Week 359-60 ” A land of Bush fires and Flooding Rains”

Don’t forget MARCH IS MSA AWARENESS MONTH

We certainly live in a country of extremes – with terrible floods in our north and bush fires down south. Our thoughts are with all those that have lost loved ones and homes. We have the Vic Fire Ready App on our iPhone and keep getting the alerts for the Mount Hotham – Dinner plains fire which I believe is in its third week and still not under control. Then we turn on the TV and see the devastation in Bundaburg (Queensland) it is hard to believe.

I am sitting at my computer , Jill is still asleep and Jessie ( our cat) is demanding to be let in again – only been out for 5 minutes. The radio is going in the background with Macca  and Australia all Over.

We have had an eventful week – finally Jill’s wheel chair has arrived. It was delivered last Wednesday and the OT was here to make sure every thing was OK . It is black in colour – like a stealth fighter – looks mean. It appears to be very comfortable with its ROHO cushion( the cushion is made up of air pockets which transfer the air around and hopefully prevent pressure sores) for Jill to sit on. It tilts back to a fully laying position and forward to help Jill transfer to Sara ( the standing transfer machine). The chair has a fully adjustable head rest but Jill has developed a forward tilt of the head and it does not help this. Over the past few days Jill has gone from major lean to the right to a minor lean to the left and every thing in-between. The Chair has a lateral support and this appears to be helping.

We have had our appointment with the optician and Jill is getting some new glasses with a little more magnification as she is having  continued problems with the eyes. The problem with tracking is ongoing – therefor reading will still be by audio books. Her eyes annoy her and she is continually rubbing them. The new glasses are modern frames and that alone will make her happier. I am picking them up tomorrow.

Jill’s home care package has finally been approved and we are now under an EACH package ( Elderly Adult Care at Home – I think thats war it is called) . They will continue to hire the Sara until we receive ours and the continue to fund Jill’s physio, Speech and District nurse as long as these are needed. This package is ongoing for as long as Jill needs are being met. We have a case manager who will monitor Jill’s requirements and needs. Eating – or actually getting food from table to her mouth is difficult and the OT has given us some utensils with larger handles and splades with bent handles to try. Jill is very independent and does not want anyone to help her especially when visitors are here – thank heavens for the aprons that Allison gave her – at least I only have to was the aprons and not her tops

The most important thing that happens each week for Jill is to hear from the kids on Facetime or Skype . Especially watching Riley and Lucas. She got to watch Lucas having a bath and Riley playing.  It is like a boost to Jill and she is on a high for the next couple of hours. We have been trying to make up our minds if we will take the caravan to Eildon for the long weekend in March and again for Easter. I know that Jill would love to go and because of this we probably will. I just worry about Jill and her care.

My Little Brother

I am  between writing this blog and getting Jill her breakfast – asked for porridge this morning – we have those individual packages which gives her some variety – a strawberry smoothie and followed by 18 tablets.

The package won’t cover lawn mowing so my next move today is to see if I can get our mower started and clean up the garden – it looks terrible – not watered – very dry.  I just don’t seem to get to it and it has not been on my priory list.

See you soon on the net.