Life after Death Sentencing

Movement for 9/28/08:

• Can't put my finger on what it was. She had a longer night sleep than usual, primarily because when I attempted to awaken her at 1300, then at 1345, she wanted more time and it seemed a good idea to give it to her. Her night, though, was supremely restful, unlike last night. Maybe it was that she announced to me, "I'll walk," to the bathroom, even though she was so iffy on her feet that she had trouble gaining her initial balance and opted for the wheelchair before taking her first step. Something about her spirit. So, as we were bathing her, I mentioned to her that I thought maybe she was ready for a little "foot time". "Just from the toilet to the bathroom door," I assured her. "The wheelchair will be right outside the door. If you start to falter in the bathroom, we can take care of that, too."
  She was a little wobbly at the beginning and the end, but she was steady walking through the bathroom and even remembered to "stretch and straighten up" before starting the walk. She was grateful for the wheelchair, but she looked pleased with herself...and I was pleased for her.
  AFter breakfast I suggested we walk her around the table to the banister and down the dinette steps. "The wheelchair will be waiting at the bottom of the steps. We won't try walkering to the rocking chair, yet. I think you'll be fine." She was. Slow, and fine. And ready to sit at the bottom of the steps. She wasn't wobbly during any of it, including descending the stairs. During transfers, today, so far, they've appeared to be more difficult than usual but, instead of leaning waaaay over while sitting in order to throw her weight onto her legs and lift her ass before she stands, she's been working, on her own, at doing most of the rise with her leg muscles. I'm pleased to see this. That means they feel to her like they're ready to work, again.
  In addition, today, for the first time since her fall in the living room in which she injured her left arm, I decided it was time to try wearing one of her regular slip on shirts, devised a method for putting it on that put the least stress on her left arm, and it went smoothly. So, she doesn't have to wear pajama tops, anymore, or baggy, long assed shirts. She isn't able to "do it" on her own, yet. Maybe she never will. But we've got a work around that makes her feel normal, again.
  I know it's going to be a late nap-late night tonight. I expect her nap will be deep and restful. I'll report back later.
• She walked from her bed to the hall, tonight, and was glad that I had the wheelchair waiting right outside her bedroom door. No problems turning to place herself in the chair. Transfers, for the most part, went well. The first rising to her legs after sleep, whether night or nap sleep, is a bit difficult to manage, but after that her legs "remember" what they're supposed to do. We didn't do any more walking after that, but she wasn't abnormally tired or hard to rouse after her nap.

    I'm not going to plan ahead as far as getting her back on her feet is concerned. We'll judge, from episode to episode, what she seems to be ready to accomplish.