Apologies for not updating the blog for quite a while. With the buzz of the holidays and the adjustments as Mom acclimated to being back home (as of December 22) we were caught up in real life instead of online life. The support received via Christmas cards put us all in a joyful mood, and brought Mom and Dad many good walks down memory lane with all of you. I've been feeling more than a tad guilty for not providing an update to Mom and Dad's loyal friends. So here you go. :)
With the latest few weeks at the hospital and in rehab, Mom didn't make the physical progress she had wanted or expected, but she loved her room with the view of the Dallas skyline, and she enjoyed seeing her many nurses and therapists from her extended stay early this summer. What was accomplished was recovery from whatever infection she had. So a tad disappointing, to be honest.
However, upon returning home, Mom and Dad were greeted with a partially decorated house and yard! Two presents under the tree! We tried to make it look like Christmas as much as physically possible. Thank goodness for the ever present helpful hands of a little one who loves to decorate.
Shortly after Mom was settled back into her room at home, the heavy holiday traffic commenced. We had a bustling house for the holidays, grandchildren running amok, and certainly more food than anyone needed to eat. I'll be honest and say that Mom's emotions were running high, because she's the one who always gets Christmas Eve hors d'oeuvres dinner prepared, she's the one who sets out the fancy china, or even the fancy paper plates... We did our best to stick to as many traditions as we could, but with Mom not able to sit up in her wheelchair, and instead spending 100% of her time on her back in the middle bedroom, it was the first Christmas in at least 45 years that those things didn't happen.
What did happen is Christmas gifts were opened by the entire family sitting in, on, and around Mom's bed. What did happen was Mom and Dad celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on December 27 with a delicious take-out dinner from a local gourmet cafe. What did happen was grandchildren played indoor soccer in the laundry room hall, fixed the train by the Christmas tree, and built snowmen together, and then told their grandma about the things they got to do. And most of all, countless hugs and kisses were exchanged bedside.
Now that everyone has returned to work, we're back again to our new-normal schedule. Mom has a great helper in Cindy, who comes Mon - Fri to be her aide while Dad is working his job from home. Many grateful thanks to his employer who has worked with him to not only let him have flexibility in his work hours, but his environment. It's critically important for Dad to have that connection to his former "normal" world. On weekends, Scott manages our house while the girls and I cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever is needed, and provide Dad the outlet to go to Costco, Market Street, Walgreens, the car dealership, getting a haircut, whatever...and load up on whatever we all need, or whatever is tempting.
Side note... Costco, thank you for the Samsung TV that you tempted Dad to buy, so Mom now sees football games MUCH more clearly...and to all network TV stations...shame on you for not broadcasting several of the bowl games and the championship game. There are lots of people in the world (us now included) who are confined to watching TV in a room that doesn't have ESPN, so we miss these events!
Down from the soapbox, life in the new normal doesn't seem so "new" anymore. Mom has made amazing progress moving around in her bed, and in sitting positions, makings natural movements that even 1 week ago didn't exist. She can pull her legs up into the bent position almost without wincing. She can straight up for 20 minutes on the side of the bed, with her hands in her lap as of today! Even just yesterday this was stressful, but today it was natural. Mom has a new occupational therapist who is full of ideas of things to do, and is excited that Mom is willing to try them.
Mom also has a new physical therapist who is a very good fit. She is concentrating on building Mom's muscles and strength, with the goal of sitting independently in her wheelchair. She instills a feeling of confidence in Mom, and is both a calming and encouraging presence during her thrice weekly visits.
Another important person of note is Mom's home nurse. She has been caring for Mom's wound for several months now. What began as a deep open wound on Mom's chest has, after 7 months, finally been declared HEALED! Done with the variety of creams, pain killers, ointments, honey from New Zealand, and most importantly the dreaded wound vacuum that was an ever present, round-the-clock whir and suction of the wound. Done. Done. and Done! Now, the nurse cares for Mom's delicate skin, still tearing at every unanticipated brush against anything harder than soft cloth. Bruises and tears abound, but these are manageable with the nurse's careful tending. She is not only a healer of the body, but she is as well an emotional support and trusted adviser to us now.
We will continue to have ups and downs, but so far the past several days seem to show an upward trend. Yeah Mom! 2012 is over and done, not a year we would wish ever to repeat. So far 2013 shows great promise, and we'll take it one relaxed arm and bent knee at a time!
