I just got a notice that my lowers had shipped. At the time I write this, there are 485 special edition Cav Arms lowers left out of the initial 1,000. Pony up, help support Cav Arms!
Archive for June 12th, 2008
Cav-Aid lowers are shipping
12 June 2008Milestones
12 June 2008Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:40:54 PM:
I walked into her room this morning, at 10am, and she was asleep. I sat down and watched her sleep, just in awe of her beauty. She has one of the sweetest souls I’ve ever met. I’m beginning to believe that love is unlimited and eternal. At times I seem to be connected in a way I’ve never been connected to a person, a deep, beautiful, peaceful feeling when just holding her hand and looking into her eyes.
She wakes up when the Speech Therapist came into her room to test Trudi’s swallowing capability. They had changed her trach tube, the evening before, to a 6 mm tube, from the 8 mm tube. This will allow her to get more air around the trach and swallow, without food or water getting into her lungs. They are closeby if that happends and can suction out the liquid at that momen. The coughing bothers me, but Trudi feels better after it.
First, Trudi ate some ice and was successful. Next she took several spoon fulls of blue colored water. Then Trudi actually drank water through a straw. She drank about 4 ounces of blue water. The blue water will indicate if she aspirated when swallowing. Getting water or food in her windpipe wouldn’t work, so the smaller trach will facilitate swallowing more easily.
The test for any leakage from swallowing is done with simple suctioning of her wind pipe. The did that and there was no blue color in her wind pipe, and she passed that test. Tomorrow morning may be soft food, like pudding or mashed potatoes.
What a morning! And each time, during and after her swallowing test, I cheered her on, and congratulated her for showing them how to recover from a massive stroke. Most of the staff aren’t aware the level of Faith at work with Trudi, and if they inquire about her doing so well, I just tell them it’s the power prayer, and may people are praying for her. That’s always nice to say, as a witness to His love for us. WOW
That was a milestone for Trudi, being able to swallow, and will be eating regular food in no time.
The next milestone for Trudi was being moved out of ICU and into IMU. That takes her off the critical list and has her as guarded, closely. She wants to reach up and scratch her head, the part with no bone, and it freaks me out every time she reaches toward her head. Yikes!
I release the restraint occasionally to let her rub her nose and eyes, I know an itchy nose can become paramount. Especially if you can’t rub it. Itching seems to be quite an issue with Trudi, and I get it, she’s been in bed for 4 weeks, today.
I can hardly believe it, a month, today, since her heart surgery and stroke. She has made amazing progress and continues to recover more each day. I’m so happy at times, I don’t want it to go away, but I’m having more moments of joy, now that she is out of ICU. It was a celebration, meaning she is improving and moving to the next step of recovery.
That means more Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapies. She sat in a chair for two hours, today. It was 2 hours of talking about people, things, and ideas, and so much, that I could hardly keep her in today. This was right after lunch. Her mind has to be jumbled and reorganizing itself, and thought and images are flashing across it, rewiring and taking control of the situation. She can hold a conversation and throw something in, our of left field, to make you stop and think.
She got back into bed after sitting in the chair, and caught her breath. Being on the smaller trach tube makes her work harder to breath which in turn is strengthening her lungs and breathing ability. Her nurse tonight, had her last night in ICE, so she is familiar with Trudi. That’s good to know. I sleep better once I’ve spoken with her nurse. I may call two or three times, or just once, depending on how I’m feeling at the time.
As we went down the hallway to her new room, she got to see different people and scenery for a short trip. They just roll the whole bed, it’s like a parade. Hilarious image… I like that she is directly across the hall from the nursing station. You can see them from Trudi’s room. I like that, too.
What a day this was, and keeping up with her is a challenge by itself. She is showing me the meaning of life, to love each other.
May God Bless You All.
Bob Holcombe
Changing the rules of the game
12 June 2008Old law lets developers use old rules, thwarting Puget Sound protection, critics charge:
When it’s done, the Westmark Development Company’s Emerald Pointe condos, planned just above Seahurst Park on Puget Sound, will boast as many as 200 units divided among seven buildings on less than 10 acres, plus a recreation facility.
But under land-use laws meant to protect the environment, the whole project would be illegal.
City zoning would typically allow only about three single-family homes per acre here. And those homes would have to be set back as much as 100 feet from wetlands. Trouble is, the developer filed the permits in 1990. So the developer doesn’t have to follow rules imposed since then.
You’ll never see development if the rules of the game change as you’re building; why would you risk your money building something in Seattle when you might be stopped because you disrupt the natural flow of water?
