Monday, March 15, 2010

I need to apologize to all of you who have stopped by to check on us. I didn’t realize that it had been so long since my last post. It seems such a short moment since radiation stopped and recovery truly began.
In that time span some of the following things have popped up:

I was rooting through the sample bag the speech therapist sent home with George. In there were round and oval stickeys with a hole in the center and little plastic and foam buttons that snap into them (now I know they are called baseplates!). Ah…this is what the speech therapist was explaining. She said they just peel and stick. Ok- I peeled the backing off, stuck it on his neck, put the little button in…and watched as he tried to talk and blew the whole contraption clear across the room! Seems there is a liquid adhesive that goes on first to help the stickey stuff stick!!! An ah-ha moment if ever I’ve had one.

Somewhere in the back of my brain I thought that once the radiation burns went away and the IV fluids stopped that all would be well. Ummm Hummmm……did I really believe THAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Fighting – and pleading, and begging, and crying – with the insurance company is becoming a way of life. If they aren’t denying a claim (it’s still a NO for the teeth replacements) they are only agreeing to cover partial payments on the medication. Their opinion was that George only needed to take a certain medication every other day. I won that argument – and boy, was I proud of myself. I did it all without one curse word … not a hell or a damn or anything else that was on the tip of my tongue!

Our 15 year-old grandson decided to try longboarding (a form of skateboard) down an ice-covered street, got caught up on a chunk of ice, fell, slid across about 30’ of roadway, ripped the skin off his arm and wrist and tore the ligaments in his knee. He and his friends were filming it … something only a bunch of 15 year-olds would do…and once he was released from the ER he had to email me the footage. I think I liked it more when I couldn’t see what they were doing! 

My apologies to all that live in a cold climate but I have realized that I never, ever, want to live in Alaska, Maine or anywhere else that has true snowfall. Sitting around a warm, cozy fire while snow fell outside and blanketed the world in soft white down was always a fantasy of mine. Now that I have experienced 40+ inches of snow in less than 3 weeks I can honestly say the fantasy is over! I live near the ocean for pete’s sake – not North Dakota!!!! I’ve also noticed I am way toooo old to shovel snow!

Caregiving and snowstorms do not make for smooth sailing…unless, of course, one considers sliding across the bridge from one state to another to visit the surgeon sailing!
There we were, a man that can’t speak and sooo wants to, and a woman saying things that probably shouldn’t be said by anyone, sliding sideways over the bridge and through the snow; 4-wheel drive be damned, a death grip on the wheel, and a husband trying to mime how to handle the slide. Yep- I am not moving farther north…never……ever!!!!!

George is on the road to recovery. I think he is recovering faster physically than he is mentally. He is so very, very tired, still in a lot of pain and still learning how to adjust to all of this. Sometimes he wants to give up and then he has times where he can see better times ahead. The one-day-at-a-time approach is the only thing I know to help him through.

Thank you, all of my wonderful blog friends, for all your continued support for both of us. I have thought of all of you often and you are always in my prayers. I go about my day and think “Ah, I’ll have a chance to catch up tonight,” and then I get caught up in the minutiae of the day and before I know it days and days have flown by.


Now, I am going to post this and go visit your bloggie homes and say HI!

5 comments:

  1. I am so happy that you have posted, I was beginning to worry about you. So glad George is doing better and you sound very well yourself, so now I can sit back and relax knowing that all is going okay.
    Sorry about your grandson, and I am still smiling at your drive over the bridge....snow is not that bad sweetie, your snow has come at a very bad time.........:-) Hugs

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  2. Yay! I was wondering what happened to you! I was a bit worried. I asked Bernie if she knew how you were doing Quieten. I am glad that things are improving and hopefully that nasty weather will turn around for you soon. My dream has always been to live on the ocean. Sorry about your grandson. My husband always say's that when you see guys doing dumb things, rarely are they married! Not that you'd want your grandson to be married at 15! Anyway I hope he heals quickly. You are in my prayers. Love Di ♥

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  3. Things do sound better for you both. Hope the insurance problems clear up. Everything takes time...even Spring. I enjoy snow, but I agree, we did have a little too much this year!

    I have some teenage grandsons that are fearless on dirt bikes, so I understand your concern. Hope the week goes good for the both of you!....Wanda

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  4. Dear Quieten
    Great to hear from you again ( was also very glad to have a visit from you at my blog)

    Wonderful to hear that George is on the road to recovery.
    With you by his side, he'll be okay!

    Hoping your grandson heals soon!

    Be well and think spring, it's almost here!

    Hugs to you!

    Margie :)

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  5. Oh, Quieten!!! I'm so glad to hear from you!!! I still pray daily for you and George...because I KNOW that once the treatment is over the long road of recovery begins...and it sometimes seem interminable...But you and George will get there too!!! It has been 2 1/2 years for me, and I am beginning to feel almost normal again...I'm sure it must be extraordinarily frustrating for George...he probably sooo wants normal...And you continue to amaze me with your good humor and incredible strength!!

    Now about that grandson...I'm totally with you there as well!!! Would rather not know...Hope you have an encouraging week!! And thank goodness, Spring is here!!!! Love you!! Janine XO

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