123 Days - Friday Report

After all his "firsts" last week this week seemed kind of routine. Doing his daily excercises, therapy when the girls come to work with him and he works some with Jerry his caregiver. Menchet his OT released him to outpatient therapy as he proved to her that he could do everything that she had challenged him to do.

We did have some concerns about his left hip so we went to the orthopedic surgeon 2 weeks earlier than scheduled. There seemed to be either a muscle that had atrophied or a hematoma and the doc wasn't sure which. As long as the ball is in the socket and he's healing we are not going to worry about it. The doc had hoped for more bone growth in the ankle but he's very pleased with his progress. The swelling has come down in his left leg which is good. He had the ultrasound done on his blood clot filter and it appears to be okay. He doesn't have to go back to the orthopedic doc for 3 months. He got his prescription for outpatient therapy which will probably start within a week or so. Heather will keep coming until that is set up. Luckily there is a facility only 10 minutes away from home.

He no longer uses his battery operated wheelchair and we ordered him a manual one but it was too heavy for me to lift up into our SUV so Heather suggested we get a companion chair which is lightweight and easy for me to get in and out of the car. We are now free to go anywhere we need to go w/o relying on a medical transport. That in itself is a great feeling.

Leonard is talking about going out to dinner some day very soon which will be nice for him to get out and feel somewhat normal. Gets pretty boring staying at home all the time. I've taken him out a couple of times in the car just driving around to give him a change of scenery. He was naughty one day by trying to get into the car w/o any assistance and almost fell. He got a good chewing out by Heather and myself.

He moved out of the guest room Thursday night as we had a full house with Michelle, Dani, Noemi and Eric all staying with us so we ran out of beds, so he moved back into our room. I don't think he's happy there just yet as Baby our 16 year old dog and me both snore and it's keeping him awake. I think he likes sleeping in his own room. We'll see how this plays out..................After 4 months I think we are both used to sleeping by ourselves and enjoy the peace.

Memorial Day weekend we had some friends over and had a very enjoyable day. This is our group of friends that we used to camp together with on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Now we just do BBQ's. Some of our kids and grand kids joined in the fun too. Leonard was able to join in the festivities for the better part of the day but eventually gave out after dinner.

116 Days - Friday Report

Noemi and Eric watching Heather and Papa

First shower at home

Heather and Leonard taking a stroll

Taking a little rest on the front porch

Sitting in the car ready to go!

This has been a week of firsts.

• Brushes his teeth at the sink rather than in bed.


• Got into our SUV without too much difficulty.


• Uses the walker all the time except when he has to be transported to a medical facility and then he uses his wheelchair. Now that his hand surgeon has removed all restrictions with his hand he can now push a regular chair which in turn will give him more strength in his upper body. The exchange will take place next Tuesday.


• Takes most meals at the kitchen table where before he was eating all meals in his bed. He actually walks to the kitchen and sits in a chair.


• Took his first shower since coming home. Thank goodness as he was getting really ripe! Just kidding, he was getting sponge baths all along.


• Continues to use the "big boy" potty without my assistance.


• Walked down the sidewalk

I'd say we had a very productive and successful week. He only has one appointment next week to have an ultrasound down on his stomach to make sure the blood clot filter that was placed in him when he was first in ICU is still in place because if one of the clots in his legs travel we want to make sure it does its job and stops it. Kind of scary to say the least.

109th Day - Friday Report

Leonard had a good week with more exercises, more walking and my biggest highlight of the week was when he was able to use the "big boy" potty and not the bedpan. My prayers have been answered, hallelujah! He can walk into the bathroom with the walker and do his business.

On Thursday he got his AFO (ankle, foot orthotic) and it makes it easier for him to walk as it gives him that extra support. He got fitted for it last week when I was out so I didn't see what he ordered and it's quite cute. He has cartoon animal figures on it as he thought he might as well have some fun with it.

Here is Eric trying on the AFO.



Dani got into the action helping Minchet with Papa's hand exercises.



Today he walked into the office and sat in an office chair for the first time instead of sitting in the wheelchair. Heather the PT told him yesterday that in 3 weeks she expects him to be walking around the house with the walker w/o any help from any of us and he won't be using the wheelchair. She doesn't see any reason why he can't reach those goals. His spirits are good and he's trying very hard to do everything that is expected of him.

Leonard hard at work

Day 102 - Friday Report

We're off and running...............or should I say we're off to a slow pace but getting stronger and faster every day. The therapists have been teaming up a couple of times a week to work with him together rather than seperately. He has walked from the guest room where he has been residing since he came home from the hospital and walks all the way to the other end of the house to our master bedroom. He works up a sweat and takes a rest by sitting down when he reaches our room and then makes it back to his room without stopping. I push one of our office chairs behind him in case he needs to sit and rest. It's so exciting seeing him progress so much each week. The therapists won't let us try the walker on our own just yet but I'm sure we will get there quickly.

Way to go!

He has needle tracks all around his navel as I give him 2 shots of Lovenox daily. I'm getting pretty good at stabbing him. Luckily in the morning he hasn't pissed me off yet so I'm nice when I give it to him and in the evening I'm just to darn tired to be mean. Good thing I don't have to give him one midday as I think that would smart! He's getting somewhat better at not calling me every 10 minutes; think we're up to 20 to 30 minutes between assists and sometimes even an hour.

He got fitted for his AFO (ankle & foot orthodic) this week and should be in next week sometime. This will give him added support when he's walking.

Last weekend my aunt and uncle came over from San Diego so we had family gatherings Sat and Sun. It was so good to see them but the time with them was too short.

He's had several visitors this week one of which we haven't seen in many years and we were so happy to be able to spend some time with her and another one we hadn't seen for about a year. He gets pretty lonesome and bored so he welcomes phone calls and visits. The kids and I try to entertain him the best we can................

I managed to get out of the house this week and had breakfast with friends on two different days and did some shopping. Sure was enjoyable.

To all you mothers out there, I pray that you will all have a very special Mother's Day. Let's all take a moment to count our blessings as our children and grandchildren are just that....blessings.

Day 95 - Friday Report

Standing up for the first time with his therapists


He didn't have his walker yet so the girls used the wall to hang on to.
Therapists - Heather (L) and Minchet (R)

What a week we've had. Monday we had good news and some bad news. Good news is that the ortho doc said he can put full weight on his left leg right away. His right leg he can put partial weight for the next 2 weeks and then he can bear full weight. He can still only put partial weight on his left hand until we go back to the hand surgeon in mid May.

Now for the bad news....................Leonard asked the doctor as we were about to leave the office why his left leg has been swollen for the entire 3 months and no one has ever checked it. He asked if he had ever had an ultrasound done and as far as we know he hasn't. Off we went to the imaging place where sure enough he has a blood clot. We were advised to go to the ER immediately. After sitting in his wheelchair for 5 hours he told me on the way home that he did not want to go until the following morning which we did. I told him that he better not die during the night or I'd be really pissed off. He does have a filter in his body to help collect blood clots if they should take off and start traveling in his body so that gave me some peace of mind. Tuesday we went to the ER and they concurred about the blood clot and gave him blood thinners for 3 days and told us to follow up with our PCP. That didn't happen as our PCP office policy is that they don't take on the care of a patient who is on worker's comp which he is. Doesn't matter that we've been with her for a few years. I was not happy. Our case worker Barbara started to call madly around to find us a doctor who would take us on and monitor this clot. We went today and saw a vascular surgeon and they did ultrasounds on both legs and he has clots in both legs. I will be giving him Lovenox injections in his stomach twice a day indefinately.

It was so exciting seeing him stand even though he only lasted 1 minute on Thursday and 1.5 minutes on Friday. He broke out in a sweat and was exhausted very quickly which I think disappointed him somewhat. His walker arrived this afternoon so next week we'll see what he can do. I don't think the girls want him walking just yet. Have to see how long he can stand and practice that for awhile.