A Better Day for Dave.....equals better for me too.

Pictures: Dave at the campfire last weekend; Catherine and Dave getting some rays; trying to get Dave to smile; working on mom's new bedroom.

Dave got up around 11 am and was very talkative. He had a good breakfast and watched TV. Catherine came over to stay with Dave in the afternoon. They got some sun and she took him for a ride in her new car. It was a beautiful day for a ride. I helped mom late afternoon. We went shopping for a new TV, microwave, and some rugs. Then I got to see her progress. We made her bed and got some other ideas for her space. It will be cozy when she's all done. Dave took a nap from 5:30 til about 8:30, ate a small dinner and he's ready for bed. All and all, it was a pretty good day.

peace, love, groove

Over the hump

Geez, it's Thursday already. Yesterday Dave slept most of the morning and got up around 2 pm. Our friend Kristin stopped by some high school pictures. It was fun to look through with Dave and Tim...."who's playing drums?" Dave went out on the deck with Tim while I did some errands. Then we decided to watch Ironman 2. So Joni picked it up on her way over. We had dinner while we watched. Dave ate pretty darn good. He watched the whole movie, but was very tired when it was time to go to bed...10:30 or so. Phil and Loni stopped by early evening too. They leave on a trip today. Safe travels and a toast to good fun you 2 kids (hee hee hee).

We cancelled appointments with radiation and oncology Thursday and Friday. The palliative care NP is coming by Friday morning. We need to look at what hospice can offer us. Since the nephrologist said 4 to 6 months for Dave's kidney function, it's appropriate to review all of our options. I'm putting in for my leave today. Decided to take 2 1/2 weeks the end of October so I have some left over. My manager said I can take it whenever I need to. That means 2 weeks of work and I have some breathing time. I was thinking about having a small Halloween party.....you never know around here.

peace, love, groove.

2 crazy days....for me anyway

Feel a little guilty focusing on me.....but 2 crazy hell-like days for me! Monday was so busy with work...out the door by 8:30 am to meet with another rep and then inserviced from 1 to 3 pm. Upon getting home I found out Nikki and Ruthie had a dog fight in the back yard and mom could hardly get them apart. Nikki has scratches and a couple puncher wounds around her eyes. Ruthie has 3 puncher wounds in her back leg and wasn't walking on it until this morning. Poor Ruthie. Anyway, we have the best Vet. They know what we're going through and when he called me back and talked about it he wanted to start antibiotics right away....so he put them out in there mailbox for me to pick up. Kevin came over to sit with Dave and we got them started last night. Both dogs are much better this morning. Wow! We are lucky. We sat out with Kevin for awhile and then came in for dinner and Dancing with the Stars! About 8:30 I got a text message about an inservice and it made me think...should I check the date again? I had it in my calendar on Wednesday and it was really Tuesday. Oh no! Quick call to mom and the Kings, need extra coverage. Dang, I shouldn't have had those beers.

Back up this am to be out the door at 8:30 and home after 5:30. So glad the day is over. Edd stopped by to visit with Tim, Lindsey and Dave this afternoon. Catherine and Joni stayed with him this afternoon while my mom got some things moved. Dave's napping before dinner and (guess what?) Dancing with the Stars results.

Tomorrow is another day......peace, love, groove

Fall is here

Yesterday the Maki and Rasmussen's came over for the evening. We had pasties, chicken thighs ala Mark Maki and fresh green beans for dinner. Lot's o'snacks. Then we looked through a bunch of family pictures. Quite a few laughs! Many more to go through. Dave slept very well last night. I've gotten 7 to 9 hours sleep the last two or three nights. Only getting up once during the night.

Today I did some laundry and work. Dave got up around 10, took a nice nap at 2 and then the Mierau's came over for a short time so I could get to the store for a few things. They also helped me get Dave in the shower. He did better than I thought he would getting in, very tired when we went to get out. Gotta see if we can get a homecare aide to come in twice a week and help us with that. I'm getting ready to make a large porter house steak for us to share for dinner. Started working on trying to get the last 2 1/2 weeks of October off to stay home. That's only 2 1/2 weeks away. Hoping it will work out.

peace, love, groove

Pictures from Chi-town

Pictures: Our best Bloody Mary in Chicago; view from the Trump Tower; Al, Loni and Lee at Trump's place; Lee and Loni by a church; the last martini of the night; breakfast with the Burns (sorta); Loni and Al outside the famous Underground Wonder Bar.

Chili Day

It felt like a chili day to me, so I picked up the fixin's on the way home and start some chili about 5 pm. Dave did okay today- up most of the morning and was napping when I got home. He got up about 5:30 and wanted to go out in the back back. So we had Friday night nail care-spa time in the back yard, but it started to get cold. [FYI- just read whitening tooth paste will whiten finger nails...we tried it and it seems to work.] Came back up to the front yard and started a fire. Dave had a good amount of chili and some great desert Julie brought him this afternoon when we got inside. We're watching some TV, pills and then to bed. Tomorrow we're going to have family over and start going through pictures...memories and hopefully some laughs.

peace, love, groove

A different kind of day

Dave got up pretty easily around 10 am. I talked with him last week and we decided to get some funeral planning done, so Phil went with me to Starks. It was hard but necessary. I feel really good about talking out the process and knowing the ball park for cost. Everyone was so nice to us and I think I have a good idea how most things will go. I have no idea how anyone does this in 2 to 3 days..... but I know a lot do. I'm too much of a planner. More to come on that later....much later. My mom found an apartment today. It's just 5 to 6 blocks away, small and cute. We'll start moving her next week. Dave and I got a nice nap from 4 to 6. It's been hot today.

Yesterday Lindsey, Tim and Joni helped me move some furniture around so the wheelchair is easier to get around. It felt good to get the living room better organized. They also suggested taking the door off of the bedroom and that makes such a big difference. Then Tim and Joni joined us in the back back yard for a real fire....the first of fall.

Dave has been using the wheelchair more. Had his last PT visit today. We'll try to help him remember to keep up some exercises. MD appointments next week. Will write more often.

peace, love, groove.