Another Guest Post.
Mom has moved to rehab! Yay! Out of the hospital in only 4 days this time. Into another hospital, but in the rehab unit. Much better than the nursing home route we did last time, we think.
When she arrived today, the nurse came in and said "Oh! Does your complexion always look like . . . that?" Mom, who hasn't seen a mirror in a week, said "What? What does it look like? Is something wrong?" The nurse just said "Well, you're very pale". Mom said, yes, she was pale, but hopefully, the extra blood and iron they are pumping in will help that. That, and being able to run around a bit.
I'm shipping off on Monday, as my vacation time has well and truly run out. My little brother Jason has come to stay at the ranch for a couple of weeks, and although we hope we won't need them, we've got a couple other relations lined up after that if need be. So, watch this space, and hopefully, the next post you see will contain news of Carol coming home. Again. Many thanks for everyone's continued support.
June
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Surgery II
Another Guest Post
Surgery went well (again). We are planning on the quick and easy no complications version this time, as we have tried the other way, and didn't care for it much. Thanks for everyone's prayers and good wishes - so far this time, they seem to be working. More news as it happens - with any luck, from the lady herself.
June
Surgery went well (again). We are planning on the quick and easy no complications version this time, as we have tried the other way, and didn't care for it much. Thanks for everyone's prayers and good wishes - so far this time, they seem to be working. More news as it happens - with any luck, from the lady herself.
June
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Groundhog day
Yes, it is possible to break your leg while standing up on your walker. Tuesday, March 20, I go back to the hospital so they can remove my gently used hip and replace it with a newer model.
I have been unable to come up with any good reason for this (for every thing there is a reason, turn turn) and hope you will help me out here. Some of the suggestions so far:
The surgeon really likes you and doesn't want to say goodbye.
It gets all your kids to come for a visit.
It could have been the good leg.
You're using up hell-points.
Better now than six months from now.
You're really good on a walker.
I have been unable to come up with any good reason for this (for every thing there is a reason, turn turn) and hope you will help me out here. Some of the suggestions so far:
The surgeon really likes you and doesn't want to say goodbye.
It gets all your kids to come for a visit.
It could have been the good leg.
You're using up hell-points.
Better now than six months from now.
You're really good on a walker.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Sex change
No, I didn't go for that while I was in the hospital. However, I need to rant.
For those of you out of our news area, the facts. The City Manager of one of our small towns had been considering a sex-change for many years, going from Steve to Susan, and had already taken some preliminary steps. He mentioned this to a few close friends, and the mayor, but had not yet told his wife or 13-year old son. Surprise, surprise, the paper got wind of it and the cat was out of the bag. Within a week the city called a special meeting and fired him. Even though he had received rave reviews for 14 years, they insist the firing was not because of the sex change, but was a "loss of confidence." He was shocked and amazed.
This raises so many questions:
1) Did he think his secret would stay a secret?
2) Didn't he know his small-town voters and officials, after 14 years?
3) Wouldn't wife and sons be the first to know?
Takes me back to a time almost 40 years ago when CJ was representing a lesbian couple who were house painters. We hired them to paint our house. It took forever. During this time, one of them confided that she was in the process of becoming a man. (They had 9 children between them already.) We needed some carpentry, they called a friend who was going from male to female. We needed roof repairs, two friends showed up that were also changing. At one time, we had 7 workers, in all stages of their transition, part of a support group. They enjoyed telling us more than we needed to know of their life stories and medical procedures. They seemed well-adjusted, optimistic, and looked forward to being "normal." I hope things worked out for them. I would think that 40 years might have brought a little more understanding, but apparently not.
For those of you out of our news area, the facts. The City Manager of one of our small towns had been considering a sex-change for many years, going from Steve to Susan, and had already taken some preliminary steps. He mentioned this to a few close friends, and the mayor, but had not yet told his wife or 13-year old son. Surprise, surprise, the paper got wind of it and the cat was out of the bag. Within a week the city called a special meeting and fired him. Even though he had received rave reviews for 14 years, they insist the firing was not because of the sex change, but was a "loss of confidence." He was shocked and amazed.
This raises so many questions:
1) Did he think his secret would stay a secret?
2) Didn't he know his small-town voters and officials, after 14 years?
3) Wouldn't wife and sons be the first to know?
Takes me back to a time almost 40 years ago when CJ was representing a lesbian couple who were house painters. We hired them to paint our house. It took forever. During this time, one of them confided that she was in the process of becoming a man. (They had 9 children between them already.) We needed some carpentry, they called a friend who was going from male to female. We needed roof repairs, two friends showed up that were also changing. At one time, we had 7 workers, in all stages of their transition, part of a support group. They enjoyed telling us more than we needed to know of their life stories and medical procedures. They seemed well-adjusted, optimistic, and looked forward to being "normal." I hope things worked out for them. I would think that 40 years might have brought a little more understanding, but apparently not.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
new hip
Two weeks in the hospital and another two in rehab was like a trip to a
distant planet. It wasn't truly a nursing home, because most of the inmates
were there for therapy following a fall or surgery or both, but they still
made me think of Tim Conway. We had rules, and schedules, and two hours of
therapy morning and afternoon, and if you didn't clean your plate you had to
answer to Nurse Ratchid. Many of the patients and all of the doors had
alarms, which went off constantly. These were not little bells, but more
like smoke detectors. The nurses would have to shout up and down the halls
to be heard. I'm used to being bathed and pottied by nurses of either
gender, (or neither, I suspected.) My roommate accused me of stealing her
teeth. These are just a few of the reasons why I'm SO HAPPY to be home with
my family. I'm on a walker, which our blind dog thinks is like chairs gone
wild. We're having beautiful weather, and I'm going to spend as much time as
possible out in it. But first, lunch. I'm craving crunchy food!
distant planet. It wasn't truly a nursing home, because most of the inmates
were there for therapy following a fall or surgery or both, but they still
made me think of Tim Conway. We had rules, and schedules, and two hours of
therapy morning and afternoon, and if you didn't clean your plate you had to
answer to Nurse Ratchid. Many of the patients and all of the doors had
alarms, which went off constantly. These were not little bells, but more
like smoke detectors. The nurses would have to shout up and down the halls
to be heard. I'm used to being bathed and pottied by nurses of either
gender, (or neither, I suspected.) My roommate accused me of stealing her
teeth. These are just a few of the reasons why I'm SO HAPPY to be home with
my family. I'm on a walker, which our blind dog thinks is like chairs gone
wild. We're having beautiful weather, and I'm going to spend as much time as
possible out in it. But first, lunch. I'm craving crunchy food!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Move to Rehab
Yes, it's another guest post.
Mom has finally moved from the hospital to a rehab facility, which is good news indeed. Workouts commence in the morning, and she'll probably be at the facility for another week or ten days before she gets to come home. She'll still have therapists coming by the house for a while after that. She was bright and chipper and ready for the move when we saw her today, and although I think the move itself wore her out a little, I'm sure she'll be ready to slay dragons by the morning. I'll be around for another couple of weeks, and Dad and I are doing fine. Thanks to everyone who has called with support, we appreciate everyone's good thoughts and prayers.
June
(the Daughter)
Mom has finally moved from the hospital to a rehab facility, which is good news indeed. Workouts commence in the morning, and she'll probably be at the facility for another week or ten days before she gets to come home. She'll still have therapists coming by the house for a while after that. She was bright and chipper and ready for the move when we saw her today, and although I think the move itself wore her out a little, I'm sure she'll be ready to slay dragons by the morning. I'll be around for another couple of weeks, and Dad and I are doing fine. Thanks to everyone who has called with support, we appreciate everyone's good thoughts and prayers.
June
(the Daughter)
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Day after Surgery (Guest Post)
Carol had her surgery Tuesday morning. She had to be there at 5:30am so the 4am alarm was a little jarring. She finished surgery about 11am and began recovery. We were told we should wait 'till sometime after 4pm for the first visit as she'd be pretty out of it. She was in fact a little out of it, but a morphine drip will do that to you.
Surgery went well and the doctor said everything was fine, although her first words to us were, "I think I got hit by a truck." We visited again today (Wednesday) and she was looking much better. She had her first "chair" excercise this morning where she had to transfer herself from the bed to the chair and back with the help of her walker. She said after a successfull completion, she promptly napped for an hour as it was the hardest thing she'd done in many a year.
At this time, we expect her to be transferred to the Rehab facility possibly Friday or Saturday of this week. We'll post more as we learn.
She says Hi to all and thanks you for your prayers and support.
Kevin (The son-in-law)
Surgery went well and the doctor said everything was fine, although her first words to us were, "I think I got hit by a truck." We visited again today (Wednesday) and she was looking much better. She had her first "chair" excercise this morning where she had to transfer herself from the bed to the chair and back with the help of her walker. She said after a successfull completion, she promptly napped for an hour as it was the hardest thing she'd done in many a year.
At this time, we expect her to be transferred to the Rehab facility possibly Friday or Saturday of this week. We'll post more as we learn.
She says Hi to all and thanks you for your prayers and support.
Kevin (The son-in-law)
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