The last week has seen us back to the normality of daily life, and while that must all go on, we have also decided to begin a slightly new chapter in cleo's rehabilitation. James cannot be cleo's physotherapist for the rest of her life and so we have to be even more pro-active regarding her continued recovery. Perhaps in the future a six-monthly review with James will be more sensible but rehabilitation must come predominantly from cleo (with support from me and the girls of course).
So we are going to set out on a very pro-active daily regime for cleo, based on a few simple exercises that James sees as important: calf stretching, the rhythm of her walking (keeping the affected foot on the ground for the same length of time as the unaffected) and hip and shoulder control to ensure symmetry in the walk.
This will start tomorrow. Of course we continue to see James for now, although he is getting married on Saturday, and away on honeymoon till the middle of July, so our starting out on the new regime is a good moment as we won't see him for 3 weeks or so. Hopefully he will see some improvements after his holiday.
What I shall do from now is write in the blog here weekly rather than every day. This will reduce the need to write the same thing again and again each day.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Days 204 to 210 - Handfasting
Wow! what a day!
Our week prior to the 21st was filled with last minute preparations and organising for the handfasting. While there was also the usual mundane stuff like work, kids at school (including Sarah doing her A-level examinations) there were also lots of little things that were needed to make the handfasting go smoothly.
Knowing that we would have little time this week, James pushed cleo very hard at the end of last week in her physio, getting her doing walking and various other exercises for long periods. I am sure this stood her in good stead for yesterday.
Last monday was a big day: our friends Lisa and Fred from America were flying in and I was off to Heathrow to collect them.
The time passed quickly and before we knew it, we were at the grange and the moment is upon us , months of planning,what a beautiful ceremony it turned out to be, with many friends in attendance and all the plans falling into place. I think everyone had an enjoyable day.It certainly was something very different.
Our week prior to the 21st was filled with last minute preparations and organising for the handfasting. While there was also the usual mundane stuff like work, kids at school (including Sarah doing her A-level examinations) there were also lots of little things that were needed to make the handfasting go smoothly.
Knowing that we would have little time this week, James pushed cleo very hard at the end of last week in her physio, getting her doing walking and various other exercises for long periods. I am sure this stood her in good stead for yesterday.
Last monday was a big day: our friends Lisa and Fred from America were flying in and I was off to Heathrow to collect them.
The time passed quickly and before we knew it, we were at the grange and the moment is upon us , months of planning,what a beautiful ceremony it turned out to be, with many friends in attendance and all the plans falling into place. I think everyone had an enjoyable day.It certainly was something very different.
(this from cleo)
Everyone said the ceremony was very much "us" and i (Jen) have to agree because the whole handfasting event was very much me and is a day i shall always remember with a passion more so even than my legal wedding day.
The 21st June is now an additional day we shall celebrate each year along with 14th Febuary and 17th January as well as our birthdays... although i might just start taking the numbers off my age from now!!!
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Days 199 to 203 - Same Old, Same Old, But Not!
While we haven't blogged quite as much lately because I guess we don't want to bore you all with the "same old same old", as it were, something of note happened this week, which is more than worth reporting here.
I have spoken before about how the progress of recovery is measured in many ways, and often the most important of those things can be missed amongst the whole flood of little things that happen. Well, today cleo and I went shopping. Now, we like shopping, and we ended up in a clothes shop where we bought some shoes. Prior to the stroke, shoes were a major passion for cleo and she would never go out without heels on, and high ones at that. Since the stroke she struggles to even walk and of course shoes with any kind of heel are a complete "no-no".
For the handfasting ceremony next week she has found a half sensible pair of shoes (albeit flat) that she can wear, and which she can get both feet into comfortably. One of the consequences of the stroke, and the subsequent inactivity, as well as the very hot weather we are having right now is that her left foot becomes swollen. This creates a problem getting her foot into any kind of "sensible" shoe. However we found these ones, and a second pair that even had a slight heel, which she has also managed to get on this evening. Now it was a struggle, but I have to say it was wonderful to see her stand with a shoe that even had the slightest heel on it. I don't think she will manage those for the handfasting but the fact that she has worn them can only be regarded as a great leap forward: it shows that with determination anything is possible and I know that she will again wear the kind of shoes she loves however long it takes.
Every day cleo is frustrated by a whole load of things that she cannot do, and yet most of the time she fights her way through them, and keeps smiling too! I have to say I am so proud of her for that, and for the way she continues to overcome obstacles each day that most people would find insurmountable.
For us, the "same old same old" is not like that at all, because each day is a triumph of courage over adversity, and becomes a measure of the progress that cleo makes along her personal road to recovery.
Good girl.
I have spoken before about how the progress of recovery is measured in many ways, and often the most important of those things can be missed amongst the whole flood of little things that happen. Well, today cleo and I went shopping. Now, we like shopping, and we ended up in a clothes shop where we bought some shoes. Prior to the stroke, shoes were a major passion for cleo and she would never go out without heels on, and high ones at that. Since the stroke she struggles to even walk and of course shoes with any kind of heel are a complete "no-no".
For the handfasting ceremony next week she has found a half sensible pair of shoes (albeit flat) that she can wear, and which she can get both feet into comfortably. One of the consequences of the stroke, and the subsequent inactivity, as well as the very hot weather we are having right now is that her left foot becomes swollen. This creates a problem getting her foot into any kind of "sensible" shoe. However we found these ones, and a second pair that even had a slight heel, which she has also managed to get on this evening. Now it was a struggle, but I have to say it was wonderful to see her stand with a shoe that even had the slightest heel on it. I don't think she will manage those for the handfasting but the fact that she has worn them can only be regarded as a great leap forward: it shows that with determination anything is possible and I know that she will again wear the kind of shoes she loves however long it takes.
Every day cleo is frustrated by a whole load of things that she cannot do, and yet most of the time she fights her way through them, and keeps smiling too! I have to say I am so proud of her for that, and for the way she continues to overcome obstacles each day that most people would find insurmountable.
For us, the "same old same old" is not like that at all, because each day is a triumph of courage over adversity, and becomes a measure of the progress that cleo makes along her personal road to recovery.
Good girl.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Days 190 to 198 - Run Rabbit Run
WE have not managed to post for a week, due to all kinds of reasons, but mainly that after the weekend our router at home failed and we had to wait to get a replacement. That in itself is a story, and for those of you who have had any dealings with BT (British Telecommunications) in the UK you will know just how frustrating that has been. Most of the time I have spent on the phone (several hours in total earlier this week) has been to some call centre in India, who have no idea about urgency, but then robots rarely do, do they? However, robots (in the good old Isaac Asimov ideals), don’t lie either, but these ones see no problem with that: “tell him whatever he wants to hear, and get him off the line” whether it’s true or not. Did you know that one of the world's largest telecommunications companies doesn't have any phone numbers that the public can contact them on save those damned call centre numbers? At least that's what I have been told! By a call centre robot of course.
Startled Rabbit's Gone
There is a marked improvement in cleo this week, in terms of her mental state. Suddenly she is beginning to think like the cleo before the stroke: by that I mean she is planning, not single things, but the multitude of stuff that a housewife does, knowing that certain shopping needs to be done, what laundry is clean or dirty, what ironing is required. Of course she still cannot physically undertake all these tasks, but the fact that she is beginning to get that “mental agenda” back is good news.
We were talking about that only today, and I remarked that after the stroke (and I have probably mentioned this before) cleo was very much like a startled rabbit, caught in bright headlights; frozen, unable to move or think clearly. That has, for the most part gone. She is far less (mentally) fragile now and that augurs well for the future. Hopefully the rabbit has been galvanised into action and hopped across the road out of the headlights, back to a more sane, safe and secure environment.
Of course we only have just under 2 weeks now till the handfasting, and mostly things seem to be well under control there. The venue is all paid for, cleo's new dress is in transit from the makers, the plans for the actual ceremony are near complete, and the finishing touches are presently being worked on. I am sure it will be a wonderful day, and we are looking forward to it very much.
Progress in Recovery
We move in fits and starts, one day with high hopes of good recovery, and others with less optimism, but overall cleo’s progress is remarkable. We now have to begin the building of the future, with as normal an outlook as we can.
James had to cancel physiotherapy this week as there is an infection within a couple of the wards which he visits. The Norovirus infection is one which while not fatal causes extremely unpleasant effects including upset stomach and vomiting, hence it’s name: “winter vomiting virus”. We are not seeing James till next week and hopefully by then the effects in the hospital will have died down a little.
Startled Rabbit's Gone
There is a marked improvement in cleo this week, in terms of her mental state. Suddenly she is beginning to think like the cleo before the stroke: by that I mean she is planning, not single things, but the multitude of stuff that a housewife does, knowing that certain shopping needs to be done, what laundry is clean or dirty, what ironing is required. Of course she still cannot physically undertake all these tasks, but the fact that she is beginning to get that “mental agenda” back is good news.
We were talking about that only today, and I remarked that after the stroke (and I have probably mentioned this before) cleo was very much like a startled rabbit, caught in bright headlights; frozen, unable to move or think clearly. That has, for the most part gone. She is far less (mentally) fragile now and that augurs well for the future. Hopefully the rabbit has been galvanised into action and hopped across the road out of the headlights, back to a more sane, safe and secure environment.
Of course we only have just under 2 weeks now till the handfasting, and mostly things seem to be well under control there. The venue is all paid for, cleo's new dress is in transit from the makers, the plans for the actual ceremony are near complete, and the finishing touches are presently being worked on. I am sure it will be a wonderful day, and we are looking forward to it very much.
Progress in Recovery
We move in fits and starts, one day with high hopes of good recovery, and others with less optimism, but overall cleo’s progress is remarkable. We now have to begin the building of the future, with as normal an outlook as we can.
James had to cancel physiotherapy this week as there is an infection within a couple of the wards which he visits. The Norovirus infection is one which while not fatal causes extremely unpleasant effects including upset stomach and vomiting, hence it’s name: “winter vomiting virus”. We are not seeing James till next week and hopefully by then the effects in the hospital will have died down a little.
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