Home Day Three…

Day three at home and we are settling into a routine of sorts. School began today, so it was Ron’s first day on his own. Alexis and I were out the door early after feeding the animals (goat, dogs, cats, chickens, and Quackers the duck). I called Ron right before my first class and he was already up, had eaten breakfast and ridden the stationary bicycle (which he did twice today – two times more than I did). He’s feeling better each day – and is sleeping better each night.
Sunday (yesterday) we went to church – got there a few minutes into the Pastor Dennis’ introduction – and when Ron walked into the room folks started clapping. The church had a prayer circle going since the day of the accident and everyone was very emotional at seeing their prayers had been successful. Needless to say, Ron was touched. He says he still can’t believe how many people really care for him.
That means everyone who has read the blog, written a card, called, or thought positive thoughts…the family thanks each and every one of you. I know the strength of your positive thinking somehow got through to him and helped him come back.

HOME

We are home and together again.

Friday is THE DAY

Just got a call from the discharge planner at the hospital – Ron is scheduled to come on this Friday! So if you want to give him a call or drop by, make it after 9am either Saturday or Sunday. We have to start a whole new daily regimine. Remember to allow time if you call during the week for him to get the phone, since I’ll be at work.

Fingers crossed…

Keep your fingers crossed…we think Ron may be released to come home this week. The staff at Lodi Memorial West has a weekly evaluation meeting every Wednesday (tomorrow is the big day) to discuss how patients are advancing. Ron is very upbeat and is pretty sure he’s outa there sometime after Wednesday. Why? Cause he is getting lessons in how to make a sandwich (with one good arm and hand). Survival skills. I’ve almost got the house ready…just have to install a couple of grab bars beside the stepdown into the family room and beside the toilet in the bathroom. Even trimmed the lavendar and rosemary bushes along the front path so he wouldn’t snag on them. The only reason the hospital might have for keeping him another week is concern about his left arm and hand, which he cannot use properly. He can barely make a fist, has a very weak grasp with the hand and it is painful to lift the arm. Doctor says it might take six months to a year to get it back (or as far back as it will come).

Another step…

Yesterday Ron was cleared to transfer out of bed by himself. No more calling a nurse or attendant to watch over him if he needs a quick trip to the bathroom or to get out of his wheelchair into bed. Still don’t have definite word on what day he will be home…maybe next week or the week after. Hoping for next week.

A family weekend…

We almost had a complete family get together on Sunday…and if Pearl had gotten off work a few hours earlier and Carol was able to put off her afternoon appointment, it would have happened. Carol came in around 11:30 while I was visiting…I ran home to get Alexis, Garrett (our yellow lab), and a newly aquired white banty chicken. Brought the menagere back and visited with Ron under the awning of an outside patio. Then he and Alexis went in for lunch (he ate, she watched), while Carol and I ran the animals home. In the meantime Pearl got off work early and left Reno at noon. Ron had a rest after lunch, so I took the girls out for sushi and then we said goodbye to Carol. As I was driving back to Lodi West after dropping Alexis off at home, I called Pearl who said she was just heading down Davis Road and – whoosh! She passed me, heading for home, so I turned around and we both went to see her dad. We visited for several hours and watched “The Last Mimsey.” A very relaxing day, remeniscent of days spent at home just talking and enjoying each others’ company. And in only two weeks (more or less) we’ll all be back together again.

On the fast track…

I dropped by for my evening visit with Ron and walked in to the sound of laughter as he visited with Bobby McGee from the County Administrator’s office. It flowed pretty thick for a while as they traded anecdotes and discussed politics and county business. I just missed Evelyn and Larry Nance, who were out the door just before I arrived. Looks like his social calendar is full.

Ron is getting around in style…he’s moved from the wheelchair to walker and now is using a cane. And he’s down to fighting weight – nearly back to where he was when we got married. Oh – and if you drop by, don’t bring goodies…the nurses will confiscate. He’s off sweets for a while until they get his diet stabilized.

And back to work…

Last night Ester Robinson, the CVSO secretary, dropped by Lodi Memorial West and she and Ron spent more than thirty minutes cleaning up some details on the department budget. He’s supposed to sign off on the paperwork later this week. He is definitely improving when he focuses on a county budget.

Today rehab begins for real. Every day he is expected to stretch a little more – push himself a little harder. He’s up and dressed by 7:30am, then off to breakfast. Then a round of meetings with therapists and workouts. No more lying around in bed…in fact he’s supposed to be in a chair or on his feet pretty much all day until after dinner. After two months of virtually no activity, we expect him to be exhausted every day initially.

If you have time….his “workday” is over by 4pm usually, so drop in or give him a call.
Lodi Memorial Hospital West
800 S. Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi
334-3411

Back in San Joaquin County!!!

Ron is now resting at Lodi Memorial West – the rehab arm of Lodi Hospital. It’s at the corner of Vine and Lower Sacramento on the west side of Lodi. True to form his trip down from Folsom was not uneventful. The drivers went right by the hospital and were out to Armstrong Road before they turned around…so he almost got home. Give him a day to get used to the routine, then give him a call or drop by. I suspect he’ll be busy with physical therapy and as soon as I get a schedule and know when the good times to visit are, I’ll post them. The best part is the journey to visit him has been cut to a four mile, 8 minute drive (for me at least). If he holds to the schedule hospital staff told me, he’ll be at home by the end of the month (although continuing with outpatient rehab and other services).

Neck brace off…

Today was a BIG day. The neck brace came off and the trac tube came out. Insurance paperwork is moving along and we are all set to move Ron from Folsom down to Lodi. In talking with Lodi Memorial West (located on Lower Sacramento Road in Lodi), I learned that their goal is to have him home within two or three weeks of arrival there! We’ll have to have in-home nursing initially, but eventually we’ll be back to normal. Stay tuned – the next big update will be about his move back to the valley.