What is it about being by the water? When we first arrived Saturday, all I could see was yard work that I needed to do! Trimming mostly, but I enjoy that, and it felt really good to ride the yard tractor and break a sweat doing some outside work. Good for the soul; my mood went from bittersweetness to peaceful. Matt is here at Wee Cottage, and the rest of the family returns tomorrow. Niccole and Cole will travel tomorrow…hoping they will arrive to watch part of the World Cup game with us. Go USA!!
Today I am doing some indoor work, too, and have promised myself an afternoon nap. Ron's eye is improving. The swelling is gone, and the redness is fading. It was a doozie. Both of us are settling in to enjoy what the next few days bring.
Love, Ron & Jan
Monday, June 30, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Our Plan
I think our plan is coming together! It looks like our weeks in BG will also be our timeframe for all appointments. Hopefully, I won't need more orthopedic appointments, but any physical therapy for Ron and me will be scheduled here in Bowling Green. My future dentist appointments, car servicing, etc. will be done here in Ohio. Then when we are at the lake, it will be a vacation from all of that driving and appointments.
Ron has speech evaluation tomorrow to help with thought processing. I am on the fence about doing that until I see what that means and what his needs are. Then I have caregiving time in the afternoon and our new dishwasher is supposed to be installed.
ECP light treatments had a glitch this week. Ron bruises easily due to being on steroids so long. His skin is thin and tears easily. Along the same line, coughing can cause eye bleeds which happens occasionally. He developed an eye bleed in his right eye..the one that has vision, so after being seen by 2 at Mott, instead of ECP on Wednesday we spent two hours in Kellogg Eye Center in AA. We did not get back to the condo until 8:30 last night and had to leave at 6:45 this morning for a treatment as he had been cleared to do so. He did see his regular eye doc, and of course, ECP nurse and PA did not want to make the final call because risking vision in that eye too would be horrible. Along the way in Kellogg he bumped his hand, and we had a new skin tear to deal with. All is under control now. It felt wonderful to get back to BG; it is a 65 minute trip. I loved not having to pack but learned to always carry at least a day's worth of meds with us and his first aid kit..beyond just bandaids. We probably would have bought tooth brushes and stayed at the Hampton and just slept in our clothes, but I didn't bring meds. Some of the things I've done I could not have imagined before...like going to the orthopedic doc last week in my bedclothes!
Rambling,
Jan
Ron has speech evaluation tomorrow to help with thought processing. I am on the fence about doing that until I see what that means and what his needs are. Then I have caregiving time in the afternoon and our new dishwasher is supposed to be installed.
ECP light treatments had a glitch this week. Ron bruises easily due to being on steroids so long. His skin is thin and tears easily. Along the same line, coughing can cause eye bleeds which happens occasionally. He developed an eye bleed in his right eye..the one that has vision, so after being seen by 2 at Mott, instead of ECP on Wednesday we spent two hours in Kellogg Eye Center in AA. We did not get back to the condo until 8:30 last night and had to leave at 6:45 this morning for a treatment as he had been cleared to do so. He did see his regular eye doc, and of course, ECP nurse and PA did not want to make the final call because risking vision in that eye too would be horrible. Along the way in Kellogg he bumped his hand, and we had a new skin tear to deal with. All is under control now. It felt wonderful to get back to BG; it is a 65 minute trip. I loved not having to pack but learned to always carry at least a day's worth of meds with us and his first aid kit..beyond just bandaids. We probably would have bought tooth brushes and stayed at the Hampton and just slept in our clothes, but I didn't bring meds. Some of the things I've done I could not have imagined before...like going to the orthopedic doc last week in my bedclothes!
Rambling,
Jan
Monday, June 23, 2014
Abby's Sunflower: Summer 2013
I have planted seeds from Abby's sunflower at Gilead Lake and will plant some here in BG tomorrow.
An Eventful Week
I hardly know where to begin. I went back and read my last blog entry to see where I had left off. Cale had set up some services to help us, and Dr. Mag had given us the required referrals at Ron's last appointment. We now have a "helper" from Home Instead two afternoons a week 1-5 PM. We also have a case study nurse locally for palliative care as needed-- a good resource when issues change or arise.
My good knee became my bad knee as the week progressed due to overdoing during the move and condo set up. By Tuesday evening, I could not bear weight on it so texted friend Jim in the middle of the night requesting his crutches Wednesday morning. He dropped them off early, so I could get around. Doc Wojo made arrangements for me to see an orthopedic doctor that morning. Ron and I are quite the pair! He used his walker, and I crutched into the doc office. After RICE rest, ice, compression, elevation, and a shot of cortisone in my knee, both knees are pretty much normal again. Neighbors and friends have helped us with various things, and when our refrigerator, washer, and dryer are delivered tomorrow, things will definitely be under control. I continued to shop for things we needed but went mostly to Meijer where I could drive a cart and continue to rest my knee. Today I am crutch and cane-free. New appreciation for Ron and others who have to use any device to help walk.
Having help a couple afternoons a week is liberating. Primarily she makes sure Ron stays safe and does light housework. On Wednesday after my doc appointment for my knee, I went to bed to ice and elevate, and she fixed me lunch in bed and cleaned while I napped! On Friday when she was here, I set up PT for BOTH of us at the local hospital, ran errands, and ran into Liz, the teacher who taught next door to me at Kenwood. It was wonderful to visit with her...in the McDonalds parking lot where we both had gone to pick up coffee! This weekend has gone by quickly as I have had time to sleep more (guess that is why I am still awake tonight) and do little things around the home. I am looking forward to spending some time pulling weeds in the landscaping that is beautifully done. I hope it is not too late to plant sunflower seeds from the big sunflower that Abby gave me to grow last year. It grew from 6 inches to way over six or seven feet high!
I am content here and looking forward to connecting with more friends during the weeks we live in BG. It is okay to visit us! --in fact, the WELCOME mat is out!
Love, Ron & Jan
My good knee became my bad knee as the week progressed due to overdoing during the move and condo set up. By Tuesday evening, I could not bear weight on it so texted friend Jim in the middle of the night requesting his crutches Wednesday morning. He dropped them off early, so I could get around. Doc Wojo made arrangements for me to see an orthopedic doctor that morning. Ron and I are quite the pair! He used his walker, and I crutched into the doc office. After RICE rest, ice, compression, elevation, and a shot of cortisone in my knee, both knees are pretty much normal again. Neighbors and friends have helped us with various things, and when our refrigerator, washer, and dryer are delivered tomorrow, things will definitely be under control. I continued to shop for things we needed but went mostly to Meijer where I could drive a cart and continue to rest my knee. Today I am crutch and cane-free. New appreciation for Ron and others who have to use any device to help walk.
Having help a couple afternoons a week is liberating. Primarily she makes sure Ron stays safe and does light housework. On Wednesday after my doc appointment for my knee, I went to bed to ice and elevate, and she fixed me lunch in bed and cleaned while I napped! On Friday when she was here, I set up PT for BOTH of us at the local hospital, ran errands, and ran into Liz, the teacher who taught next door to me at Kenwood. It was wonderful to visit with her...in the McDonalds parking lot where we both had gone to pick up coffee! This weekend has gone by quickly as I have had time to sleep more (guess that is why I am still awake tonight) and do little things around the home. I am looking forward to spending some time pulling weeds in the landscaping that is beautifully done. I hope it is not too late to plant sunflower seeds from the big sunflower that Abby gave me to grow last year. It grew from 6 inches to way over six or seven feet high!
I am content here and looking forward to connecting with more friends during the weeks we live in BG. It is okay to visit us! --in fact, the WELCOME mat is out!
Love, Ron & Jan
Sunday, June 15, 2014
"Our Pond" - View from Kitchen Nook
In the picture below of the entrance to Cogan's Crossing, our home-villa-condo is in the background.
Home Sweet Home BG - A Good Move
We spent our first night back in Bowling Green! The move went smoothly; Gary and Vicki arrived at the Villa before we did in case Directv came at noon, and they also brought a carload of belongings which they had put away. The movers started to unload about 12:30, and we arrived 15 minutes later. Perfect! Ron was soon resting in his recliner, and I watched Vicki work on the kitchen from my chair. Anne and George are bringing our wall pictures and a few other things on Thursday. By then I hope to have a washer, dryer, and refrigerator!
It is a peaceful setting here. There is a large pond with fountain outside our slider in the kitchen nook.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Crazy Busy
May has been true to form as an extremely busy time, even in retirement! We are looking forward to spending time in BG in our new condo, but it has been a challenge to make all arrangements and pack, etc. The plan is coming together. My sibs and spouses have helped with packing and are helping with the move at both houses.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
June, oh, my!!
I have been on information overload this week. We have realized that we are at a transition point in Ron's care, so Cale met us in Ann Arbor on Wednesday and Friday to help with Ron's appointments with his transplant doctor, Dr. Mag, and a new Physical Medicine and Rehab doc, Dr. Smith. (Cale was surprised how young both of them look.) Ron will have another head MRI June 9, and then we may or may not have new information from his neurologist. Ron also has a pulmonary doc and an eye doc in Ann Arbor. As has been the case in the past, after a hospitalization for pneumonia, he loses some ground physically and cognitively. He doesn't seem to go back to where he was before the hospital stay. The difference this time though is that he is breathing much better and says he feels better than he has in weeks. The parainfluenza type 3 was hard on him. The non-Ron behaviors continue with new ones occurring.
During the last two weeks at the lake before heading to our condo, Ron will have at-home PT and check ups by a nurse. Dr. Smith wrote scripts for out patient PT and speech (to work on thought process) which we will start in BG if Ron wants to. He has started to show some displeasure with all of the many appointments and doctors.
May was very busy with looking at and buying a condo, selling Ron's truck, starting to pack things to move to the condo, 6 days in the hospital, appointments for Ron on 5 other days, yardwork begging me to get outside, arrangements for dock and pontoon and movers, etc. lots of mental exercise for me!! Thank heaven for email of documents and electronic signatures!
I have planted some flowers by the house as well as 5 tomato plants. We are mowing over my garden area behind the garage, except for the flowers that I have out there. I have known all winter and spring that a garden would not be possible and can accept that change.
Love to all of you,
Jan
During the last two weeks at the lake before heading to our condo, Ron will have at-home PT and check ups by a nurse. Dr. Smith wrote scripts for out patient PT and speech (to work on thought process) which we will start in BG if Ron wants to. He has started to show some displeasure with all of the many appointments and doctors.
May was very busy with looking at and buying a condo, selling Ron's truck, starting to pack things to move to the condo, 6 days in the hospital, appointments for Ron on 5 other days, yardwork begging me to get outside, arrangements for dock and pontoon and movers, etc. lots of mental exercise for me!! Thank heaven for email of documents and electronic signatures!
I have planted some flowers by the house as well as 5 tomato plants. We are mowing over my garden area behind the garage, except for the flowers that I have out there. I have known all winter and spring that a garden would not be possible and can accept that change.
Love to all of you,
Jan
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