Gustav.....

Here comes Gustav!

I have always told Mom that weather is more interesting here in Houston, TX than in California, and that I would much rather have Hurricanes to deal with than earthquakes and fires. As you may have heard, a hurricane is coming our way. You can track Gustav for yourself at our local news channel-http://www.click2houston.com/index.html Looks like we'll know more after the weekend is over. Could be interesting.

Mom is scheduled to start physical therapy on Tuesday. She continues to take a few steps here and there and took a big trip to Macy's yesterday to get some more "Texas Weather" clothes!

John Cash is in town on consulting business, and we're looking forward to having him over for dinner tonight. Mom has had fun thinking about the menu and even did the grocery shopping (with Ana's help, of course!) We continue to monitor her blood pressure (yes, mom is a proud owner of her very own cuff and machine), which has not yet fallen back down - so she requires blood pressure medicine two times/day. She has stopped taking the Ambien, though, and is sleeping, even napping, very well.

So besides barking dogs and a very whiny two year old (who is having a bit of trouble adjusting to her new school schedule), I think Mom is comfortable here for the moment. Getting stronger every day.

The Sugar Land Half Way House

Mom will have arrived a week ago tomorrow. It sure goes by quickly - sorry to have been slow in providing updates...So here goes:

Mom is doing GREAT!

She is moving around a lot better and is increasing the amount of walking she is doing (with the walker) each day. She is also taking more steps unassisted small distances. She is being diligent about completing her "homework" each day and is anxious to start physical therapy. She has been to the grocery store, the mall, Barnes and Noble (she is able to read again!), had a massage and a pedicure, and is enjoying real food again!

She continues to work on her fine motor skills - small tasks like eating with utensils and playing scrabble (those tiles are small), and is even beginning to get on the computer. She made our fruit salad for Sunday Brunch and is talking about planting flowers and herbs in my empty pots outside.

And we're having great late summer weather - and even have a hurricane approaching the gulf, so Mom might get a real taste of what it is like to go through a big storm.

All in all, it's good news.

FREEDOM!

We are here in the SFO President's Club waiting for our flight to Houston. The morning went smoothly, pack mom up, getting our family training from the OT, ST, and PT. The progress Mom has made over the last 10 days is impressive. She can maneuver stairs, walk long distances with her walked (a sweet ride,..), and get around her room independently. Her first car ride went smoothly and she even remarked that she did not feel dizzy while riding!

I have my assignments from all who have manged her recovery, and we're excited to have mom for 2-3 weeks - or longer if she wants to stay. The key will be to continue to keep her mind and body active in what I refer to as Mom's Sugar Land half way house!

The worst part so far is that our plane is delay 1.5 hours, so we're just sitting and waiting right now. So that is all for now. Pretty soon, we're going to turn over the blog to Mom to maintain!

We're Breaking Her Out!

Mom and I are busy preparing for her transfer to Sugar Land, TX on Wednesday. Our plan is to depart Herrick and head straight to SFO and get right on a 2:00 pm plane. It will be an exhausting day, but we figured it would be best to get the long, tiring transfer over in one day. Alissa and I will attend family training on Wednesday morning, and then she will be free to go!

Mom is already planning her routine, which is good, and Eliza is excited to know that Grandma's head is getting better. As you can imagine, the insurance companies are not jumping for joy at Mom's request to do her outpatient PT in Houston, but hopefully we will have an answer in a few days.

We'll keep you updated on her continued progress, but everyone should feel free to call Mom on her cell phone or at our house (281-240-6403).

A++

Just spent most of the day with mom. She is doing well. She has FINALLY gotten on board and has been doing her homework for the last few days. She is feeling less dizzy and is stronger. Herrick has confirmed that mom will be discharged on Wednesday (20th) and we are busy trying to coordinate and schedule her trip to Houston. She is going to stay with Gaylen until around Labor Day. This will give us a chance to get things set up for her at home. Tomorrow is a day of rest for her at Herrick and then will be back on the therapy routine Monday and Tuesday.

Two Steps Forward One Step Back

I went to see Mom Monday evening and she was feeling frustrated, tired and dizzy. She had a rough day at PT and continues to be annoyed by the constant dizziness. She was feeling so good after Gaylen's visit. Feeling like she had made really good progress toward the end of the week last week. She was starting to get a handle on her dizziness and I think was seeing the light at the end of her tunnel. Then Monday came and she felt like she had not made any progress and that the dizziness was worse again. A different kind of dizzy -- like a rolling boat but still dizzy! As we all know mom is not the most patient and she said last night she is waiting for the day that she wakes up and is not dizzy. We are all trying to remind her and encourage her to put in the hard work and stay focused on her end goal --it is those things that will help the dizziness go away. Please continue to encourage mom to do the things she knows she should be doing. Just like daughters don't listen to their mothers I am realizing that mothers don't really listen to their daughters either. I guess this is pay back. -alissa

Group Grope

Mom had a big day of group activities. The OT had her in the kitchen with another lady making Greek Salad. Imagine this, Julia in the kitchen with a dull knife. Her right hand slicing and left hand steadying. Outcome perfectly sliced onions. Gaylen was super impressed. After lunch, Mom and I went to group speech therapy. The group consisted of a few other stroke patients and a young man with a brain injury from a motorcycle accident. Lots of discussion about every ones accidents and how they "arrived" at Herrick. In PT today, mom took several steps unassisted -- no walker, no cane! Gaylen and I continue to bug mom about sitting up in her chair during meals and as much as possible during the day. She would much rather lay down but it is time for her to be sitting up. Monday will involve more group therapy. She will be participating in a group Neuro-therapy sessions on Monday afternoon and now everyday after lunch is group speech therapy -- And if you know mom she is not excited about these "group" activities.

Nothing is Taboo

Today was game day, and we wore Mom out. Her morning was jam-packed with OT, PT, ST, more OT, more ST, and last PT. Over this 4 hour period, Mom completed an entire crossword puzzle, walked up stairs, did her hand eye coordination exercises, and then we all got to play TABOO! Oh, we had fun! How can you get someone to say the word Piano without using the words grande, ivory, keys, music or play.

Truly, mom made inspirational progress over the last two days. She is beginning to feel the beneficial effects of finding the right combination of medicine, a bleed that is shrinking and absorbing into her brain, and a real desire to get out of Herrick! Her dizziness is getting better each day. She has a target release date now (August 20) and has clear goals to achieve.

And that's where we need your help.

I think we are at the point where mom can use more visitors-both because she is up for the company, but also because her children need the help, too. Not more than one or two per day - because she still does get tired. BUT....The rule is that if you come, you have to play a game. Whatever game you choose is fine. If it involves cognitive thinking and fine motor skills, even better. They key here is to make Mom's brain work in lots of different ways. In this case it truly is a matter of practice makes perfect. We have a supply of cards, puzzles, and soduko on hand if you don't bring your own. The key here is to keep the brain active and relearning things that are not easy for mom to currently do (she won't be happy that I am giving away her secrets).

So if you want to visit with Mom, please contact angandalissa@gmail.com or kimbellg@gmail.com with your prefered day and time, and we'll schedule you as we can. We share a google calendar and can coordinate accordingly. Visits should not last longer than 45 minutes to an hour, but should ALWAYS include some brain teasing activity. Even if she says she doesn't want to. The best times to visit are at lunch time or after 2 pm. She always appreciates a relief from the food at Herrick, so meals are appreciated, though be aware that Mom is not eating much. (However effective this diet might be for Mom, I don't recommend it to anyone!)

I am so amazed at my Mom. Alissa and I watched her today in awe as she pushed herself, and we realized exactly where we got our sense of humor, as Mom cracked jokes through all her various therapies. And I can honestly say that this is when it really stinks to live in Texas, because I want nothing more right now than to watch the progress she makes each day, step by step, regaining the skills we all take for granted. And she will. The long term prognosis is very good. If you can survive this stroke, it really is the best stroke to have (no really, someone told us that today!).

Thanks to all for your continued postings and good thoughts. I know Mom feels loved and supported by all of you, and her children know that she has a strong support network and are grateful that we have been able to tap into it!

Gaylen

Finding New Paths...

I arrived this morning to find Mom doing much better. I have observed her entire therapy team in action and it is quite something! The key now is for mom to rewire her brain, and the faster she does it, the better. All the things that Mom struggles to do are the things that we need to make her do. The brain will rewire, but it needs a constant workout! We are foucsed on relearning the very movements we all take for granted, like adjusting your eyes when your head moves, or a looking at an object without moving your head. However, her reading is improving and her writing is coming along, too. She even did a word search and a crossword puzzle. Mom went onto this blog this morning and got caught up on everyone's nice posts. Yes, and she got to the blog herself! I told her next time, she was going to have to post something.

It appears that she will be at Herrick at least through the 20th. But she needs to be able to not use her wheel chair for basic getting around the house before they will send her home. She still tires easily because everything takes work-forming words and sentences, holding on a conversation etc. But this too, will improve with time.

I am off to deliver thai food for lunch. Gaylen

ButterCup-ButterCup-ButterCup

Can you keep saying that for a minute without messing up? That was just one exercise Mom had to do today. Herrick had her doing lots of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The OT therapist had her on the computer today. It was slow going she said, but she did manage to get onto the blog and read some of the posts and entries herself. The good wishes really keep her spirits up. The speech therapist gave Mom homework and I made her practice her tongue twisters as I painted her toes.

Here are just a few:
Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks.
Twelve Twins twirled twelve twigs --- we both had trouble with this one
Six Slippery Snails slid slowly seaward -- I think this one was on an episode of the Brady Bunch.

The doctors are trying a new medication for her dizziness. The patches are not working. The dizziness continues to get in her way and makes it challenging to do everything. This morning, Gaylen and I were trying to imagine what it must be like to be dizzy ALL the time and we decided it is no wonder mom is so tired and only wants to be laying down.

$2.50 Beers

We all had a restful day. Mom laid low and is resting up for her big day tomorrow. Angella and I went to see Mama Mia and then came over to visit with mom. Mom actually ate the dinner Herrick served her.....a pretty decent grilled chicken sandwich. In this whole process, Angella and I have rediscovered Raleigh's on Telegraph. They have $2.50 pints after 5:00 everyday. It is a nice walk from Herrick.

Mom is scheduled to meet with her various therapist tomorrow and will surely be exhausted after her 4-6 hours. All the therapists will meet on Tuesday to map out a plan for her stay at Herrick. xo -alissa

A Shower At Last

Mom had a big day. Herrick kept her busy with both physical and speech therapy. They had her up and walking and are working with her on managing stairs. She said it was busy and tiring..and she reports she did everything they asked. Her dizziness is still a big issue and it makes it hard for her to do most things. Mark and I left mom after a meal of Chinese take out. We bought her a new portable DVD player to help with the boredom. Before bed, mom finally got a shower! She is feeling clean and refreshed and ready for a good night sleep. Mom gets to rest tomorrow and then she is back to more hard work on Monday.

Herrick Here She Comes....

I just learned from Angella, that Mom will be moving to the Herrick Rehab Center TODAY where she will go for continued physical therapy. Sounds like she will be kept very busy. Thanks to everyone's support and encouragement. This is a great milestone day for Mom!