Diary of Rehabiltation

On Fri, Oct 1, 2010
Dear Friends,
A few days have passed since our last note essentially because things are settling down a bit. I've been busy trying to get the house set up to accommodate Him, trying to keep him on the 1st floor and not have to go up/down stairs, trying to set up schedules, and limits, etc. Fortunately, we have friends and family that have pitched in to cook some dinners, gone to the grocery store, run errands, etc. I can't thank you enough. (Greg G. and Cathy, the chicken, rice and beans were delicious! I'd LOVE the recipe for those beans)

We had a big day today. We left at 10 a.m. and got back around 4:30 p.m. Went to the orthopedic surgeon regarding his broken radial bone in his left arm which is healing nicely, Thank goodness he doesn't need to keep wearing a sling, and he can begin mild exercising but might not regain all the strength or range of motion in that elbow (he goes back in 5 weeks for follow-up). And, he started rehab today: speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy. He did fairly well on the evaluation for PT and OT, showing that he needs some work. He shows needs especially in Speech therapy because of memory, concentration, cognitive problems, and communication glitches.
Cognitive problems include memory, reasoning, problem solving, speed of mental processing, judgment, attention and concentration.

Communication problems
Language and communications problems include: Inability to organize thoughts and ideas, trouble starting conversations, trouble following conversations

Sensory problems
He has ringing in the ears, difficulty recognizing objects, and a bit of trouble with balance.

We have homework to do 15 min. a session, 4 times a day, reading and some cognitive therapy sites on the computer, and short exercises like walking to the end of the block and back.
We are going to an Art Fair tomorrow for a while as an outing and a bit of exercise. We are sure to run into some friends there. Looking forward to it.
Until the next time...
Best...
Me and HeOct 2nd
Up at 7 a.m. Breakfast: omelet with asparagus, broccoli, onion, 2 slice whole grain toast, orange juice, green tea. Showered and shaved by 9:30 a.m. Did one cognitive exercise then he napped until 11 am.
At 11 am we went to the art fair and we made one loop around then went to see friends Kate and Jim who live on the same street as the fair was held. Got home at 12:45 pm. and had lunch. I wore myself out pushing and pulling that wheelchair--lots of work on the back. Oooo…But He got the nap, napping 1:45 until just after 3 pm. Then we played "follow Him around the house." hahah

4:00-4:15 pm playing memory game (brain stimulation, cognitive), then dinner, a little TV and bed at 9:00 pm. I stayed up until midnight working on paperwork and searching for clues to financial things on the computer. Hope to make appt. with social worker next week. I'm losing track of myself. I get my exercise from running around in circles.

Oct 3rd
Up at 7 am. No shower or shaving today--too much work everyday. Ha. Dressed, watched Sunday Morning on channel 4, had breakfast (french toast, oj, tea). Then we went to the grocery store to get a few things. I told Him what we needed then took him to the isles and had him find the item on the shelf. Milk, bread, fruit, juice, etc. He recognized the brands we used and got the correct things. He became a little impatient in one isle when several people were close to us shopping for similar items, (there were many juices to choose from, too confusing, and too many people) but we managed. We checked out and loaded things into the car. Then we went to a neighborhood coffee shop and had a scone and a cup of coffee. He ate the scone but didn't drink much coffee. I've noticed that his taste for coffee has changed.
He has been taking his Tylenol for pain in his arm and leg.

Now we are home and He is taking a nap. I'm trying to clean things up a bit and rest too. Gotta be ready for whatever...He seems to be getting a bit better, though. And the routine helps.
Take care,
Me and He
　
Oct 3 afternoon
After his nap, He and I worked on his cognitive/memory therapy exercise with denominations of coins, grouping like items and stacking, identifying cards, recognizing and separating the suits, both simple and complex instructions. He did well on the simple and had a little trouble on the complex. Total time: 25 min.
4:00 pm. Daisy got out of the yard through the neighbors broken fence and then out their open front gate. I believe she had been gone 30-45 min. before I discovered her missing. I was working with Dennis with his cognitive and memory exercises. Anyway, I “dragged” Him out to the car (not wanting to leave him home alone), leash in hand, and we took off driving around the neighborhood yelling “Daisy!” out of the car window. We found her at the art fair just a few blocks from our house. She had decided to check it out and was having a great time sniffing things. (I wonder how she did at the food court.) So we are back home now and Daisy unapologetically bounded out the back door and started to chase the squirrels up trees. Sigh.
 Wheelchair: The wheelchair for Him is only temporary and use of it is recommended by the Neurologists and therapists for now. When he walks, he is unstable. If we go for long distances he needs the wheelchair. Also, the sidewalks in the neighborhood are uneven, cracked, and can be difficult to maneuver even by the fittest. It has also be recommended that we use a gait belt, even in the house. So far I have just been hanging onto his clothing to stabilize him.

Breakthrough:
At 6:30 his evening, Dennis suddenly had insight to his order-processing for his business. We went upstairs where he figured out where the files were on the computer and then processed the orders that have come in since his accident. Major, MAJOR improvement. Do you feel our relief?
　
　
　
　
　

Bah...Humbuttons

It has been a stressful year--more driving around, more things to take care of, the business of the Art Fair, my surgery, his surgery, remodeling chaos, roofers and water damage to the third floor. Those things are pretty much done with except for the perpetual remodeling and home repairs. But there are still the residue frustration and fatigue. And, one of our kids is going through a divorce--ouch for everyone, especially their three beautiful children.

And here Christmas is again. I'm just in no mood for the hustle and bustle, yard and tree decorations, cooking, parties, gifts, cards and stuff like that. I was taking a walk with a friend and she said she gets into the "no-mood-for-Christmas" feeling more and more every year and can't get out of it because of her family. She has cut back on it this year and so have we.

I've decided to try to lift some spirit, however, by finding some humor and interesting news to share (googled on the net). So here goes:

Twenty Things I Learned From Santa: by John Kinde, Humor Specialist
1. Dress in colorful clothing.
2. Lose the girdle.
3. See the world.
4. Let others do the heavy lifting.
5. Keep working, if only part time.
6. You can look vibrant on a diet of cookies and milk.
7. Enjoy the company of children.
8. Be flattered when people impersonate you.
9. Give more than you receive.
10. You don’t need GPS when tracked by NORAD.
11. Treat all people nicely.
12. Don’t let kids see you kissing their mom.
13. Spread peace and goodwill.
14. Wear a suit that repels soot.
15. Hire the social outcast.
16. Avoid running over grandmothers.
17. Appreciate a spouse who doesn’t mind buisness trips.
18. Admire people who take long trips without luggage.
19. Don’t visit a library wearing bells on your shoes.
20. Laugh frequently and loudly.

Public Service

Like clockwork, every two years I receive a summons for jury duty/service. That means that of the 18 years I have lived in the City, I have been called to report for duty 8 or 9 times. Of those times called, my number was drawn for trial on 4 occasions, being weeded-out for one reason or another two of those times, selected twice for trial, had one of those cases settle before trial began, and actually seated on one trial.

You probably already know what it is like to report for jury duty. One can count on spending at least two days in the jury waiting rooms with hundreds like themselves who are equally annoyed about being trapped in waiting rooms with rows of uncomfortable seats and watching mind-wasting TV (who picks those channels anyway ?). Oh, joy.

Courtroom Humor
In a courtroom, a pursesnatcher is on trial and the victim is stating what happened. She says, "Yes, that is him. I saw him clear as day. I'd remember his face anywhere." At which point, the defendant bursts out, "You couldn't see my face, lady. I was wearing a mask!"

A witness was called to stand to testify about a head-on automobile collision. "Whose fault was this accident?" the lawyer asked.
"As near as I could tell," replied the witness, "they hit each other at about the same time."

Prosecutor: Did you kill the victim?
Defendant: No, I did not.
Prosecutor: Do you know what the penalties are for perjury?
Defendant: Yes, I do. And they're a hell of a lot better than the penalty for
murder.


Public Disservice

Legal expert, Percy Perjury, offers these helpful hints on "How to Get Off Jury Duty:"

• Paste a tattoo on your arm that says, "Hang 'em high!"

• When being questioned by attorneys, before answering each question, flip a coin.

• Wear a hangman's noose for a necktie.

• Bring the prosecuting attorney a cake that says "Happy Birthday, Uncle Harry."

• Insist on being sworn-in on a copy of "Batman" comics.

• Wear a white sheet and a hood and keep repeating, "I ain't prejudiced against nobody!"

• Bring your own sackful of evidence and pass it around to all prospective jurors.

• Learn to whistle "The Prisoner's Song" very loudly without moving your lips.

• Tell them you have to leave early every day to get back to the Half-Way House.

Daisy in the Month of May

We have a new family member. "Daisy May." Daisy was a stray found in Dent County--skinny, scratched, ears infected and she was covered with fleas. She is thought to be a mix of mostly Beagle with Basset Hound. She was fairly shy and very submissive. Part of her left ear had been, we are guessing, bitten off, the injury being in the shape of a bite. She had no known history other than the evidence of having had a litter of pups recently. She was taken by animal control to the Dent County Animal Welfare Society, where she was kept until she was ready for adoption.

I was initially planning on fostering a dog for a while. But, when I brought this little critter home for the night, He fell for her. "Let's keep her," He said. It isn't as though he took one look into her eyes and fell in love. For those of you who know Him, you know He is a great researcher of facts. He studies every angle, researches every imaginable question, and spends hours, days, weeks, and heck, months sometimes to make up his mind. He is practical. He liked her small size (Greta weighed 70+ lbs. and we had to carry her a lot in her last months of life). He liked the fact that Beagles have less physical problems than larger breeds (Greta was a German Shepherd and had arthritis and spine problems, hip dysplasia and a knee replacement). With these facts in mind and considering our ages, being older, senior citizens if you will, and our abilities to take care of another animal at this stage in our lives (plus, she would be less expensive). I wasn't so sure. Still stinging from the loss of my beloved Greta, I wasn't convinced that this little one would be able to fill the hole in my heart. But I realized that by taking Daisy in would not replace the dog I had lost. I could ramble on and get sappy but I won't.

Anyway, we adopted Daisy May. He named her "Daisy" and I attached the "May." She simply must have a middle name. Daisy for the little flower she is, and May for the month we found her. Daisy May.



Welcome home Daisy May, you lucky dog.

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's...Sixty???

Israel joined the United Nations on May 11, 1949. Siam officially changed its French name to "Thaïlande" (English name to "Thailand"). 1949, After many years of misery through the depression and World War 11 postwar prosperity is starting to get underway with companies now able to supply the cars, Televisions and the other goods demanded in a consumer society. The cars got bigger, the TV's got bigger, with some 6.2 million new cars sold in the US and nearly 10 million Televisions in American homes, A new type of TV program appeared we now call Soap Operas ( the name came from the fact many soap manufacturers sponsored the shows to catch the stay at home mum with advertising ) . China became a communist country and Russia had the Nuclear Bomb which increased the tension between East and West ( The Cold War ). http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1949.html And He was born 1949--60 years ago this year.

Yep. It finally came around--His 60th birthday. I can't say He seemed all that excited about it. Didn't want a party. Didn't want a fuss. And, he bought his own present--a much needed, spankin' new, very adjustable, leather executive office chair with that "new car smell." He'd been sitting in a raggedy old 70's piece-of-crap chair for years now so it was nice to see that go.

A nice dinner, a bottle of wine, and birthday card...He craved a chocolate cake but decided it wasn't on His diet. But, I went to Schnucks bakery for a small chocolate fudge cake with fudge icing--YUM!!! (Yes, I make an awesome chocolate cake, but oven is still not working.)
But he got something else too, a nice surprise I think. I commissioned a painting by a local artist friend and neighbor to commemorate his life at this stage. Please go to: http://sweetartstl-news.blogspot.com/2009/05/happy-birthday-dennis.html.

All in all, He had a nice day. And when He realized that, his attitude changed.

• I think it's wonderful that you could all be here for the forty-third anniversary of my thirty-ninth birthday. We decided not to light the candles thir year - we were afraid Pan Am woudl mistake it for a runway.- Bob Hope
• Q: What greeting card if on sale only in Kentucky?A: "Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad."
• It's an awful thing to grow old alone. My wife hasn't had a birthday in six years.
• You know you're growing old when by the time you've lit the last candle on the birthday cake, the first one has burned out.
• You know you're growing old when the heat from the candles on the birthday cake keeps you from getting close enough to blow them out.
  

Sedona AZ

We saved Sedona for the last but realized that we should have scheduled more time there. Oh well. It was a warm day, 90's, and we weren't in the mood for hiking. But we saw about all the formations from the road and did some shopping, walking and drinking. No picture I show you here will do justice to the scenery--you just have to see for yourself. I bought some postcards of Sedona then left them in the rental car when we turned the car in. sigh.

Rich in history and beauty, I hope you follow the links and discover more, because I can't describe it in this blog.

We drove through the town and saw very commercial shopping areas on each side of the road. We looked for and found one gated shopping center that I had seen on the net, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, a Sedona landmark since 1970's, Tlaquepaque treats visitors to an excellent collection of over 40 galleries and shops bordered by four superb restaurants. Modeled after Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque offers outdoor dining as well as events, private parties and weddings. (From their website.) We browsed through most of the shops and saw some beautiful things. There are many more places we should have gone had we realized it. Even though we stopped at the visitor's center, we didn't gather the "right" information.

We had drinks on the patio at the El Rincon, Sedona's most recommended and visited restaurant. We were still full from our wonderful breakfast in Jerome, so we didn't eat there. www.ElRinconRestaurant.com

Jerome, Verde Valley and Sedona are places you just have to experience for yourself--laid back and relaxing even without spa treatments.

From Wikipedia:

Sedona (pronounced /sɨˈdoʊnə/) is a city and community that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 11,220.[2]
Sedona's main attraction is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks of Sedona. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop for everything from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails.
Sedona is named after Sedona Miller Schnebly (1877–1950), the wife of the city's first postmaster, who was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedona,_Arizona

Photos of Our Arizona Adventure

You'll have to click on "Arizona Getaway."



Arizona Getaway 2009