Well, it was quite a full day again.

I got up early as I had a 7AM appointment for therapy with Jaren at Aurora.  He really put me through my paces.   I had no idea there were so many muscles and ligaments in an arm to be strengthened.  I got home in about 45 minutes in time to greet Jody when she came to clean this morning.

So, I folded Christmas cards and washed until she left and then I loaded up Dick's motorized chair into the back of the van and took off for Rocky Knoll.   I got to drive the chair of course because it is easier than trying to steer it from the side.   It is kind of fun.   My feet don't reach the footrest though.   I was a bit later than I told Dick I would be there and he was a bit anxious.   Poor guy.

He was so very sleepy today and is still not eating.  I got him to eat exactly four bites of his dinner.   He has to drink nectar consistency liquids and is not happy about that because he wants ICE WATER.   I asked about tomato juice.  That is a thick liquid, I found out so I asked that he get a glass of that each morning and the speech therapist (swallow specialist) is prescribing an Ensure type of supplement.   He has to get vitamins and minerals and nutrients into himself.   '

He also had his PT evaluation today so will start therapy tomorrow.  

I came home at about 4PM and have been really busy around here.  Roxie is delighted that I am home and was glad to see Jody this morning.   She has been feeling out of sorts I can tell with Dick gone and most of her admirers not coming to visit her.

I can't believe that it is so close to Christmas.    I would like Dick to be home before then but I am really concerned about his weakness.  Hopefully the antibiotics will wipe out the pneumonia and ITU on this round.   That would be a huge step to his recovering.  Then, he has to start eating again.  

Guess that is all for tonight.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A friend sent me the following quote:   "God sends His angels to watch over those who sleep
But He Himself watches over those who lie awake in suffering."

He is with my sweetheart.

It has been a really long day.   

I took my Christmas Card plan over to Sun Graphics an left it to be copied while I went to Sheboygan Memorial to be with Dick.  He was So tired today.   The doctor decided that he was ready to leave the hospital.   They,  however, did not recommend that I bring him home.   They felt that he was too weak for me to take care of him, he still needs 24/7 care and lots of PT an OT to regain his strength.

I am very distressed by this, but after talking to Bobbie too, who agreed with them, decided, with Dick to let him go to Rocky Knoll for a few days of rehab.   We are hoping that it will just be a few days.   Time to be sure that the pneumonia is gone, that his UTI is cured and that he has enough PT to regain his strength.

So, they picked him up at about 4:30PM and transferred him.   I picked up the cards, went home and ate and fed Roxie and then went over with clothes and his gloves.  He is in a different section this time and there are no phones in the room.    He also did not have a TV, but Joe, one of the maintenance men found one for him.   He did not have side rails on the bed  which Joe managed to get installed.

I left at about 7:30PM and am planning on hitting the bed as soon as I finish this.   I have to be up at 6AM and off to my therapy at 7AM tomorrow.

Bless you

Dia Dhuit

Mary

James Wright said "Poetry can keep life itself alive. You can endure almost anything as long as you can sing about it."

Short tonight as there is not much to report.   Dick is much better today.   Still very weak, Still coughing, Still suffering from the UTI but there is improvement.

He is getting used to "thick" liquids, even iced tea so we won't have too much of a struggle there.   I will have to be cooking softer foods for a while, but he likes casseroles and ground meat dishes so we will manage.   We ate lunch together today and will again tomorrow.    There is a slim chance he could come home tomorrow but I frankly don't see it happening.  There are too many things unstable and I would be afraid to be caring for him.    I will not be alone though, as VNA will be here to help me along with Embrace Care.  

It was very cold today, but sunny.   It is supposed to warm up a bit during the week.  Wouldn't hurt at least when I bring Dick home.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I spent most of the day with Dick at Sheboygan Memorial.   I left the house at about 7:30AM.  Stopped to drop some things off at Mom's and payed her bills for her.

Then I went directly to the hospital.   He is doing much better today.   They have determined for sure that he has an aspiration pneumonia and a UTI again.  He is a sick guy.    We will decide day to day how he is doing.     We have found out that he will be on a special "diet" of thick water and food that is kind of ground up or easily swallowed.  That diet is called and EZ swallow diet.

I am very tired. I am just going to go to bed VERY early.  So I will be ready for tomorrow which will come soon enough.

Bless you all and keep praying for Dick.    Each day should be an improvement.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Hello.    It has been quite a weekend.  

Yesterday started off OK.   Dick was weak and having trouble with his coughing, but had no fever so I decided to to to the Condo Association meeting and see what happened from there.   I stopped at home to pick up things for the Celtic Christmas Tea that afternoon.   

Dick was a bit unsettled but he and Heather, the caregiver, agreed that I should go as she is able to do the things that he needs and he was in very good hands.   Also, I had my phone and was 10 minutes away.

The Tea went very well.   Jeff Ward, from Racine, our music was just wonderful.   He is a super balladeer and sang two requests for me.  I got to visit with lots of wonderful people, eat super treats and drink tea to my heart's content.    A lovely gathering.   We had almost 60 people there.   A good showing.

Then Kate and I drove up the hill, followed by LuAnn to go to Mass.    Just before Mass started, my phone rang.  It was Mary from Embrace Care.    Dick was running a fever and slumped sideways in his wheelchair, he was unable to sit up straight without support.   I got home as soon as I could and it was apparant that he needed to get to the hospital so we called Plymouth Ambulance Service.   They are so good, and had him to the hospital in short order.

It has been determined that he has pneumonia and his UTI has returned.  Needless to say, he was admitted and is still there.    We had a wet snow falling all day, so I stayed home and just keep calling every so many hours as it seems foolish to take a chance on an accident in the slush.   I have been taking the time to rest and get myself back on path.    The past week has been hard.

I have cancelled all my plans for tomorrow so that we can concentrate on making sure that all is OK with Dick and that he is on the road to recovery and how long he should stay and so on.   Doctors will be more available then too.

I have done a lot of resting today and made sure that everyone is up to date on all that is happening.   Another good night's sleep and I will be ready to tackle anything again.

Pray for us please.

Dia Dhuit

Mary