givincare

Stroke Caregiver - female
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Everything posted by givincare

  1. givincare

    MISSING THE POINT

    I wonder, is a person's ability to be optomistic is generally in direct perportion to one's level of recovery? I don't know the answer. Sometimes I think it must be easier to be optomistic if you can do more and have more of your former life back. But then I look at my husband...never willing to give up. Is he optomistic, or does he simply know something that I do not? Kristen
  2. Heres to a great time out, and more to come! Kristen
  3. givincare

    National Night Out

    Butch, sometimes I feel our caregiver experiences are on parallel universes. I don't know how long Lisa has had her feeding tube, but I know it has to be in for a least 5 weeks before it can be removed. And at our hospital, the only person who could remove it was the same medical team who put it in. So see if you can find out who did it, their number and contact them if you are getting nowhere with Bayshore. It was all I could do to keep Patrick in the hospital and rehab center. He finally got to the point where all he would try to communicate was about "WHEN". I literally heard that question so I often every day I told him I would have a meltdown if he asked me again because I couldn't answer it. Oh well, the meltdown lasted about 10 minutes and I was in need of a good cry. Do your best to keep her there, but I guess we have to weigh what is better for her physically against what is better for her emotionally. Good Luck, Kristen
  4. In order of preferrence, Fort Collins, Loveland, or Greeley. Because Greeley is my least favorite choice, it's probably where I'd end up. His brother is in Loveland. We try to visit at least one a year if possible. Of course this year, his brother's family has been out four times to see us. (They have no desire to move to Illinois, LOL) We love going there, and when we drive home, I watch the mountains fade into the distance from the rear view mirror, and every time I know I have seen the last of the mountains for that trip, a little piece of me stays behind.... I wish we were there now. Kristen
  5. Thanks Jean, he is doing so well, right now. He held his right arm up above his head for a few seconds without assistance the other day, he seems to be using common object words more, and rarely uses his cane in the house anymore. We still have a HUGE way to go- but these are the "little" things that keep you from giving up along the way. Kristen
  6. I am glad you had a chance to go have some fun. You have to take it when it comes and I am glad you were able to enjoy it!! Kristen
  7. Tell Chris we said "WAY TO GO, and GO KICK SOME A** AT OUT PATIENT THERAPY!!!" Kristen
  8. givincare

    Blahhhsss

    I haven't had a stroke so I can't say much about the effects of one personally. But I can totally relate to feeling alone, not having someone to pal around with and not being satisfied because some things in my life have stalled. I know that all these things won't change by themselves, but sometimes it's hard (and scary, too) to try to make a change. I hope you realize though, you have never came across in any post or blog as anything but a sweet, caring person. Try not to be so hard on yourself. Kristen
  9. Thanks Guys! Denny, hadn't thought about just letting him put things in the oven rather than taking them out. Next week on my days off I think we will begin cooking 101. Maybe I'll start with the break apart pillsbury cookies. He used to make them all the time. Hopefully the familiarity will be an advantage. Kristen
  10. givincare

    MEDICAL MANIA

    One of Patrick's doctor's had a cornicopia of magazines- including the up to date weekly gossip rags. These are fun to "read" in the waiting room- since the only actual reading you need to do (and usually have time for anyway) is the picture caption. Then they remodeled and removed all the magazines. The only option is "light therapy" literature.YIPPEE. Kristen
  11. givincare

    THE INTRUDER

    Kim Congratulations/I'm sorry (please apply whichever term applies best at any given time). I am sure there will be times when there is a feeling of relief and triumph to be moving on, as well of times of loss for what you had hoped would be. Remember your friends here will stand by you during both of those times. Kristen
  12. Congratulations on another step in the right direction. I am sure with practice and time PT will have him on his feet again. Try not to worry about whether he will be able to or not- it is beyond your control. All you can do is focus on the accomplishments he is making, to keep him looking towards the next goal, and never let him quit trying. Kristen
  13. An elephant ear is a large piece of fried dough (about the size of a dinner plate) that is brushed with butter then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. It is in the basic shape of an elephant ear. They are YUMMIE (and nutritious too, lol)- Kristen
  14. There was one more very important thaing I can't believe I left out. after we had changed clothes and were ready to go investigate the house, my husband gave me a saphire ring. It was our fifth wedding anniversary and he had been saving up money for the ring for almost 6 monthes. We had promised not to buy gifts (we usually don't, our little get aways are our gift), but he had bought me this ring. He had it for a few weeks before he gave it to me, and he had apparently showed it to EVERYONE. He can't keep a secret very well, so his way of not telling me was to tell everyone else. It was so funny to have all our family say, " It's a beautiful ring" when I was telling them about it over the phone. Thay had ALL seen it!!! Makes it's a bit harder to show off, but I did it anyway... PROUDLY!!! Kristen
  15. It's usually "pop" here in Illinois. When I lived in NC a few years back, I went to a grocery store and as I was leaving, I asked if they had a pop machine. The girl kept saying "what?" so I kept repeating untill it occurred to me she WASN'T deaf, so I said "a soda machine" and them she got it. It was definately "soda" there. Kristen
  16. Drinking out of the hose is safe unless it's one of those hoses that flattens out when not in use because the material is treated with 'something'. Oh, to be a kid again, playing in the water! Maybe I'll do that soon... Iwill leave my shirt on, though!
  17. P.S. Today I added a link to the wesite my husband's brother built for him. It is very cool, professional, and a nice way to give a brief update on Patrick's progress to friends and aquaintances. It does have ways to accept donations WHICH I AM IN NO WAY ASKING ANYONE TO DO. Please do not feel I posted his website to solicite money. I just thought people might want to find out more about him, and read some of the wonderful things his family and friends have posted. I have not written too much about the PERSON PATRICK yet, still not quite ready for that one. Visiting can also serve as an idea for something you could do for your loved one. It is listed as GO PATRICK! under Meet My Husband. Thanks All!
  18. givincare

    Tell The Truth

    Hey Butch, I am sorry you had a crappy day. Let me be one to remind you that YOU ARE APPRECIATED for all the selfless things you do, and for what it's worth, "Happy Father's Day". Call a trusted friend and make new plans and tell them that you REALLY NEED a change of pace for a few hours. Hang in there. Kristen
  19. Thank you both. Your responses made me cry, which is something I've been needing to do but just haven't been able to. Definitely in a "funk" lately. I know our family cares and tries to be supportive, but it's difficult to explain to them WHY I am depressed and have them get it. They all tell me what a wonderful job I am doing and how they don't know how I have been so strong through all this. I guess it's all catching up to me now. Not only is it catching up to me, it's jumped on my shoulders and told me to carry it. I know things will get better, I am just scared and feeling alone right now. And I do know that being with my husband is the one thing that will get me through. I just need a break. A maid, chef, chauffeur, nanny and personal trainer would be nice too!