Garden Centre trip went fine. Hit the usual obstacle of can’t push wheelchair and trolley at the same time, but once I had got 6 hanging baskets to the till, the lady helped me with them to the car.

kp enjoyed her peruse. I used to get impatient with her at this kind of event, but I don’t now. I even point things out to her which previously (pre-accident) I hoped she wouldn’t see.

Back at the house, we enjoyed the rest of the lovely Saturday afternoon/early evening in the back garden with the dogs before heading in. kp then went for a lie-down as her bum was getting numb (“numb bum syndrome” I think is the medical term for it).

She came back out of the cocoon for pizza which we both thoroughly enjoyed and then we retired.

Not as good a night’s sleep for Karen last night.

Her pain medication was reduced at the back end of last week. She is on 50mg Fentanyl (morphine-based) patches and 1500mg Gabapentin (nerve-based painkiller). She used to be on 75mg Fentanyl and 1800mg Gabapentin.

I think we are seeing some break-thru pain as she was complaining about a “hurting back” a lot of the night and wasn’t too successful finding a comfy position.

She is snoozing now, while I write the blog and then walk the dogs. Hopefully she’ll get a good couple of hours.

Mum and Dad coming today bringing lunch, and then kp is wanting to get back to the hospital for a bath as she can’t shower OR bath here.

Well, when kp got up, she still was complaining about her bad back and didn’t know how she would be able to stand to get to the wheelchair.

But, it turned out that standing helped her back get a bit of relief. kp felt her hair needed washing before mum and dad visited, but she couldn’t stick her head over the bath, but she could get it over the sink. Unfortunately the shower wouldn’t reach that far.

kp passed me the plastic jug from the hospital that is used to empty kp’s catheter bags.

kp:- Use this

I explained why another jug might be preferable

Hair washed, dried and styled, she had a piece of toast with some tea outside.

Then it was time to plant the pansies she had bought yesterday. I did the heavy lifting (no change there), and she donned her plastic gloves and planted 24 pansies.

Followed by watering…………

We just had enough time for a cup of tea before Mum and Dad arrived with Meat and Potato Pie (and Red Cabbage . Dad had a couple of photos from ages ago with kp in intensive care,

We showed them to kp :-

She has absolutely NO recollection of the events of that day (Day 26), even when dad explained some of the funnier moments.

I explained that I thought that was normal etc….

Dad and Karen sat outside chatting while Mum heated the Meat and Potato Pie up to room temperature

It was lovely of them to come up AND bring lunch. We were asked by one of the sisters to think about if we wanted to be referred to Durham Social Services for some help when Karen comes home. If we were in any doubt before, we aren’t now. It is so draining to care for someone 24/7. By this afternoon, I was knackered from just 36 hours of care, so we will be saying “yes” to any help offered.

It was lovely for mum to take care of the meal and the washing up. The smallest of breaks is really appreciated. Mum, you left some stuff on the table that you didn’t clear away. I will leave it there for next time when you can sort it

I felt a bit sorry for Mum and Dad actually, they travelled the 200+ mile round trip, and I was so tired/drained I could have cried, and kp wasn’t that much more wide awake.

It was lovely to see them.

Mum and Dad went about 4pm I think, and we stayed outside for another 30 minutes, before I had to lie down. I got kp on the bed, laid down, and the romantic I am, fell asleep within 30 seconds and was out for a full hour before kp woke me saying she was dying for a pee, which normally means the catheter has a kink in it somewhere.

That sorted, we enjoyed a last half hour outside, before I took kp back. She opted to skip the bath, to give me more “Zzzzzzzz” time, which was nice.

That’s about it.

We have both had a CRACKING weekend. We love each other so much, I know we will get through this.

Every moment together is precious…..

Love you kp

dp
xxxxx