"Doing quite well in fact"
Yes. There is something positive about all this. First, there is no more infection. Jim's health has been off for a long time. A doctor said that he was probably spending about a fifth of his energy just fighting infection. Of course, right now, about a fifth of his energy is going toward healing from the surgery, but he is feeling quite well. Second, the "bad thing" we were fighting against happened and, guess what?, we're still here and still love each other.
Another thing that has helped me a great deal is that Jim has had the most amazing and positive attitude about everything. He has helped me and everyone else around him to get through these weeks. Apart from that, we have been experiencing what it means to have incredibly good friends. Thank you!
Then, change has been good as well. We're getting the house decluttered, reorganized, and cleaned. At the moment Jim's choices for getting around are limited to a wheelchair and walker. This means that we can't clutter as much. From the time he came home from the hospital in October, I had to stop leaving shoes on the bathroom floor. And strangely enough it's gotten to be a habit to keep the bathroom floor totally clear. We had to move bookcases, cat-pans, wastebaskets--anything that blocks the flow. It seems to be working. Now I have "J" to come in to clean for us every other week and that takes some of the pressure off. She really does a great job of scrubbing cabinets and stovetops! Her help keeping the house cleaner frees up time to work on all the closets (dusty,) drawers (hey, what's that doing there!) and cupboards (Ok, why is there cat hair on the blankets in the linen cupboard?) Freeing space from the clutter will help a lot.
I'm hoping to get back to my office reorg. now that the fires are getting put out. There were complications when the bookcase and cat pans in the hall had to go into my office, Now I have another bookcase that needs a home. Still, I have ideas.
It was good seeing Jim's parents during his hospitalization. His dad, Clark, came the day before surgery and stayed until the following Tuesday. He did a good job of distracting Jim from the emotional pain of losing his foot. Alex made some good meals for him while he was here although he stayed at a hotel. He seemed to enjoy finding out how many ways he could get lost between his hotel and the hospital! The night before the surgery, he and I hung out with Jim until midnight, chatting and drinking decaf coffee from the visitor's lounge. During the surgery we waited with Alex in the surgical waiting room.
On this stay, Jim was on the cardiac floor and got great care from the nurses there. It was noticeable that the staffing on that floor was much better than the staffing in the general wards. It made the hospital stay easier. What helped the most were all the friends who came. I parked my art supplies in the corner of his room and spent some time doodling on new bookmarks. Jim got me a set of 80 watercolor pencils for Christmas and I've been enjoying them greatly. Lots of colors. I've also picked up some metallic markers to add pizazz to the bookmarks I make. Great fun.
JIm's mom, Pat, and sister, Nancy got there the day after Jim got into the Rehab ward. I started back to work (was going to work on most days already.) Jim was pretty busy working his legs and upper body, but Pat and Nancy could sit with him during breaks and evenings and talk. It was great to be with them. One evening, Nancy and I got into a game of pool. She showed me what happens when someone plays more than once every 4 years. I got some balls in the pocket really. Only one was a cue ball. Pat and Nancy went to museums and bookstores every day finding ways to amuse themselves. I couldn't talk them into eating at our house, though. They didn't want to put me out.
Rehab at Meriter hospital was pretty good. They take people for short term stays and work them hard. If the patient is sick or really weak, they go into longer-term rehab at other locations. Jim was eager to do his exercises, learn to handle stairs, laundry, cooking, and other tasks. He wanted to go home so bad!!!
The next Sunday was Jim's pass to try out being at home. I picked him up in the morning and we spent some time alone. It was a little stressful because that was when we realized our house was not wheelchair friendly. I'd had training in supporting him during some of his activities, especially stairs, and that worked out fairly well, but just getting into the house was a bit of an ordeal. It somehow didn't work quite as planned. Anyhow, I finally got to cook a meal for Pat and Nancy and Jim! and we feasted. Tom was over and Mom so we had a bit of a party. Then I had to take him back. Pat and Nancy flew back west on Monday, and I got to bring Jim home the next day.
Jim won't be able to get back to work until sometime in April. I think he is starting to get tired of being home by himself when I'm off at work, maybe a little bored. Anyone want to visit him? It would be cool.
More anon. Other subjects? I hope!
Another thing that has helped me a great deal is that Jim has had the most amazing and positive attitude about everything. He has helped me and everyone else around him to get through these weeks. Apart from that, we have been experiencing what it means to have incredibly good friends. Thank you!
Then, change has been good as well. We're getting the house decluttered, reorganized, and cleaned. At the moment Jim's choices for getting around are limited to a wheelchair and walker. This means that we can't clutter as much. From the time he came home from the hospital in October, I had to stop leaving shoes on the bathroom floor. And strangely enough it's gotten to be a habit to keep the bathroom floor totally clear. We had to move bookcases, cat-pans, wastebaskets--anything that blocks the flow. It seems to be working. Now I have "J" to come in to clean for us every other week and that takes some of the pressure off. She really does a great job of scrubbing cabinets and stovetops! Her help keeping the house cleaner frees up time to work on all the closets (dusty,) drawers (hey, what's that doing there!) and cupboards (Ok, why is there cat hair on the blankets in the linen cupboard?) Freeing space from the clutter will help a lot.
I'm hoping to get back to my office reorg. now that the fires are getting put out. There were complications when the bookcase and cat pans in the hall had to go into my office, Now I have another bookcase that needs a home. Still, I have ideas.
It was good seeing Jim's parents during his hospitalization. His dad, Clark, came the day before surgery and stayed until the following Tuesday. He did a good job of distracting Jim from the emotional pain of losing his foot. Alex made some good meals for him while he was here although he stayed at a hotel. He seemed to enjoy finding out how many ways he could get lost between his hotel and the hospital! The night before the surgery, he and I hung out with Jim until midnight, chatting and drinking decaf coffee from the visitor's lounge. During the surgery we waited with Alex in the surgical waiting room.
On this stay, Jim was on the cardiac floor and got great care from the nurses there. It was noticeable that the staffing on that floor was much better than the staffing in the general wards. It made the hospital stay easier. What helped the most were all the friends who came. I parked my art supplies in the corner of his room and spent some time doodling on new bookmarks. Jim got me a set of 80 watercolor pencils for Christmas and I've been enjoying them greatly. Lots of colors. I've also picked up some metallic markers to add pizazz to the bookmarks I make. Great fun.
JIm's mom, Pat, and sister, Nancy got there the day after Jim got into the Rehab ward. I started back to work (was going to work on most days already.) Jim was pretty busy working his legs and upper body, but Pat and Nancy could sit with him during breaks and evenings and talk. It was great to be with them. One evening, Nancy and I got into a game of pool. She showed me what happens when someone plays more than once every 4 years. I got some balls in the pocket really. Only one was a cue ball. Pat and Nancy went to museums and bookstores every day finding ways to amuse themselves. I couldn't talk them into eating at our house, though. They didn't want to put me out.
Rehab at Meriter hospital was pretty good. They take people for short term stays and work them hard. If the patient is sick or really weak, they go into longer-term rehab at other locations. Jim was eager to do his exercises, learn to handle stairs, laundry, cooking, and other tasks. He wanted to go home so bad!!!
The next Sunday was Jim's pass to try out being at home. I picked him up in the morning and we spent some time alone. It was a little stressful because that was when we realized our house was not wheelchair friendly. I'd had training in supporting him during some of his activities, especially stairs, and that worked out fairly well, but just getting into the house was a bit of an ordeal. It somehow didn't work quite as planned. Anyhow, I finally got to cook a meal for Pat and Nancy and Jim! and we feasted. Tom was over and Mom so we had a bit of a party. Then I had to take him back. Pat and Nancy flew back west on Monday, and I got to bring Jim home the next day.
Jim won't be able to get back to work until sometime in April. I think he is starting to get tired of being home by himself when I'm off at work, maybe a little bored. Anyone want to visit him? It would be cool.
More anon. Other subjects? I hope!