Week 27

Hello and TGIF!  It's been super busy so I'm running behind which means I'll have 3 two weeks of posts to get out today.  This one is from 3, almost 4, weeks ago during the 4th of July week and most of the week was about integrating back into real life by getting out there to do things we would normally do.  That made for a really great and fun week.

Here are those pictures:

Day 185- Monday, 7/4/22

Happy 4th of July!  It was wonderful to have John out front with us to enjoy fireworks in the traditional way we do.  The boys took charge and made our street ones come alive while the crazy neighbors around us gave us a good sky show.

Day 186- Tuesday, 7/5/22

Squeezing in an eye appointment for me.  It's time for some prescription glasses instead of just readers from Target.

Day 187- Wednesday, 7/6/22

Wednesday at work I'm grabbing coffee from across the street as I transition from in-lab work to cubicle computer work.  It's nice after all these years to have desk space outside the lab where I can have food and drink as I continue to work.  Back at home I helped John order a part for our pool sweep connection that busted while the boys were in the pool 4th of July.  You can find anything on Amazon.

Day 188- Thursday, 7/7/22

Today was an orthotics appointment to be fitted for a custom brace to help with foot drop so he can start walking again.  I like their motto but I'm sad it will take 4-6 weeks to get the brace made.  Supply- issues continue to be a huge problem these days.  Good to know we can order a quick and cheap one on Amazon to hold him over until then.  See--you really can get anything on Amazon!

Day 189- Friday 7/8/22

TGIF!  His and hers.  We usually have pizza rolls and a movie at home on Friday's but opted for a healthier pizza choice (well at least one of them is healthier) to go with our movie.  It's was time to finally watch Cyrano.

Day 190- Saturday, 7/9/22

. . . and today we went out to the movies!  Top Gun Maverick did not disappoint.  Two of the boys were able to join us as well.  Plus earlier there was a trip together to Home Depot and John asking to do some work in the garage.  Brandon and I were surprised and excited to see John back in his happy place tinkering away.

Day 191- Sunday, 7/10/22

Family dinner night ended with pool time for the boys and yard time for Bella.   It was a nice cool summer evening after a long hot day and the perfect way to wrap up a great week.

That's all! 

Week 26

Hello and happy July! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July Monday. We made the most of it celebrating with friends and neighbors.  It was a good way to start a new week and it was a nice way to end last week with a 3-day weekend.  We could use more of those especially as the summer days speed by.

Take a look at how last week went:

Day 179- Monday, 6/27/22

Now that our sprinkler system and major leak have finally been sorted out the yard is flourishing again and we have a bunch of new fresh roses blooming.

Day 180- Tuesday, 6/28/22

Today we had one of many Dr. appointments lined up over the next few weeks for John.  This one involved a nerve conduction test on his left leg and foot which appear to have some nerve damage obtained sometime during his hospital stay.  He'll see an orthotics specialist and get an MRI next week to help with that.  Back at home, after adding Brandon's graduation pictures, I now have our graduation photo ledge on the stairs complete. John and I are even represented in a small picture on the left from when we graduated UC Davis together.

Day 181- Wednesday, 6/29/22

This week I went back to work.  I work in the lab during the mornings while the boys are home with John and then remote in the afternoons when the boys have to head to work.  Today when I got home I was lucky enough to receive a Buckeye-flavored Crumble cookie from Brandon.  So good but also so big--it took me a couple days to finish it.

Day 182- Thursday, 6/30/22

Our pool table has turned into a care table but it actually works great as since it's at the right height and in a good easy to get to location.  As of now we still can't get him in our downstairs bathroom or upstairs to our bedroom.  Thank goodness we at least have a downstairs extra bedroom.

 183- Friday, 7/1/22

TGIF and welcome to July!  It was a nice cooler day with a good breeze after starting the week with a string of 100 degree days so I didn't mind having to go outside at work to pick up a sample that was delivered to the wrong building.  Later, back at home, my July baby was kind enough to pose with the monthly marker near to our American flag.  It's so hard to believe he's leaving the nest month.

Day 184- Saturday, 7/2/22

Much to my surprise there are actually flowers blooming on this crape myrtle.  It was planted in the backyard by the previous owners of the house over 18 year ago and this is the first time I have seen it bloom. In fact I almost pulled it out several times because it seemed like a dud so now I'm happy to finally see it shine.  Hopefully this is a sign of more good things to come.  Later the boys and I went out to the Booster's booth to find some fireworks we could enjoy on the 4th with our surrounding neighbors out front.  We picked the Bella one because it's the name of our dog 💜.

Day 185- Sunday, 7/3/22

I used the air fryer to make chicken tenders for dinner tonight.  The chicken cooked perfectly, but we were not a fan of the breading.  It sounded good in the recipe but did not execute well or have much flavor.  Next time I'll try the one John uses.  After dinner Justin helped John make his traditional 4th of July potato salad we'll have for dinner tomorrow with friends.  It's great to see him getting more and more integrated in our back into our life.

That's it!  See you next week.

Week 25

Hello and happy Tuesday!  Last week I was home from work so we could get our new routine down and some appointments taken care of that are needed with having John home.  Thankfully moving forward I have Justin to help John in the mornings while I work in the lab and then I'll be at home in the afternoons while he works.  We make a great team.

Here are last week's pictures:

Day 172- Monday, 6/20/22

It's nice to be sharing meals with John again and any of the boys who happen to be home when we're ready to eat.  Cheers to that!

Day 173- Tuesday, 6/21/22

When it's too hot to sleep upstairs at night the favorite spot in under the fan downstairs.  Bella and Justin made good use of that last night as I found them laid out here this morning.  The rest of our week does not look much better.  That sun is intense and we had to brave the heat this afternoon heading out to a much needed doctors appointment for John.  This was required to get the home-health services started for his PT and OT.  It's crazy how many hoops need to be jumped through for all of this which you'd think would be seamless when someone is recently discharged while still not fully recovered and should have continued care right away.

Day 174- Wednesday, 6/22/22

Poor kitty boy is barely tolerating the heat.  He always lays on his side or back to expose his belly on hot days.  Even with the thunderclouds out it's over 100 today and quite balmy.  Later I needed a minute to regroup after making it halfway through this week taking in so much information and change.  Sitting poolside is a nice calming place to help process everything and clear my head.

Day 175- Thursday, 6/23/22

Brandon started his new job as a line cook in the Cantina at our local ballpark.  He's already a pro at making pizzas and now he'll be a pro at making Mexican food.  It's nice to know he won't be one of those starving college students when we send him off in August cause he's got skills.

Day 176- Friday, 6/24/22

Today I made a batch of egg bites as an easy thing for John to grab for breakfast when I head back to work next week.  Later Justin and I watched more of Obi-Wan with him.  This is a new normal look for our living room.  This chair is a prominent feature in our house now although we're hoping to swap it out for a walker soon.

Day 177- Saturday, 6/25/22

This morning the home-health nurse finally came to evaluate our needs (a full week after discharge) and to make a schedule for more evaluations to come next week.  I feel like we're wading through molasses to get what we really need now.  At least the rest of the day was more productive and fun.  While John had visitors from SF I was able to run out to Clarksburg and pick up another wine club shipment. 

Day 178- Sunday, 6/26/22

Now for the big news-- Tyler and Lupe got engaged yesterday and told us today at Sunday dinner.  We're super excited for them and did know it was coming but didn't know exactly when.  They are planning on a long engagement of about a year although it sounds like her mother is ready for it to happen much sooner.  We'll see.

That wraps up another week.  June is flying by so we'll see you next week in July!

Week 24

Hello and welcome back.  What a week last week was but it ended up to be a good one.  Now it's time to get used to a new routine and of course that has put me behind a bit.

Take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 165- Monday, 6/13/22

This new graduate is enjoying his summer break with a good week off between jobs by playing online games with friends and getting used to a new phone.  It was a much needed upgrade as a graduation gift that will be useful college starting in a couple months.

Day 166- Tuesday, 6/14/22

Just when you think gas prices can't get any worse plus we have a new state tax soon to be added that may just push up to the $7 range.  Ouch!  In better news, I was able to attend one of John's PT sessions during my visit today and see him not only walk the parallel bars but also attempt some stairs.  It's great to see his progress.

Day 167- Wednesday, 6/15/22

Wednesday at work--for me I actually get all my in lab work done very early and then before starting the computer work it's coffee first.  Later at home, when walking the dog, the first patch of grass we came across in the park had just blossomed with these clover flowers.  Even though they are weeds they look so fun and pretty like a landscape from Dr. Seuss.

Day 168- Thursday, 6/16/22

Little does she know that her master will be coming home soon.  She still lays religiously where she would be at his feet--such a loyal girl.  I spent most the day getting the house set up for John's return including this downstairs room.  We had very little notice of huis discharge so very little time to prepare, but I think we're ready as can be.  The hardest part is that he's still in the wheelchair and has not been able to fully transition to a walker yet. Insurance says we can do that with in-home therapy and I hope so but really think we need a place with better equipment until he's better on his feet.  Time will tell.

Day 169- Friday, 6/17/22

He's back home!!! And enjoying his time with the family.  First thing Justin and him did was start watching Obi-Wan together on Disney+.  I've also been waiting to watch the end of Ozark with him.  It's good to have him back.

Day 170- Saturday, 6/18/22

So many medications and some are in the morning and some in the evening and some are both.  It's a lot to keep track of but worth the effort of course.  Outside I'm happy to see some nice pillow-like clouds helping to give cooler temps.  I'll enjoy it while I can because it sounds like heading into next week it will triple digits.  Yikes!

Day 171- Sunday, 6/19/22

Happy Father's Day!  What a special day to have him home to celebrate with us.  We had a great brunch and made air-fried chicken wings for dinner to enjoy.

That's all for this week.  Thanks for checking in.