Good week this week.

Summed up by Karen rating herself as a 7 out of 10 earlier today. We have turned a corner !!!

I can’t remember the first part of the week, but on Tuesday, Karen had a visit from the lady from the Stroke Association. Lovely lady who had come to see how she could help Karen with her future. She came at Karen’s behest. She had a long chat with karen finding out where she was etc and the upshot is that she is going to put Karen forward for some retraining courses in July 2007. She said she couldn’t fit her in before then, but Karen suspected that the Stroke lady didn’t feel kp would be ready before then.

Physio on Tuesday and Thursday this week. kp’s power in her left hand had DOUBLED since the same time last week !!! Very impressive ! Karen now has a series of exercises which I have typed up for her as it can be hard for her to remember. Here they are…..

1. Step Ups
2. Trampette
3. Abdominal (Bed stuff)
4. Back against Wall stuff
5. Fist Clenching with stuffed ball
6. Thumb retracting using right hand to help close thumb
7. Making a fist using right hand to close left fist
8. Kneeling with pillow against settee (trying to get her to be able to kneel down eventually)

Her left hand/arm has definately improved since she restarted this neurophysio which is marvellous.

More importantly, she is better in herself, and being very positive about the future. It could be the change of tablets, but we think it is down to other things…….

Firstly, her sleeping patterns are very much improved. Previously, she would get up 3 or 4 times in the night and be up for anywhere between 10 mins and 4 hours. This week, she has been forcing herself to stay up during the day (NOT EASY !!!) and going to bed at a reasonable time (8.30pm to 10pm) and getting up at a reasonable time (9am – 10.30am). No Snoozes during the day, or in emergencies an hour snooze !

For the past few nights when she HAS been getting up in the night, it has only been to change her nightshirt – she is suffering badly from night sweats, and wakes up ringing wet through. But the good thing is she is only awake for 5 mins.
So, sleeping properly has helped things.

Secondly, she has a plan for each day. She has a set routine of exercises (split up during the day), jobbing on around the house, more exercises, playing with the dogs. In her own words, she has no spare time each day

So, all good at the moment.

Saturday saw us walk the dogs together. There’s a few times on the walk where I have to help her either down a slope or up a steep slope. She has been able to get down the steep slope ok, but the up slope was still a problem, but she has found a way round the up slope by going around a tree and so has done the work completely unaided.

She also, this week, went to the shop herself. Here’s how she told me….
kp:- Look ! (holding a glass of orange juice in her hand)

(We didn’t have any OJ left in the morning)

dp:- Wahey !You’ve been to the shop ?! Nice one !!

Following the walk and breakfast, we went to Costco to get some Pig’s Ears. She also wanted a fleece for her Egypt holiday (next week with the girls). There were no mirrors, so I was asked to take a photo of her so she could see how she looked….

kp:- Don’t get my face in ! (probably knowing it would be on the blog !)

Here she is…..

Michelle, Freddy and Abby (9) were waiting for us on our return. We had a nice chat with them. Abby wanted to play on the xbox. She played a racing game with Freddy and then wanted to play me for money.

Abby :- If I win, you give me £10.

dp:- What if I win ?

Abby :- I’ll give you a £1.

dp:- That’s fair – why £10.

Abby :- I need some football cards !

dp:- NEED ?

Anyway with money on my mind I whooped her arse.

Abby:- Is there any jobs I can do to get some money ?

dp:- You can hoover.

Abby :- For £10 ?
dp :- Errrrr, no. How about a £1

Abby :- £5

dp :- Let’s make it £3

Here she is hoovering the hall. She was beetroot red by the time she finished. She got Freddy to finish off !

Today, we had an easy day, jobbing on around the house. It’s been a good weekend and a good week !!

Busy week for kp this week……

Tomorrow A.M. (Monday) – Orthopedic Consultant at Sunderland Royal (hopefully last one)

Tomorrow Afternoon – Visit from her employer. We think they are going to say she is “finished”

Tuesday A.M. – Visit from Community Psychiatric Nurse

Thursday P.M. – Psychiatric Consultant at the County Hospital

Friday P.M. – RVI Newcastle for next Contact Lens fitting.

Busy kp !!!