Life Goes On!

It seems as if we are not skipping a beat as one day rolls into the next. Caitlin and I have been out running errands, going to appointments, shopping (of course), and even going to cousin Keith's basketball game on Friday night. One day I counted how many times I had transferred Caitlin and it was 20! Needless to say, that was a bit excessive and I was physically tired but Caitlin and I did it successfully! Therapies are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9-12 from here on out. This schedule will allow me to work those exact same mornings on a very regular basis which is great. Caitlin and I will be going to school when I have things I need to accomplish on Tuesday and Thursday. Hopefully this week we will get the hitch on the back of my car for her electric wheelchair and that will be great for Caitlin's independence with going to therapy and just about anywhere else too. We are waiting for the hitch adapter to arrive. Sean Whisler, a colleague at my school, took it upon himself to take care of this part of our lives. He managed to find a decent lift on Craig's list for a phenomenally low cost. Once again we are so blessed to have such caring people in our lives. As we are working out all the kinks of our life as it is right now I am proud to say we are surviving and thriving. Caitlin and I have some "mother/daughter" moments but overall life is good...a lot of work, a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of love!
Michael and Stephanie have introduced a new card game into our lives called Phase 10. The competition is healthy and involves everyone, especially Tim. Each day when he arrives to visit Caitlin he is determined he will beat Caitlin. We are still waiting for that to happen! The refrigerator has become the "Bragging Wall" for the score sheets. Sweet Stephanie is no longer so sweet as she is not a humble victor! I keep teasing her she will no longer be invited to family dinner if she keeps this up!
It is so fun for me to watch Caitlin sit at the kitchen table and be glued to the computer looking at facebook and myspace. Her life is reappearing a day at a time. I can only imagine how difficult it is to look at everyone's lives, their fun photos, and then reflect on her own life right now. As the mother I am so vested in creating new memories for Caitlin and not focusing on the past but it is a huge challenge in doing this. I am sleeping on an air mattress on the floor of Caitlin's current downstairs bedroom where the hospital bed is. Each night I joke of our slumber parties and getting used to watching MTV's Real World. Sadie snuggles in this small bedroom too. We do laugh at ourselves in this situation but I am still not comfortable leaving Caitlin downstairs by herself. She has a bell to ring, I have a baby monitor for the room, but I think I still live in fear of her having another stroke and my not being there for her. A day at time and I know that someday things will be different but for today this is where we are at!

Home is Healing!

Just quickly wanted to let you all know that Caitlin has been doing very well being at home. She states she is happy to be home and finds comforts in the familiarity of things. Each time we are doing something I remind her of what type of therapy it is...we laugh at how much movement and activity there is involved in daily functioning at home. We made cookies and while Caitlin was licking the beaters she was laughing. She typed that she was strengthening her tongue muscles! She is into healing and helping herself. Her transfers are stronger each day in and out of the car, her wheelchair, her lounge chair, and onto the commode.
We visited Caitlin's place of employment, Sierra Eye Associates, on Tuesday. It was so heartfelt to see Caitlin surrounded by all her colleagues. She was in the middle of a huge circle of smiles and hugs. It is always so amazing to know how loved Caitlin is by everyone there. On the way home she suggested we go shopping for some more sweats for her. We went to Kohl's! Nothing stops that girl from shopping. It was a fun outing. Today the outing to get blood work done and the quick visit to my school was not quite as fun. Therapies have gone well the two times Caitlin has attended so far. It seems as if her schedule will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings for three hours each day. This schedule will be paired with the necessary trips to the coumadin clinic where Caitlin gets her blood taken and an INR level checked. Coumadin is a blood thinner necessary to prevent another stroke from occurring. The INR level determines the correct level of the drug in Caitlin's blood. This week we had to have it checked three times.
We also had to make appointments with every type of doctor that Caitlin needs to continue seeing. It has been a full time job getting all this arranged. Needless to say I have been a bit overwhelmed with keeping on top of everything. But as I keep telling Caitlin, so much of stroke recovery is temporary as things will keep changing, I too need to remember this. We are gracefully beginning our journey down a new and exciting path! Thanks for joining in with us!

WE ARE HOME!

I am rejoicing in the glory of the day! Caitlin will start out patient therapies tomorrow and as each day comes we will figure out our routines and abilities of functioning at home. Caitlin's homecoming was a tear and a smile all rolled into one. We will carry the love and friendship of all we met at the hospital and cherish the memory of each and every person and the wonderful care they gave Caitlin. Our circle of friends has expanded in a very precious way. Please come celebrate with us at our house or call on the home phone (775-747-1391) to congratulate Caitlin on this huge step. Caitlin would love to hear your voice or see your face, even better! Caitlin is still communicating with gestures and frantic typing on her portable keyboard but she does have lots to say! WE ARE HOME!!!! YEAH!