Outrageous Malfunction

Saturday, June 14, 2008 11:10:27 PM:

Today, as I arrived, I stop at Trudi’s doorway to see if she noticed me. I stand there and she is looking toward the door. When she saw me, her face became so happy, it joys my heart to see. I walk up to her, bend over to get closer, and tell her that she looks wonderful today, and that I love her. I have to say, that’s the way I will start everyday from now and forever.

My heart is split in two. One side seems so very heavy and the other is happy and joyous. Bringing them together will take some time, and I’m favoring the happy and joyous part of my heart, it’s the future. When trusting in God, today is filled with love and joy, even in the midst of a storm.

My salvation, during this crisis, has been through Christ, my Savior, from Whom Trudi and I get strength to weather this storm. It has been rough, very rough, at times, but today was calm sailing. Trudi had a day off from therapy.

An old friend of hers called, and I put the phone up to Trudi’s ear so she could chat. By the time they were finished talking, my arm was about to fall off. It had to be, at least 15 minutes on the phone. It wasn’t long after that call, Trudi went to sleep for two hours, then lunch arrives.

Trudi ate much more today, than she did yesterday. For lunch, she had chopped roast beef with potatoes and gravy, chopped green beans, ground vegetable soup, and blueberry yogurt with apple sauce and apple juice. She ate most of it. There weren’t a dozen bites left. For supper, she had chopped chicken breast with potatoes and gravy, yellow squash, chopped, vanilla pudding with whipped cream, tomato soup, and apple juice and mile. She ate most of it, with very few bites left over.

She almost ate two whole meals, today. I’m so proud of her. We spent the afternoon talking and looking at each other. I continue to exercise her leg and arm, and am doing some eye/hand coordination sessions during the weekend. I can continue working with her in order to keep the flow of recover moving forward without skipping a beat, so to say.

The middle of the afternoon, my brother and sister in law, Harvey and Mary, came to visit Trudi. Trudi was very happy to see them. She tells them that she is so happy to see them and how she loves them. Mary and Trudi are close, almost like sisters. It was a great visit. It’s good for Trudi to see familiar faces, or more important, familiar voices, then the faces start to connect with the voice. They stayed for supper and watched how much Trudi ate for supper. It was a super supper for her.

All in all, this was a great day, full of rest and love. She deserves a couple of days off. This last week was full of milestones for Trudi. Oh, Lord, thank you for healing Trudi.

I’m looking for another peaceful day with my wife, tomorrow. Thank you all for your support and encouragement, and all of the prayers, they are heard and felt. Good night, and may…

God Bless You All.

Bob

Friday, June 13, 2008 11:23:44 PM:

I arrived and Trudi was sleeping. She slept for a couple of hours before waking to see me standing over her with a smile on my face, and I tell her that she looks wonderful, today, and how much I love her. Shortly after waking, speech therapy came into her room. She was wondering if Trudi had lunch, yet. Trudi told her not yet. So the therapist ordered her a lunch tray. It was going to take about half and hour, so I went to lunch so I could be there for Trudi’s lunch.

Shortly after getting back from lunch, her tray arrives. The speech therapist put the O2 meter on her finger to monitor her blood oxygen level and heart rate, in case Trudi got short of air while eating lunch. All prepared, Trudi took her first bite of real food. She had chopped fish, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, and soup with ice tea. She ate and drank about 10 percent of her meal. It was great to see her eating, again. She liked it, too.

She has to have her feeding tube turned off an hour before eating and turned back on an hour after eating a meal. She is to have her speaking valve on her trach and sit upright at 90 degrees an hour after eating. They are making certain all of her food goes all the way down to her stomach and doesn’t cause her to aspirate. She did great with no problems.

Half an hour after eating, her comes physical therapy and occupational therapy. Oops, scheduling conflict. Occupational therapy won out and she got into a wheel chair about 2:30pm. She wheeled herself around the block in the hallway and ended up in the physical/occupational therapy workroom for some eye/hand coordination exercises. I always sit to her left, and the therapists start with the left side and works toward the right. Need to keep her aware that she has a left side of her body. She ignores it because to her, it doesn’t exist.

By this time, Trudi has been in the wheelchair for two 1/2 hours. We go back to her room and visit for a while. I put my arm around her and hold her close to me, laying my head on her shoulder. We just sit there and feel each other’s love. And before she can get back into bed, supper has arrived. I get to feed her this time.

For supper she had chopped turkey breast, dressing and gravy, chopped green beans, soup, frozen yogurt, milk, ice tea, and biscuit. She ate about 10 to 15 percent of it and had enough. She was getting tired and wanted back in bed. Well, the therapist didn’t get back to put her into bed until 7pm. Once in bed, she conked out, so I told her good night and that I love her and will be back in the morning.

She spent 4 1/2 hours in the wheel chair and was upright for that long. It was exhausting for her, but building her strength. She sat on the edge of the bed all by herself for a minute or so, balancing herself with her body and right arm. I’m so proud of her, it shows.

Another great day with Trudi, and she continues to recover very quickly. I can’t say enough how your prayers are making the difference, please continue praying for her. All praise and glory to God.

God Bless You All.

Bob