One thing Dad really likes to do is sit in his wheelchair out on the porches. He loves being home and looking out over their property. Danny and Ollie took Dad out for a ride in the golf cart again. They sat on either side of Dad and he drove them out to the "cow palace" and around the place a bit.
Mom and Sarah seem to have settled into somewhat of a routine, and their days are pretty busy with 3 different therapists there 3 times a week. I tried to call Mom 3 different times during the week and each time she was too busy to talk. I spent a little time today reminding her to let Sarah do as much as possible and encouraged her to set up a schedule of daily chores so Sarah doesn't have to always ask her if there's something she can be doing for her. I plan to go out there again early next week and spend more time with Mom on that. I also want to work with Mom on easy, tasty things that they can fix for lunch and supper. Before Dad's stroke, Mom wasn't cooking very much any more, and now she is having to plan 3 meals a day. It's a pretty big chore for any of us, but especially someone who had kind of given up on cooking and is back in the throws of it full-time! Dad's blood pressure has been a little on the high side, so Mom also has to consider his salt intake, just to make cooking a little tougher!!!
The physical therapist had been at the house earlier this morning (for his 3rd and last visit this week) and is working on Dad's legs...strengthening the left leg in getting up and down, using the walker, etc., and with the right leg rehabilitating those muscles. After lunch, Bill, the occupational therapist came, so I was able to meet him and watch him work with Dad. He explained to me that he does Dad's arm and the physical therapist is in charge of the legs. Bill spent an hour exercising Dad's right arm, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. He used a rectangular board, laid a piece of 8 x 10 paper on the board and then laid Dad's forearm and hand on it. The paper is to assist his hand in moving so it doesn't get stuck on the board. He would then have Dad move his arm and hand laterally, forward, backward, etc. There is now some movement in the arm from the shoulder and Dad can very, very slightly slide his hand forward and sideways on the board. Like I keep saying, it's going to be one hurdle at a time, but at least there is positive progress!
Dad's left leg is so much stronger and he sits and stands with much greater ease. HE can lift his right leg about 6 inches. In transporting, Dad is always in the wheelchair. The physical therapist works with the use of the walker, but until Dad gains more control of his right leg, he can't really get around with the walker just yet.
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but think you can’t it’s almost certain you won’t. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.
My love to all of you! Sandi
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