from the porches

blame it on the doughnuts

Last week I heard Truett yell my name from the living room.  I rushed to see what he needed and found him toppled over in front of his favorite recliner.  It seems Truett was trying to straighten a pillow he was sitting on; so when he leaned foward, before he knew it, he had toppled out of his recliner onto the floor. I called Clay and Truett was placed back in his recliner.

Well this morning as I was reheating day-old coffee, once again I heard a thump followed by, "MERRY!"  I rushed to the living room and found Truett upside down, head on the floor, feet in the air, in his recliner.  Quickly, I called Clay and he came running.  Clay lifted Truett up and once again placed Truett back in his recliner.

"What were you doing, Dad?" Clay asked.

"I was dreaming about doughnuts and I guess I leaned too far back."

Even though much of our days are spent doing absolutely nothing except watching basketball or movies, once in a while we do have a little bit of excitement.

Truett is fine.  Thank goodness his head was still on the headrest of the recliner and didn't bounce off the tile floor.

So, I suppose I have to blame mysefl for this misfortune because I bought doughnuts from S&S yesterday. 

it's no bull

 
It's no bull.  Truett actually stood upright, without leaning left, for thirty seconds.  It all started when Clay and I were guarding Truett while he showered on his shower stool. 

After Truett's shower, Clay rolled him to a cabinet, which has had a bar installed on it in order to give Truett something to grab onto when dressing. 
It's usually my job to reach down and pull Truett's underware and shorts up, but somehow today I struggled with this small task.  Finally, Truett said, "Clay.  Your mom is just fumbling around...stand on my left side and I'll pull my own pants up."

Then, before we knew it, Clay shouted,  "Mom!  Look at Dad!  He's standing all by himself without holding onto the bar."

Chill bumps ran up and down my arms and I shouted,  "Good job, Truett!  You did it.  You stood all by yourself!"

 
Clay then pushed Truett back to the livingroom so he could sit in his favorite recliner; but as Truett was lifted up from the wheelchair, he said,  "Watch this!"

And my husband was free-standing for a second time all by himself. 

It's no bull. 

Clay and I have had a glimmer of hope.

a matter of acceptance

 
Life around our house is mellowing out because it is all a matter of acceptance.  Acceptance on Truett's part that he is wheelchair bound for a while.  Acceptance on my part that I have to drop whatever I'm doing to help Truett out. 

 
We've worked the sleeping arrangements out.  Truett sleeps in his favorite recliner.  I sleep in my bed and Clay sleeps in his house.  I worried that I wouldn't hear Truett call out during the night, but I can hear him several rooms away.  I compare this to having a newborn, where you sleep but listen with one ear for the baby's cries.The phone is always beside Truett to call Clay in case Truett needs  to be transferred to the toilet.  But, pretty much, we're all getting enough rest throughout the night.

 
Also,I am proud of myself for firing Shands Home Healthcare because of an attitude by the physical therapist who was going to give Truett some help before out-patient physical therapy at Magnolia Park in Gainesville.  The particular therapist I am referring to, let us know in no uncertain terms that he was not about to transfer Truett or try to stand or walk him because he, himself ,had a bad back.  So. . .I told them all, "We don't need your services!"  And calls were placed to Gentiva, a competitive home health care business.  The Gentiva physical therapist has been out twice and has worked on facial exercises to help with Truett's Bells Palsy that developed the day his tumor ruptured. The Gentiva physical therapist has stood Truett, has had Truett see how far he leans left when facing our stand-up mirror; and he has already tried to walk Truett with his walker.

 
Our life now is just a matter of acceptance.  Acceptance that is bringing our family closer together.

cherokee roses

 
Our Cherokee Roses are blooming.

 

 
Have a nice weekend.

symptoms of a brain injury

It doesn't matter how a person obtains a brain injury, either through falling, stroke or surgery; there are common symptoms that indicate said brain injury.

1.Impatience.....check!

2. Depression.....check!

3.  Crying....check! (not just by the patien, I might add.)

4.  Loss of control...check!

5.  Inappropriate social behavior....check!

6.  Slowed responses...check!

7.  Irritability...check!

8.  Outbursts...check!

9.  Over-dependancy...check!

There are of course a few more, but I'd say my husband fits this category so far.

I began my Zoloft today just so I can cope.

I do thank Truett's brother, Boyce, for being with us during this past week.  I thank Boyce for being a buffer when I need one.

fear of falling

Truett came home from Shands Rehab on Tuesday and the adjustment having him home has been overwhelming, to say the least.

For four weeks Clay and I worked with the physical therapists and occupational therapists on how to transfer Truett from his wheelchair to the bed or to a chair or to a toilet.  I had it down pat.  I learned exactly how to do the transfers, and so did Clay.  We agreed the day Truett came home, "We can do this."

But the last five days have been disastrous!  And I'm not sure why.  Truett has fallen to the floor three times.  It could be his depression that has caused Truett not to remember what to do.  It could be Truett is rushing to make the transfers.

Lord, have mercy.  I am at my wits end because just this afternoon, the transfer from his recliner to his wheelchair ended up with him on the floor and me in tears. Now my confidence is totally shot. 

Clay and I take turns sleeping on the couch in the living room while Truett sleeps.  That, alone is stressful because my husband wakes up often with needs; therefore, Clay and I are not getting the quality sleep we need in order to be good caregivers during the day.

I know there are trained, qualified caregivers in our area and I am ready to hire that person. So if any of you know of a responsible qualified person, please refer them to this number:  386-497-4741 or 352-339-3601.

Our whole family has the fear of Truett falling.

rehab rocks

 
Tonight I will be showing photos of rehab rocks.  Rocks I have stepped over for five weeks.  Rocks I haven't even looked at until today.

 
Today when I wheeled Truett to the patio for some sun and Vitamin D, I wandered off to take pictures.  Truett asked me recently, "Have you been taking photographs?"  And I had to tell him, "Only of ordinary stuff."

 
So I locked Truett's wheelchair brakes, grabbed my camera, and said, "I'll be back in a minute.  I've got to take a picture of something."

 
"Crap," I thought.  "I had already taken photographs of petunias and pansies, so what was left?"  Then I wandered into the rock gardens surrounding the petunias and pansies and I saw my pictures.

 
Rehab rocks with messages!

 
And more messages. . .

 
When will these messages end?

 
I have no idea what this message says, but I photographed it.

So that's it.  Rehab rocks lifted my spirit.

good things

 
Well, I suppose fifteen hours is about enough time for my attitude to change; therefore, I decided to tell you some good news.

Good thing #1:  By looking at this first picture, you can see that new spring green leaves are popping out on our trees.  The redbuds are in full color, as well as wild plum trees. Our dogwood trees are not quite bright white yet, but in a day or two, they will be. 

 
Good thing #2:  I've had the Fort White Plant shop come out and replant my mandevilla vines.  They brought me such visual pleasure last year.  The roses were pruned and a new azalea plant planted in the ground.

 
Good thing #3:  I bought four new blouses today while Truett napped.

 

Good thing # 4:  Truett's youngest brother, Boyce, is coming Wednesday to visit for 9-10 days.  Truett comes home on Tuesday, so the timing is pretty near perfect.  What a blessing this will be. Thanks, Boyce. 

 
 Good thing #5:  Truett's oldest daughter is coming for Easter for several days.  (Thanks, Tina). 

 

And the final good thing:  I thought of good things!

 

new life

 
During lunch today,I heard a man say, "Yes, this is my new life."

 
He went on to say, "I had my old life. . .and now I have my new life." (Unfortunately, the man has bone cancer in his legs.)

 
Those around the dining table nodded in complete understanding.

 
And to think,  new lives happen in the blink of an eye.

 

juggling act

I am screaming in my head, "Stop! I can't take much more! My life is a juggling act!"

Again today I visited Truett at rehab and participated in OT, PT, and ST.

Whew! Shifting my husband from the bed to a wheelchair and back to the bed is exhausting.  Of course, Truett is in pain since he chose not to "call but fall"; therefore it is a lot harder on me, as a caregiver to try to help him pivot, rise, scoot, and land safely in a wheelchair and return to the bed or toilet.

Tomorrow I must tell these fine rehab people that I wrenched my knee and I need rehab for my right lower back.

Nevertheless, I have another life as well.

I came home from rehab an hour earlier and headed to Lake City to deal with the GOD WONDERFUL TAXES!  I had called Ms. Alice (Mom) and said, "Be ready.  We'll eat at Cracker Barrel."

Well, Mom was ready; and in her own words, "I'm ready for some shopping.  I want you to drop me off at Wal*Mart while you go do your business.  I've decided I want a manicure and a pedicure."

Since it was only 4:00 p.m., I agreed, "Good plan."

 
Just look at this woman!  Can you believe she just spent a year battling cancer. . .and she is 87 years old!"

So, I took Ms. Alice to Wal*Mart, dropped her off, dealt with my business and returned to find her entertaining the whole Wal*Mart nail salon." (So typical of my mom.)

 
People, the hours were ticking away.  I had not spent fifteen minutes at home and I was already worn to a frazzle; but, I feel I have neglected Mom during the whole month of February, so I had to do this for her.

Then she wanted to shop, which she did. 

But there came a point when she said, "I don't think I can make it to the bench."

But she did; and we had one last stop: Cracker Barrel.

So about 7:15 we landed at home. . . all tuckered out.

Juggling is difficult if you've never been trained!