Week of August 3 to 9

Updated Sunday, August 10

We went to speech therapy on Monday and returned home to await our next appointment with Steve P, her orthopedist at 6:00 PM. He examined her and had X-rays taken. She has at least two non displaced breaks in her metacarpals. In addition she has a break in her wrist, the radial styloid. He put her in a removable splint, so she could still do therapy, and we got home about 8:15 PM. The only good news is that her left arm/shoulder has less sublux or separation between them. It is almost back where it should be!! The pain is a result of her fall and we anticipate it will get better. We're out the door in a few minutes for two more sessions with the therapists.

We've had to increase Joanie's pain meds to compensate for her discomfort. As a result, she has slept better the past two evenings.

As some of you know, Joanie is taking a medical leave this next school year. We are gearing up for me to return to work next week. We have some wonderful neighbors who will be taking Joanie down to her therapy 2-3 days per week.

Quotations have come from http://www.quotationspage.com/, often the daily quote or one of their motivational quotes.

Bible quotes have generally come from: http://www.biblegateway.com/, the NIV version.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8

Week of July 27 to August 2

Sorry for the long hiatus. Brenda, Joanie's sister, very kindly offered to come up and spend a week with Joanie so I could fly to Seattle to see our son, Troy. At first I didn't want to go without Joanie, but it became apparent that I needed a break and Joanie needed a break--from me. Troy and I had a great time doing "guy" things. We visited museums, outdoor stores, bike stores, car dealers, tourist attractions, my sister and brother-in-law, and a classmate of Troy's whose father was my roommate in college. Troy even arranged for me to fly a helicopter (!) as part of a 50 minute flight around the Seattle area on a perfect day. We stayed up late, slept in, and drove almost 500 miles without ever being more than about 50 miles from his home.

Meanwhile back on the home front, all was not as it could have been. Monday morning Joanie got up to close some windows. While closing the kitchen window, leaning over the sink, she lost her balance and fell to the floor, on her left weak side. She skinned up her left knee and caused increased pain to her left hand, wrist, and shoulder. She was miserable! They canceled therapies for Monday but returned to gently modified sessions the rest of the week. She continues to deal with the pain. Needless to say, she and Brenda modified some of their plans and stayed close to home except for trips down the hill to therapy. This has been a real setback in her progress.

"Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food. But to eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness."

Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)