A Visit from Liam

Wednesday Carol and I went to see Jon. Since she was babysitting his nephew Joe's son, Liam, we took him along. We had a good visit. Jon thought he recognized my car pulling in the drive when he was coming out of physical theapy so he was waiting for us in the lobby. We went into the activity room where the finches and doves are and Jon pulled into his usual laying back position. I couldn't resist temptation. Liam has learned to balance himself in a sitting position so I scooped him up and put him on Jon's lap. They had a good time checking each other out.

Jon says he's back to working with weights in therapy. I took his electric toothbrush so maybe he can add that to his occupational therapy sessions for a few days when he gets the hang of it back. Jon continues to look good. Have heard no complaints so far--of course my hearing hasn't been so good these last few months so maybe I've just missd them.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

A call from Mother reminded me that I haven't updated for a while. Carol and I visited Jon yesterday and are pleased to report that he looks great. He is eating pretty much by himself after he gets the appropriate silverware in his hand, is sitting in his wheelchair and looking comfy, is going back to bed early in the evening as recommended without a squawk and in general doing very well. He's back to going to therapy. The chair will be having new pressure mapping in the near future. Something finally triggered his memory as to where his disability checks have been going so we've got that all squared away also.

There was a car show next door last week-end and Jon was all set to check it out when someone checked the thermometer and their weather policy and deemed it too hot for the group to go outside. Can't help but think how that might have prevented some of the problems of last summer!

Speaking of being hot, does anyone know how to find past temperatures for the month of July for this year? It looks like we are slated for another week of 90+ temps and it seems like we've had a run on them all month. Hope all of you are coping well.

Catching up

I knew I had become lax again but didn't realize how much! My apologies. Jon has been feeling pretty well this last week. For one thing, he was accepted by Heartland of Waterville and was moved there after dinner Wednesday evening.

It is barely inside the south limits of Waterville at the end of a small road which also is home to a Masonic Village. The rooms are small and he has an elderly gentleman for a room mate. Carol and I had visited on Thursday and were there at supper time. He didn't think he was going to get real food until Friday but what he was given was mostly soft food; bread with gravy and small chunks of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, cooked carrots, pea pods etc. and after several tastes I declared it to be a strawberry crisp. He ate most of the bread and gravy, only a few bites of potatoes--it seemed awfully salty!- most of the veggies, his milk but turned down the dessert.

Carol and I had visited on Tuesday at Liberty and when I left I checked his Foley bag to see how everything was going. I was amazed to see chunks of stuff in the tube. I took a picture so I could show Jon and as I was leaving I showed one of the staff. She immediately went down to check it herself and said there were a number of things they could do but did not elaborate. When I left yesterday I noticed there were still some floaters in the tube and said something to the nurse. His night LPN called at 5:50 a.m. Saturday morning morning (she gets off at 6, I think) to tell me they had sent a urine sample out for testing but results wouldn't be back until Tuesday so they wouldn't know until then which antibiotic to give him.

Yesterday was his birthday. I took Greg and a mutual friend of his and Jon's to Waterville to say Happy Birthday and spend some time with him. Barb came up and Greg passed her on his way home. Jon ate about a fourth of his sandwich, it was supposed to be steak? but sliced very thin and he didn't want the green peppers and onions that came on the side. It didn't look that great to me either. No to the soup, cake and only ate about 4-5 tator tots.

Physical therapy came in and worked on his legs so I'm glad to see therapy continue. Somehow we took Liberty West at their word about the status of the bed sores. True, they are much better but somehow a third one on his rear was never mentioned. He has spent so much time laying at the same angle that somehow it doesn't surprise me but still it would have been nice to be informed. The one on his leg is pretty much healed.

Am still worried about another urinary tract infection. The first results of yesterday's analysis shows he is positive for an infection but they still won't know until tomorrow at the earliest which kind of bacteria they are fighting. It's amazing how many different kinds of antibiotics they have which are tailored for the various bacteria...no genetic forms there! He was running a slight fever.

Today we're all going up to officially celebrate both Jon and his dad's birthdays...Bill's is today.

Have things to do for today so I'll sign off for now--may have another post tonight.