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William's journey

Entries in this blog

Ran out of steam....R&R on Sat.

Friday wore us both out. I skipped William's regular Sat routine. It was just sleep and rest. Sunday we head off to church at 7AM. As usual William is asking at 4AM is it time to get up? I want to go to church. I remind him like I do every Sunday morning. it is too early. I want to sleep until 6:30AM. But, he keep bugging me every hour until it is time to get up. William loves to go to church on Sundays. I am very glad that I am not working as many Sundays anymore. I had read our

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ruthpill

4Am is it time to go????

We had to be at the YMCA for a trip. The meeting time is 5:30AM...the bus leaves at 6A. That means that we have to get up early. William is excited. We are going to see a dairy farm, a candy store, a jail and a courthouse, and a bakery. This is a long day in LaGrange, Texas. A very historic town. William is managing very well today. He is able to make it up the wagon to go on a hay ride. Amazing? He is not able to sleep the entire day. We are scheduled to get back at 5:30P.  

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ruthpill

The dentist.

I had the day off. Lots of stuff planned. We had to call AJ and let him know that William would not be free for lunch today. First on the list. Fasting blood work , this means early before anything pops in the mouth. Up and dressed for the pool...but we make it to the lab first. i wasn't sure if it opened at 7A or 8A. because we have to use a different lab for insurance this year than we did last year. I had learned their schedule. We were lucky. They opened at 7:30AM and we got ther

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ruthpill

Cirque Du Soleil.....

I was hesitant to buy tickets to Cirque du soleil. You know the old argument. It may be more trouble that it is worth. I was worried about the parking and the handicapped seating. but, I finally talked myself into going with prodding from my son. He told me that everybody loves it. You have to call for wheelchair accessible seating. you cannot just order on line. I called and asked for availability of tickets. She asked what night. I said, i am off on Tues night. This was Monday that

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ruthpill

water therapy....

I just read an article in the stroke magazine. It was extolling the benefits of hydro therapy for stroke patients. I know this for a fact. This is the therapy of choice for me. I get William to the pool about 5 days of the week. I started this 5 months after his stroke. He has really made tremendous strides.   Quotes from the article. "the healing benefits of waer" "greater mobility. In water, body weight is decreased by up to 90 percent; buonyancy makes moving easier. Water supports

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ruthpill

William's birthday present

On March 10th. I gave William a manicure and a pedicure. He loved it. I also got him some ear buds to use at the gym. I am going to have him use it on the recumbant bike. Perhaps he will stay on longer because he is interested in the news or tv program. We will see.   Sat..we went out with some friends and had a nice birthday dinner.   We have had lazy day...the spring forward has gotten William tired.   Ruth

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ruthpill

March 10...william's birthday

Tomorrow is William's birthday. I have the day off work. But, I had to schedule a doctor's appointment since I have the day off. So we will make the appointment at 2:30P. This means that i have time in the morning for the pool The pool will be closed on Friday, Sat. Sun and monday. Maybe William get a break from the pool. Maybe not. I might bring him to a different location. I have to think about that. I really have to think of something special for thursday. Probably a special lu

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ruthpill

The painted churches of Texas.....

Friday we went on an outing and saw 4 different painted churches in Schulenberg. This was a long day. We left the house at 6:30A ...got to the YMCA at 7A and the bus left at 7:30A. William was excited to go. This is the 3rd time that we have been to the painted churches. It is a wonderful tour. I did alot of reading and research before the trip. I took lots of pictures and made a DVD of our trip. It is really spectacular. We got home at 5P. I told WIlliam that we needed to do the poo

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ruthpill

Sat and Sun....the last 2 days of my 4 day weekend

Sat. We went to the pool and had our hour session. We had to go and gas up the car. William got the day off and had some rest. He actually stayed up and watched TV. Finally at 6P he decided that he wanted to rest in bed. He forgot...we are going to a wedding reception tonight. at 7P I got him up and he wanted to get something to eat. I told him about the reception and he was willing to go. I dressed him up in a suit and I wore a nice pant outfit. I have found that pants are necessary

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ruthpill

The Grace Card

Today is Friday. We made it to the pool and did our hour of exercise. I had promised William a movie today. I announced that we would check out the movies on the way home. It seems that we an hour to waste.   We decide to get a bite to eat and then make it to the movies.   Time works out perfectly. The Movie (The Grace Card) worked out perfectly. William had no problem understanding it.   When we made it home. I put William to bed. He needs a rest after the pool and the movie.  

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ruthpill

thursday...a vacation day....

I had promised William a vacation day. This is a day spent as if we are tourists. I had the day off work. We woke up early and went to the pool. That is always a nececssary part of the day. We stayed for an hour and did our regular stuff. I announced that we would go directly to the museum of Natural Science or the art museum. william decided that the Natural Science museum was what he wanted to see. I found a handicap spot. Lucky us. We went in and decided to check out he I-max and t

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ruthpill

YMCA Sat as usual...

Early 50.....I get up and William is ready for the pool... I am so glad that he is ready and not recalcitrant about the pool this morning. I have so much to do today.   William has the usualy 20 laps. He has reduced the walk down to 20 from my expected 50. but that is OK. I just add extra activities to make our time string out for 1 hour. We do planks on the side of the pool. While William is standing on th e side of the pool I tell him belly to the wall...butt out. This is a stret

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ruthpill

valentines day lunch out early.

William and I were on our way home from the pool. William did a good job. He wanted to try the new Burger girl restaurant that is going to open. Well, it was not open yet. So, I suggested that we try the SaltGrass Steak house and celebrate Valentine's day.   I have to work Monday night and we are busy Monday during the morning. We are attending a CERT (Citizen emergency relief team) ...This is about getting ready for emergencies. It is good. This Monday we will learn about fires.  

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ruthpill

Missed caregiver chat last night.

William and I went on an outing with the YMCA to the Fine arts museum on Tuesday. This meant that I had to switch my work schedule.   We had a great time. The storm, came thru Houston around 6AM...lots of rain and wind and cold. But by 8:30A it had passed and we were in for a good day.   We learned alot about a few pictures (paintings) and had a fabulous lunch at Cleburns cafateria. The portions are so large that I ordered one and split it with William. What a shock...that place d

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ruthpill

handicapped parking....New law in Texas

The penalty for parking in handicapped parking will become stiffer in Texas. But, the big question is...Who is going to enforce this law??? I have seldome seen anybody get a ticket.   Actually, I was talking to a caregiver the other day. She got a ticket because she did not have the placard in her car when she used the spot. What is ironic is that she was going to the therapist and the same guard that always sees her...gave her a ticket. They need to give the tickets to the able bodied

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ruthpill

a Messy house....indicates a good caregiver???

I was just reading Sue's blog. I agree. A spotless house indicates that somebody is really working hard on the house. But, a messy house is my norm. This was a norm before William had a stroke. I will keep the floor and laundry and etc clean. I just don't bother with the dusting and the organizing. I wonder if I would do more housework if William had not had his stroke. I know the answer. NO!   I would find other stuff to do. I can always find other stuff to do.   Today, I g

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ruthpill

17th of January

Tomorrow is my birthday, the 18th of January. I don't expect to have anything special. I work in the morning and get home at 4:30P. You, know it is funny, I don't feel so old. I am told that I do not look as old as I am. It is hard to think about aging. But, what is middle aged?? I guess that that is what I am.   William is doing well. He is working very hard and it not giving me a hard time about the pool. We went today and had a good workout.   My work is crazy. I just transfe

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ruthpill

Rainey Sunday....lots of exercise

Today was pouring during the early morning hours. We usually leave for church at 7:30AM. The pouring rain...had me change my mind. I did not want to get drenched getting William to church. Using an umbrella is not feasible when you push a wheelchair and transfer a stroke surivior to and from the chair and lifting the chair into the trunk. I explained to William that I would be drenched.   I let William down,,,he really wanted to go to church. I used the time and let William sleep in. I

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ruthpill

New year 2011. January

We have been on two outings. Thurs. We went to the aquarium downtown Houston and toured the place and had lunch. It was a nice outing.   Friday, we had another outing. We went to a satellite site of the Houston Museum of Natural science in Sugarland. We had a great guide. Next we went to Rosenburg, Tx and viewed the railroad museum. William could not see everything because he could not make the stairs. I just took lots of picutures and showed him what he missed.   Next we went to the

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ruthpill

Getting rid of the hospital bed.... finally

I'm having the hospital bed picked up by charity tomorrow. They want me to be here from 8-5...Well I am willing to wait as long as they remove the bed. I didn't end up buying a new bed. I had my son and his friend move the bed from upstairs downstairs. Now , I have a sewing room upstairs.   I am taking advantage of the goodwill pickup. I have managed to get rid of 4 big bags of clothes and shoes that we do not use anymore. There is more that I should get rid of, but, That will be it for

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ruthpill

Help for the holidays...Hurray!!

My son is home for Christmas. He has been such a help with William. I have not had to use the caretakers this week, except for one day. He need to get out with his friends.   My son, Javid, is finishing his anethesiology residency in NY. What an experience for him to work with William. William is his step-day. He says that it takes so much work to get himself and William ready for the day. He has had William going for hours. William is really excited by the happenings of each day. He

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ruthpill

WHAT is too much PT??

I have William in PT again. I enjoy the new therapist, but, they expect too much. I have so many exercises to work on with William on a daily basis. I just cannot get it all done.   When I work the afternoon shift. I take William to the pool in the morning this is a 3 hour ordeal. 30 min to and from the YMCA. 1 hour in the water and 30-40 minutes to shower and dress. When we get home. William is exhausted and needs a rest. So he is down for 2 hours. Now it is lunch time. I try to ta

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ruthpill

Santa wonderland in Texas

William wanted to go on the YMCA outing. Friday we left the Y at 1PM headed for college Station for a hayride and lights. We stopped at a winery and had wine tasting. William loved this. He did the tasting twice. because half the group did the tasting while the other half went on a ride to see the vineyards. I decided that i could not get william up in the trolley. But, he loved the wine tasting. We went to a barbeque place for dinner. Had absolutely scrumptuous ribs, coleslaw and potat

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ruthpill

The end of 2010

I can't believe that it is the end of another year. But, I am ready to start a new year. I will be starting a new positiion in January. I am stepping down as Manager in charge and will become regular staff. this is free up alot of time for me. I am cutting my hours down to 30 hours. This will essentially give me an extra 1618 hours during the week. As manager you have to bring alot of work home and go in on days off. For example I just got a memo that a meeting has been scheduled for De

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ruthpill

December the 1st

Today is the first day of December. this brings such memories. William had his stroke on Dec. 13, 2008. It has been along journey. But, it is simply amazing how far he has come.   I was just reading that you can expect the most progress in the first months. I have found that with William he did not have the most progress in the first 3 months. He actually had more progress after he came home. He was in the SNIF unit for 2 months and came home in a wheelchair. Now, I do not use the whe

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ruthpill