Sunday, September 21, 2008
Better Day, Incrementally
Movement for 9/21/08:
- So far, so good. It seems that walking into the bathroom in the morning and to the dinette table is a reestablished routine. I decided to add a little walking: I had her walk to the dinette steps (that lead into the living room) and descend the steps, since she usually does that using the table and banister for security. It was a little iffy for her, especially the steps, but she did it, then I wheeled her the very short distance from the steps to her rocker. I also decided, when she was ready for a nap, to wheel her to the foyer steps and have her ascend the steps and walk, with environmental and my support, into the bathroom. She did it, but it was clearly hard for her. She even said so. I assured her that we'd take it easy this evening; although I'm assuming I'll be able to get her to walk from her bedroom into the bathroom after her nap. From there on out it will be anybody's guess how much wheeling we do.
- Every day for three days, now, I've been having her try to raise her left arm in front of her, straight up, at least a couple of times; it's exercise but she doesn't think of it like this. She figures I'm taking a movement survey; and, I'm doing that, too. She can't get it very far. Today, though, she did better than yesterday. She complained, again, of forearm pain this afternoon. I figure that's from the effort she's trying to transfer from her bicep to her forearm and that's working her forearm out a bit more than usual. She tried to rise from her rocking chair on her own again today...didn't work. But, the fact that she's trying makes me think that she may recover this. We'll see. More later.
- Lots more movement than I expected, this evening, although it didn't happen until later. She did walk to the bathroom after she awoke from her nap, but opted for the wheelchair into the living room. However, when she headed in for the night, she insisted on trying to rise on her own from her rocker. This chair is the easiest for her to arise from on her own. Although it took some work and went slow, although she complained of pain in her legs once she'd turned toward the wheelchair and flopped into it, she did it. I congratulated her, more than once, "Job well done!" She turned her head coyly and gave me her best thin lipped ironic grin. This lead to a decision to stand at the sink to brush her teeth. I have to tell you, in the morning it's always been 50/50, whether she's going to brush her teeth at the sink or use the spit bowl. That's why I don't usually report on this. However, at night, when she's fully warmed up, her distaste for using the spit bowl is so intense that it's unusual for her to not want to stand at the sink...but, for a little over a week, now, she hasn't been wanting to try it. So, tonight, although I made sure I had a secure grab on the back of her paper underwear, in case she should waver, after brushing her teeth at the sink she announced, "Well, that's a relief!" Her left arm isn't bothering her nearly as much, although she still experiences twinges, sometimes sharp. She's aware of how "out of practice" her legs are in the walking department, especially since she had some muscular aching in her thighs this evening. But, overall, I believe she's revving up to rock, again.
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