Mon, August 17 - Mixing and Mingling

Hello there. It's been a couple of weeks since our last blog update. I believe I was off to Dallas to train at my corporate office when I last wrote. Lindsay, Dave and their dogs moved in for 3 days to take care of George, and they did a great job. Lindsay is an awesome cook and Dave is a master at the grill, so I know George ate much better than when I am at home with him. I was a "side dish" queen, George always grilled the meat or made the main dish, and I came home from work and did the veggies and salad. Now since I am in charge of all three meals, I have to really work in the kitchen, and I must admit that things get a little boring. We seem to take the easy way out more and more ... meaning ordering "to go" several days a week. It's hard to come up with both lunch and dinner every day and doing all of the cooking and the clean-up by myself. Life was much easier when I had a side-kick to help me out with meals (and the house, the errands, the finances, Brady, etc. ) and I wasn't a full-time caregiver and taxi service to therapy and doctor appointments too! Ahh, the good ol' days! During the days I was Dallas, Dave played baseball and basketball with George on the Wii. He really enjoyed that, and it's great therapy for his right arm and hand, but I can't get George to do it by himself! The kids also took him and my mom to Kemah for lunch one afternoon which I know he really enjoyed as well. Terri & Emily had an appointment in the medical center that same evening, so they stopped by and had dinner with them too. All-in-all it was a good three days for BOTH OF US! I loved being in the office with my co-workers once again, going out to lunch together, sleeping all night long, and getting up and just getting me ready for the day ... it was great and I sure appreciated the break.

Nothing much new and exciting to report as far as George's progress. Paige has a "partner in crime" with her these days ... Jennifer, a new graduate of PT school who is doing her internship at KRH, so George is getting the benefit of working with two physical therapists during his sessions. Jennifer is eager to put her skills to work, so she is trying electrical stimulation of his leg once again, and some other new mat exercises, so we'll see what happens! Hopefully this week I'll get a chance to take some new video or pictures.

Yesterday evening, George & I took our neighbors, Pat & Mike MacKenzie, out for burgers and fries at Mooyah. It's a great new little burger place across from Cinco Ranch High School that has the BEST fries in town. Mike has been such a great help to me since George's stroke. He installed our new light fixture in the hall bathroom as well as the towel bars, mirror, toilet paper holder, etc. He has also come to our rescue when George has fallen, and he and Pat are always there for moral support as well. And, when I invited them out for a burger on Sunday, I didn't realize it was also his birthday, so it worked out perfectly! My sweet Mom also had a birthday this weekend, as well as Dave's sister, Kate ... and there are more August birthdays coming up in the next couple of weeks of some of my favorite people! Party time!!

I also want to thank Jack Peak for calling George this week, as well as Butch Scherer. I know George appreciates the calls!!