As the days speed by we are getting all the last minute details taken care of for the two weeks we will be in Israel.
At work I am double checking the inventory to make sure they don't run out of anything, the staff is so accustom to Jim taking care of everything even when being off for a week. This time I will not be easily reachable during business hours and I do not want calls while I am sleeping.
At home we are in the middle of putting tile on the walls in the kitchen. The rest will wait until we are gone. We are too much in the road wanting to cook etc. The primary care givers for Helen while we are gone are also the ones doing the tile so it will work well for the final wall to be done after we leave.
Helen has been making great progress with her PT. She went to see Cheryl Webb, Nurse Practitioner Monday and got a very good report. Cheryl was very happy with the progress being only 4 weeks post op. Not walking yet, but I suspect that by the time we return she will be taking steps with the walker.
Had my first lesson on how to down load the camera into the laptop and post pictures on the blog tonight. I will need to practice a lot while I still have Megan to tell me what to do. Of course she is just a phone call a way, even if she is sleeping when I have questions.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Week at a glance
Seventeen more days and counting and we will board a Delta plane for Atlanta and then on to Israel. But back to reality and an update on Helen for those that are interested.
Just when I was all set to give a report of great accomplishments for the week we had a sleep marathon of about 20 hours. Finally at 3:30 this afternoon we were able to get her awake for a can on Ensure and 4 donut holes. She was up in the wheelchair for about an hour and was ready to go back to bed. We were unable to wake her for dinner.
Looking at the week as a complete unit it was a good week she was up more. She is helping with transfers to the wheelchair, bedside commode and back into bed. On Friday the OT had her out in the wheelchair and self propelling on the hard floor down the hall and back. Helen also had dinner with the family most evenings.
Carla found a dress for her at Wal-Mart today that will make a change from the hospital gowns. Dresses will be much easier to put on right now than pants and tops.
Starting Monday Vince, the handyman that did a lot of work for us on the Ridgecrest property will start putting tile on the wall between the counter and cabinets in the kitchen. We have wanted to do something to dress up that space a little and give it more character. I think the tile Carla picked out will do that. Pictures once it is finished.
I trust that everyone will have a great week. WE enjoy reading everyone's blog about all our families.
Just when I was all set to give a report of great accomplishments for the week we had a sleep marathon of about 20 hours. Finally at 3:30 this afternoon we were able to get her awake for a can on Ensure and 4 donut holes. She was up in the wheelchair for about an hour and was ready to go back to bed. We were unable to wake her for dinner.
Looking at the week as a complete unit it was a good week she was up more. She is helping with transfers to the wheelchair, bedside commode and back into bed. On Friday the OT had her out in the wheelchair and self propelling on the hard floor down the hall and back. Helen also had dinner with the family most evenings.
Carla found a dress for her at Wal-Mart today that will make a change from the hospital gowns. Dresses will be much easier to put on right now than pants and tops.
Starting Monday Vince, the handyman that did a lot of work for us on the Ridgecrest property will start putting tile on the wall between the counter and cabinets in the kitchen. We have wanted to do something to dress up that space a little and give it more character. I think the tile Carla picked out will do that. Pictures once it is finished.
I trust that everyone will have a great week. WE enjoy reading everyone's blog about all our families.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Happy Eighteenth Birthday Hannah
Hannah turns the big eighteen today. I do not see the excitement that the other sisters have had about eighteen. Hannah is very serious, it is all business, get the projects done, get the homework completed, and stay on task studying for the SAT’s.
She is very diligent filling out college application to places like Notre Dame, Calvin College and the state Universities. She has also been considering which scholarships to apply for and a lot of other college stuff.
Carla and Amarys are making her a cake today. It will be fun for Amarys to help grandma (granny) spread ice cream in and on the cake. It will be a new experience for all as it will be Carla’s first ice cream cake.
We wish Hannah Joy McBride a Happy Happy Eighteenth Birthday!
She is very diligent filling out college application to places like Notre Dame, Calvin College and the state Universities. She has also been considering which scholarships to apply for and a lot of other college stuff.
Carla and Amarys are making her a cake today. It will be fun for Amarys to help grandma (granny) spread ice cream in and on the cake. It will be a new experience for all as it will be Carla’s first ice cream cake.
We wish Hannah Joy McBride a Happy Happy Eighteenth Birthday!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
We see improvement.
Gee, has a week past already. This week has held a variety of activities and moods. We have had a wide awake for a day-and-a-half with conversation from another time period. We have had a full day of sleep and finally a couple of days of pretty good, here in reality.
The RN was here on Monday and then back again on Thursday. For right now she will come twice a week. The Bath aid will be here Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The OT (Occupational Therapist) will be here on Fridays. Next week they may send in a Physical Therapist to help with leg exercises. Each one has a lot of helpful ideas and spend time working with Helen.
She is coming out to dinner in the wheelchair and sitting on the edge of the bed for breakfast and lunch. She is helping quite a bit with transfers. Carla is going to try tomorrow to have her take some steps with the walker. Being at home has given her a much better attitude and we can also control the medication better. That helps the mood and amount of sleep tremendously.
Last night after dinner she sat in the lift chair and watched/listened to Lawrence Welk (her favorite TV program). I teased her that I put my ear plugs in for the hour.
The RN was here on Monday and then back again on Thursday. For right now she will come twice a week. The Bath aid will be here Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The OT (Occupational Therapist) will be here on Fridays. Next week they may send in a Physical Therapist to help with leg exercises. Each one has a lot of helpful ideas and spend time working with Helen.
She is coming out to dinner in the wheelchair and sitting on the edge of the bed for breakfast and lunch. She is helping quite a bit with transfers. Carla is going to try tomorrow to have her take some steps with the walker. Being at home has given her a much better attitude and we can also control the medication better. That helps the mood and amount of sleep tremendously.
Last night after dinner she sat in the lift chair and watched/listened to Lawrence Welk (her favorite TV program). I teased her that I put my ear plugs in for the hour.
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