopping, met an old family friend. They sent us the card from Norte Dame and lit a candle for us. It was great to see them! Thank you for your prayers and love.

   A friend is coming over to clean my frig.  Her husband will put up a tree for us and maybe sheet rock the hole the electricians left. 

  We got a live tree this year to help a fundraiser and guess who got rid of the tree stand? I bought a new stand and it is for a fake tree so bought another tree stand. 

  Andrew is home from work on a lunch break and says he will help me after work. When I ask for help after work he says he is tired he has worked all day. Give me strength. I'm trying to figure out the new tree stand instructions. 

  Our son Rob went to Florida for training for the church. He said he was in classes from 9 - 9. 

He said the church paid for 3 meals and he about starved to death because there were no snacks in between and he did not want to pay the outrighteous prices on the vending machines. 

   We have to take in a urine sample. We think Bruce has an infection. My friend said to take cranberry pills. I don't think Bruce wants more pills to take.

Lynette cleaned the frig and her husband and Duncan set up the tree, put a piece of ceiling back on in the basement and then he raked all the leaves in the back yard.

    My friend Lisa took me to lunch at Mamacitas. It was fun. I don't know her very well but we can do it again sometime. Thank you!

Our friends Rosala and Debbie brought sketti for dinner (pasta and homemade meatballs) Andrew wanted the extra meatballs (my little carnivore) with an orange jello salad with mandarin oranges and melt in your mouth, oh my I want seconds m & m's brownies. Thank you!

  The freezer in the garage gave up the ghost. It was about 30 years old. Bruce ordered another one from Sears and it will be here next week. Hope we can salvage some of the food.

Went to Sears to look for a small front door freezer and they didn't have anything. No one was even in the front of the store.

Bruce ordered a new freezer and it will be here next week.

Kevin came over and repaired the hole in the wall the electricians left. He even mud and taped it. Will vacuum a small mess up later

Bruce does have a UTI another pill to take. We are soaking his left toe a small infection.

   Bruce came home Friday all excited. He played on the wii at physical therapy. Apparently it stimulates the brain to remind the body it used to do this. He played tennis, head soccer and skiing. He wants to order the foot pads to do at home. He has therapy for an hour and a half a day and then his body goes stiff so the therapists want him to work his feet doing this. 

   So Duncan and Bruce went to the game store and purchased a game, alas they did not have the foot pads. So Bruce ordered the foot pads online and it comes in a pkg deal with the game so will have to return the game soon.

  That's it for this week. Stay tuned for another exciting week at the home of the Kevans.

   

Standing

   We had the carpet cleaner man come in and vacuum out the heating vents so I am kinda stuffed up. Dust should settle but the heat seems to be on all the time since it is so cold.

  I bought a 48 inch big screen tv on Black Friday from Sears. Better quality than Wal Mart.  The clerk said he had a 55 in and wanted to get a 65 inch. We will never catch up. It is a good size for our small living room. 

 I had the boys, much to their chagrin help me move the furniture around. The room looks more open. I still have piles of stuff everywhere.

Been busy running errands and getting stuff organized for Bruce. 

I took one quilt top to the quilters. It is pink and greenish jelly roll with squares top. I figure one of the granddaughters will want it. Should get it back next week. Need to get another one ready for next week.

I got some of the Christmas decorations out. The house is beginning to look festive.

We have a live tree coming on Sunday, it was a wrestling fundraiser. Haven't had a live tree in ages.

 Hali got out again. Luckily the young girl that walks him, Sonnet found her and brought her home.

Duncan is making dinner tonight. Bratwurst and Mac and cheese.

Bruce says he has gotten all his movement back plus more in his hip area. 

They have been doing the electro stimulation on his thighs and that helps with movement. He has been standing up. They want to move him to the bathroom area to have him stand at the bar. He stood on his own for a minute. The next step would be pivot turns. That would make bowel care easier for everyone.

  They gave him two metal balls with sound in them. You hold them in your hand and move them around. I could do my right hand. They are Asian in origin in a red box. They are not supposed to click just make the musical sound. Bruce can do his right hand it is the left that needs to get stronger. They are not as easy as they look.

  Our friend Amy brought us chicken enchiladas on Tuesday and Rosala and Debbie brought over scalloped taters and ham on Wednesday. Duncan made bratwurst in croissants last night. Tonight is pizza night. 

   Bruce said they took him into the pool area and did a practice run through with him standing and the young man, Craig holding him under the arms, then a pivot turn to the chair that lowers him into the pool. He said it worked just fine. It is a lot quicker than the lift.

 

   Andrew came home with a Christmas bag of nice church socks and ten dollars from his work Christmas party. He could answer the trivia question of which country did Jesus family escape to when they were forced to leave after the three wise men's visit. (Egypt) He did not know what year the Chevy went to electricity. (2006) and our neighbors Chris and Rocky were there. He was happy he did not get the jar of nothing that his boss did. So it sounded like he had fun at the country club.

 I bought more bandages for wound care. We think one more week after this. The wound is down to half inch and closing fast. They will schedule pool time soon.

He could walk in the water so he is anxious to begin there again.

I mailed some coloring books to my mom and a small pkg to Crys and the diaper bag back to Lindsy with some cute Christmas pompom strings from Rachel. 

  I ironed some quilt pieces so they are ready for the next step. I ironed on the pellon to some squares so they are ready for my circle cutter which should come today or Monday. Yes I began another quilt top.

Goodnight from Lake Karenbegone