mountains falling into the heart of the sea

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. ~Psalm 46: 1-2

finally a note from me

Sorry to be so slow with my first real blog. This is the first day home where I have felt like sitting up out of bed for any length of time. After laying on my back for four months, I get light heading sitting up. Very normal I hear. This have been long ordeal and very difficult for Barb as a full time care giver. She and my kids have been great.

I have never been in pain from the very beginning. A real blessing. I think it will be several months before we discover what our lives will be like. I am now in a wheel chair and learning to adjust. We have hired some part time help to help get on the throne and roll in bed - Have to roll from side to side every four hours to avoid bed sores which can become a serious problem. Look forward to the time when I can sit up most of the day in my wheel chair and read and do stuff on the computer. Some one has given us a power wheel chair so we will have to acquire a vehicle to carry it. Probable a month away for this.

What can I say about the whole process? The three months in the nursing home were tough waiting for the operation to heal so I could get to therapy. Therapy for five weeks was hard but it was the final step before I could get home.

I still have a lot to learn about taking care of myself. It may take quite a while. For the present I sleep a LOT and do exercises to build up my arms.

This has not been a spiritual experience. Getting hurt should not effect a person's beliefs. Nothing has changed. Truth is truth and getting hurt is irrelevant.

Reading a book about Obama. Very interesting person.

Thanks to all who have sent me emails and cards and phone calls. You have all meant a lot to me.

This whole thing in not a tragedy - just a great big nuisance.

Love to all,

Don

dictated from Dad

Hi wonderful friends!

I am happy to be at home and I am trying to make life as easy as possible for my wonderful care-giver, my wife.

In the next days I'll post a long blog for everybody.

Best wishes to all,

Don

every day is better

Every day he is stronger, but we've a ways to go.

Mom is tired. I am tired. Looking after Dad is a non-stop project. If you are considering helping, please do. Specifically, we need people to commit to coming by between 5 and 6 in the evening to put him in his chair for dinner, and then again between 8 and 9 in the evening to get him back to bed. We will need this for the next month or so.

We have hired in help for the mornings from 9-12, and then I go over from 12:30 to 4 with kids in tow. Paid helpers only come for 3 hour minimums, so it seems a bit silly to bring them in for 15 minutes of help.

Helping him transfer is really a matter of helping him stay balanced. It is not laborious, but it is more than Mom can safely do.

Other than the transfers, we can handle his therapies and other needs.

If you would like to help, please email me at chndlrs@msn.com and I will add you to the LotsaHelpingHands website from whence you can sign up for whatever help suits you.

home at last, home at last

Dad ate dinner last night at his own table. His yummy dinner was provided by his lovely niece-in-law Kristi.