Happy Halloween

Zachary and his friends had a "living" graveyard in our front yard. His goal was to scare all of the trick-or-treaters, but when it came down to frightening the already crying toddlers, his soft heart surfaced. I will admit though, he decorated our yard and front porch creepy.



As for Bob, my visit was short today. I bought a CD for the computer that has 15,000 games on it. His eyes could not adjust or coordinate well enough to see the screen. However, I think it will be a beneficial game once he can see it.



My cognitive therapy plan starting tomorrow will be to work on recall speed. He knows how to do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Now, we'll work of recalling the facts quickly. I'll continue with the steps of how to do things, like dressing, showering, baking, riding his Harley...

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.

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VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Fuming still today....

I woke up this morning still fuming about the care plan meeting yesterday. My goal today was to talk with the nurse practitioner who seems to be the "mother hen". I was unable to catch up with her. However, I did speak with the physical therapist. I told her of my educational and working background and my observations of Bob's cognitive abilities. She was appreciative. Hopefully, she'll take all of the information back to the care plan team.



Hell, today, I had Bob playing a pinball game on the computer. He was getting very high scores. So, I say, the OT can shove his putting cards in sequential order up his @$$.



T and I did naming items during my evening visit. One month ago, he couldn't give a name too many items, tonight he got the majority correct. Maybe the VA should give me a job!



T and I were talking about the steps he would take if I wanted to trade corn. He asked me if I thought the market will go up or down. Then, he told me I'd have to put more money in my account...blah, blah, blah...I said I hate having to make those decisions. You know what he told me? He said, "Well, if you hate it, then there's only one thing to do...Get out of trading!" What a smartass. He can manage my account. Just let me know how much money I have to go shopping with.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.
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VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Caregivers meeting today...

If I could spit nails, I would! The meeting I had today with the caregiving team (nurse practitioner, doctor, physical therapist, rec therapist, occupational therapist, nutritionist, and pharmacist) was so negative. After they all gave me their perspective on things, I said, "Am I missing something here? I see great strides in Bob's progress, but you all see what he can't do." They made it sound like he was not going to regain his mental ability and that he was going to need 27/7 care for the rest of his life. Oh, just typing this is getting me mad all over again! I wanted to say, "Don't talk down to me. I'm not stupid! I have a doctural degree.

My background is in health and wellness. I have a certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, and I provide pscho/educational testing for voc rehab. DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE I JUST GOT OFF THE BOAT, DAMN-IT" But I didn't, I kept my mouth shut because when he can walk, he's outta there. I'm breaking him loose. I'm emailing Jill Bolte Taylor. I'll get her insight.


On the good note, Bob's pressure wound has decreased from 5cm to 3cm. The wound care nurse thinks it will heal over in 2-3 weeks. She was positive. She wasn't in the meeting. She helped me to the car. She told me that she sees Bob like he's going to school to learn to live the rest of his life; whereas, the other residents are there for rehab to have a better quality of life.


Bob told me yesterday that his brain was on vacation. Well, not anymore! Tonight we did a lot of cognitive things. We did so much, he asked to quit because he didn't want to do anymore. He was tired.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.

email
stroke info
aneurysm info

VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Quotes...

Some of Bob's famous quotes for the day are, "I can't think right now, I have too much shit going on in my brain. I can't think." and "I get tired so quick. My body has so much healing to do; I just get tired." and "I'll see ya' here tomorrow. I'll be right here. I don't have any plans. I'm not going anywhere. Here (the VA) is my first, second, and third choice for places to be."


I have a "team" meeting tomorrow to find out the game plan for Bob. Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes well, ans they give me a "go home" date. I'm positive it will. Then again, I'm always positive. woo-hoo!


Bob's memory today was great. The only thing I couldn't convince him of was that I never lived in South Dakota. He definitely is a mid-west boy.


I love it when some of you who have been following this blog send me farmer jokes and pictures. They definitely confirm how much of a country-bumpkin I'm not. You know...I grew up in the middle of many corn fields in Pennsylvania and had friends who were farming families, but somehow, I am NOT a true country girl. I sowed my wild oats elsewhere.


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."


Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.


Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.

email

stroke info

aneurysm info


VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Short day....

My visit was only an hour today. :( I am a board member of an organization called Umpqua Valley disAbilities Network. How appropriate, hunh?


I visited Bob in the middle of his occupational therapy session. Bob's shoulders have little range of motion. The therapist tried to get Bob to lift a weighted bar. But, Bob had his hundred delay excuses just like he uses with me. The therapist next had Bob put playing cards in order. Don't ask me why he gives Bob that simple task. Bob looks like he is in deep thought when doing it but, he gets it with 100% accuracy everytime; and I might add for months now. Any educator knows, it's time to move on to a more difficult task.


Bob and I ate K together, then he fell fast asleep. He was mentally tired. He couldn't keep his eyes open. (It was the ordering of playing card that did it. NOT)

Oh by the way, I saw pictures of Bob at a cattle branding. He does this every year in Nebraska. I would never make a good farmer's wife. Awe...I'd open the gate and tell the calves to RUN! It was sad seeing those pictures of cattle tied down. :( Bob has always said that as long as the meat is wrapped and comes from a grocery store, I'm ok. Don't tell me where it came from before that. I'll be a true vegetarian for sure.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.
email
stroke info
aneurysm info
VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Trip down memory lane...

Bob and I took a trip down memory lane by reading saved emails on his laptop from the beginning of our relationship when he was still in Minnesota and I was in Oregon. He is such a gushy, sensitive guy. He told me he still feels the same. awe....he makes me blush.


We also looked at photos he had on the computer. He named everyone. Some people that I didn't know, he swore I knew. Maybe I do. My IQ on remembering people and their names is well below a worm's intelligence level. :(


It rained cats and dogs here in Oregon today. It's winter time. That's why we are the ducks. (UO are the ducks.)


Well, I'm not having any luck with the Internet service. Verizon wasn't any help. You'd think with the technology out there today, some wireless service would easily be available. T will be home shortly. He'll have to wait until then. Another delay. You'd think I'd learn to be patient by now.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.
email
stroke info
aneurysm info
VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A

Homeward bound countdown...

Bob is doing so wonderfully; it excites me to think he'll be coming home soon. He comes home as soon as the pressure wound heals and he's able to stand. The pressure wound still has a ways to go, but it's getting better. Bob will be able to go back to the physical therapy room to work on standing and walking as soon as he is cleared of the C-Diff infection. Hopefully, that will be the middle of the week. He'll be able to go out of his room and socialize too. He's getting cabin fever being cooped up in his room.


Well, I did what I promised. I walked from the parking lot to Bob's room using a walker. Zachary followed me with the wheelchair. I only made it one way. Whew...was that hard.


Cognitively, Bob was sharp today. He got a little testy with me too (seems to be a common thing lately). He always follows his testy attitude with, "You know I still love you though?" How could anyone stay mad at that comment?

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, thank You for this new day. Thank You for the opportunity to begin again. I choose to press forward and keep believing for the dreams and desires You’ve placed in my heart. I trust You today with everything that I am. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Have you checked out travel-mobility.com yet? Check out our new website. Pass it on too. We'd appreciate it. If you'd like an online home business of your own, email me.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.
email
stroke info
aneurysm info
VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A