I almost forgot the blog tonight. I was actually in bed, so this will be VERY short.

We were home all day except for me going to Mass at 4PM. Now we can just stay home tomorrow too.

I was busy all day. I did a couple of things for the CWI newsletter and vacuumed the livingroom and our big event was having Dick take his first bath other than sponge, since he has been home. Actually his first bath in a while because we have been unable to get that right foot wet. It went well. I am sure he feels better.

Anyway. We are OK and I am extremely tired.

Tomorrow willo be a resting day. I just want to bake and goof off.

Til then

Stay safe. I would say stay warm but it was 38 degrees today and we felt like it was a heat wave.


I loved the following. Don (Doc) Blake sent it to me.

Love

Mary

The Pentagon announced TODAY the formation of a new 500-man elite fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces (USRSF) These boys will be dropped off in Iraq and have been given only the following facts about terrorists : 1. The season opened today. 2. There is no limit. 3. They taste just like chicken. 4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus. 5. They are directly responsible for the death of Dale Earnhardt . The Pentagon expects the problem in Iraq to be over by Friday.

It was a strange night last night. Dick did not sleep well and was up for most of it. Then Chelsea got me up at about 3:30AM. It was very disjointed.

I finally got up for good at 6AM. There was a lot to do. I cleaned the cat's room (would you believe that the old office is now called "the Cat's room." Once a week it NEEDS to be vacuumed and the litter box REALLY cleaned. I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen too.

Bobbie and Bill came over shortly after one PM to work on the threshold ramp. Here is something really annoying. The threshold ramp looked like one would just set it on the threshold, one piece on each side and screw it on. But NOOOOOOO. It involves all kinds of adjustments to accommodate for the weather striping, and for the door jam itself. Bill is working on it and we will be all fixed by early next week.

The only other exciting thing was that Nancy Roehre and I went pistol shooting tonight. I did not do too well, but was able to improve as I went along. If I could just concentrate and not be worried all the time. Also, it would help if my shoulder was not so achy. I talked for a while to my friend Lil. She had not been aware of Dick's problems. I guess, because the club members knew, I assumed that the league shooters knew too. Kind of a goofy assumption. Doc's wife, Judy, was there tonight too. So I got to visit with her a bit. Doc is one of my favorite people and his wife is a special lady too.

Tomorrow is Saturday already. Monday will be February 1. Next Saturday, February 7 will be the annual Deeley Beer Tasting Contest and Wild Game Dinner. Randy is hosting because he won the beer tasting last year. I will be bringing the venison roast. I intend to do a slow Texas Roast. That is SO good. I will also serve the beer and tally the scores. Jim and Michelle are coming for the day. Michelle seems to like being a serving wench along with me. Jim likes serving the beer too. It will be lots of fun.

Tomorrow will be a quiet day. Also and adventure as Dick will have his first bath other than a sponge bath at home. Pray for us.

Have a lovely Saturday.

Mary

"I like to rub my meat with lemon and spices ...is a sentance that most men who grill cannot say without giggling like idiots." A Maxine

Well, the day started with a special treat. When Chelsea and I went for a walk at about 7AM, we heard a cardinal singing his heart out. We walked longer than we have been walking. Actually in the past month or two, our walks have been limited to just this end of Tallgrass Lane OR standing outside the garage door letting Chelsea go as far as the leash will allow because of the ice, or the cold, or the snow.

But the cardinal was a treat. The rest of the day was pretty dumb.

We went to the Sheboygan Clinic to see Dr. Moreno. Got there and realized that I had left the slide board sitting with the wheelchair in our garage. I KNOW it belongs in the car. But for some reason, wheelchair/slide board went together and here we were. I do not have to bring the wheelchair to the clinics because they have them in the entries for patients, but they do not have slide boards. We got into the wheelchair OKAY and went up to our appointment.

Not good news there. Because of the walking, there is damage to the wounds on the foot. It is not really BAD but he wants to keep any stress on the foot to a minimum for the next week or two. So for the next week all we can do is just stand on the prosthesis and foot and get weight bearing on the stump. So we were pretty discouraged.

Then ---- We get out to the car and we can't get Dick back in the car without a slide board. I went into Dr. Fehrman's office to ask if they had a board. They didn't but bless their souls, they checked around and found one AND a gate belt in Therapy and one of their people ran down to therapy to get it. She helped me, by then crying and upset, get Dick in the car. I am so eternally grateful for the goodness of people during all fo this. So we got him home. I got dinner started and then lay down for an hour. I felt a bit better when I got up. We had chicken, rice, peas and salad for dinner.

Bobbie got here shortly after noon. We loaded Dick in the car to go for his therapy session. By this time, he was totally exhausted. But, brave little soldier that he is, he accomplished all of the standing and other exercises that he was supposed to and we took him back home.

Then, as I reached in to pull the wheelchair out of the back of the wagon, I grabbed the arm instead of the wheel and the arm released and slammed me right in the lip. I have a bruise and a sore, caused by a tooth on the lip. I am so GLAD that Bobbie was there. She got her Dad into the house while I was putting ice on my poor sore lip. It doesn't look TOO bad.

After a cup of tea for Bobbie and me, she went home and I helped Dick to bed for a nap. He slept for almost two hours.

I learned three very valuable lessions. NEVER, NEVER leave the slide board at home, get into a habit of putting the wheelchair in the same way every time and ALWAYS look at what you grab to pull it out again.

Now, we have had supper. We put the prosthesis on for endurance and are just relaxing. We had chicken soup and tuna sandwiches for supper.

I will give you the following a few at a time for the next couple of days.

Love

Mary

Tips For A Happy 2009 and beyond…

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to___________ today."

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

Fourth Day. This was another challenge day. We had a busy day because there was a doctor appointment, an anti coagulation appointment AND therapy. ALL in one day this makes a lot of action.

We left here at about 8:45AM for the medical appointments. They went quite well. Dick's blood count was .1 over what it should be which is not enough to change anything and could be just because we are adjusting to home life. SO we will go back in two weeks to see if any changes are needed.

Dr. Sharon is quite pleased with everything so far and will see him again in April with blood tests to determine the diabetes levels and all that stuff.

We got home at about 10:30AM so I went to the Pig to do our grocery shopping. I got home just in time to turn into a whirling dervish to fix dinner and get ready for the 1:00 Therapy session. Bobbie came to help us again. This is great. By noon, especially with the other appointments I am really tired, so it is great to have the help. Bobbie is going to come tomorrow shortly after noon to help with the trip to therapy again. As we are seeing Dr. Moreno in the morning, I will be more than ready for heap by then. Bill is going to install the threshold ramp sometime this week too. Every little thing makes life a little easier. We are learning shortcuts day by day.

Therapy went quite well. He had to be evaluated for Medicare and reestablish goals. But he did walk some and did all the other leg exercises. Then we came home. Bobbie and I enjoyed a nice cup of tea together then she went home.

I took a nap until the wheel chair guy came and did some repairs and adjustments on the chair. I hope this will take care of the problems. He tightened screws and removed the seat belt. At least it won't be making such rubbing noises. He said to call if anything else happens. Actually, because it is lighter and narrower it is working quite well except for the rubbing and the foot peddle flopping.

We had mac and cheese and salad for supper. Just right. Now we are closing down for the night. I have a big black kitty on my lap purring his head off. Chelsea has FINALLY settled down. She has been hyper all evening.

Dick and I are both VERY tired and will have to be prepared for almost as busy day tomorrow.

I bought a pizza for our Sunday Superbowl dinner. It seems appropriate to eat pizza on such an occasion.

Too bad our Packers are not playing. Perhaps we could host a party then. As it is, I am sure it will be just Dick and myself. Not a bad deal. I believe that Sunday will be one of those magic days where we will be able to stay in our own little house ALL day.

I still remember the excitement and magic of 1997 when "we", the Packers won the Superbowl. We do refer to our Packers as "we". After 12 years, a true Packer fan believes that they are the blessed team and never gives up hope. Packer stadium is, I believe, the only stadium that is full, to the max, no matter if they are winning or losing and there is at least a 20 year wait for season tickets. Quite remarkable.

Love

Mary

Another successful day. Dick woke up at 4ish which was not so good, but he had gone to bed early so got at least 5 hours of sleep. We hope that tonight is at least as good preferably better.

With one trip outside with Chelsea at about 3PM, I slept until almost 6AM. So it was a great night's sleep for me.

We got everything done today and there is a lot to do what with baths, and massages and taking off and on of the prosthesis. It was easier today. Partly because we are getting used to it and partly because my cold is slowly improving.

Bobbie came to accompany us to therapy at 1:00PM. That was very good. We ARE getting good about transfers. (transfers are moving from the chair to wherever, in case you didn't know. He slides on a transfer board. We have two, a 30 inch for the car and a 24 inch for the house.)

I was worried about collapsing the wheelchair to get it into the car because we had so much trouble when he was coming home. We were lucky that a man in the parking lot helped me. But this time I pulled up on the seat and it just collapsed without a problem.

Tim from National Prosthesis was there to check the fit and gait again. He and Lori are quite pleased with the process so far. We will just walk at therapy for a week or two then he will be able to start walking at home. By then we will have wheelchair transfers down pat and have to learn something new again.

It all went well. We got home and I rested a bit before supper and putting on the prosthesis again. He has to wear it off and on every day to build up endurance.

Bobbie is going to come tomorrow to go to therapy with us again. It is very comforting to have someone along and I feel safer too. We also have an appointment with Dr. Sharon in the morning, so it will be a busy day.

Mom and I were talking the other day about how Fr. Mike is trying to make his Sarnelli House compound self sufficient by having them grow enough rice and other food themselves. He has the girls in charge of weeding the rice paddies. They are not thrilled. I told him I understood. Mother still laughs at what a lousy gardener I was. Dad always had a garden for growing food for Mom to can for us to take us through the winter. We kids were always give a row to weed. Nora would whip right through her row. Not me. I would get about a foot or two and be "very sick". I always felt sick too, I remember vividly. I must really have hated. it. I didn't mind taking care of chickens or rabbits but hated gardening. Mike has the boys take care of any of the livestock. Maybe he could switch that. However, girls are more likely to become attached to the critters. I learned to accept that chickens and such were temporary pets as they were being raised for food, but not everybody can do that.

Well, Must rest now and get ready for another day. I am so proud of us getting everything done.

Love

Mary

The first day. It was an eventful day. For one thing, Dick slept until almost 8AM. This is almost unheard of. He has not done that for years. He came to bed at 11:30PM so I took Chelsea out then. That did help a bit as she didn't bother me until about 4AM. The only trouble was that I started coughing and finally got up at 5:30AM so I wouldn't disturb Dick.

I took a nap this morning which helped a lot. We are really very busy what with bathroom duty, bathing, putting the prosthesis on and off, meds and exercise.

The commode and the threshold ramp cam today. I am going to need help with the ramp, for sure, I measure the threshold but forgot about the door jam. That should not be a problem, but it is a funny jam and I think the rubber strip under the door will have to be removed on the inside. It'll work out.

We think the commode will help, but it made us have to start all over on our "plan of action". We have done very well on everything. I worry SO much about his right foot, but it looked fine this morning.

We have switched to eating our main meal at noon. This noon I prepared lasagna, with green beans and salad. We had soup and sandwich for supper.

Now, as soon as Chelsea decides that it is time to go out again, I am going to hit the hay. I am SO very tired. But the first day is over with. Tomorrow we have to add in a therapy session. Bobbie is going to come and help us get there. That will be a really welcome help.

This afternoon, Celtic Women had our first telephone conference of the year. I called it as I am the new president. We have a phone meeting every two months. This went very well. We covered a lot. They are such warm wonderful women and are all praying for Dick and me. They were SO glad to know that he is home.

Bart and Barb called tonight too. Good talking to them. They are well and her folks are too. I guess that's all for now. Chelsea is whining at me. So it must be bedtime.

Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite.

Love

Mary

This was the day. The very big special day.

Dick is HOME!!!!!!! I am sitting at my computer across from him, with Roxie on the desk under the lamp, Oscar on the back of the chair and Chelsea over on the side of the room. My home is complete.

I got to sleep until 6:30 this morning not counting taking Chelsea out at 3:30AM. Then I spent the morning getting the last things done around here. I went over to the Center at about 10AM and started loading things into the car. With all that I took home earlier, I thought it would be a snap, but you have no idea how much junk there is in all those little drawers and nooks and crannies. I had the whole backseat of the car full then had to put the prosthesis in the back.

Kate, the nurse, had reviewed Dick's meds with him again and we checked all the "first aid" and cleansing things that came home with us. There is a LOT. Now we have to figure out where to put things so they are at the ready when we need them.

We got him into the car, then I couldn't fold the wheelchair. A man on the parking lot helped and we got it into the car. When we got home, Jim and Michelle were already there so were able to be there for unloading the car and moral support. I wouldn't let them help me get Dick into the house though. As I told Jim, he won't be here otherwise and I have to know that we can do it alone. It is not easy but we did it and Dick will get stronger as we go along.

Bill and Bobbie arrive shortly afterwards with the TV. They took it downstairs and hooked it up already. We are back to normal. Now If we can finish healing that foot and get him upright and walking we will be home free.

I fed us all a meal of Schlitzhagen, mashed potatoes and corn with bread fresh and warm out of the bread machine. We had brownies and ice cream for dessert. All very good. I was so glad that they were here I helped work out the first kinks.

Jim and Michelle shredded all our newspapers for their Skylar cat who is having his claws removed this week. We all had good visits and Bobbie is going to come at 12:30PM on Tuesday to help us take Dick for his first therapy session. Then we will know how it goes and will have someone here if there are problems.

Tomorrow I decided that I will not go to bible study. First, because we need to be sure that Dick can be alone for a while, and second I still have this icky cold.

After everybody left today, I laid down and slept for over an hour. I needed more, but that helped a lot as I was almost sick I was so tired. Anyway, tomorrow, we will just be here and work out the kinks.

Jackie, one of the nurses, who was not on this morning, called this evening to wish him well and tell me not to work to hard. She said that if I need any advice, I can call her. Isn't that sweet?

Pray for us. I am delighted and scared at the same time.


Love

Mary