Happy Sunday.   I went to Mass at Rocky Knoll again at 10AM.  I helped bring a couple people down, one of them being a resident in Woodland Village who sits at Dick's table at lunch.    He broke both of his arms in a horse accident.  So, after I took a man in a wheelchair down, I went back and asked him if he would like to go and he did.   The trick the first time or two is to find your way there.

It was a lovely Mass.  The gospel was the parable of the man who planted his fields and his enemies planted bad seed in it.    Father used that parable to remind us that as it would have been difficult to separate the plants until harvest.   We to cannot be judgemental of others but have to leave the judging up to God at he Harvest.

I left pretty much after Mass, after I stopped in to visit with Dick for a few minutes.     I finished loading the car with all the things for the tea.   I took a table and chairs,   strawberry bread, pepper cheese sandwiches, lavender cookies and apricot cream tea sandwiches.   I also brought my teapot, and a setting of dishes for "my" table and the cork ornaments that I made for favors.   There were other things too.   Debbie O Grady brought just as much or more.   And Kate has tons of lovely tea things.    We set up tables in the back yard, on the porch and n the side yard.   The food was all set up on the dining room table and what a spread.

Kate had prepared beautiful teapots and cups with matching saucers full of gorgeous flowers for the tables and a drawing.  She gave Debbie and I our choice before everybody got there while we were setting things up.  Such a sweet thing to do.   They are beautiful and I took mine over to Dick after we finished cleaning up.    Actually there was a bit to do yet but I needed to get  to Dick as I had told him I would be there.

It WAS HOT.  But we did sit out under the trees at the tables to eat anyway.   With the shade and a gentle breeze, it was not too bad and the company and cold drinks made it possible and even fun.   Some of us shared pictures and/or stories of feisty and influential women in our lives.    I shared Aunt Helen.      

We had a nice crowd.   About 20 which was very heartening.    Next month our meeting will be Irish Fest.

So. That is the day.    I will input a couple of pictures tomorrow.

Bobbie and Bill visited Dick this afternoon.    I thought they probably would so knew he would not be alone.

Love

Mary

Another warm and humid day.   We were supposed to get rain but I am h=not seeing it, so I watered the berms and the potted plants tonight when I got home from visiting Dick.

Started off a bit quiet this morning.   I got up about 7AM,  showered without washing my hair and went to Just Jane's so Jessica could cut my hair.   I had been scheduled for a cut the week after Dick's surgery but just could not see leaving him on the day he transferred to Rocky Knoll.  So I cancelled.   The past week, I have been having difficulty "seeing".  The hair was falling right into my eyes.  I felt like a sheep dog.   Now I am much lighter and will be able to easier keep my hair in control.   Fewer bad hair days.

]Next stop was Amy's Hallmark in Sheboygan.  Would you believe that this is already the Hallmark ornament sale week.   As I get double points, this is the time I begin the  Christmas Shopping.    Hard to believe isn't it?   But it is nice to know that I have one part of it done already.

Then I went to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him.   The lunch choices today were spaghetti or liver.   Yippee.  Guess what Dick had.   I had liver.   It w as quite good.   Still have to get Bobbie over here for a liver and onions dinner.   It would be nice to have Shane and Georgie as Shane wants to try liver.

Dick and I took a stroll around the hallways as it was too hot to go outside and he did not have therapy.   Then we played Rummy for a while.  I won two and he won one.   Yesterday, he swept the board.  

I came home at 4PM. I have been getting things gathered for the Tea tomorrow.

Dick said he wants to come home.   I know and want him here too.   But we have to get him well and able to help himself.   I told him that if we win the lottery, it will be much quicker because I can   hire help then.

Pray for a win.

Love you all and God loves you too.

Mary

P. S.  Another wonderful thing about Nora.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150315397729948&oid=95781119896&comments

A very fruitful day. 

This morning Jody came and cleaned.    I finished the cork ornament favors for the tea.   baked the lavender cookies,  folded clothes and caught up a bit on email.

Then at about noon, I left to join the Bank Ladies for lunch at Dairy Queen.   I stopped at the bank for change and at Kettle Moraine for medication for Roxie.  It was nice visiting with my friends again.   Did you know that Dairy Queen (at least the Plymouth store) have quesadillas now?   They have chicken and veggie.   I don't much care for chicken in quesadillas ,  so I get the veggie and it is enough that I had the second half when I joined Dick for supper tonight.

I went to Rocky Knoll after lunch and watch Dick do the last of his OT.   He is doing well at his therapy.   They told me that he really did well at his transfer this morning.    Then we went back to his room, watched TV for a bit and then played a game of Rummy.    We are starting to play games to keep ourselves amused.    I really would like to get to cribbage.   But he is happy with Rummy right now.

I received an exciting email from Leslie.   Read the following about Nora, our granddaughter.


http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/local/military/vandenberg/article_96bd234c-aea6-11e0-82bd-001cc4c03286.html

I think I told you Nora is pregnant.   She sent an email saying that she fixed fried pickles.   Her most clever sister, Sarah said and I quote. "I am both horrified and intrigued at the same time."  Boy I love those girls.

God love you all

Mary

Hello Again.   This was a day that reminds us why we live in Wisconsin.   Lovely temperatures, green lush growth all around,  the corn growing like crazy and no humidity to speak of. 

I did the grocery shopping, such as it is, this morning and bought our lottery tickets.   We did well on the quick pick numbers this time.   Maybe it is a sign.

Shopping went very well, my major purchases were for Roxie.   She was just about out of food and I needed more litter.  I don't think she really appreciated it.

I went over to be with Dick at 11:30AM..  He had done most of his PT already.   I missed the slide board transfer today.  The therapists said that he did really well.  They hardly had to help him at all.  

We went down to lunch.  He now has two table mates.   I think they have gotten a couple more who need more help so they put two at the table who are pretty independent.   Bob, who used to sit at the table beside ours all alone and Rich, who just got here.   Rich broke both of his arms in a horse accident.   He has a great attitude and it is nice to sit at a full table.   It is good for Dick too.

After lunch he had his OT.  upper arm strength exercises and his last driving test.

At 3PM on we went down to the On the Rocks "bar" for the Wednesday happy hour.  Rich and a woman resident sat with us.   A pleasant break for us all.

I came home shortly after that and have been putting the cork ornaments together for the Tea favors.   They are fun.  I am trying to use just supplies that I have.  So far it is working.

So. Til tomorrow

God love you

Mary

Today was a nice weather day, though someone said that a few drops of rain fell.    I only know that it did not seem as humid and was not as hot either.

I went to Rocky Knoll this morning at about 9AM.  Dick was glad to see me of course.   He is all dressed and breakfasted by then so we visited until it was time for him to go to Occupational Therapy.  Most of his OT was his motorized chair "driver's test".    He has to go through ropes three times.   This was his second.   We walked all around the building - into the other areas of Rocky Knoll.   Down to the ground floor, where the chapel, a little store and some activity rooms are.     Then he had to do a slalom, back up and get in and out of the bathroom.   She walked down to the lunchroom with us to see how he fared getting up to the table for lunch.   He is really good so it is just a formality.

We had lunch together.   I purchased it today.   They had what they called Cowboy stew.  A really tasty stew that had both beef and pork sausages in it.   Dick and I both had it on noodles.   They had chocolate mousse for dessert.

I left shortly after lunch.   I had an appointment at Wells with my investment banker at 1:30AM.   We reviewed my accounts and did some tweaking.   I also had a mailing about my 401K about a class action suite and needed advice.

Then I shopped a bit.   I went to Fleet and found some thumbtacks, raisins and screw eyes.   The thumbtacks and screw eyes to finish assembling cork ornaments for favors at our tea.   I also stopped at Kmart for a akirt.   I really don't have a summer skirt and it seems, in my vision, that I should have a skirt for the tea.

So.  Home again.   I have been working on the cork ornaments and paying bills.  I fixed a fajita for my evening meal which was very tasty.

I hope your day was as pleasant.    Tomorrow is grocery shopping day.    I sure don't need much now but we get our lottery tickets on Wednesday too.   And Dick told me that he thinks it is just time that we win that thing and get it over with.

God love you

Mary

It was so great to get back to a normal Monday morning.    I got up at 7AM and proceed through the usual morning chores until 9am.  Then I left for Sheboygan Falls, Blessed Trinity and Bible Study.   It was go good to get back with my prayer support group.

We started discussing Psalms of Wisdom today.   There was a lot in the introduction - We will get to the first of this type of Psalm next week.

The most interesting question we discussed was - should we just be living life in expectation of eternity or dare we live for the joy of living.  It reminded me of something that Mark Victor Hanson said in a workshop of his that I attended years ago.    "God did not make the jewels of this world for the devil's children."     God made the world for us.   We have a right to enjoy it as long as we are doing our bit to preserve it and to help others enjoy His world and make their way to Him.

Then I went to Mom's for our weekly visit.    I brought that I purchased about the Lady Elgin for her to read.   It is a part of our history and I knew she would enjoy it.

She was delighted yesterday when Uncle Pat, Aunt Joan, and their children and families came to visit her.  They brought dinner and prepared it, set the table and cleaned everything up so that Mother could just enjoy.   How nice is that.

Jeff and Kathy have "visitors".   Matt, Kauru , Coleton and Alana are here already and will be here til after the wedding.   The big wedding of THIS summer you know.  Shane and Georgina.   That is July 23.   I am excited. 

Nora and Leif will be in the state on Saturday, I think.    We will get to visit a bit, I hope.

I picked up a new watch for Dick on the way home, then ate a quick lunch and went to Rocky Knoll so I could be there for the afternoon therapy.    Dick and I wanted me there because today was the first slide board transfer that he attempted.    It went well, I thought.  He left the prosthesis on the lift leg for another hour so he can get used to it again.  It really looked good when I took it off.   The redness is minor and will be OK when Tim can adjust both together in the future.

I ate supper with Dick and now am home and glad to be here.   Roxie is glad I am here too. 

Take care of yourselves.   I love you and God does too.

Mary

Boy was this a nice day.    I got up at 7AM.  (Of course, I always have been poked out of bed at 6AM to feed a greedy little cat.) I got myself all ready for this busy day.

I had to be at Rocky Knoll at 9AM.   Mass is at 10AM and I have volunteered to help residents come down to the Mass as long as Dick is there.   This mass is working so well and usually I just have lunch with Dick afterwards.   I helped three people down and one person back up after Mass.   I sat with my friend Alice during the Mass.    Please pray for her Claude.   He is very ill.

I left for home at 11:30AM.  My friend Nancy Coenen picked me up for our lunch and the play  - A Rising Wind The Lady Elgin Story.    We had a great time.   Lots of visiting on the way over and back and at lunch.   AND a really exceptional play.    The author was one of the actors.   The play was the story as told by a newspaper writer and four people who were involved in the incident.   I understand now, the sequence of events in more clarity.    Even better, we heard the story from the view of "passengers" and a seaman who was on the Augusta, the ship that rammed the Lady Elgin.   These accounts made the story very real.   It is so moving when a faces are put on history.

We had lunch at JMKAC.   It was excellent and I had anough to eat tonight when I had supper with Dick.   I drove over as soon as I got home and fed Roxie.   Then I came home almost immediately.   

Dick was settling down and tomorrow will again be a busy day.

He had company this afternoon.   Bobbie and Bill came to visit.   I kind of figured they would.   But there is quite a bit of activity in that place anyway.

So Now I am closing down to get ready for next week.     I have quite a bit to do, though not many appointments.  The Sheboygan CWI Tea will be at Kate's next Sunday from 2 to 4PM.    If you want to come, let me know.    I baked Strawberry bread and froze it for next week.    I am planning on making scones, lavender cookies and/or Apricot treats.

Tomorrow, I will be able to return to my normal Monday Bible Study and visit with Mother.    I am so looking forward to that.    I will go to Rocky Knoll right after lunch.   He is going to be practicing with a slide board and wants me there to observe and learn.

So.  I will be there.

God love you all

Mary

A rather uneventful day.   I did not get up until after 8AM this morning.

I felt very lazy this morning so really did not do much of anything except for the usual morning things and loving the kitty.

I got to Rocky Knoll at about 11:30AM.   Dick had a good night again.    He is still looking good and has the weekend off from  therapy.  He is using the motorized chair which makes it easy to get around in.   It is not as roomy as the other one so he has to work his muscles to shift around.   Therapy will be able to help him with that.

We had lunch together.   I bought the lunch they provided this noon because it sounded good AND the dessert was Schaum torte.   After lunch Dick rested so I read and did some crossword puzzles.   Then a bit later in the afternoon,  we played some Rummy.  I brought cards and a cribbage board so we can do things like that to pass the time for him and keep him stimulated.   (And keep me from getting bored.)

Again I left after accompanying him down to the dining room for his supper.  

It is always nice to get home, the days are long.   Roxie is so glad to see me and I try to do some project or cleanup both in the morning and the evening.   Tonight I am SO tired, that I don't know how far I will get.

I fixed a grilled cheese and basil sandwich for my supper.   Boy is that good.  I baked some strawberry almond bread for the tea.   Soda breads freeze well, so I can concentrate on other more perishable tea foods next Saturday.

Tomorrow I will go to JMKAC to see A Rising Wind, The Lady Elgin Story with Nancy Coenen.

I am really excited about that.   I think I told you that Phillip King, a boy orphaned by the sinking of the Lady Elgin, was raised by relatives in the Clifford family.   When he grew up he married Charlotte (Lottie) Bowser,  my great grandfather Joseph's sister.

So soon to bed.   I really miss my naps.

God love you

Mary

I really waited til too late to post this blog.

With so much to do at home, I kept putting it off until now.

This was a wonderful day.   We went to see Dr. Fehrman at 11:00AM and he is very pleased with the healing on Dick's leg.  He will see him in two weeks and take out the stitches.  

We go the motorized chair back today which is a relief for Dick as he can get himself around so much easier.  They are supposed to put hm through a "driving test", but the people who do this are gone until Monday so he should be really good at driving the thing by then.

As I said, a red letter day.  So now I am going to bed after calling most of the people that should hear about this beautiful turn of events, his children.

God  Love You

Mary

Today the schedule was tweaked a bit.

I made phone calls and worked on cleaning out obsolete medical supplies this morning.

 Then I joined Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's for lunch and discussion of our tea which Kate is hosting for the Sheboygan Branch of CWI.   I have to get the invitation ready tonight and tomorrow morning so that it can be emailed and sent.    People have been told to mark their calendars but the time is now set and we need people to RSVP so that we can prepare enough food,  tables and place settings.

After lunch, I drove over to pick up a prescription.   As it was at Walmart, I looked for clothes for Dick and found a pair of shoes for $10 for myself.  I will have to go to Fleet and Kmart for Dick's shorts.   They have a much better Big Man selection.

I stopped at home to check on the mail and then went to spend the afternoon with Dick.   He was in therapy when I got there.   Then back to the room where we visited until time for supper.    I ate with him tonight.   As I only ate half of my lunch at Antoinette's, I had the rest with with Dick, then came home for the night.

 So a full day.   Tomorrow we will have a report from Dr. Fehrman.

God Love you

Mary

Another successful day.    I did our grocery shopping today.    Berries were on sale.    I got blueberries to preserve and raspberries and blackberries to snack on.

This morning I watered the berms and the pots on the deck.   The promised rain from yesterday did not arrive, so it was necessary.   It was trash day too.   The holiday delayed the pickup a day.

So. I left to have lunch with and spend the afternoon with Dick shortly after 11AM.   He was in therapy when I got there so I went to there to watch and be with.   He was done just before noon and lunch.   I brought mine along so that we could eat together.  Dick had turkey, mashed potatoes and coconut cream pie.   I had a nice pork sandwich and a salad.

Dick had his other therapy session a little after 1PM.   He was pretty tired when that was done but we both know that the activity is good for him and we cannot let his muscles get all stiff and atrophied.   On Wednesdays they have a social in the "On the Rocks Saloon" which is at the end of the hall going into the other part of the building.    From 3:PM to 4PM they serve drinks and a snack.   We went down and enjoyed a glass of white wine together and met a couple of people.    Ken and Lucy.   Lucy is also in rehab so Ken was visiting with her.   It is very pleasant.   They have jukebox music and everything.

I left after I took Dick down to the dining room for his supper.   He was having chili and looking forward to that.   I came home, fixed a hamburger and settled in.    I am washing and drying his shorts and shirts to I can restock him tomorrow.

I will be up a bit later tonight, because there is a special on ABC about the Virgin Mary appearances around the world.   I am really looking forward to it and hope I won't be too tired to enjoy it.

Tomorrow the schedule will be a bit different as I am going to lunch with Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's.   We are going to plan the tea goodies for our mid July Tea party.

The weather has been wonderful, though a bit dry and I have blossoms on my tomato plants.   So all is coming along.

God love you

Mary



P. S.   I have received the following before, but this time it was copied and pasted into an email, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Interesting concept.

Subject: Change

I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean. This is something I will fight for and I hope you all read it all the way through. You will be glad you did.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. It is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

.

Here we are, finally the beginning of the week.  And the month.   With the whole weekend, including Friday, July 1st, being the holiday, life was very disjointed and it seemed that we were not really into the swing of rehab.

But today, Dick has been put on a pretty good schedule, I think.   He will have PT in the morning, OT in the afternoons. 

I have been staying home until about 11AM in the mornings, then going to Rocky Knoll to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him, coming home at about 5PM.  This seems to work pretty well for both of us.

Today he was in occupational therapy when I got there, so I sat and watched while he finished and then we went together for lunch.  

They got him at about 12:45PM for the PT so some could be done before Tim from Wisconsin Prosthetics came to check out the current prosthesis and get a look and measurement on the new amputation.  I got to see the incision and it seems to be healing pretty well.    The other leg has been swollen too but the compression sox are bringing it down.   A day or two and he will be able to wear the prosthesis without discomfort and Tim can finish the adjustments.   We have dry skin and a sore on that too.

Dr. Sharon stopped by to see him this afternoon.   I was SO glad to see him.   I was able to express my concerns to him.  He is always ready to explain treatment and so understanding.

So that was our day.   We played some rummy in the late afternoon.  We decided that we are going to start playing games to pass the time.   The days are so long for him.  AND for me is I am just sitting there.   I do read but just can't do that all day.  

Time to settle in for the night.   Both Dick and I slept well last night.   Hope this is a repeat.

God love you all

Mary

Roxie is very happy to have me home again.   Today, I again came back from visiting with Dick at 5PM.   I went over there at about 11AM so I could have lunch with him and then spend the afternoon.

When I got there he was in the therapy department.   I think he thought, perhaps, I would get him out a bit early.   Not that he is not working hard, but he does get tired.   I am not help to him because I wait until they finish his time and routines.

We had lunch together.  I brought my own today and will do so most of the time.   Then we went back to the room.

I get really restless sitting there.  I have three books that I am alternating reading.  Two for knowledge, one for fun.  But the afternoons get long.   I brought the cribbage board and cards and we are planning on a tournement soon, after he reviews the rules as we have not played in years.

We are also going to go over the budget together.   I will be gathering up the information we need tonight and tomorrow morning so we can do it together.    Things have been a bit loose lately, as Dick was our budget maker and has been so unmotivated.   He plans things and just can't get to it.   I know and understand but have been trying to push him without nagging.   Together we can do anything.

So my day is home and the Rehab center.

Thursday I am going to lunch with friends.  That will be a welcome break.

Take care and know that I love you all.


Mary

A lovely day and I had to spend it mostly inside again.   But that is OK since Dick looked so much better today.   His color was good and he was better rested as he did get some sleep last night.    They have figured out how to change his position in bed ever so slightly  to relieve pressure on his back and bottom and it is helping the discomfort in his back and helping rashes to heal.

He is experiencing more pain in he newly amputated leg, but I would imagine that is normal with the healing going on and the fact that the morphine is moving out of his system.

We lunched together, Dick and I.   They served meatballs, noodles and Caesar Salad and chocolate cake.  The noodles and cake were really good.   The meatballs were nondescript the the salad was nice and crisp with just OK Caesar dressing.  But we were together and that is all that matters.

Bobbie and Bill came to visit this afternoon.   A welcome sight.    We all enjoyed a nice visit in one of the gathering areas.   His room is rather cramped and not too good for visiting.

I went to 10AM Mass at Rocky Knoll.  I had planned on going to that Mass after I saw it on the schedule.  Then Alice, the wife of one of the other residents, Claude, who was at Plymouth Care the same time that Dick was three years ago, asked if I wanted to go and if I knew how to get there.   So we went together this morning.
It is a nice intimate mass with residents and volunteers.    I have decided to volunteer to bring patients down to the mass as long as Dick is there.   I should be able to help for four to 8 weeks which would make me feel useful.

I left there at 3PM so that I could take a drive over to Falls to visit with Mother for a bit.   She is looking good too.   She says she feels weak but does not have any real aches or pains and is just grateful that she can be in her own home and still has her wits about her.   We had such a good talk.    I figure that next Monday I will be able to start back to Bible Study and to our visits.   Then she will get weekly updates on Dick.

So.  Home again, I fixed a bit of supper and have been doing this blog and answering phone calls.   My friend Katherine from Ireland called.   We had a grand visit.   She and her son Tony were so gracious to this Yankee Girl when I was in Ireland last.

God bless you all continued thanks for your prayers.    They are keeping us lifted up, I know.

Mary

A much better day today.    Dick is still not sleeping well and of course the problems have not magically disappeared.   But there are improvements.

He is getting therapy every day.   They have to use the lift to get him to and from the bed and the wheel chair.  So the exciting time will be when he can transfer himself.   I am sure we will move very slowly, especially until next Friday, when he sees Dr. Fehrman and gets the bandage off and an idea of how the healing is going.   In the meantime, the other stump has swollen a bit too so they are wrapping it so that it till fit into the new prosthesis.

Tim, from Wisconsin Prosthetics, will come to evaluate on Tuesday at one PM.   So everything is in the works.

I haven't done anything BUT be with Dick so I have no other news so I will sign off and see what happens tomorrow.

God love you.

Mary

Well, the end of another day.   It was a bit better.  

I went over to Rocky Knoll after Jody got here to take Dick's prosthesis and some of the stockings that go with it so he would have them for his therapy sessions if they were needed.   As it turns out, the stump on his left leg is swollen too, so they are going to wrap it in an ace bandage to help bring it down before Tim from Wisconsin Prosthesis comes to see him next Tuesday at 1PM.    (See, things are falling in place a bit.)

I stayed for a bit then came home again to lock up after Jody left and to finish some of the projects that I am trying to get done around here, such as bill paying.

I left shortly after noon to go to the bank and meet my bank friends for lunch.   They were unaware of the surgery, though Marlene knew that it was imminent.   So I updated them and enjoyed the rest of the hour being with friends who understand and know when to talk and when to talk about something else. 

I went directly from there back to Rocky Knoll and spent the afternoon and part of the evening with him.   He is so glad to have me there that I hate to leave, but I get so tired.   I watched his physical therapy session and we had dinner together.   I brought a salad from home for my dinner rather than buy dinner there tonight.    I will vary that.

There are still problems but with the long weekend, I don't know how many can be solved soon.   I must be vigilant and have been trying to point out problems that I see.   They are very caring and are trying very hard to help him.

So we head in to the 4th of July weekend with some things better and some things at a standstill. 

Enjoy your holiday.  The weather is supposed to be hot but OK and guess what?   I think the corn is at least almost "knee high by the 4th of July."   Of course the big thing is going to be if the farmers were able to get enough crop in.

Gold love you

Mary

I was much too tired to blog last night.   Sorry.

Dick was transferred to Rocky Knoll yesterday afternoon.    It was not an easy transfer for him but he is there.   The staff is wonderful  and we were delighted to find that Courtney, one of the nurses that was at Plymouth Care Center, is now in charge of the nurses during the day at Rocky Knoll. 

So, today was a very busy day.   Dick got into his routine, a bit anyway.   He got bathed and dressed.  They brought his breakfast to him but he and I went to the dining room for lunch together.    The meal,  was quite good and the dining room is very pleasant.  He has to be moved from his bed to the wheel chair with the Hoyer Lift, the same as the last time.   This will continue until he can transfer by himself.

This afternoon, both occupational and physical therapy staff evaluated him so he is on his way to independence.  He is anxious to be home, so I know that he will work hard to get here.   Today, he was so tired though.

Every day will get better (I Hope!)   We've actually been saying that for a while.   But with all the support and prayers lifting us up I know that everything will be Okay.

So.   Til tomorrow.   God love you

Mary

Tuesday done.  

I got to the hospital at about 8:30.   I got up at 6:30.  Showered, took care of Roxie, ate breakfast and took out the trash.

Dick said he had a rough night but was still feeling better than he did yesterday.    He still has some discomfort in his chest but it has eased.   His breathing is still a bit rough but that too is improving.    He is still on antibiotics, fluids and oxygen.   We still do not know how long he will be at Sheboygan Memorial.

Therapy is coming in to do small things with him now, so he will be maintaining his muscle tone.   He has to move slow because he is so weak but he is trying very hard.

I went to JMKAC for the meeting about the Irish Day that they are going to do in January.   It was a good break in the day.   We met from 11AM to noon and I had lunch at the Art Center with one of the ladies.   She introduced me to Ruth Kohler, the director of the Art Center.   Ruth remembers Dick well.

This is going to be an exciting event and I am able to provide lots of help with many things truly Irish, or I know where to look.   They want me to read my poetry also.   I will enjoy that and sharing some of the great poets also.   I think it would be good to be able to let people know the importance of poets, musicians and storytellers in old Ireland.

So I spent the afternoon with Dick and we had dinner together before I came home for the night.   It is almost bedtime again and I am grateful.

Take care of yourselves.    You are all so special to me.

God love you.

Mary

Another day at the hospital.    Last night, Dick started experiencing pain in his chest on the left side.    He was really uncomfortable.   So another battery of tests and another uncomfortable night for him.    By the time I arrived in the morning they had eliminated heart.   During the morning they did a Cat Scan and  eliminated a blood clot.    Glory be to God, it is "just" pneumonia again.  That can be cured.

Now that he has antibiotics for the pneumonia and diuretics to help clear the fluid build up in the lungs, I believe that he will start improving noticeably.   

Dr. Phelan sad that Dick will not be leaving for Rocky Knoll for at least two days.   Not until he feels that Dick is strong enough.

Therapy is coming in already and that will help keep his physical strength up.   His appetite is improving.  He had fruit and toast for breakfast and chicken stir fry for lunch. 

I left at about 5PM tonight so that I can get to bed earlier and be ready for tomorrow.   The days are SO long.   I have a meeting for CWI - in Sheboygan- at 11AM to 12:30PM tomorrow.   So I will go and that will break up the day.

I stopped to see Mom for just a few minutes on the way home.   I knew that she would feel better hearing about Dick from me.   

So, it is almost 9 and I have determined that I am going to bed then, no matter what.

So.  Till tomorrow's report.  I love you all.

Mary

This will be short and sweet as I am again tired and need to get rested up.

The days don't get much easier.    I slept until after 7AM, then got up, ate, showered, checked my emails and made a couple of calls, then headed out to the Hospital.    I got there between 9 and 9:30AM, just in time to walk out of Intensive Care with him as he was stable enough to be moved down to the second floor surgery recovery floor.

He is in room 261, the same room he started in.  The phone in his room is 920-451-5261. 

He slept most of the day.   I did crossword puzzles and sewed and did a bit of studying on Morgan Llewelyn's 1916 as he dozed.    After lunch, he and I got to wondering about therapy and his sitting in a chair to relieve his bottom discomfort.  So I checked.    I am glad I did as the information on that had gotten buried in the pile of papers and we would not have had the therapy at all.   He still needs an evaluation but something is happening.   Bobbie came to visit at about 3 PM so I wasn't alone all day.

Bill was frying out pork chops for them so she left at about 5PM to prepare the side dishes.   Rosemary potatoes, she mentioned.   That sounds good.

I left for 6PM Mass at St. Clements at 5:30or so.  That was an experience.   I got there and discovered that it is the Spanish Mass.    The Mass is the Mass so the format is the same all over the world.  And they did have an English translation in the Missal so I was able to follow the readings.   The sermon was mostly a loss though I did get that this is a big feast in the church.  The Body and Blood of Christ.     The music was lovely.   I couldn't sing along, really but they clap a lot too and I could do that.    Nice service but very poorly attended.

So home again.    I must rest for tomorrow.   Hopefully all will go well tonight with Dick and he will feel better than today.

Thanks for all your prayers and love

Mary