What's Hiding Under Your Bed?

7/30/2017

I always assumed, actually scratch that knew (at least I thought I did) what was lurking under our bed.  No monsters, or anything like that.  But dust bunnies mixed in with some dog hair was what I thought was underneath.  Hey, in my book, don't go looking for trouble.  If you do, you'll definitely find trouble.  And, frankly Scarlet, I wasn't looking for trouble of any kind.

And then I had my bedroom carpet cleaned.  When I went to bed that night, there was a book titled "Baby's First Year For Dummies" that I had obviously purchased when Benjamin was born.  I don't think of myself as a dummy, but there were more than a few years between Andrew (youngest) and Benjamin.  And, I knew that a lot of things had changed, not least of which was car seats that would be safe even if you sent the baby out into space, or putting him in our plane for small spins around the area.

Now I know that some of you, based on what was already found, would get down on your knees and have a look see for yourself.  If, and it's a big if, I was down on my knees, Jeff would probably come home from work and find me stretched out flat on the floor, unable to get myself back up!

Small goal for today: take up my now empty suitcase, and the clean laundry.  Or, put these things at the bottom of the stairs, and Jeff will take them up for me.  A week spent looking at my suitcase is long enough.  Time for it to move on up.  I have no trips planned for the rest of the year!  I'd be satisfied IF I could get the feeling back in my foot, so that I could drive.  Although, I'd be lying if I wasn't honest and actually enjoy somewhat being driven around like Miss Daisy!

My social worker was just here and she believes I have made enough progress that at present no longer need her services.  Progress is baby steps.  While I might want to run a mile (in whose universe?!), it's good enough for now that I'm able to walk around without using a walker.

Jeff is going to make the Costco/WalMart run today.  Since I haven't been out of the house for well over a week, I'm tempted to ride along, though I suspect that the trip might be tiring.  It'd be more fun to take Jeff's car and just ride around with the wind whipping through my hair.  Oh, and a quick stop at Mickey D's for an ice cream cone of course.  First, you work and then you get a reward!

Happy Sunday everyone.

P

Time to Build an Ark!

7/28/2017

The weather here today is doom and gloom. There has been some thunder and likely there will be more later in the day.  I am grateful that the girls are not bothered by this noise.  Poor old Sam would quake in his "boots" whenever he heard thunder or lightening.  

I'm feeling a bit off my game today, so while I'm "supervising" the girls in the den, I'm binge watching Street Outlaws.  Kind of a silly show and why it appeals to me I have no idea.  I guess I'm impressed with how much money these drivers will bet on a particular race.  

For sure, there are many things that I could do: fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, dust and the list just goes on and on.  Or, more likely, I will do one or two (or none) of those things!  I've got so many appointments next week, that I have actually printed out a calendar to help me keep track.  Mind you, none of these appointments could actually qualify as a fun activity, but it's an activity nonetheless.

With the rain falling down, I can at least tell if the girls actually go outside!  I had the carpets cleaned yesterday, and every time I do this, I begin to get an advanced degree of paranoia about keeping pee, etc., off the carpet.  The girls are either going to get potty trained, or my carpet is going to be cleaned to death!

Here's what I know for sure: Jeff likely won't be driving with the top down today.  I think it's supposed to rain most of the day.  Let's hear it for muddy paws.

It's nearly noon, so I'd better get myself in high gear and get something (anything) done around the house!

Stay dry.

P  

Thursday Already?

7/27/2017

It looks like it might rain today, which will mean muddy paws!  With Sam, our Westie, I used to put water in a bucket, and then just literally dunked his feet.  He didn't like it much, but I did.

The last time I had the carpet cleaned, I opted to sign up for a one year $99.00 for two rooms offer.  Since I haven't been mobile in quite some time, and couldn't chase the dogs from the upstairs hall, the carpet now needs a "bit" (understatement) of cleaning, which will happen this morning.  And, now that I am home, the gate blocking the puppies from going upstairs during the day will be put back in place.

The social worker came again yesterday.  I now have so many dates, times and people swirling in my head, I'm not sure who's actually going to show up at the house.  Physical therapist? Nurse? Social Worker?  Or all three.  I just can't remember.  A fully functioning brain would be such a good thing to have!

I have a number of doctor's appointments next week, and I feel bad that Stacey and Benjamin have to haul me around.  I am applying for a county ride program, where they come to your house and then drop you off where ever you want to go.  Who knows, maybe I could even get my nails done!

Not too much news from the ol' homestead today, so I'll keep this short.

Have a great day.

P

 

Getting Services

7/26/2017

My rehab facility has set me up with a series of home visits by different individuals.  So far, a physical therapist, a social worker, a nurse have all been to the house.  Many services have been talked about, and since I don't have a remarkable short term memory, my head is fairly swirling with all the information I've been given.  Thankfully, Jeff was home yesterday when the Social Worker came.  She is coming back today with resources that can and/or will be useful to me.  

Once of the biggest resources is something called MetroAccess, where you are picked up at your home and delivered to a store, doctor's office, etc.  If approved, this could allow me to be "more" independent and give Stacey her life back.

I have been watching "Dog, The Bounty Hunter" on television.  Apparently, the "Dog's" net worth is around $10 million.  I guess if I was earning that kind of money, I probably wouldn't feel the need to button up my shirt either!  They have a home in Hawaii and another one in Colorado.  It appears that there is money to be made in chasing down the folks who have skipped bail and/or missed court dates. I'm sure the show is scripted but that in no way minimizes my enthusiasm. It's just a fun show to watch - at least for me.

Today, I have physical therapy and another visit from the social worker.  I feel as if I'm the recipient of the help that I need and I'm grateful for it.

Yesterday, I gathered up my strength and determination to vacuum the living room carpet, and boy did it need it.  Perhaps I'll dust today and then again maybe not.  Ah, the luxury of being retired.

Next week I'm off to see both doctors and hopefully between the two of them they will have a game plan of how to "cure" me.  This whole leg/foot thing is wearing me down, and it's not doing too much for my attitude either!

I'm off to visit my recliner ....

P

 



 

Another Day

7/25/2017

It's Tuesday, and I've just finished my most excellent nap. Regardless of what you say, this staying home stuff is hard work - but, somebody's got to do it!!

Yesterday, my new physical therapist came to see me.  His findings?  I'm weak on the right side, which I could have told him from the get go.  He's coming back tomorrow, and we'll get into the nitty gritty stuff - exercises.  I can hardly wait.

Then in the afternoon, a nurse came to check up on me.  She redressed my surgical incision, which would heal better IF I were to lay down 24/7.  But, the one part of the incision is behind my knee, which doesn't seem to heal since I um bend my knee!  I liked the nurse and she apparently will come out twice a week.  Then, I'm supposed to have a home health aide, who will help do things around the house.  What she'll do I'm not sure, but there are plenty of things around here that need help.

Jeff sent in my CPAP machine for repairs while I was away.  On Friday night, when I went to use said CPAP machine, it didn't work.  Jeff assumed, as rightly he should, that if you send something out to be repaired, then it gets repaired.  Silly us for thinking such a thing.

I have blocked off the den this morning, so that Bella can't gain acsess to stuff that doesn't belong to her.  Both dogs are now a year old, so I'm wondering just when exactly will they stop grabbing up things and chewing them to death.  While puppies are cute, they are a lot of work and require major diligence! I know, or at least I think I know, that the puppies will eventually be past all, okay maybe "some" of their chewing.  Fingers crossed.

I feel the need to do at least one king of household chore each day.  It may be as simple as putting soap in the dishwasher, but even that counts as a chore.  When the therapist and nurse came yesterday, I was dismayed at the mess on the living room carpet.  The mess was caused when I had Jeff pull out the sleeper sofa, thinking a few months ago, that it would be better than sleeping in my recliner.  So the mess on the floor sadly came from the sofa when he pulled it out.  To be fair, I did "attempt" to move some dust around, not that it made much of a difference.  But, I definitely get an "A" for effort.

I have three doctor's appointments next week, and I'm hoping that at least one of those doctors will be able to come up with an action plan to return my foot back to its former non-numb state.  I cannot even begin to imagine what my life would be like, if the foot stays number.  It's not even worth thinking about.  Trying to think positive, but as every day goes by, with no change, makes it harder for me to paste a smile on my face and when asked how I'm feeling, I always say fine.  Because in the end, all these casual acquaintances in stores, etc., really don't want to know how you're feeling.  Their being polite and so are you.

Pity party is now over.  Time to move on to do something productive, and at the same time keep Bella, in particular, within my line of sight.  Many crossword puzzles went to their death yesterday (insert really frowny face here).

Have a great Tuesday and stay indoors if it's hot outside!

P

Picture of Jeff when he realized that the broken part of my CPAP machine was still broken!

Home Alone

7/24/2017

Just like in the movie, I'm home alone today.  Well, alone if you don't count the girls. Compared to the last time I was supposed to stay by myself, I am much stronger than I was before.  And, while it's not pretty, I can go up and down the stairs, but it's tiring.  With few exceptions, I have everything I need here on the first floor.  Food, potty, television.  Pretty much everything that I could need or want.

While I can "walk" on my own, it's much easier when I use the walker, oh and faster too!  Even though my wheelchair is smaller in size, it still doesn't fit very well in the kitchen.  I had the best of intentions of getting up this morning when Jeff did, but after thinking about it briefly, rolled back over and went back to sleep.  I'm sure that Jeff fed the dogs, otherwise they would have probably chewed off my foot!

Getting a visit this afternoon from a home health person.  I am supposed to have on a weekly basis, a number of folks coming to the house to make me stronger and more able to care for myself.  What I would like to do is take a shower, but that's tricky business, when standing up for periods of time isn't my strong suit as yet.  And, as Jeff has reminded me, that when bodies are wet, they are slippery. 

Watching a show on Netflix called "Ozarks" which is about money laundering.  It's binge worthy I promise you.

We had a lot of rain and thunder yesterday.  The good thing about rain is that I can tell whether the girls have actually gone outside!  Of course, I also have to contend with muddy paws.  Today, is brilliant sunshine and a beautiful blue sky.  It's hard to believe that next week we'll be in August already.  Time to start watching for all of the ads for back to school clothes and supplies.  Really glad that's all behind me now.  

Have a wonderful Monday.

P

Day Three?

7/23/2017

Technically, I was only home for half the day on Friday, but I'm still counting it as a full day of being home.  You've heard of fake news - well I have "fake" days!  By my weird way of counting, this is day three at home.

I'm fairly mobile, but when I've stood and/or walked too much, then this old body begins to break down.  I was fairly active yesterday, and today I'm paying for it.  My body does not understand why I'm still trying to be in motion, when parking myself in a chair would be more comfortable.  

I have lots of clothes that I brought home from the rehab facility that need to be folded and taken upstairs.  Or, fold them and think about putting them upstairs.  Option two sounds decidedly more promising, as well as doable.

Someone from my new group of therapists (occupational, etc.) is coming to see me this afternoon. I suppose we're going to talk about who will come to the house and when, etc.  What I want today is a shower.  I'll need Jeff to be outside the door, in case I get a bit wobbly, which might be the case.

This morning, while checking out the "news" on Facebook, I came across a video that Scott shot in 2010 at Christmas.  Benjamin was such a little boy and was just as excited about the boxes and paper as he was in an actual gift.  Back then, Benjamin still had the lightest of blonde hair, but like most blondes, their hair darkens over time, and he's no exception.

Started watching a new show on Netflix last night called "Ozarks".  It's a pretty good show, about money laundering - how to do it, wear to put it and who to avoid messing with.  Could become our new binge watching television show.

We had a lot of rain and wind yesterday, but looks like everything is still standing in the yard.  Luckily for us, the girls are not bothered by the sounds of weather.  Poor old Sam used to quake in his boots when we had a nasty thunderstorm.

I know this isn't much of a blog, but then nothing much has happened around here.  I should have more to write about tomorrow.

Happy Sunday.

P