Things are going well. Bobby continues to have Home Care courtesy of Medicare! He has Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy three times a week each, plus a nurse that comes to check on him every so often, plus an aid that comes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to bathe him, so that I have a little break on these days. He has speech group on Wednesdays.
On the days that he does not have one of the therapies, I work with him on that modality.
He is still very dedicated to his work, and he is getting stronger on his right leg. He walks better, and even though he still needs to be followed he needs much less help then before. He even started to use a regular cane inside the house. Whenever we go to a doctor, he uses the walker to walk from the parking lot to the office. The wheel chair in the house became his exercise chair, where he has to practice moving back and forth with his right leg while the left (the good one) does nothing.
The recovery of the arm and hand movement is still very slow. There seems to be a little response on the shoulder area, but it takes time. We have purchased a machine to exercise his arms. The theory is that we have, like with the leg, teach the arm to move again. By using both arms to move the handles (like the pedals in a bike), we hope to remind the right arm how to move.
The speech is still very problematic. Although he makes all sorts of sounds, the words only come when prompted or cued. I have to say, however, that the repetition of words is coming much easier. He can even say Shella now, which he could not before; I use the automatics theory (ex: good and bad, up and down), and say "Bobby and .... "and he says "Shella". We are trying an App called Proloquo2go to see if it can help him communicate better. It is a long process to teach him how to use it, but we (the speech therapist and I) are starting with basic need words, and hopefully he will improve on it. The yes and no is still a problem, and we are constantly having to reinforce it and give him visual cues.
We have a few visitors here in the past month to brighten our lives. And of course help us. If you are planning a visit (which I love) be prepared to work. I always make my guests work with something I cant' do alone or simply do not know how to do.
Sally and Roger were here on May 21 and 22, and besides being such great company and fun, and bringing in a delicious Greek Meal, helped me with taking the car for a tune up (unfortunately I don't have a picture of them on this visit!).
Pam and Robin were here June 2 and 3. They came with bringing a delicious Sheppard pie homemade by Pam, and Robin helped put together the hand exercise machine for us. And we have fun watching the Queens Jubilee with the Brits!
Ana Beatriz and Pedro were here for a week. They arrived on Tuesday June 5 and left on the 13. It was wonderful having them here. They helped a lot and were such good company. Pedro filled in some holes on the wall, put together the recumbent bike and then but it apart again since it did not work well for Bobby. They helped me move the furniture in the living room, and went even further, and moved a few things around to make more room for Bobby to walk. Pedro stayed with Bobby so that Ana could take me out shopping - such needed time off the routine. Ana and Pedro had the idea of having Zoe and Nico for a sleepover so that we could enjoy them, and Malu and Jason could have movie night (yes, Olivia went to the movies!). Pedro prepared a delicious BBQ. Ana left the house immaculate before leaving. Just to name a few of the things they did while here. I just love them so much. It was very hard to see them leave....
Malu, Jason, Zoe, Dominic and Olivia continue to be very present in our lives. Malu has been coming here every Tuesday after Zoe's school and I am going there on Thursdays to enjoy the grand kids while Bob stays home with the aid (Aldaci - yes, he is Brazilian). And of course whenever possible we see them on weekends.
I would like to thank everybody that emails me, or calls me, or send cards. Even if I don't answer the email very promptly, or return the calls on the same day, or do not send thank you cards back, please know that you have been very important for us. I would like to give a special thanks to Maggie and Stan that almost every week send a lovely card from Maggie's studio.
I am counting the days to July when I will have my friends Tethi and Carlinhos and their daughter Maria here, and then my dear sister Rita will come too. By then Bobby will have started with outpatient therapy (we will go to the therapy place) and will be able to be more out and about. We are even trying to plan a quick trip and also a visit to the NY dentist.
Until next time. Thanks for reading and rooting for us. With all our love.
