Can You Hear Me Now?

I’ve had a rather eventful week, in the world of what is Donna at the moment.

Saturday ~ Before leaving for the music festival, I had a special delivery of a NEW BED! I am so happy, I have been saying “I need a new bed” for years. Goodbye creaky, droopy old mattress and hello Serta Memory Foam! I can finally move around on my bed without it making noises like it is about to break under me, and getting up from it is a breeze because it is higher. Thankfully I got a low box spring, though - new beds these days are so high I would otherwise need stairs to get on it!

Sunday ~ After being in Carstairs the day before and getting home late, I was soooo looking forward to sleeping in my new bed. So much so, that I kicked the cats out of my bedroom at 5:00 a.m. because they weren’t letting me sleep, closed the door and slept like a rock. I didn’t hear the phone ring or my door buzzer when Home Care was trying to reach me. I usually have a fan going in my bedroom so when my door is closed that overrides everything! I slept until noon and then listened to all the worried voice mail messages from Home Care. Oops! I called them back and let them know I was okay, and not to bother sending anyone back because it was a stay-in-my-jammies day anyway. And that’s just what I did. I saw Bend It Like Beckham on TV that night, what a great movie!

Monday ~ This was a pretty miserable day. I went back to Troy’s office to work for the first time since the end of May, which would have been fine, except the temperature was 31°C and I was sweating up a storm in there. No air conditioning or even a fan to save me, and I was spending 5 hours there because Access is on a schedule and you can’t get them to come earlier or anything. I was dying in there. I was also by myself because Mel went home sick before I got there (she’s preggers!), the techs were out and Troy was at a golf tournament, which just made it worse because I had no one to complain to or help me get to a cooler part of the building for a few minutes once in awhile. THEN, to make matters worse, when my Access ride finally came to take me home, his air conditioning had stopped working earlier that day. So the car was as hot as the office, even worse, and I didn’t go straight home, we drove all over this mall parking lot trying to find another person he had to pick up. By the time I got home, I wasn’t sure I would make it inside without falling. Thankfully I did, but it was too late in the day to recover fr0m the damage and feel better. (Heat + MS = worsening of symptoms). I stripped off my damp clothes, plopped myself in front of my fan and literally didn’t try to move until I went to bed where my other fan is!

Tuesday ~ Today the Occupational Therapist with Home Care came by to assess me and if I have any equipment needs. We decided I no longer require a pole beside my bed, since I can get in and out easily with the new bed. There goes my dreams of learning to stripper pole dance. He told me lift chairs are not covered by Aids to Daily Living (which is how I got most of my other equipment) but that he could get an Up-Easy Lift seat for me to try out. He also wanted to replace a towel rack in my bathrom with a grab rail, because he said I am using it to help me balance and a towel rack is not safe! I don’t think I do that often, but I guess I reached for it when he asked me to re-enact my usual bathroom routine.

Later that day, I finally got AH out for dinner! He’s never been to the Olive Garden, so I have been trying to get him there for ages. And I keep telling him that early in the week is best, because they are soooo busy on the weekends. He picked me up around 6:30 and I decided to take the two-wheeled walker because it is smaller. That was a mistake, because my walking was awful and I kept teetering over to the side and almost stumbling. Anyway, we made it to Olive Garden and it was very crowded, estimating an hour for a table. Drat! Make reservations next time! Immediately AH suggested Earl’s, because he wanted to order their curry dish that I always get when I go there too. Also, Tuesday night is Bellini night there - not that AH knew what a bellini was, but he found out. We were seated almost right away, got our bellinis, and ordered the Jeera Chicken curry that I think the cook forgot to put curry in. It was so bland and really disappointing. Of course, we should have said something and maybe got our meals for free, but as usual when the server asked how everything was we responded “great, thanks”.

We had a really nice time, talking about everything under the sun as usual. I gave him marital advice because I know so much about how to make a marriage work, being 38 and never married myself (”you know, when she flies off the handle and freaks out about all these little things, it isn’t about that… it’s about something else, probably your relationship and something she isn’t getting from you. Are you a TRUE partner in your marriage? Do you give her time and attention and help out with the kids, or are you always off working on your car or helping out other family members like I know you always are? Do you even ASK her how her day was?”) Fine, maybe I watch a lot of Oprah and Dr. Phil, but he doesn’t ever ask her how her day was (”Oh man, she’d go on forever if I asked her that”) and he said he’s not really happy, he’s just going with the flow and with her for the kids (and the fact that she was going to return to Lebanon with her parents and sister in the Spring, taking the kids with her… but of course since then her family has returned anyway, with the war and all) . I reminded him they have a lot of years to spend together and it would be a lot more enjoyable if they were happy together… if he’s not happy, she’s not either! I suggested it wouldn’t hurt for him to ask her about her day once in awhile and maybe even ask her what she needs from him that she isn’t getting, if he can do anything to support and help her be happier in her life. I know he won’t do it, because he probably thinks I’m crazy, and do couples really talk that way to each other anyway? I dunno. I’d like to think so!

Wednesday ~ Hump day - go ahead and take a break because this is a lot longer than it was in my head.

This morning I went to the hospital for my wrist follow-up X-rays and doctor visit. I was told my wrist looks great, my range of motion is great and they expect everything will be back to normal soon. No need for physio or further check-ups! The wait in the cast clinic was so long, I barely had time for a latte and a scone from Second Cup before my physio appointment with Erin at 12:00. I told Erin what I was told at the cast clinic, and she told me that she had been speaking with the MS Clinic’s OPTIMUS (Outpatient Treatment In Multiple Sclerosis) program, and since I don’t need wrist physio I will be going to the OPTIMUS program from now on. They all figure it’s my best bet because they are so specialized in MS and they have PT, OT, nurses, social workers, etc. I was told they would work with me as long as I need it, and Erin told them I really want to attend regular classes or something, so they will help me with that. I have an appointment there next Friday. I did go there a few times about 6 years ago, and they are great, but it was short term and far away from me. I was hoping I could just go to the hospital closest to me, but I’m sure this will be best in the long run. Even if it means two hour car trips each way with Access grrrrrr!

Thursday ~ Today a guy from Medi-Chair came by to bring me the UpEasy seat for loan and to look at the bar in my bathroom. It was decided that I can’t get a grab rail to replace the towel rack because there are no studs in the wall there. So, I’m just going to have to be aware and not reach out for that. Then, I tested out the UpEasy and hated it, it’s quite useless actually and doesn’t work on soft furniture like my La-Z-Boy or sofa (the only places I need it) so I told him to take it back with him. So, no new equipment for me after all that!

This afternoon my brother came over. He is so awesome… my kitties have been attacking this dried flower arrangement I had in a big vase, so we threw it all out and Darren vacuumed all the pieces up. Then we got me and my scooter out the door so I could do some shopping! There is a new Dollarama store in the mall, which I was more than happy to venture into, and for once there is a Dollar store with wide aisles that easily fit my scooter! I am so happy this store is there, I got a lot of things on my list there (and a few things not on my list… shhh) but it could have been MUCH worse. They had big coffee mugs with sunflowers on them for chrissakes, and I restrained myself!!! I was going up and down the aisles saying “don’t tell me this is only one dollar!” I bought a sealed plastic container to keep cat food in… the same kind of container I bought at Walmart for about $4.29 to scoop the cat litter into. FOR ONE DOLLAR!

I finished off my list in Walmart, and with my scooter basket filled to the rim and Darren carrying three shopping bags, I was ready to go. I stocked up on a lot of stuff I really needed, so that was great. I look forward to the day I can get my scooter in and out on my own so I can get back to regular shopping trips and not needing so much at once! I bought Darren dinner, and then with his free hand he carried my latte home for me.

Once inside/stuff put away, I sipped my latte while Darren cleaned my bathroom. Oh, the life of a princess! He is going to come by every week he said, to help with stuff like that. He rocks.

Darren and the Flying Pita

Friday ~ That’s today. I worked at Troy’s again and it was still hot in his office. Cooler than the other day, but it was hotter in there than outside. Ugh. Anyway, I managed to get all my work for him caught up, so there’s one down… about 6 more to go.

The rest of the evening I’m doing nothing!!

Oh yeah, the other day I went into my bathroom and… the kitties discovered TOILET PAPER!! I have been soooo careful with not letting any hang off the roll but I must have slipped up and they got a hold of it. Hehe