Weather moderating and DH is going to work on his car

Today they are forecasting weather in the upper 50's and DH is planning on working on his Buick. Hooray! He is motivated and his endurance is increasing. So is his appetite. Last night we had left over pizza and he ate 1/2 of the pizza by himself. This is a great stride forward.

Tonight I am going to ask for his help in cleaning out the Mercury. We will be driving it for our vacation and it needs a spring cleaning. Oh, you say, it is fall. Well then a fall cleaning. I am so happy that I am getting silly.

Silly is fine. Silly is great. I have my husband back and I am celebrating.

Still keep praying for all dementia patients, their caregivers, their families and all who take care of them.

DH has been given back his driving license

Yesterday DH and I visited our primary care physician. He agree's with me that DH is now capable of driving. He is clear headed and more in control of himself than he has been in almost 10 months. The doctor also said that the staph infection was probably dormant for several months and was messing with DH's head toward the last few weeks. It was such a pleasure to give him his driver's license! (I only had it in my wallet so we could vote...but the symbol was great.)

One day this week DH is going to take my car for the day and get the oil changed. He also has some work to do on his Buick to get it running. He was worried the other day that what ever work he had done in the last few weeks may have been totally wrong and he has a lot of work to do to fix the car. This will give him something to do during the long days. He has also said that he is starting to not miss working as an over the road truck driver. I know this will always be in his blood, but he really is not in the position to drive professionally any longer. His gratious attitude about this is surprising, but very welcome.

I asked him what he wanted to take with him on vacation and he said only his laptop computer. He is still getting frustrated with it, but not giving up. This coming week may be the opportunity to get him back in the groove with his computer. I will have the time and patience to sit with him and work on it.

We are so looking forward to this vacation. I cannot wait.

Thanks again for all the prayers and please keep praying for all dementia patients. It is frustrating from the view of the caregiver, but to be loosing your most precious memories and know it is happening must be devestating.

DH is home!!!!!

I picked up DH on Friday morning and brought him home. His stamina is still lacking, however he is getting better each day. The rehab facility changed and deleted several of his meds. We are seeing the primary care physician today and will try to get the rest that are needed added back into his daily meds. For now I am following the list the hospital gave us.

Yesterday the intake nurse for the visiting nurses came by to interview DH. He too had a bad experience with the first rehab facility. It seems that this is not the first time a nurse on their staff has been caught stealing medications that have a street value. I doubt that they will act on this, but it may cause some real intent watching by the Cincinnati police.

I really have my husband back! He is alert and awake all day long. No naps. What a difference. He still has some very light symptoms of dementia. I believe that the diagnosis of dementia is still appropriate, but I will have him much longer than I thought. Most of this year I thought I would be a widow before spring of 2009. Now I think I will have a husband that is coherent and involved for a much longer time. This is a celebration of life!

I still ask for prayers for all dementia patients, their families and care givers. I have seen in my own life the miracle of prayers and want it for the others who deal with this disease. Thank you.

Still scheduled for Friday release

The rehab center still has DH scheduled for release at 8:00 A.M. on Friday, November 7. My employeer has given me the okay to go directly to rehab to pick up DH and arrive at work later in the morning. The dogs are going to be so excited that I may go into the house first and put them out into the back yard before letting DH come into the house and up to the main level. Then I can let them back into the house.

I have checked our vacation location in Gatlinburg and they have a weight room and indoor swim park so that DH can continue his therapy on his own. We should have a very health man for the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Woo Hoo!

Please continue to pray for all dementia patients, their families and caregivers. They need to be lifted up to the Lord on a daily basis.

Successful Road Trip

Yesterday DH and I escaped the rehab center for 5 1/2 hours. First was a mad dash to the neurologist. The results of that appointment were amazing. The intake nurse was amazed in the change in DH. She could not stop commenting on it. The Dr. was a little less enthused and felt that the change was the result of the CPAP. (After the appointment DH told me that he hadn't used the CPAP for over a week.)

Next was down one floor in the Medical Arts Building to the orthopaedic surgeon. He was pleasantly surprised with the advances DH has made in physical therapy and encouraged DH to continue with his home exercises to increase muscle strength in his left arm and shoulder. He told DH that he would have a little more strength in the shoulder but that was all. DH really heard him for the first time and was not happy with the truth.

Next was a quick stop to pick up some cold drinks and drive to the polling precinct. There was no line, but earlier in the day there had been. We both voted and then went to Bob Evans for supper. After a leasurly supper we went back to the rehab center and watched the election results.

DH was tired, but alert toward the end of the evening. What a beautiful day.

The doctor's and nurses at the rehab center are telling DH that he will definitely be coming home this Friday. I have all my duckies in order to pick him up and bring him home. This will be a major celebration.

Praise and worship for Him who made this possible and thanks for all the prayers.

Road Trip

Yesterday we passed the transfer to car test. Today James will go on his first road trip since his illness. He has two doctor's appointments and needs to vote. After all this, supper at his restaurant of choice and back to the rehab center.

I will update after the road trip is complete. I am sure he will be tired.

Bless all of you.

Temporary good behavior release

DH is going to be allowed to go to two doctor's appointments and to vote tomorrow. I will be picking him up at the rehab center and driving him to his appointments and then we will go vote. The polling place is wheel chair accessable so that will be easy as well. I am going to take him out for supper at the restaurant of his choice.

They are still indicating that he will be going home Friday. If not, I will break him out for another doctor's appointment on Friday and treat him to supper again. I think we will both enjoy our time away from the hospital.

Yesterday while I visited we when down to the vending machines near the cafeteria and talked for about an hour in the cafeteria. He said he really enjoyed the time out of his room. I think we will be leaving the hospital room every evening the rest of the week to get him out and about.

Tonight I will be able to attent my guild meeting. DH was very good about giving up his evening visit. Since I saw him for an hour this morning while we practiced car transfer procedures and will be spending several hours together I think he was really sweet to let me go. I have a block to sew that needs to be turned in and I hope that I am the winner this month. If not, I will applaud the other member who wins as hard as possible!

DH will probably be getting a new roommate sometime this week. His current roommate is to be released tomorrow if all things go well.

Please pray for all the doctor's, nurse's, aid's, occupational therapist's and physcial therapist's that worked so hard for DH recovery. Along with your prayers they have brought about a miracle that I never anticipated.