Figuring it Out

Mom and Dad are still figuring out the whole cooking thing.

Dad has never been one to spend a lot of time on cooking. Mom has some limitations now- like not having the use of one arm, the counters being to high, and having trouble seeing.  They have breakfast and lunch pretty much figured out now, but dinner has been a whole different ballgame. They have been lucky enough to have an incredible ward that has been bringing in dinner a few times a week, and Sherrie and Randy have also been cooking.

But tonight………..

Mom and Dad worked together and made a pot of soup. She talked him through it and he was the muscle!!

More updates

This is mom's at home Physical therapist Anna. This is at the end of one of their sessions last week. They were walking forward and backward along the counter. She is getting stronger everyday.

This week will also be her last week of at home therapy. All of her therapist agree that she is ready to move to outpatient therapy. We aren't exactly sure yet what this will entail, but it will definitely mean more outings! So far she hasn't gone to far from home. She has gone to Doctor and eye appointments, Sherrie's house, church, a soccer game and last week to Costco!!

House Cleaning

Last week my family was down in Sacramento. We came during our Spring Break to help mom and dad clean out closets and get the house ready to go on the market.

Yes, after 25 years they are going to sell and look for a one story home that will be more practical for mom. It should be on the market by the middle of April at the latest, so if you know anyone looking for a house on 5 acres…….. Let us know.

Sherrie and I spent the week with mom and dad going through every closet, cabinet, drawer, and getting rid of a ton, packing up some and just organizing everything else.

We really wore mom out a few of the days, going through stuff and making decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. She did an amazing job.

Here is our DI pile at the end of the week. It just about takes up most of Dad’s garage.

At the end of a long day of cleaning this is where the boys could always be found- playing Angry Birds or sleeping like Dad.

Or if Mom was resting in the recliner, the kids like to take turns in her wheelchair. Emma was very good at getting around in it.

We did get in a little fun too. Saturday right before I left we got to go to Emma’s championship soccer game. They won by the way.

Make Up

I am starting to realize all of the little things that I take for granted.  Things like—putting on my own make up!!

Last week I was over at Mom and Dad’s and we were talking about Sunday, and how the day was going to work.  Mom has a few friends who have been absolutely WONDERFUL to her.  They have worked out a schedule to make sure she gets to church every Sunday because Dad has meetings before hand.  The first couple of weeks I went over in the morning to help do her hair, get her make up on, and of course put nylons on because we don’t trust Dad to do that!!    Now since I wasn’t going to come over Sunday mornings anymore, we needed to work a few things out.  Like MAKE UP!! 

Mom was determined that she could do her own make up.  So, I got everything out and we did a trial run.  It was very interesting to watch.  Have you ever tried to open your mascara bottle with ONE HAND?  How about those little eye shadow containers?  Try it sometime…………

The first time through wasn’t bad.  I had to remind her to go all the way to the left, especially on her left eye, a few times.  It is amazing still to see the results of how her brain/eyes are working.  And make up application was a great example of that.

So Saturday night I set out all of her make up in reach at the table, a table mirror, and brushes.  And when she got to church she looked great (sorry no pictures for proof)!!  Way to go Mom!!

Wednesdays

We have all started to adjust to life “after Vallejo”.  Mom had a schedule with her in-home therapists pretty much very day of the week.  Some of them come in the afternoon, and some come in the evenings.  On Wednesday she comes to my (Sherrie’s) house.  This way she can get out of the house for awhile, and I can get a few things done at my house too.

Last Wednesday we made a batch of Banana Bars for my mutual activity that night.  Mom read the recipe to me (even though she could have probably done it from memory I made her read it to me—therapy moment!!), and I did the actual hands on stuff.  At one point she said, “I don’t remember there being any vinegar in this recipe.”  I said, “Scan left Mom.”  “Oh yeah, that says VANILLA,” she replied.

We’ll see what tomorrow holds!!