Well, a fantastic week with a bit of a sour taste of an ending, but nothing that kp can’t swallow and move on from.

Monday saw Karen have 2 assessments in readiness for the MDT meeting next week. The first one was with Rachel (OT). Karen had to cook some muffins and then make some fruit salad. She did very well, but had to call me in when she couldn’t work out how to open the tin of blueberries.

The other assessment was physio-based. Things like timed walks (forwards and backwards), hopping, skipping, bounding and running ! Karen did really well and I think we will see a big improvement (when the results come in) since her last assessment.

So, if that wasn’t enough, when kp and Laura got back from physio, she was still keen to do all her exercises.

Here is Laura bending Karen’s left arm back to try and get more movement…..

Well done kp and to top it all, she was mentally a 9 out of 10 !!!

Tuesday was another great day with Karen on top form. She was keen to accomplish things and she certainly did that. She did the full weekly shop at Sainsburys, and was left on her own for a while and she REALLY enjoyed the independance !!! She also went to other shops at the Arnison Centre and then made me a Steak Pie on her return, which we ate later in the week. Here is the pie…..

Interesting how she thinks the air slots are in the middle. Left inattention showing itself.

Wednesday, Laura took her to the hairdressers and then Jane came round in the afternoon and it was great so see Karen in stitches at Jane’s usual antics. Cooking on Gas !

Thursday was physio with Joanne – a nice massage to try and loosen her left shoulder which she enjoyed then lunch in a local cafe (Seaham) with Laura. In the afternoon, Karen had an appointment with Dr Parry which I took her to or tried to. But, unfortunately, the roads were quite icy and by the time we got to Tow Law (up on the hills), kp was scared stiff, so I aborted and we returned home. We rang him instead and he was really pleased at Karen’s progress, both with sleep and mentally. Last time, we had spoke to him, she was thinking crazy thoughts, so it was SUCH a big improvement.

Friday was another great day, but this is what turned things for the worse. Karen went to the gym with Laura and was on such a high (physically and mentally) that she wanted to beat all her records, which she did. She smashed them !!!

Unfortunately, over the weekend she has paid the price for it. She missed out on dog walks last week because of the ice and was gagging to come with me this weekend, but Saturday and Sunday, she could hardly walk and with the physical struggle of getting around the house, her mood definitely took a turn for the worse. This morning, she was very quiet, and I was a bit concerned.

But, as the day has progressed, it has picked up a little. I _DO_ hope it gets back to the same as last week.

So, generally (if we pretend this weekend didn’t happen), we are really enjoying life again !!! Karen is on fire ! Sleep is MUCH better. Whereas 7 out of 7 nights would be bad, we are probably talking only TWO nights are bad now, which is music to our ears. Pain is in control (excepting the overdoing it that has affected the weekend). Mood – Top Banana !

Couple of little funnies to end on !

Karen and I were watching a film that Laura had lent us. LESS THAN 2 minutes into the film, Karen was snoring. Whenever I wake her up, she always makes out she is awake, so I paused the film ………. Nothing, snoring continued…..

So, then I did my pretend laughing thing, where I pretend something funny has been on the film and it worked, she woke up……

dp:- That was funny, love, wasn’t it.
kp:- Yes, very good.

hehe

Then, another day, we were watching TV, and she had fallen asleep. But, I didn’t wake her this time, she woke herself up with her own talking……It won’t be funny, when I recall this, but we were laughing about it….

kp asleep and then…..

kp:- We’ll have to go down to Sainsburys…..(kp wakes up)….Eeeeee, was that me (talking) ?

Funny at the time….

Final funny…..

Here is a little Xmas-themed video featuring, Karen, Jane (Burns), Ronnie (VD), Loopy Lydia and Debs (ex work colleagues)

Good Tip – After clicking on “Karen and the girls” below, allow 30 seconds for it to load before you click on Play.

Karen and the girls