The last few weeks have seen Jill fitted for a custom made wheel chair , completion of the LSVT speech course , having the Milford personnel Lift fitted into our Jeep, a visit to Riley’s and a week away with family and friends at Eildon Caravan Park.
We had the physio, OT and wheel chair sales man here for a couple of hours while they measured and adapted the demo chair to suit Jill’s height and weight. Considering they want the chair to suit Jill for siting at the table as well as out of the house it has to be comfortable. The other thing for travel it has to be easy for me to manage. The large wheels clip off, the gel seats lift out , the foot steps are removable and the balance folds. They have arranged to have the chair fully funded through various agencies. The only thing is the delay in getting it. I had hoped that we may get it by the end of June.
Our speech therapist has completed the LSVT speech course and was impressed with Jill’s improvement. We have to continue the exercises. These are easy when we are t home – nobody to hear – but while we are away Jill has to be involved in conversation and reading aloud.
On the 4th of March we headed to Riley’s home. It was great to see he hadn’t forgotten who we were. It was Chris & Nicole’s wedding anniversary so we baby sat Riley while they went out. On the Monday I took the Jeep to the Milford Lift Installer – an hours drive from Chris’s and was told they would contact me when it was complete. Because of the position of the lifting post we would loose our glove box. I figured that was a small price for the benefits gained. Several hours later we went back and the installed said “Good news- You still have a glove box” They demonstrated and explained how to use the hoist, but not having Jill there to set the lifting straps meant that was my task the next day. The next couple of days we stayed at Chris’s and helped look after Riley who was coming down with a cold. In the mean time I practiced lifting Jill in and out of the car.
On Thursday we packed the caravan, and Jeep, hitched up , lifted Jill into her seat and headed off to Eildon Caravan Park for the Labour Day Long Weekend holiday. We arrived just ahead of Jill’s sister Jeannette and Gavin who were closely followed by some more friends. We set up and settled down around a camp fire for the evening. On Saturday Chris , Nicole and Riley arrived followed by Allison & Chris. We had a great weekend with evenings around the campfire, entertained by visits from a wombat and possums in the evening and cockatoos and parrots during the day. We were sad when the kids had to head for home. The next couple of days we had a look at the views and drank wine and coffee around the camp fire . Finally we packed up on Wednesday and arrived home mid afternoon. Jessie ( cat) met us at the door . she has been looked after by Lorna our great neighbour for over the road. A few emails to answer and a check on Pat as she is to go into hospital for a couple of days.
Next week if fully booked with a sign off with the OT regards the vehicle lift , doctors appointments, physio, Aged care assessment , speech on Friday and finally some family reunion at my cousin Phylis’s 50th wedding anniversary.
We are already planing our next trip to Eildon for Easter – the whole mob I think there will be 6-7 caravans and a couple of tents – more great evenings around the campfire.
Jill is stirring and will want some breakfast.
See you soon on the net.