Visualize this...

Picture this...Bob in his wheelchair with pants on, that aren't his, and are ten sizes bigger than what he usually wears, guitar in his lap, hair messed up, and a CD of Wide Load (the band he plays in in MN) playing in the background. The kind of music Wide Load plays is classic country. Have it pictured? The only thing missing from this picture is a piece of wheat hanging out of Bob's mouth and suspenders attached to his pants that are pulled up to his armpits.



Bob played his guitar a little today. He said it was too out of tuned to play with the CD. He sang along though. He hasn't lost his singing voice. He likes to show off to the nurses. With the knee slapping, foot-stopping old country music on, the nurses dance around while Bob sings. (now that's another sight to picture)



I saw Bob's pressure wound today. It is almost healed shut. Time is almost up for quarantine. So, now, the focus needs to be on getting him standing.



Sanity to the Lunacy...Bob will be retested on Friday to see if the C-Diff infextion has cleared. Then, another test will be done next Friday. If both are negative, he'll be cleared of quarantine.



"How ya' doin', Bob"..."I'm feeling pretty good. My memory is as good as what it was last time you asked." When was that? hahaha...

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise Your name. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I keep You first place in all that I do. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Bob is just bidding his time waiting for the pressure wound to heal, his infections to be cleared, and his leg strength to improve. He's ready to break out of the VA joint. I feel that his memory has significantly improved. He actually knows where he is now on a consistant basis.


I mixed grape juice and apple juice together in a bottle for him to drink. Bob told me the new juice is called "grapple". Tell me, does that sound like a person whose brain is thinking or not? THINKING, I think!


We played "Guess Who?" today. He learned the strategies for winning very quickly. We had fun.


I taped one of his eye lenses of his glasses, so he's able to use just one eye for vision. His eyes still aren't coordinating well. Bob closes his one eye automatically, in order to see an object; otherwise, he's looking at two separate things. It drives him crazy.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise Your name. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I keep You first place in all that I do. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

Jill Bolte Taylor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU It'll make you cry, it's so amazing.
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Not so great day...

Bob was having a down day today. His catater needed replaced, and he was given another suppository. Heavens, what else could go wrong with his lower half? Oh, yes, the pressure wound. I guess that does it for all of the openings on the lower half of his body.


He didn't eat well at lunch, but he did drink a lot of fluids. He did that in hopes to ward off another UTI, since the catater malfunctioned this morning.


I bought two games for us to work on his memory and recall. I got "memory"; a concentration game and "Guess Who?"; a game that requires naming characteristics to determine your opponents hidden person.

I've decided to take it upon myself to help Bob stand everyday. I've had enough of the "downtime" from physical therapy due to his infection isolation. It will be interesting how I will accomplish this task. I'll keep you posted.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father in heaven, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise Your name. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I keep You first place in all that I do. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Not much going on...

I don't believe it. I don't have much to say; not even a little tidbit. Bob is doing well today. I tried to help him sit on the edge of the bed. I don't know how the nurses do it. I had one heck of a time moving him two inches. How do those nurses do it to make it look so easy?

We worked on memory some today. He still can't put names to things, like list fruits. Bob's response, "I don't know. I have them pictured in my head, but I don't know what they're called." He can tell you all of the characteristics; just not the name.

He's still good with the stories. Bob told us he was a controller on a submarine in the Army; in addition to raising cattle and pigs for the Army. Oh, and he was a cook for a short time, as well as being a cardiac ICU nurse (which is fact).

Sanity to the lunacy...When leaving tonight, T told me he loved me, gobs and gobs. Isn't he too cute?

"How ya' doin, Bob?" "I feel good." "I feel better now that we're getting the music all set up for next year." (Your guess is as good as mine on what he means.) "Also, my ass hurts." hahaha... (He hates sitting in the wheelchair, due to his pressure wound.)

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise Your name. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I keep You first place in all that I do. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. If you are going to shop tomorrow during Black Friday, remember, "There are nut cases out there." and "I'm not picky when it comes to receiving gifts of any kind." :-)


We picked T up today to come home for Thanksgiving. He didn't remember what we were doing. It was nice to see that he remembered the house, though. He likes the new addition, and seemed excited about getting back to work in his new office.


Sanity to the Lunacy...There is no sanity to this lunacy...Bob was given a suppository this morning before we picked him up. What the hell were they thinking? Luckily nothing happened while we were home. (At least I don't think)


"How ya' doing Bob?" "I am thankful for all the food, and thankful I have a loving family to spend the day with."

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father in heaven, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise Your name. Fill me with Your peace and joy as I keep You first place in all that I do. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.


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

Tomorrow is going to be a good day...

I got the van! Well, I'm all set up to bring my T home for Thanksgiving dinner. I borrowed the van from Umpqua Disabilities Network. The house is all clean and disinfected. All the food is bought and waiting for someone to cook it. Oh, I guess that would be me! I'm excited to have my T home for the day.


I think it will be a good thing for Bob to get out in the world and to see where he is. Being stuck behind four walls for six months can leave a person wondering where the heck they are.


Sanity to the Lunacy...I didn't get to see my T long today. I did my morning visit, then I came home to disinfect the house, and then tutor. We played UNO. I won one game. He won one game, and he made sure I knew that he knew we were tied one game a piece! Smart ass


How ya' doing Bob? I'm doing good today. My arms are stiff. My leg is "dead". I need to drink lots of water.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

T's journaling...

I received information from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. They suggest that anyone who survives a brain aneurysm is a rarity, and journaling will not only help the survivor recover emotionally and mentally, it will help other survivors learn how others are coping. It is a good tool, also, for the survivor to look back to see their progress.


Therefore, this blog is going to have a new section added to it. It will be titled, "How Ya' Doing, Bob". It will include quotes from Bob about how he is feeling, what he is feeling, what he is thinking, and anything else that comes to his mind on that day.


I'll continue to give my "lowdown on the lunacy". The lunacy of the day was Bob's hair. It looked like Albert Einstein's. hahahaha...I think it's getting a little out of control. And to think, a few months ago, I had the beautician shave it all off to even it out after Bob's surgery. You know, I never mentioned...when Bob had his brain surgery, they only "prepped" the area of the insertion site by shaving that part of his head. No, they didn't shave the whole head (which you'd think they would do). They only shaved part of his head. Goofy.


"How Ya' Doing, Bob" - "I feel good. It's a fair amount of work trying to stay in touch with what's going on." Finish this sentence, My memory..."sucks". "I need to repeat out loud what people say. And, I have to pay attention more."


"I passed my food challenge of eating most of my dinner and one dessert."

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Woo-hoo! I'm jumping out of my skin. I have butterflies in my stomach. I have a smile that reaches past ear-to-ear :-) I received permission to bring T home for Thanksgiving dinner. I am only allowed to have him home for three and a half hours due to the fact that his pressure wound is healing so well. The head nurse doesn't want it to "go backwards".


How will I get him home, you ask? I am a member of Umpqua Valley Disabilities Network board. With valid driver's license and insurance, I can borrow the wheelchair accessible van. That way, Bob doesn't need an army to transfer him from his chair to a car.


SO...if you're close by, and you want to stop by for a visit and dessert, please feel free. I am picking Bob up at 2pm, eating around 3pm, and returning to the VA around 5pm.


I only saw my T for a few minutes to give him the good news. I had to do a Cosco run. My home cupboards were starting to look like "Old Mother Hubbard's". None-the-less, T requests turkey for dinner. He couldn't name other Thanksgiving dinner "fixin's". I'll ask again tomorrow. I woke him from a sound sleep; so, he wasn't very coherent.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Rainy Sunday...

Bob and I just lazed around on this rainy Sunday. We watched the movie "Match Point"; a lesson to learn about the consequences of lust and a good chick flick.


I tried to get Bob to stretch and exercise a little. He cops an attitude with me and then refuses to do more than a few repetitions. I, also, tried to convince him to drink more water so he doesn't get another urinary tract infection. He makes a face at me that looks like he's going to growl and bark, and then says, "NO". He's gained enough of his wits about himself, that I can't use reverse psychology on him anymore. He's surpassed that level of cognition.


Bob's pressure wound is healing well. It is half the size of what it was when he first entered the VA. It is closing nicely. Today was the last day of the C-Diff antibiotic. Now, they will wean him off of that antibiotic and retest him for C-Diff. Cross your fingers that Bob will be free from quarantine, and he can get to physical therapy.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Lesson: Piaget 101

I referenced Bob's lack of prior knowledge to Piaget. Let me explain. Piaget was a developmental behaviorist who did research on children. His theory of developmental learning says that children build on past learned experiences to learn new information. For example, if they are building a house out of blocks, they use knowledge learned from seeing pictures, watching TV, and/or building a house out of blocks or Lego's with an adult previously. New information is learned by thinking about "what else can be added", "how can the structure be sturdier". Knowledge is gained this way throughout a lifetime.

Yesterday, Bob was trying to figure out how to lower the bed with the buttons on the guardrails. He couldn't figure it out, just yet, because any prior knowledge that was learned in this "category" has been either lost or can't be retrieved yet. It will need to be relearned.

So, there...An example of Piaget's theory in the making.

Bob is moving right along. We played UNO. He won two hands. I won two hands. I play like a normally would. He can strategically play cards that places him in the "winners" circle.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Ready to come home...

Bob is ready to come home. I'm ready for my T to come home. Zachary and Aunika are ready for T to come home. (I keep having these thoughts of bringing Bob home for Thanksgiving and not returing him. Is that kidnapping?)

He answered all of the "orientation" questions correctly this morning for the OT. Orientation questions are like, what is the date, what is the day of the week, what year is it, where are you, what town and state are you in...


One thing that Bob pondered about today made me realize there is still a lot of learning to do. He was seriously looking at the bed rail that had the controls for raising and lowering the bed. I asked him what he'd like to do. He said he was trying to figure out how to lower the bed. So, my realization was that he doesn't have past experiences to pull from to transfer knowledge from one activity to another. (Piaget's theory isn't applying)

Check out my new eHow article.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

200 posts

I've posted two hundred times on this blog, all about my T (minus a few pre-T posts for writers). This "diary" might make a good book some day. I'd have to figure out a focus, though, so every entry flows. Any thoughts that might be interesting?


Zachary and I took Coupe to the VA to visit Bob. I think he liked the puppy. Coupe acted like an eight-month old toddler though. When Bob held him, he squirmed around and whimpered. However, as soon as I took Coupe from Bob, he cuddled up on my lap and fell asleep.


I spoke with the social worker today. She told me that she noticed I was quite irritated at the meeting a few weeks ago. I explained to her my educational background and that I didn't appreciate being talked to like I knew nothing. She was the good social worker by saying she could understand, now, why I was upset. I asked her to pass the word at the next team meeting of my extensive background, and that I'm not stupid!


I also told the social worker that after the rehab in WA, there will be no more nursing homes. Bob only needs to get his muscles stronger. As for his slow recall, that doesn't deserve a nursing home. Ugh...I'm getting irritated again talking about it.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

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T's an OFFICIAL OREGONIAN...

Three years ago, today, T officially became an Oregonian. He arrived in Roseburg pulling his red trailer packed full of his MN belongings. We officially started our journey together under the same roof on this day three years ago. awwwww....


I asked if I could break Bob free of his confinement on Thanksgiving day to come home to eat dinner with us. I have to wait until Monday to talk to the "powers" that be. Cross your fingers.


We got our puppy today. His name is Coupe. He's quite the playful. He doesn't sit still long enough for us to take a picture. Our five year old dog, Bentley, thinks he's a puppy again. He's definitely vying for everyone's attention.


The OT finally saw Bob's capabilities today. He, the OT, saw a little of what I've been telling him that Bob knows how to do. Bob sorted the playing cards into pairs, shuffled them, then, layed them out on the table for the game of Concentration.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.
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

I missed a post...

Too scared to stand? (11/16/09)

Oh dear...I forgot to post yesterday's blog. Here is yesterday's, and then today's follows. Sorry everyone who follows me everyday.

Bob said he doesn't have enough confidence in himself to stand. He said he's scared. Even though he wants to stand in the worst way, he is aware of how weak he is and is fearful of standing. With time though, he'll stand.

Mentally, he was right on target today. Bob knew where I grew up (PA). He knew where we met (online in an alanon chat room). He was actually in Roseburg, OR.

Thanks to those who sent me more trivia. I'm sorry; I forgot my cheat sheets on my home printer. I'll ask Bob tomorrow what the symbols are for the months in commodity language, and where he went to boot camp and clinical training in the Army. Send more trivia, if you have it.

Thanks. I'm learning new things too.

What day is it? (Tuesday, 11/17/09)

As I sat down to type this blog, it took me a good minute to figure out what day it was. I had to do a quick "run-through" of my past two days to finally come up with that it was Monday, no it's Tuesday, no, it's not Tuesday because yesterday was Sunday, no...what the h*** day is it? Now, I know what Bob feels like, and the OT wants him to know the day immediately after being asked. Many times, Bob says, "I need my computer. I'll look it up there." Good answer!


Bob was worked hard this morning by the CNA, Shannon. She'll get Bob strong. She's nice, but she's a Nazi. I like her. She's just like me.


The trivia of the day dealt with commodity lingo. He knew it all, no problem. Other trivia focused on his Army days and where he did different trainings. It was the name thing again that "tripped" him up. He didn't know the location unless I said the first syllable or first letter, then, he knew the place right away.


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.


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

quiet Sunday...

Bob and I worked on his mental skills. Instead of playing "Concentration" with nine cards, like the OT does, I filled the entire table with most of the deck of cards. Bob won a few games. And, NO, I didn't let him win. He won all on his own. His speed is slow, but he still has it "upstairs". (You're probably getting tired of me saying that.)


Bob's pressure wound is almost healed. He is feeling the soreness now. That means the nerves are finally coming to life. To expedite the healing, he is still only allowed in the wheelchair one hour at a time, three hours total in one day.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on
Become a Rep.

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

I don't "get" it...

T and I played Connect Four again this afternoon. He has much of his problem solving ability back. He started beating me at some of the games. One of the games was a stale-mate. We used all of the checkers, that's about 49 checkers. Now, tell me, what is with the Occupational Therapist saying when he says Bob won't be working as broker ever again. More like, Bob is too good to be his broker! He's, the OT, made some bad moves in the markets; so he told us. I think he has a "bad taste" in his mouth for brokers.


In my opinion, my T just needs physical therapy to walk, and the rest will come in time. I will help.


The trivia for today came from a "Wide Load" friend. He asked, what color are John Deere tractors? (green) What color are International tractors? (red)
What color are Ford-New Holland tractors? (blue) Allis-Chalmers?-(orange) Angus cattle? (black) Hereford?-(brown with white faces) Charlois(shar-lay)-white. Bob knew them all. He even helped me pronounce some of them.


Also, Ask him what a threshing machine or a combine do with the crops. (they separate the grain from the stalks). Bob knew the answer. I didn't. Remember, I'm not a country bumpkin.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on

Become a Rep. 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

Warren....

The trivia questions keep trickling in. I love it. I'd never be able to come up with some of the questions that I've received.


When it comes to names of people, Bob only knows the name if he is given a clue. Today's trivia was, "Who is the Oracle of Omaha?" I gave the initials, WB and Warren, Bob knew Buffett. Answer: Warren Buffett. "What was his stock company's name?" I gave Bershire, Bob knew Hathaway. Later in the day, I reasked the questions, and Bob remembered the answers. Yeah for memory.


The head honcho told me that if Bob does not get accepted into the intensive rehab in WA, I need to consider another nursing facility. I told her that that is NOT an option! She said he needs care 24/7. WHO IS SHE TRYING TO KID?! I'm tired of people who are so negative. When I'm with T, there is not a nurse within "ear shot" of his room. So, where's the need for 24/7 care? He just needs to get strong enough to walk or motate to the bathroom and around the house. Ok, my dander is getting up again. grrr...

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Good day...

Bob had a good day. He was singing to music, remembering people's names, and attempting to stand by himself more than I've ever seen. I wish I can get him to remember we're not in Iowa. Tonight, I asked him who lives in Pluver (a tiny town in Iowa). He thought for a moment, then said, "A bunch of farmers." cute :-)


A trivia question that was sent to me by a friend was "Name three old-time singers who sang country music." Sad to say, Bob couldn't remember names. If I gave him clues, he remembered. One clue I gave was 'Who is Johnny Cash's wife?' He knew immediately it was June Carter Cash. But without the clue, names escape Bob.


Bob sang Chantilly Lace many times in Karaoke over the years. When I mentioned the song, he rattled the whole song off. The only thing that he lost (but will come back) is his really deep voice. Now, his voice sounds a bit muffled.


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.


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

Oh I want my T home...

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who served in the military and to all those who have or have had family members in the service.


Bob, many times, is "with it" mentally that I have a hard time facing the fact that there is still more recovery to be had. Physically, he has a long way to go, I know. But, as soon as he can stand, I think he'll be good to come home. I can continue to help him exercise. Do I sound like I miss him?


One of the high school bands marched through the VA campus and stopped outside the Community Living Center (the building where Bob is). They played some military marches, then ended with Taps. A single trumpet playing Taps and a single hand-held flag standing away from the band was quite emotional. All of the guys and girls had tears in their eyes.

Keep sending trivia for me to quiz Bob. click here for my email

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Trivia trivia....

Thanks to everyone who sent me trivia questions for Bob's cognitive therapy. Keep the questions coming. Bob enjoyed hearing who sent the questions. He seemed to try harder, since there was a personal tie to them.


Some questions I received were, name three of the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. Bob got the top three right off the bat. Another trivia list was name mascots of college football teams. There wasn't much success in that category. (We'll work on that.) We named states again. We attempt capitals. (I need a cheat sheet.)


Bob worked hard with the Occupational Therapist. The day-shift nurse exercised him hard today too. All-in-all, today seemed to be a productive day for therapy. That's the kind of therapy Bob should have been getting for months now.


Bob was so cognitively aware tonight. Our visit was another one of those visits that it was hard to tell that my T had anything wrong. ;-)

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Send me a trivia question...

Cognitive therapy with me was the only thing that got accomplished today. He described characteristics of things like the US flag, a bird, and a dog. He didn't know what kind of animal Bentley was (our dog), but when I showed him a picture, he knew Bentley was a dog.



We named all fifty states. We named some Presidents (only the ones I knew). Bob only knew one. That's something we need to work on. I'll have to get trivial persuit to have a crap load of questions. I know...Everyone reading this blog, send me a trivia question, with the answer of course. Email me at jiachini@msn.com

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

Seabiscuit...

I recommend that you watch "Seabiscuit". Bob and I watched Seabiscuit (well, I did; he fell asleep) this afternoon. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in this movie. One that stands out to me is, "Every person deserves a chance no matter what level of experience they have." That's me through and through. I am one that would give the "underdog" a chance to prove him/herself. True, the person with a good track record would be more beneficial, but, how did they earn that track record? Someone gave him/her a chance in the beginning. I'll be that person.


That's why T and I set up travelmobility the way we did. We are giving a person who is "down and out" the chance to better themselves by having a website for FREE to sell items to help others during travel. It usually costs to own a website store or to be part of an exiting store, but not for us. Help, help, help. Shouldn't everyone think that way? I think by now, the readers of this blog know I'm positive.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

"He's my hero"...

I only was able to see my T for a short time today. He is doing well. We ate lunch together, as we do most days. He has been ordered that he can be sitting in his wheelchair for no more than one hour at a time; three hours total in one day. Why? Sitting on his pressure wound for too long is not allowing it to heal as quickly as they would like. So, he is in bed, lying flat for the majority of the day, which adds to his further decline of strength and flexibility. I try to do stretching while I'm with him, but he likes to "cop" an attitude. He has a really good nurse that is with him most days that is helping him stretch, as well as work on his brain.

I heard a song today that reminds me of my T. "He's my hero"

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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, go to the website, click on Become a Rep.

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

sassy T....

Thank you to everyone who called or emailed me giving me your words of encouragement and support with the possibility of my T going to rehab in Vancouver, WA instead of coming home sooner than later.


Bob was very "with" it today. He remembered that a bird has a beak. :) (read yesterday's blog to get the inside scoop) One thing he told me that he misses about not being able to trade is not talking to all of his clients.


Bob is getting water-logged drinking lots of fluids to help get rid of the UTI. It's good to see he is finally being compliant with one therapy. He has his moments of being sassy, but, his sassiness is waaaayyy less than what my sassiness would be in the same situation.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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

Sad day...

First, Bob's fever is back to normal. He was still a little quiet this morning. Second, Earleen, the nurse practitioner in charge, announced to Bob and me that (with our permission) she was going to petition for Bob to be admitted to an intense rehab in Vancouver, WA. To be admitted there, the patient has to be well enough and able to do 5-6 hours of intense physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy a day.


Sounds like a good thing, right? It was sad for me, because I have been ready for my T to come home, and I've been anxiously awaiting that date. I thought it was going to be sooner than later. So, of course, I cried. Then, again, maybe all of this is finally catching up with me.


I talked with the physical therapist this evening. She said she has only heard good things about the rehab in WA. She is going to advocate for Bob to go. She says she has a "feeling" about his intelligence and his capability, and she feels Bob will benefit from their resources and abilities. I suppose, I should just suck it up. After all, it's to benefit T for the rest of his life.


Memory-wise, this evening (around 7pm), T remembered I was upset earlier today (at noon). I asked how he knew I was upset. He said, "Because you were crying." That was the first time he remembered a new incident longer than 15 minutes. Woo-hoo.


Something funny...We were discussing all the characteristics of a bird. I asked, "How do birds eat." Bob couldn't think of the word beak. He was bobbing his head like he was pecking at food and said, "They use their peckers." hahaha...what a belly-laugh we both had.

NEW A PRAYER FOR TODAY
"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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

101.3 fever...

Bob may be getting another infection. Ugh...He had a fever this morning of 101.3 with little urine output after drinking three bottles of water, three cups of juice, and one CapriSun. I needed to leave for the day before the test results came back, and I had tutoring to do this evening, so I didn't go for my usual evening visit.


It's confirmed, Bob has another UTI. I just called the nurse. Everyone who enters Bob's room, tries to get him to drink water. I've taken in packets of crystal lite to make lemonade, which he loves. He still doesn't drink. What needs done, is the cathater needs taken out. Maybe that's the next task on the agenda.


PT, OT, or cognitive therapy did not get done today due to the fact the Bob was not feeling up to par.

NEW A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Father God, today I choose to give You thanks. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting me free. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus! I know You have a good plan for me. Thank You for leading and guiding me and for keeping me close to You all the days of my life. 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

game cheater!...

Guess what T did today, the bugger... We were playing a dice game. In short, you must roll a one or a five to stay in the game. Bob rolled two dice. One fell on the floor. He didn't realize, I glanced at the one still on the table; it was a six. When I bent down to pick the one off of the floor, he changed the dice on the table to show a five. When I told him what the number was of the dice on the floor, he announced that the one on the table was a five. What a cheater! I "called" him on it; we had a good laugh.

OT consisted of stretching the upper body. He was in dire need of that. Laying on his back for six months leaves the upper body immobile for too long.

Bob was in Pennsylvania and New York today. I was in Oklahoma. He went to "headquarters" (he's in the VA). He's gone to the "mess" hall. Geesh...Anyone have any insight on the confusion of a person who has had brain surgery?

A change of OT game plan...

I don't know what happened...either the word got out that I was pissed after Thursday's meeting or the word got out that I'm smarter than I look or maybe both, but, the Occupational Therapist seemed to have changed his therapy plan for Bob. He actually helped Bob to stand, and he exercised Bob with "purpose" instead of his whimpy "do this small motion three times". Bob was giving the OT a little attitude about being worked so hard.


He asked Bob challenging memory questions too. It's about time!


Before T fell sound asleep from exhaustion, we played a few hands of UNO. Bob won all three hands. Go figure. No, I didn't "let" him win. He won them fair and square. He even called me a smartass for giving him a "pick up two" card. Well, he gave me one first! :(

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

180 Posts...

Wow, 180 posts to this blog. I don't think I've ever commited to anything for so long before. It's a habit now. If I don't say something everyday, I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.


Bob is becoming so "back to normal"; I get excited everyday I see him. We played UNO this morning. Now, tell me...If he's doing as bad as what everyone on that d@#% care team says, would he have remembered to say "UNO" when he had one card left? NO! Well, he remembered, and he remembered to say UNO as he laid his next to the last card down!


We exercised his (and my) arms and torso this evening. Also, he's on the edge of his chair getting ready to stand. The standing part scares the crap out of me, because if he falls and hurts himself, all fingers are going to be pointed at me. Let alone I'll feel so badly.


We worked on recall speed tonight. There's not too much to work on when he spits the answer out faster than I can come up with the answer myself. Geez...


Bob's C-diff infection is still positive. That means he'll be in solitary confinement for possibly two more weeks. I need to speak with the Physical Therapist to see what the game plan is 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
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VA Healthcare System, Transitional Care Unit, 913 NW Garden Valley Blvd, Roseburg, OR 97470 Room 108A