May 24, 2020

These two have always been so cute together. Sure, Jake will hate me saying that now. Now that he's a man(ish), he doesn't do cute. Shannon, well she hate's anything that's cute. One of her nurses told her that her new shoes were cute, and she corrected her. They weren't cute, they were cool. Cool. So...these two are so cool together. (now you should both be happy)

Today was such a great day, because THESE two got to be together!!

Jake's been dying to see Shannon! He's been helping us get ready for Shannon to come home, but it's so much more fun to BE with Shannon. Aren't they cute, er, COOL together?!!

And you know what is even more cute, er COOL? These two got to be together!!

Family training for "the boys" has begun. They don't have as much to learn for Shannon's care at home. Mostly, they help with transfers from chair, car, bed, etc. They also learned to pull her up stairs. They will learn to do car transfers, and curb bumps, and also learn to do her leg exercises. Rachael and I learn all that and the nursing and OT things as well, which is why we have more training days than they do.

AND>>>> guess what OTHER exciting thing happened today!!! Well, I'm just gonna tell you. I talked to Shannon's case manager last Friday while we were at the hospital and gave her my well rehearsed speech including puppy dog eyes (where needed) and convinced her to let THIS happen!!

Uncle Steve and Krisha were in the house!! Well, actually, it was in the lobby. I told her case manager how fantastic it was for Steve to do everything he's doing, and how unfortunate it is that he has to go home a week before she's out; and that they won't even get to see each other (puppy dog eyes) because of dumb covid. Shannon chimed in that Krisha won't get to see her but she wanted her to come do art therapy with her. And because we have the best case manager EVER....she let them both come for a "short" visit in the lobby before "the boys" had their training today. It was so fantastic!! Look at those smiles!!!!

We went downtown so we could show Steve the city before his visit with Shannon, since he's been locked up in the basement! After his visit, Jake and Lancer were training with Shannon and Krisha was with our sweet friend Leslie. We sat at the park and ate lunch. Steve decided he's not a city guy. But he took some great photos! Also, his dog Harley decided she's not a city dog. Not at all. So we headed toward home and took the long way so we could take in some scenery and the great weather. At home, we just sat and chatted for a while before everyone else got back.

After everyone left the hospital, Shannon spent over two hours in the art therapy room. She was pretty much in heaven! The rest of her day was just relaxing.

Another great part of today was celebrating my daughter-in-law Katie's birthday! She's my favorite (don't tell my future daughter's-in-law). We had a great time with her and her family, just enjoying an evening away from the crazy.

I've mentioned before that I'm feeling the strain of being everything for everyone, everywhere, all at once. It's been so mentally and emotionally exhausting. Today was a well needed break from all of that. It didn't feel like a Sunday to me, which I thought of a few times throughout the day, because we weren't doing our normal Sunday things. But I realized tonight while we were just sitting on the deck at Katie's parent's house that even when I'm home doing "Sunday things" lately, the house and all the things we need to do are still there right in front of us, still being thought through or worked out. We make plans for the next week, or do things that aren't too involved, like cleaning white footprints off the hardwood left by people walking up from the construction zone- for the 400th time that day. So I never really escape from them.

Tonight it was about family, about birthday, about wedding cupcake tasting for a future reception, and fun stories. Not once today (until I was back home after the birthday) did I think about what we needed to get done, or who I needed to call. Sunday is about a day of rest, and that's how today felt. Rest from the things that are bogging me down. My home isn't currently a haven. It's a freak show- to be perfectly honest. (head down to my basement and you'll see all manner of strange things) Today was the most peaceful Sunday I've had in months.

Please pray for Shannon to get the rest she needs at night this week so she will have the energy, physical and mental endurance for therapies, that she will remember that she is being watched over and loved by her Father in Heaven, that her blood pressure will continue to increase, and she will continue to get stronger and more able to do things on her own. 
Thank you for your prayers,  for being here for us, for ignoring us when we say we are doing fine and helping anyway, and for showing Shannon so much love and support.

Today's Meme:

This week I'll be back to this little Disney classic:

Cinderelly, Cinderelly

Night and day it's Cinderelly

Make the fire, fix the breakfast

Wash the dishes, do the mopping

And the sweeping and the dusting

They always keep her hopping

She goes around in circles till she's very, very dizzy

Still they holler "Keep a-busy, Cinderelly!"