Catching Up...27 Sept. 2012

Sunday morning, Sept. 23, 2012

Well - we did not go to the U of O football game last night.  I was doing better with the crutches and pushed that we should go but Jim was adamantly opposed to it...and by later in the evening I realized he was right; it was better that we did not go.  It looks like we will get $100 back for our tickets from the person who bought them for us, so that is better than nothing.  And the Ducks won bigtime I think - so yea for Oregon. The other couples in the office went so we will have to hear the real details from them.  Our original plan was that it would be an all together “office” thing.  We did all meet together for dinner at a Mexican restaurant first, then we headed homeward while they headed to the game. 

This morning I am getting around all right, but looking forward to visiting with the orthopedic doctor soon to find out if what I am doing on the crutches is OK or not.  First we need to check to see if Medicare will cover it, given our home address of record is in Roseburg, not Eugene.  So wonderful to have to think about these things now:).  I will be using the wheelchair at church so I can keep my foot elevated during that time.  Have been trying to get meal things done ahead bit by bit this morning with some success.  

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012

Guess I did not write on Sunday; can’t remember exactly why just now...probably just tired.  Monday I called the clinic we were referred to and they gave me an appointment for Tuesday; I was disappointed a little, hoping to get there sooner and hopefully get a cast that would make getting around easier.  Ooops - Tuesday came, we went to the appointment, they put a cast on and that slowed me down another 50%.  That hurt.  I’ve told everyone in the office that I’ve changed from being the turtle...to the snail!

Yesterday was Dad’s birthday...I’m afraid it didn’t amount to much of a birthday because of all the work involved in taking care of me on top of his other duties. We thought we would go out for dinner - but ended up too tired; he went to the store & got a frozen pizza and I made a salad - which sounds  so simple but seems so much more difficult with crutches & my cast.  Got it done though and we did eat.  Guess we will try to do better next time.  Dad enjoyed hearing from his daughters and opening his birthday gifts from a couple of them; THANK YOU so much for thinking of him!  

This week was the week for Zone conferences - four of them, Tuesday through Friday.  My part in it was to have arranged for luncheons for the missionaries attending these conferences.  In the  beginning it took me a lot of time and effort to try to get all of those scheduled, trying to figure out the system of the past, which stakes should be asked for each conference, and then to get the information back as to which ward(s) would be doing the lunches and who to give the details to, etc., etc.   I had done all of that and then on Monday, the APs asked if they could change the times for the lunches - which engendered another round of e-mails, calls, etc. trying to find out who could and who could not.  I held my breath today hoping that today’s went OK; Monday and Tuesday turned out well (whew, breathe a sigh of relief).  Hopefully today was good and tomorrow will be too.

The supplies I ordered so late last Friday (after getting to the office with my splint on) began arriving Tuesday and boxes have continued to come in yesterday and today.  With help I have managed to get them onto the shelves; now just have to organize my orders in a way that others can help me fill the boxes.  I am not very good at moving around and putting things in different places right now - much better at sitting at the desk answering the phone.  Ah well - I go back to the clinic on Friday the 12th - seems like an eternity from now.  The thought is that perhaps they can change the cast that is on now for a walking cast or maybe even a “boot” - so we will see.  Last night Jim bought me a transfer bench and put in a hand-held shower attachment so I could bathe... which I did this morning for the first time in the past 9 days (complete with towel and plastic bag securely wrapped around the cast).  So now I am socially acceptable; I have to say it is not at all like taking a shower in the real sense of the word.  Hoping for better in two weeks!

Tuesday brought a call from Jim Jr. and some of the most exciting news we have heard lately - concerning a device called a Walk Aide.  (You can look it up on Google)  Today we heard that the device which he got yesterday is working and is wonderful!  Wearing it on the outside of the leg, it puts an electrical impulse to the muscle or nerve that can make the leg walk normally - or near normal.  We went onto the website and reading the testimonials was amazing - it holds great promise for Jim and maybe even for me... once i get past this broken foot thing!  I would invite everyone to go look it up.