My house is sooooo clean. Don't you just hate it when people spell "so" -- "sooooo" -- for emphasis? I could have bolded it, italicized it, underlined it (the word "so" that is), but instead I opted for spelling it incorrectly to draw attention to just how wonderful it is to have a clean house.
It took my happy helper two weeks to get it completed, but it's done. She'll be back in two weeks to do the usual stuff. I am so glad when the house is clean and it smells to nice. I even had her clean out the front door area of spiders! So you can come visit me (please call first) and you'll be greeted with a clean entry way on both sides of the door. Yippee!
I'm still recovering from one of the most wonderful family times I can recall. But I'm so glad I was able to have the children and grandchildren all together. It's such a rare occasion, and God surely blessed me with my children and the children he gave to my children.
Need to pray more for Phil. God help him to find the job you have for him. And, I wouldn't mind, if God allowed them to stay in the Cincinnati area.
ttfn
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Boy am I glad
I'm so glad we went to the "home hospital supply" store. The new walker is working well, and it kept me standing throughout the pool opening day, aiding my walking down to the pool and back two times. Let me explain. I went down for brunch -- trip no. 1. The pool opening was after brunch. I stuck around for that. Then I stayed for an hour or so just chatting with the neighbors. The pool water was too cold for me, and I hadn't slept at all the night before, so I went home and took a short nap before I got my dish ready for the evening dinner -- thus trip no. 2.
I figured with all that walking and standing I'd be really sore, and I prayed that wouldn't be, because on Sunday we were having our family Memorial Day picnic -- and 40th birthday celebration for my son, Phil. I also prayed that the predicted rain would hold off until after we finished with the picnic. The Lord blessed us and we had our picnic. I was able, once again with the aid of the walker, to enjoy the day, figuring I'd really be sore on Monday.
Monday dawned, and my grandson Dan woke us at 7:30 a.m. He's an early riser. I got up, made coffee, took my meds (I could barely walk) and waited for them to kick in. I was able to get breakfast made. Took a trip to the pool with the children -- it rained the whole time they were swimming, but it didn't bother them -- and then came home and made lunch. After lunch Becky and her family left, and I crashed. I hurt so bad. I still hurt really bad. I wonder how long it will take to get back into a mode where I can walk aided and not hurt like I do today.
We'll see.
Alan is loving MY chair. I've only gotten to sit in it once since it got into the house. I am now relegated to his recliner, which is okay, but it's a little large for me. The head rest is too high, and the foot rest is too low, but I manage. Basically, I just use it as a chair, not as a recliner. Now, MY chair, I recline all the way back. At least I did the one time I used it.
Time now, to get the clean clothes out of the drier and the ones in the washer into the drier. Laundry -- does it ever end?
I figured with all that walking and standing I'd be really sore, and I prayed that wouldn't be, because on Sunday we were having our family Memorial Day picnic -- and 40th birthday celebration for my son, Phil. I also prayed that the predicted rain would hold off until after we finished with the picnic. The Lord blessed us and we had our picnic. I was able, once again with the aid of the walker, to enjoy the day, figuring I'd really be sore on Monday.
Monday dawned, and my grandson Dan woke us at 7:30 a.m. He's an early riser. I got up, made coffee, took my meds (I could barely walk) and waited for them to kick in. I was able to get breakfast made. Took a trip to the pool with the children -- it rained the whole time they were swimming, but it didn't bother them -- and then came home and made lunch. After lunch Becky and her family left, and I crashed. I hurt so bad. I still hurt really bad. I wonder how long it will take to get back into a mode where I can walk aided and not hurt like I do today.
We'll see.
Alan is loving MY chair. I've only gotten to sit in it once since it got into the house. I am now relegated to his recliner, which is okay, but it's a little large for me. The head rest is too high, and the foot rest is too low, but I manage. Basically, I just use it as a chair, not as a recliner. Now, MY chair, I recline all the way back. At least I did the one time I used it.
Time now, to get the clean clothes out of the drier and the ones in the washer into the drier. Laundry -- does it ever end?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Hospital central
Well, not really. But it feels that way. All that paraphernalia we bought the last time I wrote.
The chair arrived and was set up by the techs who brought it. It was all explained to us, and I sat in it, tested it, and I love it. In fact, it's the first chair I've ever been able to sleep in. I sat in the chair to read yesterday, and feel asleep, quite quickly, I might add. But...
Since then, after I woke up and started dinner Alan decided he wanted to sit in MY chair. That was okay with me. After dinner, since we don't like the same TV programs, I opted to watch TV in our bedroom, and he stayed in MY chair. He likes it better than his, I'm afraid. So, I have a feeling I'm going to be relegated to his chair, which really doesn't fit me well. The headrest is too high for my short stature, and the foot rest hits me mid-back of the leg, which if I'm having any fibromyalgia problems really, really hurts.
I don't care really. As long as he's comfortable. He's the one that has more comfort problems than I. We also bought him a donut pillow, but it's all covered with material so you can't tell it's a donut pillow, which I thought was a neat idea. That seems to be alleviating his tail bone pain immensely. In fact, yesterday, he was not hurting in that area of his back at all.
Today, he woke up and complained that his kidneys were bothering him. That could be for several reasons -- yesterday he moved a lot of things to get read for the chair, including vacuuming with both the big vacuum and the hand-held vacuum. I figured I'd leave it until the dear soul that cleans for me comes next week. He also cleared out all the old newspapers and put them in his office somewhere. I haven't found them, so I assume they're in the closet.
So that could be the cause of his back problem. Also, it took almost two weeks to get a prescription filled and it was for a pill that he needs for his kidneys. He started taking those meds again yesterday. We'll see what happens. He's really concerned that he won't be able to participate in the pool opening, the Memorial Day ceremony, and worst of all he won't be able to go to the family gathering on Monday. If I have to wheel him there, he's going! I'll have Quinn to help me, also. I think he can be PERSUADED to go.
So, that's my life up till now. I love the chair. The walker is amazing -- it's unbelievable how having something that pushes so easily and yet keeps me from falling has helped my knees. And I'm almost down to using just the cane all the time, instead of the walker. When the knees start bothering me, I head for the walker. When the knees are fine, I use the cane.
So, from hospital central, I wish you all a happy Memorial Day. Don't forget to pray for our troops, okay? And pray for the families of those who have given their lives for our country.
ttfn
The chair arrived and was set up by the techs who brought it. It was all explained to us, and I sat in it, tested it, and I love it. In fact, it's the first chair I've ever been able to sleep in. I sat in the chair to read yesterday, and feel asleep, quite quickly, I might add. But...
Since then, after I woke up and started dinner Alan decided he wanted to sit in MY chair. That was okay with me. After dinner, since we don't like the same TV programs, I opted to watch TV in our bedroom, and he stayed in MY chair. He likes it better than his, I'm afraid. So, I have a feeling I'm going to be relegated to his chair, which really doesn't fit me well. The headrest is too high for my short stature, and the foot rest hits me mid-back of the leg, which if I'm having any fibromyalgia problems really, really hurts.
I don't care really. As long as he's comfortable. He's the one that has more comfort problems than I. We also bought him a donut pillow, but it's all covered with material so you can't tell it's a donut pillow, which I thought was a neat idea. That seems to be alleviating his tail bone pain immensely. In fact, yesterday, he was not hurting in that area of his back at all.
Today, he woke up and complained that his kidneys were bothering him. That could be for several reasons -- yesterday he moved a lot of things to get read for the chair, including vacuuming with both the big vacuum and the hand-held vacuum. I figured I'd leave it until the dear soul that cleans for me comes next week. He also cleared out all the old newspapers and put them in his office somewhere. I haven't found them, so I assume they're in the closet.
So that could be the cause of his back problem. Also, it took almost two weeks to get a prescription filled and it was for a pill that he needs for his kidneys. He started taking those meds again yesterday. We'll see what happens. He's really concerned that he won't be able to participate in the pool opening, the Memorial Day ceremony, and worst of all he won't be able to go to the family gathering on Monday. If I have to wheel him there, he's going! I'll have Quinn to help me, also. I think he can be PERSUADED to go.
So, that's my life up till now. I love the chair. The walker is amazing -- it's unbelievable how having something that pushes so easily and yet keeps me from falling has helped my knees. And I'm almost down to using just the cane all the time, instead of the walker. When the knees start bothering me, I head for the walker. When the knees are fine, I use the cane.
So, from hospital central, I wish you all a happy Memorial Day. Don't forget to pray for our troops, okay? And pray for the families of those who have given their lives for our country.
ttfn
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Date day
Alan and I don't have date nights. We'd fall asleep. Oh, we go out to dinner rarely, but after that we head home and basically wipe out. So we have our dates during the day.
Today was the first date day we've had since before Christmas. We usually go to see a movie then out to dinner -- see? -- backwards. Well, we went to see the new Star Trek movie and I found it very enjoyable, if not a little bit evolutionary and new agey. I could overlook those items because basically it was a nice movie. No sex, one bad word. It was enjoyable. But my poor husband, whose concentration is just not doing it these days, didn't get the plot at all until I explained it to him. I won't tell it here because some one reading this BLOG might not yet have seen this film.
After the movie we had decided to go to a medical supply place and get me a new walker. Yes, I got a cadillac of walkers and am so glad I did. It has a seat, a basket, and four wheels instead of two and those things you have to put cut-up tennis balls on. My previous walker gave out in the Bahamas about three weeks ago. I also got a new cane, as my cane also wore out on that trip. It was made of wood, and broke. Not a good thing.
And -- ta da -- we got a pop-up chair for me, although I'll bet that Alan uses it more than I. It's leather, and it was half price -- not because it was a floor model or anything, it's just the model has been discontinued and they were getting rid of them. And if Medicare comes through, we'll really be getting the chair on the cheap. Yes!!!!
In fact, we went to a store which I didn't even know existed until today. I thought it was a medical building, but it was a medical supply store located just outside the theater where we saw Star Trek; and the prices in this particular store were better than the prices at Walgreen's and CVS. So, we bought what we though we needed.
Alan really wanted to get a chair that you sit in and the remote control on the arm gets you around. I don't want to go there yet. I need to exercise my legs and so does he, and I'm afraid if we get one of those chairs, neither of us would get enough exercise. We already have one for the outdoors, and that's good enough I think. He also wanted to get a wheel chair which isn't a wheel chair. It's more like a stroller for adults, and it holds up to 500 pounds. I talked him out of that. Unless and until we travel again we don't need it, and if and when we both travel again, we can run down the street (the store is only a mile away) and get the adult carriage. :)
Did we go out to eat? No. By the time we had gone to the movie and the store, I really didn't want to go out to eat, nor did Alan. I had put left-over roasted chicken in the crock pot this morning thinking I'd freeze it for soup so instead of freezing the chicken and juices, I just popped some veggies into crock pot and some noodles, and that's what we ate. I have to admit, and so did Alan, it was very good, and very filling.
Well, I guess that gets me caught up for another week. Alan is still hacking away -- will it ever end? I certainly hope so.
ttfn.
Today was the first date day we've had since before Christmas. We usually go to see a movie then out to dinner -- see? -- backwards. Well, we went to see the new Star Trek movie and I found it very enjoyable, if not a little bit evolutionary and new agey. I could overlook those items because basically it was a nice movie. No sex, one bad word. It was enjoyable. But my poor husband, whose concentration is just not doing it these days, didn't get the plot at all until I explained it to him. I won't tell it here because some one reading this BLOG might not yet have seen this film.
After the movie we had decided to go to a medical supply place and get me a new walker. Yes, I got a cadillac of walkers and am so glad I did. It has a seat, a basket, and four wheels instead of two and those things you have to put cut-up tennis balls on. My previous walker gave out in the Bahamas about three weeks ago. I also got a new cane, as my cane also wore out on that trip. It was made of wood, and broke. Not a good thing.
And -- ta da -- we got a pop-up chair for me, although I'll bet that Alan uses it more than I. It's leather, and it was half price -- not because it was a floor model or anything, it's just the model has been discontinued and they were getting rid of them. And if Medicare comes through, we'll really be getting the chair on the cheap. Yes!!!!
In fact, we went to a store which I didn't even know existed until today. I thought it was a medical building, but it was a medical supply store located just outside the theater where we saw Star Trek; and the prices in this particular store were better than the prices at Walgreen's and CVS. So, we bought what we though we needed.
Alan really wanted to get a chair that you sit in and the remote control on the arm gets you around. I don't want to go there yet. I need to exercise my legs and so does he, and I'm afraid if we get one of those chairs, neither of us would get enough exercise. We already have one for the outdoors, and that's good enough I think. He also wanted to get a wheel chair which isn't a wheel chair. It's more like a stroller for adults, and it holds up to 500 pounds. I talked him out of that. Unless and until we travel again we don't need it, and if and when we both travel again, we can run down the street (the store is only a mile away) and get the adult carriage. :)
Did we go out to eat? No. By the time we had gone to the movie and the store, I really didn't want to go out to eat, nor did Alan. I had put left-over roasted chicken in the crock pot this morning thinking I'd freeze it for soup so instead of freezing the chicken and juices, I just popped some veggies into crock pot and some noodles, and that's what we ate. I have to admit, and so did Alan, it was very good, and very filling.
Well, I guess that gets me caught up for another week. Alan is still hacking away -- will it ever end? I certainly hope so.
ttfn.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Finally....
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Dan acting silly. He'll be 11 tomorrow. Happy birthday, Dan!.jpg)
Annie, looking beautiful as always. Here she is dressed to the nines in scarves and more scarves..jpg)
And Gracie is dressed in a one-size Pancho I purchased in Antigua which is full of rhinestones and just a LITTLE big for her, but she was having a good time, and that's what's important. Her sweetness and beauty just shine from her..jpg)
The girls before they were "finished" dressing.Well, Becky came to visit yesterday and the girls played dress-up and tea party. I got a few pictures of them, while Dan was not so cooperative. He's almost 11 and really doesn't like to (1) be hugged, or (2) have his picture taken, but I got him to "act" out for the camera.
I took Alan to the eye doctor today for an exam, his eye is still healing, and while they did the eye exam, they invited him back in 4 weeks to see if the Rx has changed at all, if not, they'll order him glasses. He can see 20/30 without the glasses in his left eye. His right, which the first eye on which he had the cornea transplant, needs to be corrected with glasses as well, but we're waiting for the left eye to heal altogether so we only have to pay for one pair.
His "cold" is better than it was, but he's still hacking a lot, just not as violently as before. My knees are standing better than they were, and the past two days (Saturday and Sunday) were a delight, and I praise God I was able to enjoy the two family visits. It was such a blessing to have my children with me the past two days.
ttfn
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Okay, I had to add Grandchildren, Part 3
Jack looks like little Shandon used to look in this picture. Every time I look at him, I see another of his siblings. So, when he gets to be a year, maybe he'll resemble some other family member, not all of them as he seems to do at this point. 
Ellie looks so happy. She wouldn't let me get a picture of her in her pretty pink dress. I did get a picture of her hair-do. She was wearing the cutest pony tail holders. You can't see them in this picture, but they were curled ribbon in the colors of her dress -- pink, yellow, and orange.
Here you can see her pony-tail holders better. I just had to get a picture of her "do." She was pulling at it, so you can see some of it has come loose. But when she came in the pony tails were in perfect condition.
That's it. I'm finished with bragging rights for today.
ttfn
Grandchildren pictures -- Part 2
Here Jack looks like Cyndi as a baby.
Here Jack looks like Jonah as a baby.
Toria looks like her mom, and Ellie looks like her daddy.
Top two pictures are of Jack, at six weeks. I put in the age so I won't forget it when I go back to these pictures.
Bottom picture is Toria (who was having a bad hair day and didn't want her picture taken). She's holding Ellie.
I took 25 pictures, but I won't bore my one follower with all 25. Just to say, I love taking pictures. These will appear in Jack's first year album which I'm going to get really going on next week. I just got a new supply of baby papers and stickers from CM and I'm raring to go with that project.
Aside: My sis called me today and we talked for over an hour. Good thing we both have that phone program where long-distance is not charged by the minute. At least there is one thing in this world that is less expensive than it was when I was growing up.
ttfn
New grandchildren pictures - part 1
Cyndi came by today with five of her six in tow, and, of course, I had to take pictures. Jack is already six weeks old, and Ellie is two, plus one month. Can't believe how fast the little ones grow up. Jonah is six, I think, and Adam is eight, almost nine. Toria is almost 13. Wow! How they grow up.
So, I'm adding some of the pictures I took to today's BLOG just so you all can see how cute Cyndi's children are. I am going to have to do this in stages as Blogspot doesn't like me putting up too many pictures.
For reference, Jack is the Baby; Ellie is the two year old (top picture), Tori is the oldest, Adam is the blue-eyed, dark-headed handsome one (middle picture), and Jonah, is the smiley cute one. He's either 6 or 7. I can't remember bottom picture).
ttfn
Friday, May 8, 2009
stamps
Alan asked me today if I knew that there was a roll of stamps in my carry-on bag. I said, "Yes." He asked, "Why?"
I said, "I had high hopes of sending post cards while we were one our trip." Then I continued with the thought that it seems so much easier to think about doing things, and planning to do things when I'm sitting down, and the knees don't hurt, then I stand up, and all my bright ideas fly the coop.
He said he knew what I was talking about (that's a first!). He's having a really tough time right now. I also mentioned that it might be time for me to take over the counting out of his daily meds since he hadn't done that for four days and therefore didn't take any meds during that period of time. Not a good thing. He was too ill to do it, and I really didn't think about it, because for all the 10 years now, that he's been taking all these meds, he's kept track of them, and made sure he takes them. The only med I've been responsible for is his shot of interferon.
So, maybe I'll be taking on the sorting. I don't know. He's sorting them today and that will last him a week. So, when next Friday comes around, I'll check and see if he is sorting his pills.
He sees Dr. Cody next week (his oncologist). I'm going with him. And he's going to his eye surgeon on Monday, hopefully to be told the eye has healed enough to get a good prescription for glasses so he can have good vision again. We'll see what happens.
ttfn
I said, "I had high hopes of sending post cards while we were one our trip." Then I continued with the thought that it seems so much easier to think about doing things, and planning to do things when I'm sitting down, and the knees don't hurt, then I stand up, and all my bright ideas fly the coop.
He said he knew what I was talking about (that's a first!). He's having a really tough time right now. I also mentioned that it might be time for me to take over the counting out of his daily meds since he hadn't done that for four days and therefore didn't take any meds during that period of time. Not a good thing. He was too ill to do it, and I really didn't think about it, because for all the 10 years now, that he's been taking all these meds, he's kept track of them, and made sure he takes them. The only med I've been responsible for is his shot of interferon.
So, maybe I'll be taking on the sorting. I don't know. He's sorting them today and that will last him a week. So, when next Friday comes around, I'll check and see if he is sorting his pills.
He sees Dr. Cody next week (his oncologist). I'm going with him. And he's going to his eye surgeon on Monday, hopefully to be told the eye has healed enough to get a good prescription for glasses so he can have good vision again. We'll see what happens.
ttfn
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
HOME!
I'm so glad to be home. I slept well yesterday evening and into this morning. Yes, I crashed as soon as I got in the door. The bags are still in the garage. I only brought in my computer.
My friend, Nancy, is going to shop for me today, which is such a blessing for me being as crippled as I am.
Alan is still hacking away, and only tea seems to help. He's walking better, but he isn't eating. That's fine since I have no food in the house.
I am picking up an order at the butcher's later this afternoon, so I'll have something I can do for dinner, probably some sort chicken soup, even though Alan doesn't really like chicken soup.
I'm feeling much better, but still have a lingering migraine, which is now just a dull throb as long as I keep my eyes half open, or is it half closed. So, I'm squinting as I type trying not to get too much light into the eyes which causes the head to pound (light does).
I'm going to close down early today, and get back into bed with that cold cloth on my brow, and wait for the light to not hurt and the head to not throb. It will happen, I know it will.
ttfn
My friend, Nancy, is going to shop for me today, which is such a blessing for me being as crippled as I am.
Alan is still hacking away, and only tea seems to help. He's walking better, but he isn't eating. That's fine since I have no food in the house.
I am picking up an order at the butcher's later this afternoon, so I'll have something I can do for dinner, probably some sort chicken soup, even though Alan doesn't really like chicken soup.
I'm feeling much better, but still have a lingering migraine, which is now just a dull throb as long as I keep my eyes half open, or is it half closed. So, I'm squinting as I type trying not to get too much light into the eyes which causes the head to pound (light does).
I'm going to close down early today, and get back into bed with that cold cloth on my brow, and wait for the light to not hurt and the head to not throb. It will happen, I know it will.
ttfn
Sunday, May 3, 2009
What a trip!
Well, the last leg of our trip was a disaster. It started in New Smyrna when Alan developed his "weakness" problem again. I did all the packing, and lugging and hauling. I also took prednisone, hoping it would help alleviate a lot of the leg pain. It did, for two days. I kept praying that God would grant me the same relief from pain on the next leg of our trip -- the boat trip to various Islands in the Caribbean. God is so good, but that prayer was not answered the way I wanted.
When we got down to Ft. Lauderdale to get on the boat -- the boat on which I was told would have a wheelchair waiting for me for Alan -- didn't happen. I had to walk about 1/2 mile to find a chair, and then back outside the terminal to walk Alan, holding him up, into the terminal, where the chair was gone, and we were told to just sit and wait. Okay, this should have told me something.
I told them I could walk to the boat without being on a wheelchair myself, and through sheer determination, I did that. I got us to our room, and just collapsed alongside Alan who, by this time, was not feeling well at all. The bottom picture is Alan after the collapse and the beginning of sea sickness. Excuse his state of undress. He is completely covered, but the picture might be offensive to some. Already our stateroom was in a state of disaster. That's one thing about being on a boat, the room is small and anything out of place makes me antsy. The steward and his staff was very good about cleaning up several times a day during Alan's sickness.
A few minutes after we left Ft. Lauderdale (on the boat), we noticed a lot of white-caps in the water, and also noticed how bumpy the ride was. We had never been on a bumpy boat ride before. Alan, poor thing, was seasick for three days. Me? I was fine. I am the one who can't be in a car without getting ill unless I'm driving, was fine on the rocking and rolling ship. They even cancelled one of shows because it wasn't safe onstage for the performers. It really was a rocky ride. I loved it, though.
Needless to say, I explored on my own, which was a mistake, because walking was getting harder and harder, and most of the walking I did was pushing Alan in a wheelchair from one end of the boat to the other to get to the dining room. Twice a day I did that (except for the days he was sea sick). Then he developed a horrible cold -- fever for a few hours one night. Finally, he was feeling so bad, and had heard all this stuff about swine flu, that he decided he should get to the infirmary. That's Alan in the top picture at the Infirmary the next to the last day waiting for the doctor to see him. He didn't have swine flu. Just a very, very bad cold. They gave him antibiotics, a decongestant, and something else, and all that cost us only $105. If we had taken him to a US ER it would have cost five times that amount. So, I'm not complaining at all. Thankful for the foresight to get the extra insurance!
Well, we're trekking home now, and my legs are bruised from stem to stern, or is it port to starboard, forward to aft? Anyway, we noticed a number of bruises on my legs from where I was bumping to the wheelchair as I was pushing it. Also have two really neat bruises on my belly where it kept hitting the handles on the back of the chair.
I really had a good time, most of the time, and I walked and walked and walked everyday. I pushed myself because I know I have to do this -- walk, that is, and get those leg muscles stronger and perhaps the pain will lessen? Hopefully, prayerfully, they will.
The end of the trip -- getting off the boat? It was really not a good experience. And I want to talk to my grandchildren about how to be attentive to people with disabilities, obvious disabilities. Both Alan and I had a very disagreeable experience from rude or insensitive college students, older teenagers, and I want my grands to know how to be sensitive to elderly people who are in either a wheelchair, using a cane, or using a walker. We elder persons have a fear of falling, and pushing and shoving is a very frightening experience, and then laughing about it was very insensitive of these people. I was in tears for a long time after the problem because all I could think of was falling and no one helping me to get up.
So, while this seems like a downer entry, it really isn't, because while Alan was miserable for the week, I really wasn't, and I got to see all I wanted to see, and did what I wanted to do.
When we got down to Ft. Lauderdale to get on the boat -- the boat on which I was told would have a wheelchair waiting for me for Alan -- didn't happen. I had to walk about 1/2 mile to find a chair, and then back outside the terminal to walk Alan, holding him up, into the terminal, where the chair was gone, and we were told to just sit and wait. Okay, this should have told me something.
I told them I could walk to the boat without being on a wheelchair myself, and through sheer determination, I did that. I got us to our room, and just collapsed alongside Alan who, by this time, was not feeling well at all. The bottom picture is Alan after the collapse and the beginning of sea sickness. Excuse his state of undress. He is completely covered, but the picture might be offensive to some. Already our stateroom was in a state of disaster. That's one thing about being on a boat, the room is small and anything out of place makes me antsy. The steward and his staff was very good about cleaning up several times a day during Alan's sickness.
A few minutes after we left Ft. Lauderdale (on the boat), we noticed a lot of white-caps in the water, and also noticed how bumpy the ride was. We had never been on a bumpy boat ride before. Alan, poor thing, was seasick for three days. Me? I was fine. I am the one who can't be in a car without getting ill unless I'm driving, was fine on the rocking and rolling ship. They even cancelled one of shows because it wasn't safe onstage for the performers. It really was a rocky ride. I loved it, though.
Needless to say, I explored on my own, which was a mistake, because walking was getting harder and harder, and most of the walking I did was pushing Alan in a wheelchair from one end of the boat to the other to get to the dining room. Twice a day I did that (except for the days he was sea sick). Then he developed a horrible cold -- fever for a few hours one night. Finally, he was feeling so bad, and had heard all this stuff about swine flu, that he decided he should get to the infirmary. That's Alan in the top picture at the Infirmary the next to the last day waiting for the doctor to see him. He didn't have swine flu. Just a very, very bad cold. They gave him antibiotics, a decongestant, and something else, and all that cost us only $105. If we had taken him to a US ER it would have cost five times that amount. So, I'm not complaining at all. Thankful for the foresight to get the extra insurance!
Well, we're trekking home now, and my legs are bruised from stem to stern, or is it port to starboard, forward to aft? Anyway, we noticed a number of bruises on my legs from where I was bumping to the wheelchair as I was pushing it. Also have two really neat bruises on my belly where it kept hitting the handles on the back of the chair.
I really had a good time, most of the time, and I walked and walked and walked everyday. I pushed myself because I know I have to do this -- walk, that is, and get those leg muscles stronger and perhaps the pain will lessen? Hopefully, prayerfully, they will.
The end of the trip -- getting off the boat? It was really not a good experience. And I want to talk to my grandchildren about how to be attentive to people with disabilities, obvious disabilities. Both Alan and I had a very disagreeable experience from rude or insensitive college students, older teenagers, and I want my grands to know how to be sensitive to elderly people who are in either a wheelchair, using a cane, or using a walker. We elder persons have a fear of falling, and pushing and shoving is a very frightening experience, and then laughing about it was very insensitive of these people. I was in tears for a long time after the problem because all I could think of was falling and no one helping me to get up.
So, while this seems like a downer entry, it really isn't, because while Alan was miserable for the week, I really wasn't, and I got to see all I wanted to see, and did what I wanted to do.
Today I learned the best news of the trip. I actually LOST 10 pounds!
NOTE: THIS WAS EDITED ON MAY 8.
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