JANUARY MEMORIES 2011

January, a new year! What should I start with, the good or bad? The good because my two grandchildren Kelsy and Cherish are playing together with an empty box! Wow, who knew kids want that stuff? My drugs finally wore off so I can write, make that click. Unless Lucky, our cat wants to jump on my mouse! Life is changing in my ALS world, and not the best, by far. It sucks to hate showers, it sucks to change clothes, and it sucks to ride in our foreign van. [Detroit] What's next you ask? Well, a new seat cushion was delivered, can't wait to try it! Sitting all day is for my computer, not me. I decided to admit everything because my left hand is soon becoming dormant. So my caregivers will have to operate my chair, moving me from here to there. It's funny, Brian used to get annoyed when I would drive all around the home just because I could, I would say. Well let's talk about something else, birthdays! It's my brothers Jerry and Stanley's birthday this month. Also grandchildren Kaytlyne and Kennedys birthday! So lotta getting together this month with family! And that's good! Yeah!
Mandeelue asked me what I'm looking forward to this year. That's easy; I am looking forward to having my dear husband home every day so we can spend my final days together. His retirement can be as early as July this year. I so hope he's looking forward to it as much as I am. Retirement can be such a blessing! You can do so much stuff when you retire!
1- you can get lot more needed sleep!
2- You can learn where everything is located in the house!
3- You can watch more sunrises and sunsets!
4- You can write your memories and create new ones!
5- You can even retrain yourself to put things back where you got them!
These are just a few of the perks of retirement. So if my ALS lets me live that long, or not; that's something I would love to see for my awesome husband. This month is my least favorite and it didn't fail me yet. Caught a bug; chills and coughs, ohhhh dear not fun. Almost over it, I think. Getting ready for clinical today, had my favorite aid Kelsey pack my bag. When it takes five hours plus, you need to be ready with supplies for the long day. My clinical visit went very well yesterday. It was long still but the bag that Kelsey packed was so great we used everything; food, water, towel, even the heat patches because my knees hurt a lot now. The only scary part was the drive home by way of going through west SLC which was so bumpy my mouse actually jumped off my lap! And my neck pillow shifted all over my head so Velcro is needed desperately. And my urinal that is sitting on my foot pedals doesn't sit it falls over. So knowing Brian would forget to fix it, I peed outside on the driveway.[TMI] Not done yet, noooooo! My left foot had been riding home up by Brian's arm rest[AHHHH] and he totally forgot that little detail so it is just hanging until my foot gets all wet. Then going up the ramp the lights were not working so I turned funny at the top. Then Brian took over the chair for a bit and with my hand still on my joy stick it rammed into a bunch of empty totes. Both of us pissed off-fa-fa little bit we make it into the house! Brian puts all the bags down and proceeded to take my neck thingys off and the velcro grabbed a chunk of my hair! Well, you guessed it, that hurt so the flood came for a while then receded thankfully. Mandee was there to take the kids for a while so Tarra and Daniel could go up to the church. So we relaxed & watched 'Wheel' & 'Jeopardy'
The night went very long also because about 9 o'clock I smell hamburger cooking and that tells me the soup knotzi is in my kitchen! I can just picture him saying; no bedtime for you! No thumper vest for you! No night time meds till later! No brushing teeth till I'm half sleep! And no glorious comfy bed till later! Patience is my strong suit. Right? I LOVE MY MAN!
There was some suggestions from the clinic that was discussed yesterday:
1- Maybe a catheter is in my future. Either surgical[NO] or monthly changes.
2- Our respitory lady said using the thumper vest and cough assist is vital!
even when you aren't congested and she convinced me!
3- More drugs for crying and anxiety! And even for my pain! WOW, not more drugs! HELP! All my knees need is a little TLC. Can't I cry a little?
Well, this drama queen is signing off for now. Love Colleen Joyce Fisher Chatterton