What a difference a few days make!

I wish Dad had my perspective on his recovery journey....He would be so proud of himself!!!!  After my 3 week absence due to an anniversary trip to Italy/New York, I arrived in Portland to see Dad in new digs at the rehab center and experienced a bit of "shock & awe" at his progress!!  When I said a tearful good-bye to Dad at OHSU before our trip, he had feeding and oxygen tubes in his nose, his arms and legs were in casts, he slept most of the time due to heavy sedation and he was still confused about who we were exactly.  Just 3 weeks later, I drove only a short distance to a rehab center by the mall, was greeted with, "Hey sweetpea!  How was your trip, Kelli Jack? Is Brian here?" from a Dad who was sitting up, wearing real clothes and eating real food with wrists protected only by fabric splints!!!  My amazement continued as we sat together discussing his progress and my trip until it was dinner time.  Dad invited me to join him in the dining room where he ate a full plate of food and had room for ice cream for dessert!  Amazing!!!

We enjoyed a few days together, visiting and playing a few games until I had to leave again for a 3-day conference at the Portland Marriott.  Today, as I stopped by for a quick visit with Dad after the conference, I was again pleasantly surprised by Dad's progress!  His ability to carry on our conversation for two hours, sharing his thoughts, feelings, concerns and questions with clarity was incredibly heart warming.  He sent me on a few "fact finding missions"at the rehab center, as he is beginning to advocate for his needs with the staff.  Dad's ability to charm his way into getting what he wants is working it's way back.  He is well liked by nurses and the staff for his sense of humor and it also helps that he tells the nurses how good they are at their job or how pretty they are!  Works every time! 

I'm so proud of my Dad.  He's beginning to embrace his new future with challenges he never imagined he would be facing.  Resting and healing is a full time job at this point, and he's working hard to keep a positive attitude when the boredom is overwhelming or the constant pain wears him out.  He appreciates the prayers and letters, but he is most grateful for the love and concern everyone has shown Mom.  That's my Dad....taking care of his family, even when we are trying to care for him!  It's a long road, but every single day he gets better and stronger...I just wish he could see it for himself!!!

PEOPLE FILLED WEEKEND

It was a people filled weekend for sure.  Kelli and Brian returned from Italy and Kelli came for time with Dad,  Brian will be joining us on thursday.   Howard's sister Jan and Loyd Englehorn came from Boise for a visit.  Kristi came to do business things for Howard's clients and Abbie came along to cheer us up,  she can also do a great French toast breakfast.  We took turns visiting Howard at the rehab center.

Exciting call from Howard tonite!  He was operating a wheel chair by himself and Kristi and Abbie found him traveling around the halls and dining room.  His overall goal for rehab is to learn to get himself into a wheelchair.  He has had a roommate the past few days and neither of them seem to be happy about that.  Personality conflict?

This writer has been strongly encouraged to get more rest by the children so perhaps I should get started on that since Howard has already called to say goodnight.  An encouraging bit has been that the replacement car is legal, insured and parked in the driveway.  Howard is pleased about that. 

MAIL FOR HOWARD

Howard is relearning skills every day.  Had been having trouble with the sequence of numbers but Kathi's coaching is helping him get a handle on more of that.  He does well with eating meals in the dining room and his appetite is improving.  He can hold and use the utensils with his hands for most foods but is a whizz at eating dixie cups of ice cream from the snack food cart that comes around three times a day with treats for both patients and guests.  This ought to help him gain back some of that lost weight.

Visiting this week has been his sister Jan and brother-in-law Loyd Englehorn from Idaho.  Kelli is here also with stories to tell of her and Brian's trip to Italy.  We take turns showing up for visits as the long expected roommate arrived yesterday.  Our family had been putting the extra space to use for noisy visits etc but must now share the room with another man and his family.

Good news for anyone who wishes to send cards and letters directly to Howard.  We have an address for him that will be listed here.  He will be surprised to have mail coming in to him instead of me pulling it from my purse.

Howard Shepherd  Room 145

Fountains: 8607 S E Causey Avenue 

Happy Valley OR    97086

SOCIAL LIFE

Howard and Kathi had a date for dinner this evening but since Deb and Anna were my drivers today we were all in the room when dinner time came.  Howard graciously invited us to stay as well and became a very gracious host.  We trooped to the dining room together and the hostess seated us at a large table and gave each a menu. This is a class act and the food is good. We ordered the creamed asparagus soup with a salmon sandwich on the side.  We had a fun time together.

Howard is improving day by day and getting really anxious for those bones to heal so he can use those feet again.  Someone on the staff told him it might be a year or two before he can walk so he was checking with me to see if that was true.  I told him that the foot surgeon had said three to six months minimum and it may be a year.  He is frustrated of course but determined to do every thing he can to hurry the process which means eating more food for the nutrients to help build bone.  Also needs to gain some weight but isn't interested in sweet things.  He also found out how easy it is to call me for a chat from his bedside phone so he feels more in touch with home.

Anna saw a poster on the wall that told about the weekly bingo game on thursday so she made a date for them to go together.  He wasn't sure about that but her enthusiasm is carrying them along.  They may win big or not.

IN A BIT

When you ring the bell for the nurse she comes to ask you what you want, after you tell her she says "In a bit".   When you ask if it is time for dinner she says, "In a bit".  When you call to a staff member as they are going by your door they say, "I'll be back in a bit".   Howard had a whole list of things that is responded to with "In a bit".  Actually they seem pretty quick to return but I wonder if that administrator part of him is emerging again and in an attempt to organize his routine, "In a bit" only works sometimes.  When Kris and I arrived this evening he and Kathi were working on his recognition of the basic schedule that the staff follows.  He said he was relieved that he didn't have to be responsible - he would just wait.  Actually Kathi was helping him with therapy that the speech therapist asked her to do.  He is still having a hard time remembering the sequence of things and wonders if he might have to go back to OHSU again.  We assured him that he is in the very best place for now.   It is a much closer step to home.  The staff in this rehab is doing a terrific job for him.

He asked Kris how his clients are doing and for us to bring a really good book for him to read before he goes to bed.  That is something he has done for years.   It should be comforting for him to slip into an old routine.  He described his old favorite schedule to a tee.  Perhaps, in a bit, he will be able to follow it.

Independence. Only in America.

We took the Grandpa-led, 45-minute, dime tour of the rehab facility today.  We have decided that it is in his, and everyone else's, best interest for him to become the resident billiard shark/bookmaker of Town Center Terrace.  The pool table is at the perfect height for Grandpa in his wheelchair and we observed no shortage of potential marks as we wandered the grounds.  We are confident that he will do very well there.

Kathi has been his acting roommate for the past couple of nights and has observed that Grandpa has been having some trouble sleeping.  He is no doubt experiencing these difficulties as he is contemplating the various advantages and drawbacks associated with hosting a regular, high-stakes card game in his suite.  Tonight, however, all such planning will be put on hold as he will be administered a dose of Ambien ostensibly to help him sleep.  It seems to me, however, that the administration has gotten wind of his hijinx and is trying to subtly nip his shenanigans in the bud.  I bid them good luck.  They have no idea who they're dealing with!

Tonight for dinner: crab.  Tomorrow night: leftover crab.  By this time next week Grandpa will no doubt be enjoying filet mignon paid for with the proceeds of illicit activities.  Only in America!

As we celebrate our national independence, the scheming continues.  Soon the patriarch of the great Shepherd clan will own the Town Center Terrace Rehabilitation Facility.

Jon, Sarah, Andrew, and...... and........ and......... oh yeah, Anna!

On to REHAB!

So the events in the post yesterday entitled "The Native is Restless" actually happened on Monday, June 29th.

I note this because June 30th was his OFFICIAL MOVING DAY to the Rehab Center! We have to mark this one on the calendar and say a prayer of thanks! Mom gets a call on Tuesday morning from Dad saying that "I am moving today." Mom hustles down to the hospital and by the time she arrives, he doesn't want to go. He says he wants to stay with all the nice nurses. . .

But guess who comes to Mom's rescue - "3 of the tallest and handsomest EMTs that I have ever seen." Where are Anna and Sarah when things like this go on? Mom says they swooped in, surrounded the bed and said, "Mr. Shepherd, you ready to take a little ride?" They even offered Mom a ride. And they packed up and took all of Dad's things with them. Mom just had to take her purse and meet them there. She met them again in the ambulance bay, and they lowered the stretcher, so she could give hugs and kisses.

When she arrived in his new room, they had him all settled, and he was making friends with one of the nurses and 2 of the nurses' aids. Mom settled in with him for a bit, and they even served her snacks and dinner. His room is right across from the Physical Therapy area, so it will be a quick trip. He has had a few rides in a wheelchair - a bit uncomfortable because of the hip - but okay. Mom tucked him in, and he was in good spirits. He had a small adventure with staying in bed just after Mom came home, and Kathi got worried and decided to stay the night with him through his first night. Apparently, he did some moving and some talking, so Kathi must have need a nap.

Mom has discovered that they bring around a snack tray in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Dad's favorite so far is jello!

To life at REHAB! It was a big day - a day to celebrate - and now the work begins on all those muscles.

Kris