Day Zero Plus Forty – Rainy Day, Exercise, Big Doin’s

Jeff’s mood seemed to match the weather today, a little dreary.  He is a pretty good patient but no one could be a cancer patient and not feel down sometimes.  Dan and I decided that we would be much grumpier patients than Jeff is.  Lately Jeff has been saying, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”  Even though we have been told time and again that this is a long process with good days and bad, I know he worries about his progress.  Those are the times I suggest a little Ativan (anti-nausea, anti-anxiety, mood-smoother) but he is reluctant to take any more pills than are absolutely necessary. 

 

I am almost proficient at administering IV fluids.  This morning Jeff noticed that I hadn’t washed my hands before I began!  I couldn’t believe it!  I wash my hands 100 times a day (not sure that’s an exaggeration) but I forgot to wash right before touching his ports!  Of course, I did wash my hands before continuing.  Holy Smokes!

Jeff felt well enough to don mask and gloves and go to the Claus family 4^th of July picnic at Judy and Mark’s on Monday.  He lasted a long time and the accommodations we made for his food preparation did not detract from his enjoyment of the day.  Harry sprung Pop from the rehab center for the afternoon so he could picnic with us, too. 

I asked Jeff whether I ought to be nagging him about his PT exercises.  He didn’t really provide an answer to my question.  I stopped asking, “Do you want to go for a walk?”  The answer is always a shrug or “no.”  Now I say, “Let’s go for a walk.”   He usually complies.  Yesterday he walked three blocks at one time – a first – and there was an incline on the return trip.  He was winded when we got home.  Today we didn’t get our walk until after dinner due to the weather.  Late in the afternoon I saw Jeff doing his leg exercises without any prompting (nagging) from me.  His arm exercises require my involvement because he can’t tell when he pops his shoulder blade.  The instruction is “quality is more important than quantity.”  The shoulder blade should never pop out.  I rest my hand on it to try to help him feel when it pops.  He will start PT in Yardley next week.

On the bench in the dining room is a growing pile of special food and medical supplies that we have to remember to take with us to Harrisburg this weekend.  Never before has my packing list included “IV pole.”  I realize it will take a lot of planning to make sure that we have everything Jeff will need so that we can all have a good time at Kerry and Theresa’s wedding.  Jeff has been worried about being comfortable and alert at the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding and Sunday luncheon.  However, he is very determined to meet every one of his social obligations. 

Jeff’s sister, Debbie, is so excited about the wedding that her daily calls to check on Jeff include reports about her clothes for the festivities, choosing the route from Michigan and packing.  She and Larry will have a head start; they leave their home tomorrow for the trek out here.  Our family is ready to party!