Nov 11 – Progress report

We have just completed an interesting month! After our trip to Eugene it was off to OHSU on Friday for blood tests and dressing change of the PICC line used for infusions and blood draws. After the tests they decided to admit me to the hospital for a “tune-up”! They decided to change blood pressure medicines to try and get my blood pressure up as it really drops when I am standing. I do not have dizziness but the doctors are concerned. I am sometimes low on phosphorous and magnesium which require infusions but most do not require anything other than a visit to the infusion center at OHSU. My liver counts are on the mend so maybe we are almost over that bump in the road. After three days I was released from the hospital but assigned a home care nurse to visit once a week as well as a physical therapist who comes twice a week. I am classified as a fall risk and they want me to use my walker and build strength so I can again walk without the aid of a wheeled walker or cane. The exercises are with 5 lbs of weight on each leg. When Brett and Cecilia came for a visit she wanted to try the weights.  She quickly announced “I can’t move”. I am gaining strength and making a lot of progress. The doctors are pleased with my progress and have approved us to take a trip to California to visit family, giving us a break from the 2 trips a week to the hospital infusion center. We planned to carpool with Roy and Suzanne going half way one day and spending the night at a motel to give me the rest I need. We are looking forward to seeing Nancy’s sister and family as it has been a couple of years since we have visited in Modesto.

We have had many visitors this past month which is always uplifting. We had Tom and JoAnne from Roseburg stop by on their way back from a diving trip in South America. We also had Teri Warford stop by. She retired from DODDS around the same time we did and enjoys living near Flathead Lake in Montana. She spent the afternoon and we enjoyed visiting the Ridgefield wildlife refuge where we enjoyed seeing tundra swans, many kinds of ducks, swans, a coyote, king fishers, We were glad she could stop by for a visit and it reminded us of how we want to get back on the road. We may start to post pictures on Facebook as Teri does, which she recommended. 

This coming week will keep us busy as Brother Greg is coming for a quick visit before heading back to Texas.  He and Geri will spend a night with us before heading to the airport. Of course that prompted a quick plan for a family gathering which we are looking forward to.  Later in the week we will be looking forward to having a group of retired DODDS teachers for a gathering.  Brett was here with Cecilia to assist with some projects for us. We sure do enjoy having him close to help out, he did a great job of making a platform to raise my chair so I can be a bit more able of getting up and about. He also checked out the car and hung a few more pictures for us. Of course we continue to prepare for our trip to California to see family. We continue watching the weather closely as winter seems to be here and we have to pass through mountains on our trip south. Nancy sure hope we do not have to chain up the car on the trip as she now does most of the driving.