Long overdue update....
While I am waiting for my no longer health dinner to get here (pizza), I thought I should do an update. I think an itemized list is a good idea. *lol*
1. I ended up spending a month with my Grandma. She had bladder surgery on April 25th. She was released from the hospital on April 26th, and I went to spend a couple of days with her. However...that morphed into so much more. Over that first weekend, I was really struggling to get her to eat. The antibiotic she had been prescribed really did a number on her tummy and she just couldn't keep food down. I had her drinking Boost, soups, but it still wasn't enough to keep up her strength. On Monday April 30, she got up to go down the hall, and I looked up in time (I was in kitchen, making her a scrambled egg) to see her lean against the wall. I barely got out "Grandma let me help you" and took half a step before she fainted. She hit her head on the leg of her electric organ. I promptly called 911. She was taken to the hospital, where she ended up staying for a WEEK! So many little things snowballed and the overall effect was a rapid decrease in her blood pressure...which caused her to get dizzy and faint.
After she was released from the hospital, I continued to stay with her...I was afraid to leave her alone. In fact, I had already decided that if it got to the point where she needed someone to stay with her, I was going to give up my apartment and move in with her. However, she is now doing much, MUCH better. She's driving again and is getting out and about, shopping and getting her hair done, and going to the library. I'm so glad. I was so worried.
2. Audrey (my great-aunt and Grandma's sister) also had surgery during all of the above. I was honestly sick thinking about having to look after 2 recuperating seniors. However, Audrey came through her surgery with hardly any effects at all. Thank goodness!!!!
3. During most of this, I was still in the aircast. However, on May 8th, I was able to remove it and start wearing shoes. On May 18th, I started physiotherapy and there is a huge improvement already. I had another appointment today, and the therapist was so impressed with the range of motion I have regained. It's pretty much back to 100%. Now the focus is on strengthening the ankle. It's still really weak. So I got some new exercises for that and I'm going to be doing them religiously, 3 times a day. I also have to really focus on the way I walk....turns out I'm still a little unbalanced. In order to decrease the amount of time I'm on my left foot, I have shortened the length of step I take with my right leg. But the therapist has assured me that's an easy fix. It's just going to take some conscious awareness on my part when I'm walking. I am still optimistic that I will be able to run by the end of June.
4. I had a job interview yesterday. It's for a part-time line cook at a nearby pub. I think the interview went well. He said he'd be checking my references right away and he'd have an answer for me by Monday at the latest.
5. I have absolutely fallen in love with knitting. Over the course of the month I was at Grandma's, I started and finished 7 dishcloths. I gave 3 away and I have 4 for myself. My 8th one is half done. I'm hoping to finish it over the weekend.
6. In other sort-of knitting news, I have come to the realization that I need a unique/funky bag to store my supplies and projects in. So, I have started to work with _holly to create something for me. I'm excited.
7. I ended up signing up to volunteer at this year's Bluesfest. I was able to get 6 shifts working in the Algonquin College kitchens. All of these shifts are during the day...which means I don't have to give up any evenings. I will still get to see all the shows I want to. :D
8. Tomorrow I am going to visit my sister and nephews. Brady, my oldest nephew, has apparently been bugging Jenn about when I'm going to come visit. *lol* I was talking to her on the phone the other night, and she told Brady I was going to come over this weekend. His reaction was awesome. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my Kathleen so much and I can't to see her. I love you my Kathleen!!!!" *lol* Made my heart melt. :D
9. I've been scouting out new shoes....I need a new pair of sandals and a new pair of work shoes. I'm really leaning towards a couple pairs of Crocs.
I already have a pair of Crocs sandals...I had originally bought them to be indoor shoes. But since breaking my leg, they are the most comfortable shoes I have. So I have been wearing them outside.
These are the sandals I'm thinking of getting:
And these are what I'm looking at for work:
And I think that's it....for now. :) My pizza is here. And I'm hungry.
1. I ended up spending a month with my Grandma. She had bladder surgery on April 25th. She was released from the hospital on April 26th, and I went to spend a couple of days with her. However...that morphed into so much more. Over that first weekend, I was really struggling to get her to eat. The antibiotic she had been prescribed really did a number on her tummy and she just couldn't keep food down. I had her drinking Boost, soups, but it still wasn't enough to keep up her strength. On Monday April 30, she got up to go down the hall, and I looked up in time (I was in kitchen, making her a scrambled egg) to see her lean against the wall. I barely got out "Grandma let me help you" and took half a step before she fainted. She hit her head on the leg of her electric organ. I promptly called 911. She was taken to the hospital, where she ended up staying for a WEEK! So many little things snowballed and the overall effect was a rapid decrease in her blood pressure...which caused her to get dizzy and faint.
After she was released from the hospital, I continued to stay with her...I was afraid to leave her alone. In fact, I had already decided that if it got to the point where she needed someone to stay with her, I was going to give up my apartment and move in with her. However, she is now doing much, MUCH better. She's driving again and is getting out and about, shopping and getting her hair done, and going to the library. I'm so glad. I was so worried.
2. Audrey (my great-aunt and Grandma's sister) also had surgery during all of the above. I was honestly sick thinking about having to look after 2 recuperating seniors. However, Audrey came through her surgery with hardly any effects at all. Thank goodness!!!!
3. During most of this, I was still in the aircast. However, on May 8th, I was able to remove it and start wearing shoes. On May 18th, I started physiotherapy and there is a huge improvement already. I had another appointment today, and the therapist was so impressed with the range of motion I have regained. It's pretty much back to 100%. Now the focus is on strengthening the ankle. It's still really weak. So I got some new exercises for that and I'm going to be doing them religiously, 3 times a day. I also have to really focus on the way I walk....turns out I'm still a little unbalanced. In order to decrease the amount of time I'm on my left foot, I have shortened the length of step I take with my right leg. But the therapist has assured me that's an easy fix. It's just going to take some conscious awareness on my part when I'm walking. I am still optimistic that I will be able to run by the end of June.
4. I had a job interview yesterday. It's for a part-time line cook at a nearby pub. I think the interview went well. He said he'd be checking my references right away and he'd have an answer for me by Monday at the latest.
5. I have absolutely fallen in love with knitting. Over the course of the month I was at Grandma's, I started and finished 7 dishcloths. I gave 3 away and I have 4 for myself. My 8th one is half done. I'm hoping to finish it over the weekend.
6. In other sort-of knitting news, I have come to the realization that I need a unique/funky bag to store my supplies and projects in. So, I have started to work with _holly to create something for me. I'm excited.
7. I ended up signing up to volunteer at this year's Bluesfest. I was able to get 6 shifts working in the Algonquin College kitchens. All of these shifts are during the day...which means I don't have to give up any evenings. I will still get to see all the shows I want to. :D
8. Tomorrow I am going to visit my sister and nephews. Brady, my oldest nephew, has apparently been bugging Jenn about when I'm going to come visit. *lol* I was talking to her on the phone the other night, and she told Brady I was going to come over this weekend. His reaction was awesome. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my Kathleen so much and I can't to see her. I love you my Kathleen!!!!" *lol* Made my heart melt. :D
9. I've been scouting out new shoes....I need a new pair of sandals and a new pair of work shoes. I'm really leaning towards a couple pairs of Crocs.
I already have a pair of Crocs sandals...I had originally bought them to be indoor shoes. But since breaking my leg, they are the most comfortable shoes I have. So I have been wearing them outside.
These are the sandals I'm thinking of getting:
And these are what I'm looking at for work:
And I think that's it....for now. :) My pizza is here. And I'm hungry.