Whew, what a day.   I got up at 6ish as Jody was coming to clean at 8AM.  Dick was up by7:30AM but really has been very subdued all day.   He slept well last night but does not seem to get rested.

We had the VNA PT person come today to review how I get Dick in and out of bed and move him around.   She really does not see how things could be changed without great expense and lots of cranes and cranks and so on.    She did call Matt at Home Care Resources to see if he can come up with any adaptations that might help.   He is going to call next week.

Then we had lunch and Nancy came at 12:30PM to clean Dick up and attend to those needs.   We left him in bed then for a nap.    He woke up when Kay from Embrace got here at 3:30PM

I left for my therapy appointment which was at 4PM then did a couple of other errands and was home by 5PM.

Dick was coughing really badly and is exhausted.    I tried to get him to eat but he just nibbled. He is already in bed at 6:30PM.   Worries me but I gave him some cough medicine which seems to have eased the coughing a lot.

I have strengthening exercises to do for my arm and will go back next week and possible the following week to see how things go.

So that was the day.   Tomorrow will be a much more fun day.   First, at 10AM, the Condo meeting (Not the Fun Part of the Day.)   Then after a quick check on Dick   (Heather, from Embrace will be with him all day.) I will pick up Kate and we will go to the Plymouth History Museum to help set up for the Tea.    The weather is supposed to be good for us.  Yea.   There was lots of advertizement so I hope we have a good crowd.    Jeff Ward who is singing for us is SO good.

After the event Kate and I  will go to Mass and  I will be home by 5:30PM.    Home until 6:30PM on Sunday.   I can even sleep late on Sunday if all goes well.

I am so glad for that.

Bless you all and I hope your holiday plans are going well.  Remember that love is what it is all about.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A very busy day.  

I had to get up at 6AM to be ready to leave at 7:30AM for the annual Gibbsville safari.

Heather, from Embrace, arrived on time and I drove right over to pick Kate up.   We stopped at the Diner on 57 for a breakfast together.   Good one too.   We both got the special.  Two eggs, raisin toast, bacon and fruit.   SO good.

Then the drive out to Gibbsville Cheese.   I spent a "fortune" as usual, but have both Mother and my shopping done.    Now the last thing I have to do is get the candy and ornaments packed and mailed to the "out of Staters".

Kate and I had such a good visit.   Breakfast and the trip back and forth was a nice long time.

We will go to the Christmas Tea on Saturday and then to Mass on Saturday also.

I got home a bit early even.   It was just after 10AM when I walked in the house.   At. 10:30AM exactly Curt from Mike's appliance came to work on the ice maker.   Yes, the ice maker on the refrigerator broke.   We are LOST without ice.  Even Roxie expects ice in her water these days.

I told you that didn't I?    We caught her lapping up Dick's ice water one day and Dick told me to put her own ice water on the desk between us.   It has become "expected."   Somebody we know is quite insistent on her ice water.   (I know, but it amuses us so - so it is good.)

Anyway, Curt came at 10:30AM and got the ice maker working.   He has ordered a new pump and will replace that.   We are not sure but the pump could be leaking which would cause it to freeze up where the water flows in and I would rather that it is RIGHT.

Two ladies came from the VNA to explain Palliative care and Hospice to us.  These programs offer much more aid that is provided by the Medicare program and will provide much relieve for me in the taking care of Dick.   \They will bring in therapy, nurses and other help that will help us to know if and when we need to be thinking of hospice.   The exciting thing to Dick is that Nancy, a nurse from the Home Care we received in the early part of the year will be back.   She is a jewel and I know that she will be there for us.

I am rather beat up these days.  Don't worry, I am trying to get help and the Palliative care is one of the things that I am exploring to make things feasible for me to continue to take care of Dick at home.    He needs to be here with me.   I am way too lonely without him.

Pray for us as we explore these options.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Sorry I did not post last night,  I was just too tired.

Today was busy too but there is a lot going on.  I had to get up at 6AM because Kim from Embrace care was coming at 7AM and I had to leave shortly after for an 8AM appointment with Dr. Poppy, the chiropractor.  My right arm and shoulder are hurting almost all the time.   Her work did not do anything to relieve that.   I am hoping that my appointment with therapy on Friday for strengthening will provide some help.

I got home after shopping to find that  Nancy from VNA had run late and Kim had to stay a bit longer.   Thank heaven, the helpers just stay.   And I was only 10 minutes past the time they were supposed to be here.   I had expected Nancy at 10AM but she ran late and got here at 10:30AM.  This worked out just fine.   I was able to have help with Dick until just shortly before we had to leave for Fond du Lac to see Marty from Actra, the prosthesist.     He was able to assure me that the problems with the left prosthesis are due to wear and tear and what I have been doing to get it on is the right way.   He did a bit of work on it which should extend the wear for some time anyway.

We had tuna helper for our supper tonight.   It was really good and I have a couple of quick meals for the next couple of busy days.

Received a nice encouraging note from Jim and Michelle today.   It is always so good to get a boost just when things seem the worst. 

Tomorrow we will be consulting with a social worker and a nurse about Dick's needs.  Bobbie will be here.   I am so glad that she can be here.   Hopefully we can get help that will allow me to do some healing and keep Dick at home safe and sound.   I just need to be able to take care of him.

Tomorrow, I will be Christmas Chopping at Gibbsville,    Kate is going with me and we will have breakfast together.

So until tomorrow evening.

Dia Dhuit

Mary





"I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent," Joan Didion told New York Magazine last year. "Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again."

We got up at 6AM this morning.   Dick was restless and ready and I really had a lot I wanted to get done before I went to Bible Study.   So it worked out OK.

I got most of my calls made and Dick all ready for the day before Bobbie came.   Then I stopped for gas on my way to Bible Study.  We had a good group and talked a lot about music being such a wonderful gift and path to God.

Mom was tired but pretty good.   We got all her bills paid and the pills put out for the week and had a bit of a visit.   Then I hurried home as Dick called and needed me.   Ron from the VNA was here and took the blood test for the cumadin level.   He was perfect.   2.2.   Ron will be back on Thursday to take it again.  Just because of the antibiotic.   Saturday we will be checking the urine again to be sure that the infection is all gone.

Bobbie, Dick and I had lunch together.  Then Bobbie had to go home and Dick and I rested a bit.   Actually Dick slept until 4PM and I had to wake him then.

The rest of the day has been quite.   We had steak fajitas for supper.   Dick liked that.    His appetite is none to good but we shared one and he hate his half.

Now it is time to shut down.   Tomorrow I will be going to the Kettle Quilters Christmas party.   Embrace will be here at 12:30 so that I can go.   Also, Nancy, our favorite nurse from VNA, is coming at 1PM to start taking care of Dick.    This should be the only time they overlap.   But the Embrace people do so many other things for me and I have several projects that can be done.   Also if Nancy needs help they will be here.

So that was my day.   I am hoping that Dick goes to bed early so that I can too.    Pain pills and rest might make my arm stop throbbing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We slept quite late this morning.    It was nice as nobody was coming early and I didn't have to be anywhere this morning.

I told you that I asked Dr. Sharon if he could recommend an evaluation by the VNA as I think he probably would benefit from their care.    Today, Troy, came do do the initial evaluation.  He is recommending OT, PT and some nurse visits.   The first benefit is that I will not have to take him to the clinic tomorrow for his blood test at the anti coagulation clinic.  Rob from VNA will come and do that for us.   Yea.

I got the buckeyes dipped in chocolate this afternoon. 

The Packers won,   Double Yea!.

I managed to get a bit of sewing done while Kay was here this evening to get Dick to bed.

So it was, altogether a nice day.

Dia Dhuit

Til tomorrow

Mary