Saturday, July 30, 2011

July 31, 2011: phlebitis

Blogging is a great way to keep a record of events. I've looked up when Jim went to TIRR, when he saw his doctor last, etc. by looking through my blog. So today I am recording my current bout of phlebitis.

This is my third weekend sitting around with my legs up. I've got a bad case of phlebitis in my right leg. It always affects my right leg- I guess from all the years of favoring my left.

I went to a vein specialist on Wednesday - Dr Kapusta. He did an ultrasound on my leg. He gave me antibiotics and said to take 2 advil 3 times/day. He insisted that I see my primary care physician.

So, yesterday I went to Dr Holmsten. He told me take celebrex and keep doing what I was doing - support hose, elevate leg, use a moist heating pad. I was supposed to call him on Monday.

Today when I got up, it was worse. So I went to the doctor's office again. On Saturdays it turns into a Next Care clinic. I saw Dr Lopez today. He changed my antibiotic. I had him write diflucan and lomotil also. I HATE taking antibiotics - they make me sick.

So, here I am propped up on the couch with my heating pad.

My invalids are being good today. I told them I couldn't keep waiting on them today. I bought subways for lunch and dinner. Now Jimmy and Lupita are here and helping out. Hurray!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

July 24, 2011: new milestone

This morning Jim got out of bed and into his wheelchair with very little assistance from me. This was the first time we didn't have someone else assist him. He felt confident enough to do it with just me.

Little Stella was spayed and declawed on Wednesday. I picked her up on Thursday. She was so happy to be home. She didn't act like she was in any pain. She didn't hold a paw up in the air like the other kitties did. I kept her in my room for 2 nights. She seemed so well that I let her out with the boys. She has to use special litter until her paws heal. She's been very good about going in her own box. She has a very loud purrbox and is so sweet.

My phlebitis is still bothering me. I think it's a bit better tonight. Lupita massaged my leg the other night and that really helped to move the blood upwards. I'm going to look for a vein specialist. It has been very difficult to care for my 2 invalids and try to keep my leg elevated. I want to look into the new treatments available now. I had the veins stripped in 1988. My ankles immediately turned black & blue and have stayed that way ever since. I've had phlebitis several times since then so the treatment didn't last.

Kevin called last night and then we got onto Skype. I was able to see Kevin & Tomoko. Tomoko has a nice big belly. She has less than a month to go until the baby is due. She was so sweet to let me see her belly. She looks the same all over and then there's the belly. She looks so cute.

They received my package full of baby things that I made. I knitted a blankie, sweater, hat and booties. Then I appliqued ties onto onesies. I only wish I had more time to sew. My free time is extremely limited. I have more free time at work than I do at home.

Jim is in bed now. He's already called for me once. It's hard to have to wake up several times during the night to help him. But, I got to take a nice nap this afternoon. On the nights when I work Jim hired a helper to spend the night. That way I can get a good night's sleep and go to work rested.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

July 17, 2011


Tomorrow will be the first morning that I don't have to wake up at 5:30 AM since Jim has come home. His caregiver can't come tomorrow so I don't have to get up and open the front door.

I haven't felt like blogging. I guess I am burned out. But, it's kind of like keeping a journal - I need to write something every day.

I've got the beginnings of phlebitis in my right leg. I need to keep it elevated. I'll try.

On a lighter note, here's a photo of my little Stella. She is so cute and soo naughty. She gets into everything!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

July 14, 2011: getting in the groove


Things seem a little easier now. I guess it helps that I have adjusted to our new routine at home.

I wake up at 5:30 AM everyday so I can let Jim's first caregiver in at 6 AM. I've starting waking up without the alarm.

I've become accustomed to Jim sleeping in a hospital bed in the dining room. It still jolts me every time I see him in his wheelchair or when a caregiver has to lift him in and out of bed. That will probably go away with time, also.

Jim continues to work very hard on his recovery. He thinks he will be walking by Halloween. Walking will help straighten out his digestive system, decrease muscle spasms, etc.

Last year at this time I was the one in a wheelchair while I recuperated from knee replacement surgery. Now I look back at that time as the "good old days." Then I still had a mobile husband and my son still was in contact with me.

I've lost an awful lot these last months. Jim and I used to go out to eat, shop at estate sales, go to movies frequently. We had a lot of fun together. My son used to welcome me dropping by his apartment after work or meeting for lunch. These activities are all gone for now.

I have been able to do a little bit of sewing. I appliqued onesies for my grandson-to-be. I lunch with a group of women on Wednesdays after work. I'm working on reclaiming parts of my life. I meant to attend a HAFA meeting last night but I forgot all about it. I'll try again next month.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

July 10, 2011

I forgot to pop my antidepressants as soon as I woke up this morning. I went to Kroger's at 8:30 AM and I kept thinking of how Jim used to go with me and was such a big help. So now I'm crying again.

It's amazing how we go through groceries. I went twice this week and spent over $100 each time. We have salad at least once a day so I've got to pick up fresh veggies.
Mom and Jim each eat 2 eggs per day. A dozen eggs doesn't last very long around here. Then there's the fresh fruit, bread, etc.

Jim and I used to go out to eat several times a week. Now every meal is at home. That means shopping, putting groceries away, preparing meals and then cleaning. It's a lot of work. Jim's morning caregiver, Chris makes breakfast for Jim and sometimes for Mom.

Mom likes to sit in her room with her walker in the doorway. That's her signal that she wants someone to come in and put her slippers, etc. on her. This morning I told Mom to go to the kitchen before Chris leaves so he would make her breakfast.

Yesterday she went back into her room after breakfast waiting to be dressed. If I ask her, if she can dress herself she always says "of course." But yesterday she stayed in her robe all day.

I left the 2 of them alone yesterday for 2 hours so I could go to a sewing meeting. They did just fine.

When Jim was in the hospital and nursing home I spent lots of time with him. Now he sits at his computer all day and evening. He interacts with his caregivers more than me. So, now I feel lonely too.

Monday, July 4, 2011

July 3, 2011: Jim's Birthday!




We ended up having a pretty big day for Jim's birthday. My cousin Rick and his girlfriend Roseanne came in from Laredo. They cooked a wonderful luncheon for us - fennel salad, shrimp cocktail, a huge piece of salmon, lemon pasta and asparagus. The salmon was baked on a bed of citrus slices and served rare. I'd never heard of rare salmon. But, that is definitely the way it should be eaten! It was wonderful. Rick and Roseanne love to cook and eat out at fine restaurants. Houston has lots of great restaurants for them to try.
Jimmy and Lupita came for lunch, too. I made Jim a big dish of sugar free jello and the rest of us had angel food cake with jello.
After that we played dominoes with Jimmy and Lupita.

July, 2011: The world's cutest little kitten!





Isn't little Stella the cutest kitten that you've ever seen?