We have had an extremely warm February and have finally scored some rain and a drop in temperature. The heat affects me more than Jill – makes me grumpy.
The last couple of weeks have seen Jill with a very strong UTI . It started with her feeling off colour and I should have picked it up at that time – a Friday. On the Saturday she has a definite lean to the right and I was continually trying to straighten her up in the wheel chair. On Sunday evening around midnight she needed to go to the toilet and in the transfer back to bed I had her in a half seated position trying to get her to stand into the Stedy but she was just unable to do that and after about 30 minutes I knew I needed help. I usually never carry a mobile phone on me in the house but for some reason I had the phone in my shorts pocket. I called our great neighbours – who were there in a flash. Five minutes and Jill was into bed and slept all night until 9am. I had a home visit by our GP at lunch time and he took a sample to test back at the surgery – Phone call 10 minutes later to say it lit up like a christmas tree and he arranged a course of antibiotics to be delivered . Seven days on the antibiotics and she was a different person. I need to be more vigilant in the future
Our physio is away on holidays and it’s between us to continue some exercises. An O&K physio is to come for the next few weeks. I have been trying to decide if we go to Eildon for Labour Day weekend and then Easter. The kids are going so Jill wants to be there with them. I have booked a site and we shall try the weekend and see how that goes. Lorna says she will look after Jessie ( our cat). I think the break away from home will do us both good and we must do this while we can.
The next thing I have to arrange is to have some one come in and look after Jill for half a day as I need to have some eye surgery to remove a cataract.I have cataracts in both eyes and will have the left eye done first. It is a half day procedure in the private hospital. They tell me I cannot drive for a week after surgery so I want to get it done before Easter if that can be arranged. I have been having trouble reading, watching TV seeing flashing lights around my eyes and a couple of floaters in either eye does not help.
We keep getting photos and videos of Lucas and Riley and it amazes us how much each has grown since the last photo. Jill just can’t wait to see them.
Jill says that I brought a new toy – Each time we go to Eildon the TV reception is lousy. I decided to buy a satellite dish. I have had it for a week at home and was becoming very disappointed with it. I rang the suppliers and they suggested a different satellite finder meter. It arrived and within 5 minutes we were watching satellite TV. I just hope when we are on our site that we have clear line of site with the Optus C1 satellite. Jill will be able to watch what ever she wants. Another new toy is a security camera which I can use via a smart phone app to check on Jill when I go shopping or away from the house for a period of time. Again an amazing piece of technology.
I had a couple of phone calls the other evening suggesting I watch “Australian Story” on the ABC. The title of the episode is “The First Word”. It turned out to be on communication with the disabled. An Australian Peter Ford had developed some software which made it possible for patients who cannot speak or are paralysed to communicate. I have decide to contact their office and have a talk about how this may help patients who suffer from MSA. Currently Jill can still communicate with voice but we don’t know the future and it has certainly become more difficult.
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/thefirstword/default.htm
Well it’s 9am and Jill is starting to wake – she will expect breakfast.
See you soon on the net