Its the day after Christmas and somehow our family always feels a little more like we have it together than we do on Christmas Day...not that it wasn't special, Brian and Sarah were both with us and we had spent a wonderful day on Sunday with my parents and Brothers in Midland, MI...I think that everyone takes strength and hope from seeing Dave...he is such a miracle in person and a walking talking example of God's loving response to all of our prayers.
Brian flew back to Minneapolis tonight and Sarah has gone out with friends. Dave and I are watching Central Michigan vs Purdue at the Motor City Bowl...its not going well for CMU.
Dave walked down to the grocery store today...I guess he just wanted to do it. I would imagine that it is a half of a mile. He seemed down when he returned ...he said that he had to stop twice to rest his legs. It doesn't seem to be his heart and lungs that struggle, but his legs.
We hope to drive over to Grand Haven this weekend, snuggle up in our cottage and get a change of scene...I think that we both need it, also we want to visit the Drs and Nurses at the hospital in Muskegon.
Dave will be starting rehab again on Jan. 3rd, and will also begin cardiac rehabilitation. That means probably 4 days a week in Ann Arbor. I would like to get away for some sunshine but that may have to wait until the end of Feb, at least.
I have only gotten through the A's and B's as far as getting out holiday cards...maybe by New Years Day !!! I Will get there!! Until then, know that we miss you all, wish you the best and can't wait to talk to you.
Love, Melody and DAve
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Its late Sat. nite and Dave has gone to bed...I'm still awake, trying to update the blog so that I can put your minds at rest regarding Dave's progress.
My post from the 1st evidently hit a nerve with many friends reading it...sometimes I am not aware of the frame of mind that I am in when I am writing and it comes out in the paragraphs that I compose. The last posting must have seemed very negative as I received concerned calls and emails.
I was definitely concerned about Dave's attitude and also his general behavior, so I approached his doctor and his rehab therapists regarding it. I was hesitant to bring it up, wondering if I was over-analyzing his behavior and reading too much into things that I thought were indications of a step backwards. As it turned out, it was a good thing to do, although I was nervous that Dave would see it as a lack of confidence in his progress. It would seem that the couple of difficult weeks were directly related to the medication that Dave was trying for muscle spasms at night - a medication that was short-lived and was replaced two weeks later with a more successful choice. After meeting with Dave's Dr., he believes that Dave had a reaction to the medication, causing him to have more difficulty with cognitive function, combined with poor sleep, he believes that this was the problem and that it has already cleared up with the new meds.
Another positive result of bringing this to the therapists attention, is that they have made a point of expressing just how much progress Dave has already made in the initial 5 weeks or so of rehab in Ann Arbor.
I am not saying that Dave is not still frustrated, but he is better able to deal with it and I am not fearful that something is wrong.
We meet with a neurologist and Dave's cardiologist this week - two important meetings, our first with the neurologist and it has been two months since our initial consultation with the cardiologist.
I managed to fire myself up for cleaning house this am and feel much better for it. Although we are home alot, oddly enough, its tough to get anything done. I keep thinking that I will do some holiday decorating...I just can't seem to get there.
Tonite, I did go outside after dark and put white lites on the two little alberta spruces near the porch. I also dragged out a sled that I found at a garage sale this summer...on the back it has the name "TOM" carved into the wood, and its well used...now its decked out in greens and a red bow, as well as a "seasons greetings" sign that Brian made in Boy Scouts in 1990. He should get a kick out of that when he sees it, and somehow I think that the sled is proud to be a symbol of winters past.
I know that you are all thinking of Dave and I ...we miss you and pray for you to have the most wonderful of holidays. Feel free to call Dave, he loves to chat with friends on the phone and misses you all.
Love...Mel
My post from the 1st evidently hit a nerve with many friends reading it...sometimes I am not aware of the frame of mind that I am in when I am writing and it comes out in the paragraphs that I compose. The last posting must have seemed very negative as I received concerned calls and emails.
I was definitely concerned about Dave's attitude and also his general behavior, so I approached his doctor and his rehab therapists regarding it. I was hesitant to bring it up, wondering if I was over-analyzing his behavior and reading too much into things that I thought were indications of a step backwards. As it turned out, it was a good thing to do, although I was nervous that Dave would see it as a lack of confidence in his progress. It would seem that the couple of difficult weeks were directly related to the medication that Dave was trying for muscle spasms at night - a medication that was short-lived and was replaced two weeks later with a more successful choice. After meeting with Dave's Dr., he believes that Dave had a reaction to the medication, causing him to have more difficulty with cognitive function, combined with poor sleep, he believes that this was the problem and that it has already cleared up with the new meds.
Another positive result of bringing this to the therapists attention, is that they have made a point of expressing just how much progress Dave has already made in the initial 5 weeks or so of rehab in Ann Arbor.
I am not saying that Dave is not still frustrated, but he is better able to deal with it and I am not fearful that something is wrong.
We meet with a neurologist and Dave's cardiologist this week - two important meetings, our first with the neurologist and it has been two months since our initial consultation with the cardiologist.
I managed to fire myself up for cleaning house this am and feel much better for it. Although we are home alot, oddly enough, its tough to get anything done. I keep thinking that I will do some holiday decorating...I just can't seem to get there.
Tonite, I did go outside after dark and put white lites on the two little alberta spruces near the porch. I also dragged out a sled that I found at a garage sale this summer...on the back it has the name "TOM" carved into the wood, and its well used...now its decked out in greens and a red bow, as well as a "seasons greetings" sign that Brian made in Boy Scouts in 1990. He should get a kick out of that when he sees it, and somehow I think that the sled is proud to be a symbol of winters past.
I know that you are all thinking of Dave and I ...we miss you and pray for you to have the most wonderful of holidays. Feel free to call Dave, he loves to chat with friends on the phone and misses you all.
Love...Mel
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Frustration Reigns
I woke up early this morning - 4:30, and decided to catch up on some correspondence.Last I wrote was before Thanksgiving and here we are, a couple of weeks later and Dave is having a tough time dealing with lack of progress...he is very frustrated and I know that the reality of all that he has to deal with has set in...no more upbeat, happy Dave - angry, irritable and tired Dave is ruling now.
In public he is able to keep up the charade, but at home everything that he either shouldn't do or can't do is maddening.
I know that I have not maintained my status as "Supremely Angelic Caregiver" either, as I lose patience and grow tired of Dave's attitude. I have become impatient where I was formerly patient, and two irritable individuals in one household is one too many!
It was great having Sarah and Brian home for Thanksgiving, even if Brian did end up in the hospital having his appendix out! Yup, can you believe it...I believe it was a ploy to avoid doing all of the odd jobs that I had lined up for him! What that kid will do to get out of work!
Thank goodness for Sarah - she more or less orchestrated Thanksgiving dinner, which we had the day after Thanksgiving, due to Bri being in the hospital. We also had a mom-daughter afternoon at the mall together which was awesome, while the guys did the usual - watch sports.
Jessie is wonderful, although she has a real propensity for chewing anything that she can get her teeth on - including grass, dirt, paper, shoes, etc....fortunately, we have kept a close eye on her and she hasn't done any major damage
She does provide us with a big dose of smiles and love every day - the best medicine that we ould ask for.
Anyhow, there we are. We do what we can, and for now, that has to be enough. Perhaps today will bring improvement...I know that it is hard for Dave to put up with lack of sensation in his right foot and hand, difficulty sleeping due to leg spasms, a blood clot that prevents him from serious cardio rehab, a recent huge hematoma and bruise that hurt one arm, and a sore shoulder that gives him pain in the other,he feels that he is going backward instead of forward, especially after making such great progress so quickly in the first two months or so. He also deals with poor memory, poor reading speed, and frustration with tasks like email that took him no time at all before his injury.
He is very tired of my telling him to get down off a stool, stop using power tools, use his cane to walk outside, and above all, he is sick of my being his chauffeur - not sure if its due to my driving skills or his need for independence.
Anyhow, enuf said...today is another day and I need another cup of coffee before I take Jessie outside again. Love to all - please feel free to email me at melodyarndt@gmail.com -your blog responses don't give me email addresses, or call us 248-505-7277
In public he is able to keep up the charade, but at home everything that he either shouldn't do or can't do is maddening.
I know that I have not maintained my status as "Supremely Angelic Caregiver" either, as I lose patience and grow tired of Dave's attitude. I have become impatient where I was formerly patient, and two irritable individuals in one household is one too many!
It was great having Sarah and Brian home for Thanksgiving, even if Brian did end up in the hospital having his appendix out! Yup, can you believe it...I believe it was a ploy to avoid doing all of the odd jobs that I had lined up for him! What that kid will do to get out of work!
Thank goodness for Sarah - she more or less orchestrated Thanksgiving dinner, which we had the day after Thanksgiving, due to Bri being in the hospital. We also had a mom-daughter afternoon at the mall together which was awesome, while the guys did the usual - watch sports.
Jessie is wonderful, although she has a real propensity for chewing anything that she can get her teeth on - including grass, dirt, paper, shoes, etc....fortunately, we have kept a close eye on her and she hasn't done any major damage
She does provide us with a big dose of smiles and love every day - the best medicine that we ould ask for.
Anyhow, there we are. We do what we can, and for now, that has to be enough. Perhaps today will bring improvement...I know that it is hard for Dave to put up with lack of sensation in his right foot and hand, difficulty sleeping due to leg spasms, a blood clot that prevents him from serious cardio rehab, a recent huge hematoma and bruise that hurt one arm, and a sore shoulder that gives him pain in the other,he feels that he is going backward instead of forward, especially after making such great progress so quickly in the first two months or so. He also deals with poor memory, poor reading speed, and frustration with tasks like email that took him no time at all before his injury.
He is very tired of my telling him to get down off a stool, stop using power tools, use his cane to walk outside, and above all, he is sick of my being his chauffeur - not sure if its due to my driving skills or his need for independence.
Anyhow, enuf said...today is another day and I need another cup of coffee before I take Jessie outside again. Love to all - please feel free to email me at melodyarndt@gmail.com -your blog responses don't give me email addresses, or call us 248-505-7277
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