My family has way too many birthdays the first week in October: My sister, my nephew, my niece and a brother. Everyone was calling for their special day: let's do this, let's do that. The calendar was getting jammed packed. Of course, Mary Beth and Melissa were coming for the weekend, but couldn't be here during the week for the other stuff.
Then as I looked at the plans, there was no way Bruce would be able to keep up. So being the oldest and having full veto power-lol, told Mary and Meliss
We finally have some good weather predicted. Cool, but sunny. Jen laundered our comforter and I brought up a space heater to avoid having to turn the furnace on, got the flannels and sweatshirts out-Fall in New England, nothing like it.
Mary Beth in New Hampshire is just about at half peak. We here, further south, some early Maples changing, but that is it. We have just come off a week of rain and cold. I am so sorry for the Southwest with their drought conditions, but we here in the NE are
Bruce has discovered a new interest and delight.
We have been watching that "Extreme Couponing" and it seems to draw Bruce's interest. We discuss the psychological considerations of this, but with his Yankee upbringing and poor roots, seems this has drawn his attention.
Last two weeks he has taken our weekly grocery list and turned it into a project-lol!
Bruce always pulled the coupon brochures from the Sunday papers for me, along with the crossword. He was saving the crossword for m
Last week at this time I blogged that Bruce and I were on the beach, in sweatshirts enjoying the 66 degree weather. Tonight, I have the AC on-77 degrees. We are back in a hot, humid, rainy pattern for another week or so.
Some much going on since Hurricane Irene several weeks back. I wrote tonight how I don't recognize a nice, normal routine until I get tossed out of it.
Our friend Barry, who stroked this summer is now home. His wife has arranged the first floor to accomodate the hospital
I grew up in a small town in Connecticut right on Long Island Sound. Yes I am a water baby. Anyone living in this town took swimming lessons and was comfortable in the water since we were about five. Swimming pools came later on, for most of us the summer was on the beach. While protected by Long Island we still had our share of Hurricanes, floods. In the early 60's the Army Corps of Engineers came in and dredged our shoreline. Our high tides were further out, thus protecting the summer homes. N
So here I sit tonight, exhausted but too tired to go to bed and just need to get this out.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts. Julie and I had just finished chatting when I found out.
Bruce and I had a terrific weekend. Did a lot of housekeeping-the big stuff and then off to our Town 4-H fair with the scooter. Scooter went over all surfaces and Bruce has a great control of it. He also says it "feels" safe.
The Ditropan is kicking and even Bruce mentioned that "the pi
Oh, yes there is an outside world. I had almost forgotten and it has only been just short of three days.
I finished up after blogging to all of you and went to bed. Knew I was in for a ride. As I said, worst to be expected here in CT was between 2am and 2pm. First tree went down at 2:19am. You go Weather Channel! Right outside our BR window at the corner of the house where all our power comes in and the same tree, thank you, that caused the fence problem two weeks ago. That tree was schedule
Saturday evening: 7:50 pm EDT. First bands of Irene now coming in. Just checked my gutters and leaders and now it is in the hands of Mother Nature.
I think with the disaster of Katrina, everyone in authority is now on board with early warnings and that is such good news for those of us in handicapped homes, who have sole responsibility for home and hearth.
I am a panic queen at best, even Pre-stroke. After our horrid winter and the sheer terror of a roof caving in and roof, wall damage,
Interesting week developing, and not by choice, mind you.
Bruce's Godson has had my car for two weeks. He totalled his and has to get back and forth to work and school. With all he does for us, I of course said yes. I needed it back yesterday to take Kira to the Vet while Bruce and Jen went to the pool. 8am no car, Jen drops me at work, I drop a dime and a friend of the Godson drops the car at my work. I am not a happy camper. First off, someone else driving the car-yes I know him and he is
I didn't know quite where to post this, so figured a blog would work.
You all know I purchased a scooter for Bruce last November to help him with his Car Shows. This is one of the few things he continues to show interest in and I can not push him in the WC over grass. I searched and test drove until I found the right scooter for him. It was a suggestion from a caregiver here that I try out the Elite Go-Go. We test drove it at the Scooter Store here in CT and then purchased it. Obviously over
Hah! What a day and I need to share it. Mostly because of my own responses to all of it and the fact that it seems I am finally getting a handle on my emotions and lack of patience (sure, Deb; wishful thinking-but just maybe).
Bruce's Godson blew up yet another car. Now at 20 years old, this is just bad luck. He hit a deer, drove his Mom's car and the engine dropped out-something this particular model is known for; some axle thing went in his SUV-again, he did not hit anything and then just
Things easing up a but here, maybe I can get some house cleaning sometime this month.
Bruce's scooter batteries arrived and dear Carl came and changed them out, bless him. Not an easy task. Manual again says charge 8 to 12 hours and light goes off at 6 hours. Now I am really mad. Assembled everything and took it for a ride. And guess what, so far OK. It is parked and plugged in. Now it is just a matter of fighting with Pride-the manufacturer, whose instruction manual is wrong. But Scooter St
I get a call from Cathy who tells me she has called 911 and Bruce is on the floor in the bathroom. Off I go from work and met Jen in the parking lot, who figures out immediately what is going on and actually beats me there. This has not happened in a long time, as a matter of fact, we all have been working on letting Bruce do more for himself.
As we are waiting for 911, Cathy and Jen remind me that we just upped Bruce's Baclofen dosing. In all fairness, we girls could have gotten him up, but
Well as most of you know from Chat last night, been an interesting five days here at Chez Sparks.
After the incredible week we had, preparing for Bruce's college roommate's visit, Bruce went straight down hill starting on Friday afternoon. I have decided that when he is on duty and has a list of to-do's, he just functions better. Left on his own, he tanks. We did all our usual stuff and then the extra to prepare for Steve's arrival. Friday is my long day at work and Friday evenings are alway
Lot's of interesting doings this past month. Three weeks ago I suggested to Bruce that he add a goal every week for 1/2 hour daily. I would not prompt or intercede. But the TV would be off. He agreed and chose reading. He was faithful to the deal the first week. Following Sunday, chose to add another 1/2 hour of reading and again held true to the deal.
Last Sunday, Mister says he is going to walk for his new goal. Well knock me down and when I picked myself up, agreed to help. It has been ni
I have been thinking the past few days mainly about the condition I was in 17 months ago when I first joined here. I was in a puddle on the floor. Bruce had been home six months. We had finally gotten out of the hoyer, therapies were here at home. Leo and Jen came every day and also worked two hours with him. I was sleeping on an Aerobed and then a $60.00 twin next to his hospital bed. Best advice I got was first year is the hardest and in all fairness, that really extended a bit, but yes, come
The kids next door are in their pool for the first time this year. They are having a blast. Wear their little butts out. Their Dad is a lawyer, their Mom a nurse. Wonderful neighbors, but a very hectic life style. They also have four Yorkshire Terriors. Mary Beth calls them the little puppies. Yappers, but when one is alone in a house with a disabled person, one is happy to have the extra warning of change in the neighborhood-lol. Little Sarah, behind us, has been in her pool for about a week no
Have to laugh. Last week I am hesitating to blog, since we are in transition and things were kind of quiet. Boy, be careful what we wish for-lol.
Sunday, Father's Day we were off to a car show, which Bruce loves. I used to read the newspaper while he was in therapy and had all the dates. This year, I don't get much of a chance to read the newspaper, but did find one for Father's Day. Spent all day Saturday preparing. Checked out the new scooter, then broke it down and packed it. Since I neve
Have hesitated to blog as we are in such a transition here, don't quite know where anything is going. Think most is positive, but hate to become too comfortable-lol. As all us Caregivers do.
After a month of talking to Bruce and asking him for input as to what he wants, we have settled into the routine I had had in place, except the volunteering. He continues to swim with Jen twice a week, his work with me twice a week. With the summer schedule in place at the Animal Haven, Wednesday is the
Had a wonderful surprise this weekend as my darling sister, Mary Beth called Thursday and said she was on her way. Her daughters and husband had to work this weekend. So since Melissa, the youngest, has baseball tournaments coming up, Mary took her free weekend for a bit to come to visit.
We had been talking the past couple of weeks about the current transition Bruce and I are undergoing. How frustrating and difficult it is, for me, to try and reconfigure how to manage this house and Bruce a
What a crazy 48 hours it has been.
Tuesday morning Jen came. We had a chat. Her Friday time with Bruce was totally unacceptable and even Leo noticed it when she brought Bruce to our work.
Up side is I wrote out for Bruce what I thought was the best routine for him at this time. It includes everything from if no pool, then and Estim schedules, etc. What I want is Bruce's input and he has been doing just that. For instance, he would like his shower before he goes to work, not the night bef
Bad couple of days here. Last two weeks, one caregiver on vacation, one who's Dad died. I had cared for Cathy's Dad when he was at our SNF and her Mom retired from our dietary department, so I was close to the family. It was a blessing. Dad is finally out of pain and at peace. Cathy and her Mom were worn to a frazzle taking care of him.
So it was Leo and I for two weeks and what a grand two weeks it was! Pool, work and our volunteering with me daytime. No complaints, just did his work. Leo c
Today was our second day volunteering at our Animal Haven. Two blogs from me within a week either means big trouble or big fun. This is the fun one.
Last night, a very young Calico gave birth at the shelter to 6 babies. One did not make it and another had the cord wrapped around his leg, so Vet will evaluate that in good time.
Like last week, the welcome was wonderful. They were thrilled to have us back. The bulldog puppies had two of their prospective owners in to socialize and bond. It
Several weeks ago our Ruth mentioned she was taking William to volunteer at a local shelter for Poodles. She shared their experience with all of us and it was so positive, that I called our local Animal Haven to see if they accepted volunteers. Bruce, like William is an animal lover. Bruce loved his Pet Therapy days at the Rehab, but to take on a dog or puppy at this point is not reasonable.
Animal Haven is local to us here in New Haven, CT. They are non-profit, privately owned. They do not
A very difficult week. Seems we get on a roll where we are working on things and making progress, then everything changes. I know: we plan, God laughs.
Week started well. We went for our swim and saw our friend Barry. Tuesday, Jen begged out of the pool, but did take Bruce to get a new book he wanted. Tuesday at dinner time, Bruce told me the TV program he was watching was more important than answering me about dinner. I had a meltdown. I had spent an hour in the kitchen making a really nice
