Home

Super Sunday #TSJ

After a busy week and a late night Saturday I elected to not push an agenda on Janet at all today. She woke up just after nine this morning and was in no hurry to get out of bed. We did manage to have breakfast in time to go to church but it would have been a rush and I was not prepared to be rushing around today and Janet was not too excited about going so we had church at home. We watched a sermon podcast from Elevation Church with Steven Furtick on how change (and our growth in faith) is not a project but a process and he mentioned how important it is to not think you have reached some high point and then judge others as though they haven’t. That helped me forgive and pray for the strata council at Invue who now for the final time rejected our request to modify the condo we were considering purchasing there. Their loss.

Leslie joined us for a nice Skype chat then while I was making lunch Janet requested a bio break. I can’t use a standing transfer at home so part of that routine is to lay her on the bed. After her successful session on the toilet and while she was laying on the bed getting dressed she agreed that she was pretty comfortable there and maybe she would have a rest. Shocking! An hour and a half later she was ready to get up and get ready for the Superbowl. I made some pregame snacks of which Janet said she would only have a little as she wasn’t very hungry. From the amount she ended up eating it was a good thing I made as much as I did.

As game time neared I asked Janet who she was cheering for. For the past two weeks whenever that question came up I encouraged her to say San Francisco. Just before kick off she chose Baltimore. A choice I allowed because she did cheer for them previously because of Michael Oher. I tried a little football 101 with Janet as the game started and have to say she’s starting to catch on a little bit. Overall she enjoyed watching the game and was quite proud of herself for picking the winner. We both enjoyed Beyonce’s halftime show and wished she would have sung more.

When it came time to head back to Connect Janet asked me where I was going after I had gotten her ready and was heading out to open the car. I told her we were going back to Connect and that’s where she would sleep tonight. She asked “with you?”, and started crying when I told her no. She really enjoyed being home this weekend and I think especially enjoyed the relaxing day today. I hope she’s not enjoying being home so much that it adversely affects her performance at Connect. I got her calmed down and told her I hoped she would sing during the car ride and she did for the first couple of songs. By the time we got near the airport she was asleep. She seemed to accept my bedtime pep talk once she was tucked in and I’m praying that she continues to work hard at getting better and that her therapists and the staff continue to do their best to help her.

So Long Sunday #TSJ

Another good nights sleep at home for Janet. I think she woke up once during the night, smiled at me and went right back to sleep. I slept better too knowing she was doing fine. The pillow field I laid out for her to land on seems a bit extreme now which is good and I only noticed her rolling onto her right side, which is towards me so not much fear of her falling out of bed now.

Our morning started with her usual breakfast of fruit and yogurt, coffee and a bagel with peanut butter. Everything was finished in plenty of time to go to church. We enjoyed the service and stayed after to have lunch with the Tech Team. It’s such a nice feeling to be able to have Janet out at functions like that and nice for me to re-connect with a special group of people I miss being around. For this occasion Kiko had made some pulled pork and Janet liked it so much she had seconds as well as dessert. We got home just in time to Skype with Leslie, then Andrew. Janet is conversing so much better now and her voice is getting stronger and stronger. She still will get stuck on a word or short phrase and repeat it but also manages to come up with well constructed sentences and questions and her short term memory is improving as well. She even admitted during the chat with Andrew that she was really tired and agreed to have a lay down afterwards.

I had to wake Janet up forty five minutes later so we could have dinner before returning to Connect. She ate well but didn’t seem as enthused with the dinner tonight. Too simple for her I guess. Chicken strips and fries with fresh veggies. She did love the chocolate ice cream for dessert though. Janet had a good day as far as fluid intake goes, drinking coffee, pop and water as well as a cup of tea. I have no concern about meeting that two week target for taking the peg tube out. In fact we may have to do it sooner as when we got back to Connect she complained quite tearfully that it hurt her. I had not cleaned it all weekend so it was a little dirty but it’s been worse in the past so I think I rubbed it or pushed it when I lifted her out of the car. I asked Bob to have the morning crew check it and if it’s still really bothering Janet I’ll have nurse Jen take a look. I don’t think there’s a problem, it’s more likely whatever happened getting out of the car combined with her being really tired and being a little rushed to get into bed and Laurel leaving that all that was too much for her to handle then. I called Bob after dropping Laurel at the airport and he checked on Janet for me and called back to say she was just fine. It was a busy but fun day with a steadier pace than Saturday and I think it set Janet up well for the busy week that lies ahead.

It was a big help having Laurel here this weekend and good for Janet to have quality time with her daughter. The smiles and laughter and sharing time is great therapy. We look forward to seeing Heather in a couple weeks. Praying for a well deserved night of rest and healing and a fun day of recovery and learning tomorrow.

Sleepover #TSJ

My day with Janet began with a good workout in the gym. At least the first part was good with lots of good stretching. When it came time to pole dance Janet started getting all emotional and lacking confidence again. I talked her into trying to stand three times and each time she gave a good effort and by the end of the third try I think there was a glimmer of belief in her eyes. I got her over to the Shuttle after that and she strongly did thirty reps with one band of tension. No emotion. Yet. She managed four reps at two bands then broke down completely. The loudest cries I’ve heard from her. All based I believe on a lack of confidence. One band is really quite easy for her and two requires some effort but not what should be an overwhelming amount. Next time we’ll try fewer reps with one band and see if that helps and maybe we’ll start on the Shuttle so she’s not as tired.

In chatting with Christa on the way out of the gym I told her I was taking Janet home for the rest of the day. She asked why not overnight. I didn’t think we were allowed to do that yet but Lorne confirmed we are so as I write this at 11:08 pm, Janet is sleeping in our bed right beside me. First time in over eight months!

We arrived home to an overexcited Nash then had a nice Skype chat with Heather and Allan. An unauthorized lunch followed as we watched a little tv before Skypeing Leslie. Janet was showing signs of tiring so with no pressure to do anything or be anywhere she agreed to lay down for a bit. That helped a lot as she had a nice burst of energy for the evening and ate two servings of a delicious manicotti that Kiko made for us. Instead of desert Janet elected to have chips and pop while we watched some Aussie Open tennis. I saw a lot of old Janet tonight as she very stubbornly stayed up until just after ten. She helped me in the kitchen before we went to bed and I saw some signs of confusion as she tried putting some things away. I can’t blame it on the drugs though as I think she was like this before and I’m just hoping for more improvement.

Janet is very happy to be home tonight and actually found it a little surprising that we were going to sleep in the same bed. Looking forward to waking up with her in the morning and praying for rest and healing. Thanking Jesus for my beautiful wife. Even as she snores.