When Things Were Just Going Good.....

Marie was doing so well. All the therapies had discharged her. She could walk with assistance and her appliances. She was doing sitting or laying down excersises.
She was laughing and visiting, just like the "old Marie." Every day I would go to her house to do some things and visit. If I wasn't there, Fran was.
A couple of days ago, Fran's brother called and said she had fallen. She wanted to go to the Emergency Room so off we went. After x-rays it was apparent that she had broken her wrist. Her arm was put in a splint. That was a really good idea; she seemed to feel better quickly.
It is taking her awhile to gain her strength, but if I know her, she will be better soon.

This Is Just Like The Center!

Since Marie has come home from the rehab center, she has been inundated with therapy services. The first week she had a bath aide, nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Whew! Serveral times she has commented that this was just like the "center:." There was a bit of an edge to her voice.
The phone would ring and she would say,"It is probably a therapy person."
She has now been discharged from nursing visits. She will be continuing her physical and occupational therapies.
Her walking needs some work. She needs wheelchair, walker, and electic wheelchair or the combination thereof.
I wasn't feeling  "top of the morning to you this morning so I called. Generally I go to check on them once or twice a day. Her son answered the phone and said that "they were making meatloaf." Yup, she is back at the helm!

A Broken Window

Since Marie has been in a rehab facility, we are able to listen to more stories without any interuption from television. We are careful to go when she is not scheduled for therapy. Today we heard a story that was new to me.
One day Marie came home from work. It was a hot day and she was very tired. She told the kids that she was tired and hot and was going to the yard and sit for awhile under the big shade tree. She told us that she said, "do you think you kids can stay out of trouble for just a little while, while I rest? They assured her that they could.
Marie said she had just got settled and crash! The not so subtle reminder that little boys cannot stay out of trouble when mama was tired and needed to rest.
She ran towards the crash and the small one was innocently playing basketball. He reached up to catch it and his arm went through the window. Well, of course, blood was every where.
Off they went to the hospital they went where everything ended up well. I know that to be true because he was just here visiting this summer with his son and grandchildren!
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Marie's Recovery

As you know, Marie fell and broke her hip last week. She spent a week in the hospital and then was transferred to a rehab center that is very close to our home. We go to visit her once or twice a day.
She is working hard at her therapy even though it hurts. She does therapy she is not asked to, so we are extremely pleased at how she is doing.
The facility is beautiful. When you walk in the front room looks like a rain forest. The plants reach to the ceiling. It is filled with flat screen televisions, sitting rooms a small dining room for family get togethers and two activity rooms. It has a very large dining room. Marie really likes the food. She has a choice of two different entres for every meal.
When we visit she likes to tell us what she eats and what she does in therapy.
She is making friends with her roomate. She likes to tell her the stories of her life. The lady was amazed today at what a large family she had because hers was small.
Today Fran and I attended a combo music activity which was fantastic. Marie couldn't go because the pain pill made her so terrible tired.
I will continue to give  you updates on Marie's progress. Thanks for checking in to facebook and Marie's Memories

NEW STORIES

Marie broke her hip on Monday. She is an independent lady who likes to do things her way. (stubborn) lol.  She has never wanted any help but now she has decided it is not a bad idea.
She was in a lot of pain at first but today she was sitting up eating her meals and telling us her stories.  But today was different, even Fran said the same things. New stories.
Marie was one of thirteen children, and it seemed she always had to be the one to do grown up work in the house. One day she wanted to go play with the boys which were much younger than she was, but she didn't care, they were having fun.
In those days they didn't salt the highways when there was ice on them. The highway department sprayed a thin layer of sand on them. The sand was gotten from what they called a Sand Bank. So she jumped in just like the boys did. They had to save their shoes for Sunday so she was barefooted. She jumped off the top of the bank like the boys did. One thing was different. She landed on a 2x4 with two spikes in it. One of them went through her foot.
The foot was bandaged and the doctor told her not to be such a tom boy. Her eyes twinkled when she told that story. Even if she was hurt you could tell she had fun and the hurt was worth it.

96 And Counting

Nobody likes a party better than Marie! Every year like clock work she has another birthday, a pretty cake, company and presents!!
This year was no different. The only thing different was it wasn't as big. Last year she had several grandchildren and children at her party and lots and lots of gifts.
As people get older people don't know what to get them because for the most part they already have what they need. This year she had no problem telling her son from Texas exactly what she wanted, a new electric can opener. When she opened it she told me, "Oh this is just what I wanted, mine is so slow I was afraid it was going to quit someday."

She loved her cake. It was a yellow cake decorated with orange roses. She announced to the group that she did not want any of us to eat at the end where the roses were because she was going to take it home. I begged and pleaded with her to have a bite of roses and then she laughed and said, "Of course you can." She took the lions share of the cake home, a rose bush, a can opener and fresh catfish that her two sons caught for her at our lake. I would personally hate to choose which gift she liked the best. I would bet on the catfish! She got money and cards in the mail and phone calls as well. For the majority of the day she wore a smile.

The pictures show what a good time she was having even though it was a small party. I think the whole thing is that when people come to your very special party that love you, it makes a wonderful party, don't you agree? Even great grandchildren, grandchildren and children, Oh and don't forget the daughter-in-law!

It Is Closed On Tuesday!

Marie has had vision problems for quite some time, but Fran and I didn't know to what extent  they were.

We took her to an eye doctor when even she started complaining about it.
I went in with her during the exam. I started feeling ill when I heard the results of the beginning of the exam.  I went and got Fran so he could hear what the doctor had to say.  She was blind in one eye.
The doctor explained that she had a disease in one eye and a cataract in the other.
If the cataract was removed she may be totally blind for a few days. She said no she would try a new pair of glasses even though the doctor warned her that they may not work.

Two weeks later she had new glasses. We helped her in the car and she looked at the door and said, "Oh, they are closed on Tuesdays."

Well, I guess the new glasses helped.