Birthday Surprises

The surprises I planned for Dwight happened and then some. He has received, as of Monday, 90 cards. And his birthday is Tuesday...more to come. Some of the girls from the nursing home made him a card and got him some balloons. All of the children and grandchildren were able to come for lunch: one of Dwight's favorites--KFC, supplemented with pies, cake for the staff and more balloons.

And then Dwight turned the tables on us. He actually planned, with his two favorite aids, to get into his wheelchair and join us in the little 'cafe' for lunch and dessert. We adults were hoping he would succeed, but the grandchildren had no idea. The expressions on their faces were 'priceless'. I'm not sure who was prouder, Dwight or the aids who convinced him to go for it when he doubted himself.

Thankfully, our son-in-law (who shares his birthday), had his ever present camera and got some great shots, including:

And Dwight would like to add:

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of those who sent cards and words of encouragement to make my birthday so extra special. I was overwhelmed at that number old and 'new' friends whose cards filled to over flowing every bulletin board we could find. Thanks again so very much, love Dwight.

Wheelchair

Because Dwight was in the hospital in July he qualified for physical therapy for a few weeks. On one of the last days before they signed off on therapy they taught the aids how to get him into his wheelchair. He has now been in his chair three times and an aid wheeled him around a little. He even moved about twenty feet by himself. He will only be put in his chair when he asks, and if there are three aids available to assist. I am hoping he asks 2 or 3 times a week. It has been 13 months since he last sat in his chair.

The aids who are aware of the card shower for Dwight's birthday come in and count his cards with a sly smile. He still hasn't asked why he is getting cards from people who wouldn't normally know it was his birthday. I hope he can get up next Sunday and join his kids and grand kids for KFC lunch in the little cafe near his room.

Today we are fighting a fever, hopefully just a reaction to the flu shot he got on Thursday.

Extreme news--good and bad

Dwight's pain continues to an issue. Everytime he is in and out of the hospital the meds are adjusted and readjusted. At times he is barely comfortable. During the first visit to the new pain Dr, he seemed to be listening (sometimes mostly to himself and all he does in his free time) and said he would get the meds back to where they need to be. But the scripts weren't quite right.

Then back in the hospital with them looking at old med charts and using them and sending him back the Mill Run with those orders, except for a decrease in his baclafin, because it could damage his kidneys. (Which are already damaged?!?!???)

This week Dwight had a 2nd visit with the pain doctor, who did not inquire how things were, just started cutting one drug in half and increasing another, one that make Dwight drowsy. Dwight started to ask why, and couldn't they leave the one alone, as it was working most of the time. Doc said no, Dwight attempted to engage him in dialogue to understand his plan and the Doctor snapped his laptop shut, stood up and stated, "We are done here." and walked out of the room. Not sure what we will do next, we are examining some options.

Good news: while Dwight continues simple physicial therapy in his room, sitting on the bed edge and arm strengthing, his goal is his wheelchair.

Last week a few techs where shown how to get him in and out of his wheelchiar with the lift. Two got it, two were bored.

Today they got him in his chair and wheeled him to the therapy room where he did a few exercises and back to his room. Of course Dwight gave a happy hello to everyone he passed.

He is quite excited and hopeful.

Want to cry---or scream..

When the remnants of Ike came through three years ago our home suffered some damage, as did many others in the area. Finding repair men was quite a challenge. Dwight did find one gentleman that he was confident would take good care of our needs. (Of course Dwight would rather have been able to do it himself).

Instead of the man Dwight talked to, he sent his wanta be son in law. As it has turned out, he really didn't know as much as he needed to. Too many things have shown that, including the repeated flood in my kitchen.

Twice in as many weeks we had a strong storm come in from the north. A combination of an unsealed door frame and either full gutter or unbalanced gutter resulted with a water fall into my kitchen. Water was literally spraying out of the top of the door jam, shooting out into the room. A bucket placed under it had 7" of water in it, plus all the rest loading the towels on the floor. So glad I got home shortly before it started.

In the basement it was running down the north wall, the worst near where the door is. Plus several other spots. So very frustrating.

We have talked about a roof over the porch, which if installed correctly, may help with some of it. I will need to seal over the door tomorrow, somehow, I asked the neighbor if I could borrow a ladder.....hate to seal the moisture in, would wait till Wednesday but it is to rain again.

Dwight: another infection sent him to the ER on Tuesday, two 'bugs', ones he hasn't had before. Back to Mill Run Thursday after dialysis. He has five days of IV antibiotics to fight it. He does have a new room mate. We were able to get a live church service on the Internet this morning, which we enjoyed.

Celebrated (late) Karin's birthday this morning and Jackson's kid birthday party his afternoon. Fun.

Thanks for letting me stew.

No, you did not....

I have loved cats since before my rememberer started working. My family always has had cats. On the farm there were lots of barn cats, in the spring more kittens than you wanted to count. And by autumn there were way less. Dad would sent a spray of the freshest milk out from under a cow straight into the mouth of the smartest cats. There was always warm, foamy milk poured into the pan for the 'family'. (We called it the cat pan, but it was for food and milk--not the same definition we use today.)

My favorite is grey. I think because we had a wild momma cat that you couldn't get within 20 feet of. Every spring she produced 2 or 3 grey kittens who never made it to adulthood. Until the last year of her life, she had two dark grey kittens, all grey, just like her. I finally was able to get to them one day while she was away. One definitely was going to be wild like her. The other, a little girl, seemed to enjoy being held and loved. When they were about two months old momma went hunting and never returned, a few day later the wild one disappeared also. The little girl allowed some loving and stayed around but didn't make it through the winter. She snuggled a warm cow and forgot to move....

I have had a few more grey cats since, three were very special, loving pets. And now I have another that is doing all he can to be added to the list. He definitely does not like being left alone. The empty nest is not to his liking. He will sit in the other room and protest. Like I am going to go to him, really...trot your little self to me.

Tonight we had some loving, a snack, some in your face while you try to read, and some yowling. Then, after another round of protest from the kitchen he ran straight into the bathroom, onto the toilet seat and..............

............drank from the toilet.

Seriously--I thought that was a dog trick.

He has water in the gravity water dish, water in another dish, but evidently, only the freshest will do for him.

Home Alone, I thought

With Kristen on a teen mission trip and the grandchildren staying with their cousins and aunt and uncle, I thought I'd have a quiet week alone. Sewing, embroidering, watching a movie or two, sleeping in. Thought...

Not accounting for two very spoiled, very inquisitive kittens. No, my plans did not include them--at least not their determination for things to continue as they are accustomed to.

The first day was fine, they are used to their humans being gone for several hours at a time. But in the middle of the night they discovered a new toy, by their definition a new toy. I didn't agree when I found it in the morning. I keep my embroidery threads in plastic storage containers that stack and lock (mostly) together. Having brought my machine down into the AC for the week, of course supplies followed. And so did curiosity. First the storage units were towers to sit on, but when jumping down from them they came open. Guess I shouldn't have placed them on a chair. Quite a noise, quite a mess. Thankfully only two came open, must have been enough, one of them was all small spools. They had been happily played with, the colors well mixed.

After 48 hours of only me they are very determined to receive the necessary petting they require for good health--but I only have two hands and there are others things I like to do, as much as I love kittens. They don't want it while I am watching TV, perferring when am at the machine.

Snookzie either likes his baths, or likes sleeping bathtubs. He now takes his afternoon nap in the tub, but I must make sure the curtain isn't totally shut, he makes quite a racket trying to get out. Especially at 3 in the morning.

It is nice having the company for the most part..... And they are pretty.

Busy days

Much has happened in the past couple weeks. Dwight had a very nice Father's Day, enjoying his children and grandchildren.

Dwight is still on strong antibiotics for a few more days, administered at the end of dialysis. He slowly has come back to almost normal numbers on his levels, a couple are not in acceptable range, one because one of his meds were not given to him while in the hospital. The other because of his poor appetite.

A super highlight was the promotion of our wonderful son in law to Sargent with the Ohio State Patrol. Trooper Henn is now patrolling the roadways around Marysville. See Karin's blog for an excellent sharing of the day and their lives now.

Unfortunately we now have fewer pets, including our beloved dog. Health issues and age took their toll. I continually find myself thinking I need to let the dog out, or feed her, or drop her a sample of human food. DeAnna was a wonderful dog and leaves us all sad.

God is good, and His blessings are greatly appreciated by this wife, mother, grandmother and friend of a few special ladies.