Walked a little

Barbara, the volunteer came today, so Clark and I played bridge. When we got home, Jude the Physcial Therapist, was here.  As an exercise, she had Erin use the 4-pronged cane, and walk about 10 steps back and forth in the kitchen. Jude held on to Erin’s waistband, and I followed with the wheelchair.  Erin was nervous about it, but did fine.

Paco got home from camp this afternoon and Clark and Erin were supposed to go meet Steve and the kids for an early dinner, but apparently, Paco came home exhausted and sick, so they cancelled. Am anxious to hear how he liked camp.

Barbara

Steve Stayed with Erin

Barbara, the volunteer, couldn’t come tonight and is coming tomorrow morning instead. So, Steve said that he would stay with Erin while we went to our Thursday night bridge. Mišelka and Tommy came, too, in a separate car. They all went for pizza and spaghetti at Tony Roma’s. Mišelka took Tommy back home and Steve and Erin inventively ordered a movie On Demand.  (We have never done that.) Erin was up for the whole evening and didn’t seem tired at all when we arrived home.

Barbara

Clark & Barb – June 21,2012

Clark fixed brunch on the patio. The temperature was 68 degrees. Erin insisted that she

be the photographer rather than the photographed. It wasn’t easy for Erin to hold the

phone and push the button with the same hand and not get fingers in the way.  Barbara

Under a Rock

The cleaning ladies took us by surprise arriving early at 10 am.  So, we hustled around and got out of the house.  We went for lunch at the Olive Garden where Clark had been given a gift card for Father’s Day.  Erin ate salad and half of her lasagna.  She ate the other half for a late afternoon snack.

Tonight she said she felt like she had been under a rock this afternoon.  But, she is perky and seems to have crawled out from under the rock.

Barbara

Bad Headache

Yesterday between 4 pm and 7 pm Erin had one of her worse headaches which started in the back between the shoulders.  I was helping out at bridge and staying in touch and she got it under control. Today Denise, the RN, was here and said to increase her dose of Dilaudid and try starting with Norco because that has some Tylenol in it which for some people is the only thing that helps headaches.

Otherwise, Denise felt that Erin was doing very well and concerned that she might be doing too well for hospice!

Steve had to run an errand in Sacramento, so he stopped by midday.

Barbara

Erin with Barb & Vern Chase Jun 18, 2012

My high school (Holy Names HIgh in Oakland), friend Barbara Chase and husband Vern came by for lunch this morning before heading to the airport for their flight back to Edmonds, WA. (I have been spelling Edmonds with a ‘u’ instead of an ‘o’ ever since they moved there about 13 years ago,) This photo was taken in the patio outside of Erin’s room and in front of the xylosma shrub which Barb sent me for my birthday about 10 years ago. Barbara has become an avid gardener since moving to the Northwest, and when she visited here about 10 years ago, she was impressed with the xylosma which is on the other side of the fence from mine. They don’t have them in the Northwest. Barb is a frequent commentor to the blog, so now you can associate a face with the name. Barbara

Visit from Barb and Vern Chase

My high school friend from the past almost 64 years, Barbara Chase, visited this afternoon along with her husband Vern. They live in Edmonds, just north of Seattle.

Brandon, Lisa, and Beck stopped by on their way to dinner at Lisa’s folks. And Steve and Tommy came for dinner as well as Colleen who came bearing a pitcher of Magueritas and 6 stemmed glasses.

Missing was Paco who left for a 5 day camp for children of parents dying or dead from cancer. The counselors are UC Davis students and the program was founded at Stanford a number of years ago. The camp is located in La Honda, near Santa Cruz.  Paco had been apprehensive about going, but Steve said when the bus left, Paco happily waved good-bye.

Barbara

A Movie

This afternoon Steve, Erin, and Paco went to a movie, The Avengers, while Tommy stayed home with me.  Erin apparently did well, and came home very happy to get the chance to spend time with Paco. She said she misses him a lot.

This evening I was watching the US Open in the  living room when the phone rang.  It was Erin wanting to know her cell phone number. A little later she came out to the living room in tears saying that she was ordering something on line, when she couldn’t remember her name. It turns out it was her phone number that she couldn’t remember.

Barbara

 

Physical Activity

Barbara, the volunteer came this morning, while Clark and I played bridge.  She and Erin went for a walk around the block before noon, before it got too hot. Barbara said that Erin propelled herself during quite a bit of the excursion. Colleen was also out walking and lapped them a couple of times.

When we got home, Jude, the Physical Therapist was here, and there was lots of lively conversation going on in the kitchen amongst Jude, Barbara, and Erin. Erin feels sore, but exhilierated after the exercise.

Tonight Colleen came over bringing champagne and hung out with Erin for several hours helping her with her computer. Erin seems very vivacious today.

Barbara

Erin,Beck,Brandon – June 14, 2012

Tonight Erin, Clark, and I joined Brandon, Lisa, and Beck and Lisa’s folks, Joleen and Chuck for dinner at Scott’s-on-the-River to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Beck’s official adoption. Erin was lively and ate all of her mashed potatoes, but not much of her shrimp. Beck is now 2 years and 9 months and is never still, so Lisa and Brandon took turns chasing him outside. But, he did get engrossed in a Lego toy which Erin gave him. Erin seemed to feel pretty good today except for some leg aches. Barbara