azrabbit

This sounds liks a great dish to make camping along with some cornbread in the dutch oven. Ellen

I think my attitude about the trip would have been better if I didn't have to come home to deal with business and then my Dad situations. It takes a good four - five hours each time I have to run to his place for something and longer, if I have to take him somewhere. So returning home with a work load waiting and adding Dad to the mix just put me over the edge. Day spa...there's a thought. In the meantime, I took my long awaited hot bath, had a glass of good wine and slept well. Thanks for the good thoughts.

We made it to New Mexico and back. Driving the motor home went well and I even towed a little 4 x 4 car for us to run around in when we arrived. We stopped at farm stands and bought fresh vegetables and just picked apples for our dinner. When we arrived at the camp site it started to pour rain. So, I hurried to unhitch the tow car and get the RV hooked up to electric, water and sewer. Walked the dogs and cleaned the mud off them and then fixed Denny a quick snack. Then I finished setting up camp by putting out the awning, chairs, getting Denny's scooter unloaded and put together and lastly put out the ever important ground mat to keep the dirt out of the camper. The rain stopped and we decided to sit outside and listen to the river. After all, I paid extra for a premium spot along the river. Within moments, a man on a tractor comes chugging up the river and begins to shore of the river back at the campsite next to us. Well, I am sure it was needed or else he wouldn't be disturbing us while we enjoyed our premium spot. Denny was tired, so we went back inside and he got ready for an early night. The next day, I moved the HUGE wooden picnic table so it would be easier for Denny to sit at and set up the grill and fire ring. We were sitting outside, watching the dogs enjoy the river when here comes the tractor again. Needless to say, I was peeved. :Tantrum: I went up to the office and complained that my premium spot was far from premium. Long story short, they offered me another site, very secluded and about 1/2 a mile up the river. Yep, you guessed it, I had to take down everything I put up and put away everything I took out. Rehitch the little car, load the scooter, unhook electric, water and sewer and move. THEN set it all up again. The new spot was so lovely and indeed secluded. But not secluded enough to prevent the MALE RV'rs in their one piece coveralls from huddling together to WATCH me set up our camp AGAIN. Did they offer to help - heck no! Just stared. We eventually got down to the job of camping. Denny figured out how to fish with one hand. He would cast with his good arm, then hurry and stick the pole in the tube of his sling on the other hand, then reel in with his good hand. Worked great as long as I was there to rig the line, bait the hooks and get the tangles out when things didn't work out quite right. Oh, did I mention I carried the chair to the river bank, the fishing tackle box, the pool, the snacks and managed two large dogs on leashes. Can you say SHERPA? That is just how I felt the entire trip. We took one day to visit a Women's Cooperative Woolen Shop. They spin the wool and weave the most beautiful rugs. I decided I deserved one for all the work I was doing while on my "relaxing" camping trip. We visited another farm stand and filled up our freezer with roasted Hatch Green Chili. If you like spicy - I can take care of you. Also bought another bushel of apples to take home to make apple sauce and apple butter. We arrived home at 3:30pm to an urgent message from one of my clients needing information for a 1pm conference call the next day. You all know the drill, unload the hubby, unload his medical gear feed him, medicate him and get him to bed. THEN, unload the perishable things from the RV. Come back to the computer and start work. Got to bed at 1am, up at 5am but was able to deliver what they client needed by noon the next day with an hour to spare. My work schedule has not slowed down. The next day, I get a call from the home where my Dad lives (it is a residential group home) telling me he was ill. Dad is also a stroke survivor and I was his caregiver for 10 years prior to my husband's stroke. Drop everything, arrange for someone to be with Denny and leave to take my Dad to the VA clinic. If you have ever had to get medical care on a walk in basis at the VA, you know how long we waited. Dad had a UTI from the catheter he has to wear because of his prostate cancer progression. They prescribed antibiotics, then sent us to the lab, then back to the clinic and then to talk to the pharmacist and then to pick up the meds. 5 hours later we were on our way. Saturday the home calls again just as Denny and I were sitting down for dinner with my sister 60 miles away from Dad's. He was very ill and needed to go to the ER. Load Denny in the car again and off we go. Drop Denny at home, get him in bed, medicated etc. and then go get Dad. 2:00am he is admitted to the hospital and I head home. Oh yes, did I mention I had that bushel of apples crying out to not be wasted. Got the applesauce made and in the freezer. Gave up on apple butter. So, now I am trying to figure out how to run my business so I can pay our bills, take care of Denny, take care of Dad and keep sane. ARRGGGGHHH - I would love to go take a nice relaxing bath, but I want to wait until Denny is snoring so I can REALLY relax, that is unless the phone rings and Dad needs something. :snorkel: Photos of the camping trip in our gallery...

I am so glad you both are finding ways to enjoy your time together. I used to take my laptop computer in and a movie to watch. I would pick up dinner on the way and we would have dinner and a movie. I was lucky because for the first 5 weeks of D's rehab, I had a bed in his room, so pretty much just stayed there. We would both get comfy in our "beds" and watch the movie. Saying some prayers that Trev will get to come home soon!

Gosh - I would just be happy to have my house clean let alone decorate it. I guess you could call my current style "eclectic dust bunnies who have been here since mid century!

Oh the loneliness - how I can relate and I know Denny can as well. Being so new to this - only 8 months since D's stroke, some days it is all I can do to manage the day to day tasks. The other day was a rare thunder storm, my favorite kind of day to curl up with a book and cuddle with D and listen to the rain. Some of our best talks were during storms. I hustled D out to the garage so we could sit and watch the rain. The silence was deafening - just the rain, thunder and lightening cracks. Not a word from Denny. I was so sad. Wish I could send you some of the rain. Living in the desert I understand the plants crying for a drink. Don't dimiss the respite for yourself. Keep all your options open. As for gifts - does he like music? What about CD's? Denny likes to get magazine subscriptions for magazines that have a lot of photos. He also likes to receive coffee table books with photos.

I will pray for you tonight Ann - specifically - for some peace and some rest.

Ann, my Dad took aracept as well. For him the result was almost immediate, and the documentation for that medication indicates that as well. For others, it takes some more time. Whatever, how facinating to have these conversations. Denny always asks me, "How Long?" "How long what?" I say. Then he points to his head, mouth, the length of his arm and leg. I ask if he means how long since his stroke and he says yes. I tell him and then he asks how long again, and I know he wants to know when he will "get better." That is always the hard question to answer.

Great news on his shoulder!!! That is so exciting. As for the doggy incident - I agree with Sue, by sharing your good news with the neighbor, you can move beyond her complaining. I used to worry so much about other people, but have now decided that my first priority is Denny. I hope you have a good evening and good dreams. Just think if Trev continues to improve his arm function you are going to be getting a TWO ARMED HUG. I can't wait for that day - to be held with BOTH arms again.

Thanks for being so encouraging and understanding Jean & Sue. Annie - Denny calls me Baby a lot also, but mostly Honey. He can finally say my name, but it is a hard one to get started. First word he ever said after the stroke was my daughters name. She flew in from Washington within hours of his stroke. When she walked into his room in ICU, he said, "Carrie." Bonnie - THANKS for the fishing advice. I was going to take Denny to Cabella's. They opened a new store here and has been promoted as a "destination store." I will look for ZEBCO reels there. I don't want to spend a bunch in case it is a passing phase, but what the heck! I promise photos.

You can learn to drive Chris! An automatic transmission will help. Just think, I learned to drive the monster motor home! Keep us posted...

I wasn't going to blog again until we got back from New Mexico and I had something to write about. Since I am here again, obviously that changed. As you all know we have been enjoying Denny's increasing language skills. Some things are coming out pretty humorous. For instance when I asked him what he wanted to eat the other night, he replied, "Itchy Knees." Took a while and with his help pulling his eye back into a small slit and saying, "Ah So" I figured out he wanted Chinese food. We both had a good laugh at that one. His other new word is "jalopoly" (sounds like monopoly) which means jalopy. We bought a small 1987 4 x 4 Suzuki Samurai to tow behind the motorhome and that is what he calls the car. The trouble is our son likes to drive it and every time we come home and it is gone, Denny asks, "Where my jalopoly?" However, last night we were watching the movie The Notebook. Actually I was reading the book club book and Denny was half asleep and half watching the movie. At the end of the movie, he took my hand and said, "I never forget YOU honey. Never forget." Well the tears started to pour. Forget that the movie is a tear jerker as it is, but add in his heartfelt expression of love - I was a basket case. He went to sleep rather quickly after that, but I have been up all night. Whew!!! As a "caregiver" we often feel as if our love goes unnoticed and that our partners are just plain dependent on us. Just yesterday we had a tiff because he was trying to clean and organize the garage which translates into start the job so Ellen will get out here and finish. I was tired and didn't want to clean the garage - I wanted to just enjoy my Saturday. Then to end the day with his deepest feelings expressed so beautifully - here I go again, tearing up. Thanks for listening - hope I have time for a nap today since I spent all night basking in the warmth of his words. :cloud9:

It was pretty exciting June - thanks for caring.

I am not a fisherperson myself, so this should be good for some laughs. I was always attracted to fly fishing after reading "A River Runs Through It," but I think tying flies is more up my alley. Plastic worms sound good to me - after all they come is such great colors. We are going out today to order the back up camera for the motor home. Then it gets installed on Tuesday along with an outdoor shower. I think that will make it much easier for Denny to shower without having to climb into the shower/bath combo inside the camper. Don't worry - we have an enclosure for it that I can put a chair inside. But watch out, if he has too many beers he may just be happy to bath like the bears...

Gosh Sue, I wonder if I will have the strength to look back some day. Denny created a scrap book of all the cards and letters he received while at the hospital and during rehab. Since he is a photographer, he was even taking photos of his progress and of the visitors. I remember one of the first shots he took, it was of his usless legs. To the average viewer, is looks like a mistake of a photo, but I know what it is. So hard to look at. Thanks for sharing those moments in your life that took you down the road to this strange life we are all living. We all learn from each other and I learn so much from you and your fighting spirit!