2/23/05 11:45am
Hey to all from Texas!

Things here are pretty good (knock on wood). We have been pretty steady for a while. Both Mom and Dad had bladder infections in late December and a round of antibiotics took care of those. They both are really pretty good. Dad has been complaining to me that his foot (the right one) is hurting. I looked at the toe nails (they tend to get long and cause problems) and they were all a good length, and I looked for any cuts/bumps/bruising, but could not see anything. I asked the nurse (Sara was there at the time) if she could see anything and she couldn't either. So I called a podiatrist and have an appointment with him/her today at 1:30pm (they are squeezing us in). Since Dad is a diabetic they kinda rush you in.

In FL he went to one and they gave us some special shoes and special insoles that have to be changed periodically. I checked the insoles (I wrote the date changed them the last time) and they weren't changed since May 04. So I put in the last pair of the insoles. The old ones hardly looked warn so Sara suggested I put the old ones in his house slippers (he has been wearing them alot around the house). So I will find out if they want him to have more of the insoles or what his current problem is today.

Dad is doing well on the whole. His sense of humor is still very strong and he is not sweating as much. The hormone shot he was on is still hanging on, we were supposed to get another one in Dec, but decided the side effects were too bad on him and since he had his prostate removed, it would take a long time if there was any cancer left. His GP agreed with not having the shot and put him on saw palmetto and will do the PSA on a regular basis to keep up with what is going on.

Dad has started giving Mom "the hand" when she gives it to him, and then he chuckles. He is still very loving to her and will just reach over, grab her good hand, bring it to his lips and give her a kiss. She likes it and doesn't pull away. But sometimes, then he will poke her arm after that, and she will push his hand away.

Mom is looking the best I have seen her since her stroke. Her color is good, she is making daily BM's and they are well formed, and is generally pretty smiley. One of the good news things about Mom is that Medicare approved her entire wheelchair and will be getting it soon!! Gosh, it has been over a year since we tried to get her one of her own. This one is a pretty jazzy one and tilts in space. It keeps her in the sitting position, but the chair moves on a rail system and tilts the body up. This allows for different pressure positions. I ordered one in a color called "Tangerine Red." It is shiny red, with a few specks of orange, but if you ask me, it just looks red. They have a pink one (which is her favorite color), but it was like a Barbie doll pink color. Just a bit to child-like for her.

Mom is getting a bit of strength on her left side. She will lift her left butt when changing depends or pants and she is helping with dressing, like putting her boobs in her bra (sorry guys the girls will understand). A few weeks ago Dad got up without the nurse around and he fell/slipped getting on the toilet, Anna got into the room and mom was trying to get out of bed to go help him. She didn't get far, but she was trying to get that left leg over the bedrail.

Well, Jerry and I are off to go camping for a long weekend. We usually go on some sort of camping or plane trip around Valentines day so we can spend some quality time together. So we are off to Seminole Canyon state park tomorrow and returning on Sunday. Our cell phones don't have coverage there so Anna is in charge.

Hope all is great with all of you.

Will keep you posted.

Love and hugs,
Mary