Day 82 - Getting the needle!

This morning it was early to the hospital for physio with James. Primarily this was work on the shoulder and hand. I have to say that James has certainly not given up the idea of getting something back into cleo's hand and fingers, but we are resigned to it being a very long job. We did have a call yesterday from the home care physio and we discussed a few ideas with James about where this might go. He suggested that goals should be set by cleo, and not the physio, because they are OUR goals not theirs. I asked james if we would not see him once the home care physios took over, and he said that was not the case. he will continue to see cleo, which we are very pleased about. His view is that the home care team are there to resolve specific issues relating to being at home, and his role is that of a specialist neurophysiotherapist. cleo still has much to gain from James and so we continue to see him as well. That's good news!

So, once home we had one job that needed doing before I went to work, which should have been a simple one, but these things never are, are they..... ?

Hannah's dress for the wedding needed the hem taking up, as it was far too long. Now, cleo is great with a sewing machine and needle and thread, but of course that was before the stroke. So, with her directing I thought I would sort the problem. I am normally OK with a bit of simple sewing, seams and buttons, but this time, I just couldn't get the thing right. cleo was frustrated because she knew she could have done it in 5 minutes, iwas frustrated because i couldn't get it right, and we didn't know who else to ask. It all got a bit stressed, and still we hadn't sorted the dress. I even went and asked a couple of neighbours: cleo being convinced that most "housewives" ought to be able to sew a hem like she could...not to be. I couldn't find anyone who would admit to being able to do this.

At the same time the home care physio guy turned up. He wanted to start seeing cleo walk up and down stairs and go over all the things that he ought to know already from the notes he had. He must have thought he had walked into a madhouse, and when he asked the question"do you do any exercises on a daily basis?" cleo snapped at him "Trying to live a normal life is more exercise than anything the hospital can do" Frankly he didn't stay long after that.

And still the dress wasn't done!

Enter our friend Rose, who is going to be a witness at the wedding. She is a very good friend who lives in Wales, and is coming on Monday to stay and have dinner with us that evening. On Tuesday she is going to help cleo get dressed for the wedding and do her hair and stuff. Now Rose is one of those dependable types who, like cleo can turn her hand to pretty much anything. I made a frantic phone call, and she called me back saying "Don't worry, when we come round on Monday night, we will sort the dress" Simple as that. Thank God for good friends!

Rose, I owe you one, and dinner's on me!

So now its work, and just the weekend to get out the way before our big day. Can't wait!