Gosh It's Good to be Home

Yep. Rick was able to come home for the first time in a long time today.

First thing he wanted to do was sit at his desk and balance the checkbook. Yippee!  Better him than me.   I've NEVER been able to do that.

Next he just wanted to sit in the sunshine. His room at the "home" is tucked into a corner with a huge butterfly bush in front of the window...only problem is that right now it just looks like a big stick bush..nowhere near green or attracting butterflies.

It was so wonderful having him home.  This house needs more than one person wandering around in it.  It has been really hard for me to get anything done since Rick has been at Blair Manor.  I'm always worried about how he is doing, or if I'm going to be on time for visiting.

With 30 more days to go though I know I have to better get my "act" together.

Here's a picture of the Big Guy in his favorite shirt.

It's Saturday

I have to admit I am at loose ends today.

The sun is shining.  The wind is blowing.  It's still chilly here in Connecticut but at least it's not gray and dreary.  That's a plus in my book.

I've spent most of today sprucing up the house because tomorrow my hub gets to leave the nursing home for two or three hours!!  He decided he'd like to watch our favorite team, the Lady Huskies of UCONN win another game and get closer to another championship win.

Today I am alone though.  Sure there are lots of things I'd like to do..but I find myself anxious to get to the "home" again and see Rick.  Thinking of him there just makes me nuts.

Tonight I am bringing some steamed freshly caught Atlantic Salmon and lots of healthy dark green veggies.  I'm telling you this guy is going to stay healthy if it kills me!

So here I am with these tips for helping you get over a bad day, month, or in our case YEAR:

 Do something good for someone else, even though you may not want to. Do a favour, help them find something, give them an item which will help them in some way. Start the flow of positive energy.

 Eat the best chocolate you can get your hands on. In bed. Or in the bath.

 Turn up music you really love. Play it so loudly that it soaks in through your skin. Dance in your pyjamas. Feel the pain lift.

 Have a romance in your head.

 Volunteer.

 Buy a remote control for your camera & dip your toes into the pool of narcissism.

 Call a friend & ask them if they want to have a slumber party.

 Throw yourself head-first into a creative project. Something that you’re excited about but which feels a little too big for you. You’ll be so consumed by it that it will fuel you for ages.

Until next time...

Getting a Little Closer to Home

Today I received a phone call from Rick.  "I am being released today."  Then he filled in the details.  He is being relocated to a health care facility in the next town from ours.  He will have to remain there for the next five weeks...35 more days.  His physicans have prescribed five more weeks of intravenous anti-biotics.  The VA, Rick's only source of prescription drugs will not pay for them.  Medicare will only pay for them if he is confined to a health care facility.  He was told that he must sleep there and receive two infusions per day, one at 6am and one at 6pm but between those infusions I can take him home.  This has made him VERY happy!

I am now awaiting the call to "Come Pick Me Up!"

More good news soon I hope...

I So Wish I Had Some Great News...

Rick is still in the hospital.

Fighting an infection in his incision.

Infectious Disease (sounds scarey doesn't it?) wants him to receive intravenous antibiotics for another six weeks.  The VA - Rick's only prescription insurance - will not pay for it. Medicare will but he must remain in a hospital or "care facility" (the politically correct name these days for a nursing home). No way I said will I send him there.  He has already stopped eating because the food is so poor here.  He is not prompted to get up and walk every two hours during the day. Lord knows what kind of care he'd receive somewhere else.  He NEEDS to be sent home.  He needs yummy food and someone who cares enough to get him off his butt and up getting the exercise his new heart needs.

I have tried so hard to stay up....to be so grateful that he made it through the surgery and that the "big one" is no longer a treat.  Sadly though so many many other worries now fill my days.  Word to the Wise:  Don't get old without excellent health care insurance.  One illness will drown you.

I pray constantly for just one little bit of luck...no matter how small.  I find myself trying to find any little thing that will make me feel hopeful.

I know there is sunshine somewhere.  I just know it.

I'm Worn Out

I think it is time for me to stop trying so hard. Being a 24 hour care-giver has nearly worn me out.
No matter how hard I try there always seems to be one more thing I need to do.

It's time to select a book, chose a warm soft blanket and read a while.  I need the book to just "take me away for a little".

I'll be back soon, hopefully with something interesting for you to read.

Getting Better Day by Day

So most of you know my husband Rick has had triple by-pass open heart surgery....on March 11th he became one of the "Zipper Society". The surgery was a complete success and he is now home recuping.  I still can't believe someone opened up his chest and made his unhealthy heart healthy again...I mean how much of a miracle is that?

As soon as it was decided that the surgery was to take place our daughter Jessika packed her bag, packed one for her littlest daughter Natalie as well and they boarded a night flightto "help her Dad" get through this major surgery.

It meant leaving her eldest daughter, Piper Jolie Welcome Levinson, age seven (March 4th) at home with her Dad,  Peter.  Each day Peter made a collage and put it up on Facebook so Jess could see and share their day:

Today's Piper's favorite holiday. What to do? Make a leprechaun trap! The leprechaun didn't fall for it, but he did leave a note. (The pot of gold on top is actually a trap door.)

It's Pizza Friday!! On top of that, P got an awesome lego set from Grammy and set right to work. Quick break to pick up the pizza and then right back to it until it was all done. The little cat in the set is now named Taylor. The bird started off as Chirps, but later became Katie because the bird is a girl. (And Chirps is apparently a well known boy's name in the bird world?)

Now I ask you....how many Dad's would do this?  PT Levinson is a one in a millionhusband, Dad, and son-in-law.

Here is what it looked like when Jess and Natalie arrived home Tuesday, March 19th.

All together now. :)

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I loved sharing this lovely story with you all.  I am a very lucky Mom!

See you all shortly.  I have compression stockings to put on, a heart-healthy meal to prepare, and some meds to dispense.  Mouse-making is on hold for now....

Linda

Hub Recuperating in ICU ByPass Surgery Successful

Phew! What a last couple of weeks.  After fighting to rid himself of the C-Diff bacterial infection, Rick had  Triple By Pass Open Heart surgery on Monday, the 11th.  He is still in the ICU but getting stronger each day.  Poor guy has now been in one hospital or another for nineteen days.  That is a long time for anyone.  He is so itching to get home.

Our daughter, Jessika, and her youngest daughter Natalie flew in from San Carlos, California last Wednesday.


 Natalie got to see snow for the FIRST TIME. She was totally delighted:

Her Mommy made her her first snowman:

It's such a good thing that Jess remembered to bring along winter togs. She borrowed a snowjacket and snowpants from Natalie's best bud, Soren, and also borrowed his little sister Rosie's snowboots and mittens so Nattie was all set and really ready to PLAY.

It has been amazing having Jess and Nattie here with me. 

Sending special thanks to each and every one of you who have sent well wishes and spent time praying for us.  We so needed it...and we are so grateful..

Linda and Rick