Home Fire Safety Tips for the Christmas Holidays

The Christmas tree

• ·        Get a freshly cut tree. It will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard. Try to pick a tree with a strong green colour and noticeable fragrance.
• ·        Always test for freshness before buying. A tree with high moisture content is safer. Very few needles should fall when the butt of the tree is tapped on the ground; needles should bend, not break; and the stump should be sticky with resin.
• ·        Place the tree in a stand that will hold 2 to 3 litres of water and top it up daily. Make sure it is always immersed in water: If water drops below the trunk, the stem may reseal itself, requiring a fresh cut. Use a tree stand that has widespread legs for better balance.
• ·        Do not set your tree up near a heat source such as a radiator, television, fireplace, heating duct or sunny window. It should not block doors or windows.
• ·        Never use lighted candles on the tree.
• ·        Remove the tree within 10 to 14 days. After that amount of time in a heated building, even the freshest tree can start to dry out.

Decorations

• ·        Choose decorations that are flame-retardant, non-combustible and non-conductive.
• ·        If there are young children or pets in your home, avoid very small decorations.
• ·        Avoid using angel hair (glass wool) together with spray-on snowflakes. This combination is highly combustible.
• ·        Do not use metallic ornaments on the tree. If they make contact with defective wiring they could become a shock hazard.

Lights

• ·        Use Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certified light strings/sets.
• ·        Use the proper lights for the environment. Indoor light strings/sets should not be used outdoors because they lack weatherproof connections. Some outdoor light strings/sets burn too hot indoors.
• ·        Inspect light strings/set before use. Check for cracked bulbs and for frayed, broken or exposed wires, and discard if faulty.
• ·        Do not use electric light strings/sets on metallic trees. A faulty system could energize the tree and shock or electrocute anyone coming into contact. Illuminate metallic trees with colored floodlights placed at a safe distance from the tree and out of reach.
• ·        Turn off all tree and display lights before retiring for the night or before leaving the house.

Candles

• ·        Place candles away from absolutely anything that could catch fire.
• ·        Never leave burning candles unattended.
• ·        Burn them only when a responsible adult is overseeing the flame.
• ·        Put candles in sturdy holders on a stable surface, well away from drafts, curtains, children and pets.
• ·        Snuff them out before leaving the room or going to sleep.

The Fireplace

• ·        Never burn gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, or other types of packing in the fireplace. They burn too rapidly and generate far too much heat.
• ·        Don't hang Christmas stockings from the mantel when the fireplace is in use.
• ·        Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks.
• ·        Never use gasoline or any other flammable liquids to start a fire.
• ·        Use only seasoned and dried wood.
• ·        Never leave the fire unattended or let it smoulder.
• ·        Clean the ashes regularly. Place the ashes in a metal container and store outside away from flammable materials.
• ·        Don't use Christmas trees for firewood.

Electrical Outlets

• ·        There is often a tendency to overload wall outlets during the holiday season. This is an unsafe practice and should be avoided even for short durations.
• ·        Inspect all cords before using. Make sure they are CSA certified. Look for loose connections or frayed or exposed wire. Discard any defective cords. Read the labels and manufacturer's instructions to ensure proper use.
• ·        Insert plugs fully into outlets. Poor contact may cause overheating or shock.
• ·        To avoid possible overheating, do not coil or bunch an extension cord which is in use and do not run it under carpets or rugs.

The Kitchen

Grease and fat fires are a leading cause of home fires in Canada, so be extra careful when doing this kind of cooking. Here's what to do if grease in a pot or pan catches fire:

• ·        Smother the flames by covering the pan with a lid. Do not remove the lid until the pan is completely cooled.
• ·        Turn off the heat immediately.
• ·        Use baking soda (flour can be explosive) on shallow grease fires.
• ·        Never turn on the overhead fan, as this could spread the fire.
• ·        Never throw water on a grease fire.

Gift Suggestions

• ·        Home smoke alarm
• ·        Carbon monoxide detector
• ·        Multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguisher
• ·        Candle snuffer

·        Thermostatically controlled deep fryer

 

Chocolate Truffles

This recipe was seen on the Today show on NBC, December 13th, 2012 with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Making truffles is always a messy thing, but oh so good :)

Chocolate truffles

Jacques Haeringer

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 12 ounces semi-sweet dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (Grand Marnier), optional
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• Utensils:
• 1 quart saucepan
• 1 quart bowl
• Large spoon
• Melon ball cutter
• Large platter or baking sheet
• Double boiler or stainless steel bowl (1 quart)
• Fine sieve

Preparation

For truffle cream:
Pour the cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and add six ounces of the chocolate broken into small pieces. Stir constantly with a spoon until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in the orange liqueur. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours until the mixture is firm. The chocolate cream may be placed in the freezer to accelerate hardening.
For truffles:
Using a melon ball cutter or teaspoon dipped in hot water, scoop out all the chocolate onto a plate. Dust moderately with powdered sugar and shape into balls by rolling in the palms of your hands. Place the chocolate balls on a wax paper or foil-lined plate and freeze for a minimum of one hour.
Melt the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate in a double boiler, stirring once or twice. (A metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water takes the place of a double boiler.) Remove the bowl or the top of the double boiler from the hot water.
Cover the bottom of a small shallow baking pan with the cocoa powder.
Remove the truffles from the freezer and dip in the melted chocolate, one at a time, coating all sides. Drop the coated truffles into the cocoa powder and gently shake the pan in a back-and-forth motion to completely powder the truffles. Lift the powdered truffles into a fine sieve and shake gently back and forth to remove excess cocoa powder. Place the finished truffles in one layer in a covered container. Store in the refrigerator but serve at room temperature.

Serving Size

Makes 36 truffles

You can also view the video showing how these were made

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Pass the bananas

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. InThailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it's time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer

The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.

Here is something I saw on Facebook tonight - might be very good information to anyone fighting cancer right now.

Share this information first and read afterwards...Save Someone's Life. Share this as much as you can.♥

The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.

Why are we not aware of this? Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

So, since you know it now you can help a friend in need by letting him know or just drink some sour sop juice yourself as prevention from time to time. The taste is not bad after all. It’s completely natural and definitely has no side effects. If you have the space, plant one in your garden.
The other parts of the tree are also useful.

The next time you have a fruit juice, ask for a sour sop.

How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?

This tree is low and is called graviola in Brazil, guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such.

The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects. Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest. This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types.

Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.

If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it’s the incredible story behind the Graviola tree..

The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.

Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
* Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
* Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America's largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970's! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing… Extracts from the tree were shown to:

* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer..
* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells.. It does not harm healthy cells!

The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–so why haven’t you heard anything about it? If Graviola extract is one of America's biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.

Various parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds–have been used for centuries by medicine men and native India and in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.

But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.

The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree, it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it.

It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits or even make back the millions it poured into research.

As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.

Miracle unleashed

When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola, they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola and its shocking cover-up came in fast and furious….

….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…

….Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests, yet no double-blind clinical trials–the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment’s value–were ever initiated….

….A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin…”

….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.

…A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers Seven years of silence broken.

-lisha

I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISCOVERY THAT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH ANYONE FIGHTING CANCER. I OF COURSE CANNOT SWEAR FOR THE VALIDITY OF THIS, BUT WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO TRY IT IF YOU ARE THE ONE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE!!!

A chuckle for you today

Got this joke in my email today, and passing it on here



As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection: a thick slab of ham on a fresh bun with crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard.

The corners of my jaw aching in anticipation, I carried it to the table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands, but was stopped by my wife suddenly at my side.

"Here, hold Johnny (our six-week-old son) while I get my sandwich," she said.

I had him balanced between my left elbow and shoulder and was reaching again for the ham sandwich when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers...

I love mustard.

I had no napkin.

I licked it off.

It was not mustard.

No man ever put a baby down faster.

It was the first and only time I have sprinted with my tongue protruding out.

With a washcloth in each hand, I did the sort of routine shoeshine boys do, only I did it on my tongue.

Later, after she stopped crying from laughing so hard, my wife said, 'Now you know why they call that fancy mustard Poupon.'

When you stop laughing, pass it on.

Health tip - about sugar replacement products

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If you want to help yourself, get rid of all the so-called diet products, like Diet Coke etc, or anything containing Asperthame, Saccharine and Sucralose. Here's something I saw on Facebook that I felt everyone needs to hear about, I had already heard it all from Dr. OZ. I've already ditched a huge bad of Splenda I had just bought at Costco last week, (I couldn't return it because I had stupidly opened the bad, but not used it as yet). I've heard it all for a couple of years on Dr.. OZ's show, but chose to ignore it until now, I guess I finally woke up!

Toxic foods, drinks, and additives to cut out of your diet for good

Diet sodas and beverages sweetened with artificial chemicals. One of the more common dietary misconceptions in mainstream society today is the idea that "diet" beverages are somehow healthier than their sugar-sweetened beverages. Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) saccharin (Sweet'N Low), and sucralose (Splenda) are among the more popular artificial sweeteners used in many diet sodas, juices, chewing gums, and other foods.

Not only are artificial sweeteners bad for your health, but they also tend to promote obesity. If you want to protect yourself against chronic illness and toxicity -- aspartame literally converts to formaldehyde in the body and causes metabolic acidosis -- it is best to stick with either raw sugars or natural sugar substitutes like pure Stevia extract.

I really must investigate Stevia and see where I can get it, hopefully locally. I remember, oh maybe 6 or 8 years ago or so, I was in a Yahoo group called "I Want it all" and the lady that was running it was asked at the time, by the creator of Stevia to join their company and help promote the product. She had told us all about it, I think she had even shared some recipes made with it, but I never gave it a second thought at the time. Maybe it's time to give it a chance now! But for the moment, I'll be using real sugar, although very little of it. We don't drink too any soft drinks here, mostly what we have is water, so not much changes to the diet, except for replacing Splenda with sugar in coffee. And not using any of those "light" products or "diet" products containing Asperthame or Sucralose, such as Yogourt for instance.

Did you know that the stevia plant is grown in Canada? Stevia is a natural product, contrary to those other ones that are full of chemicals. But don't take my word for it, check out their website I just found http://www.steviacanada.com/ and their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JGGroupSteviaCanada. Seems that Health Canada has not yet approved Stevia as a product additive though http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/sweeten-edulcor/stevia-faq-eng.php

Isn't it weird thought that the EU and even the US from I can see have approved it and Canada, the country who found this does not? http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/food/food-research-and-development/stevia-eh-51716.

Well at least just writing this blog I have learned more about Stevia than before, so I guess that's good!

3 month anniversary!!

Originally published February 12th, 2008

Today is the 3 month anniversary of Tony's stroke!!! He's come a long way since November 12th, but if the Lakeshore General Hospital had given more therapy, he would be doing a heck of a lot better, but we have to accept the limitations for now and hope everything will get better in the next 6 months.

He is now walking with a quad cane, and sometimes during the therapy, the therapist makes him walk without the cane, but not for long. The arm however still refuses to move as it should, and the hand cannot grasp objects, I don't know if that will ever come back, it seems pretty hopeless right now.

I have had installed the required grab bars by Will-Aide and the installer is supposed to come back either Thursday or Friday to install the railings for the stairway that goes up to the bedrooms. Hope he comes Thursday, because Tony is coming home for the week-end, and will be here Friday afternoon, the 2 therapists are also coming to see if everything is set up as it should be and to make sure he can get around OK.

If all goes well Tony will be released on the 21st for good, and then he will go in as an out-patient twice a week for the therapy. We don't know yet how that will work out, if the appointments vary or if they are set at the same time every week. It's kind of annoying because I need to make some other appointments for both Tony and myself and if we don't know if he'll have to be in therapy it's hard to plan. He has a basal cell carcinoma on the top of his head that needs to be removed, he had seen his dermatologist the day before he went in the hospital, so we never had a chance to contact the plastic surgeon who removes the spot, I need to make that appointment for him and he also needs to see his ENT to get his ear canal checked out for wax buildup, he has to do that every 6 months and of course we are past that now.

I am a bit - ok more than a bit - apprehensive as to how everything will work when he gets home. For one thing, I haven't done any cooking in over 3 months, and now I'll have to feed him 3 meals a day, whereas before I'd only have to worry about supper, he always made his own breakfast and his lunch was always prepared ahead (sandwich etc). But that's minor, I'm more worried about if he will be able to get in and out of bed without problems, and be able to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night, as he always wakes up at the rehab and uses the urinal there. He might do the same at home, but we'll have to wait and see how it goes.

Then there is the matter of bathing. I have bought the bench that was suggested, but I'm not quite sure how to handle helping him with that, and am hoping that the CLSC will jump in soon, but I have to wait for the therapist to send the file over AFTER he leaves!!!!!! Why of why I wonder do they have to wait till the last minute when they know the CLSC won't be able to do anything right away. It really ticks me off, but I don't have a choice, I have to wait for them. I think that the fact that he is not on his own, they probably rely on me doing everything for him, but I hope they will help out at least a little.

My time is limited now on the PC, and I think that once he is home for good it will be even more limited because I'll be the only one here to help him getting around etc. Although he does pretty good with his quad cane, but it is different here. It's all carpeted for one thing, and I don't know if that will impede him at all. And of course, there isn't all that much space for him to walk around, at the rehab he walks 90 metres every night and on week-ends he does it twice a day, here there isn't that much space, he might be getting cabin fever after a while.......lol

Because we don't yet have the wheelchair, we can't go around and go through shopping centres, it's too tiring for him to walk any long distances with the cane, so we really need that chair, and it should be another month before we get it. And the other thing we are still waiting for is the handicap parking permit, that will probably be another month as well. I don't know why they have to wait to almost the last minute to get these things under way.

This week, the owner of the company he works for came by to visit and said she had a "transport chair" that her husband was using (he passed away a couple of years ago) and she would lend it to us if we could use it (he was a lot smaller, so I don't know if it will fit Tony's frame) and she also had a type of walker with a bench so that you can sit, but I don't think we'll be able to use that, because Tony doesn't have the use of both arms. She will get someone to bring these to us. She's a wonderful lady, she's in her late 70's or early 80, I'm not quite sure, but she gets around on her own, drives a car etc.

As for myself, I had the ultrasound for my knee last week and I'm still waiting for the result of that, I haven't yet heard from my doctor!! I also had my regular blood test for my INR (I'm also on Coumadin) and my blood was a bit too thin, so my dose was reduced for a couple of days a week - nothing to be alarmed about. Tony's INR seems to have stabilized finally, thank goodness!!! Oh and he's no longer MRSA, finally confirmed last week, that is quite a relief, although we already knew he wasn't, now it's official!

Well I hope I haven't forgotten any other news, but I'm really getting tired now and will get to bed shortly. I can't seem to be able to sleep more than 6 hours a night though, whereas I used to sleep at least 7 hours and sometimes 8 hours - which is what is recommended, but I just can't do it anymore, and I'll probably sleep even less when Tony comes home!!

I will leave you with a really bad quality video I took while playing with Tony's new laptop tonight, it has an integrated webcam and we had to try it, so I took a very quick and short video and here it is :) Just remember that Tony was just re-learning how to speak and had a hard time to articulated most of the time.

moscreations wrote on Mar 25, '08

mombaker said on Mar 18, '08

I'm soooo glad Tony is coming home. Together again as the song goes. That video did my heart good. To see & hear you both, WOW!! Loved it. I know how you feel. When my husband was alive & had cancer & had to get around in a wheelchair & then was bedridden. I waited on him hand & foot & was awaken sometimes 3 or 4 times a night to give him a massage because he was in such pain. Then I had to go to work the next day cleaning homes. If I did not love him & feel so comitted to our marriage, I would not have been able to make it. God Bless you both. Hang in there...it is definitely worth it.

Hugs, MOM 

Thanks Mom. Tony has been home now for over a month and it doesn't leave me much time to be on the computer. Hope you had a good Easter, ours was a quiet one. Tony suffered a fall last week-end and is still in pain, he got a contusion, thank goodness nothing was broken, but he is still in pain and requires more supervision! I too have to get up a few times during the night when he needs help going to the bathroom, but we finally are getting some hep now with his bathing, we have someone coming (starting today) 3 times a week to do that, at least I get that short time where i can get other things done.

Hugs

Mo

moscreations wrote on Mar 14, '08

Thanks Kori and Suz for checking up on us.

I have been remiss in not posting an update, but you're right Kori, I'm so busy and caught up in doing everything that I'm too bushed to blog, I barely do any email as it is, mostly I answer personal email and delete most jokes most of the time, there isn't enough time to forward all those emails.

Yes Suz, he has been home since March 20th, and it's pretty hectic as I'm having to do everything, from cooking, cleaning, washing, helping him get washed (shower), get dressed, going up and down the stairs, taking him to the various doctors, as we need to catch up on all cancelled appointments and of course being the therapist as well, including PT, OT and psychologist as well, as he is getting the occasional panic attack. Any outing is a long preparation and the outing itself is stressful enough as it is. We're still waiting to hear from the local CLSC to see what kind of help we can get, and also waiting for the wheelchair, still no word on that either and still waiting for the handicap parking sticker to allow to park in those special areas and the special passes to allow us to use handicap public transport. Everything seems to be slow as molasses in January!!!

And then we have the damn winter to contend with, the snow that just won't quit, my back is killing me!!! And I heard from someone who told me today we are expecting another big storm at the end of March and another in APRIL!!!!! I'm getting so fed up with winter.

We would have been going to bed about an hour ago, but he was starting getting anxious - another panic attack, because he worries about different things, mainly tonight about me, so I try to console him and bolster him and now he's fallen asleep in his chair. Hopefully he'll sleep through the night (in bed of course...lol)

Thank you both for your comments. Have a nice week-end!

Hugs

Mo

osuzana wrote on Mar 14, '08

So is he home and how is it going?

bubbly94 wrote on Mar 14, '08

Hope all is going well now at home. You haven't updated in a couple weeks, you are probably too busy to get on the computer! You and your husband continue to be in my thoughts!

Hugs,

Kori

moscreations wrote on Feb 26, '08

osuzana said

LOL, cute video. Well, you need to slow down and just deal with one thing at a time. I went through some of this with mom and dad and it does seem slow and to take forever. I went and picked mom up twice a week for her therapy and had her here with me right after rehab in the hospital and it was really easier to have her here at the house. Going to pick her up twice a week and take her to rehab was a little tiring because she lives about 20 minutes from me and it was 20 min. more to where we had to take her so it was all day for me. They set up a regular schedule for her twice a week and we worked around that. 

Actually things went smoothly and at least there were days when you didn't have to jump up and get dressed so early. That was nice. I cooked several things and froze some things so I had some meals ahead on those at home days. Soups and stuff. It worked pretty good. 

Yes it would be stressful having to go pick up a person to bring them to rehab, I guess I'm lucky in that respect. We have yet to hear when we will be able to start with that, I don't have enough time during the day to spend being a therapist on top of everything else that needs to be done here. Today we finally had someone here to fix my computer and install a wireless router at the same time, so now Tony can use the laptop upstairs, which he is doing right now :)

If only it wasn't winter, he could go outside and go with me for walks, but the snow just won't stop coming, I'm so sick of winter.....lol.

Thanks for the visit and comment Suz.

osuzana wrote on Feb 26, '08

Well, I just read above so it sounds like you have the food thing down. Don't worry until it happens. They will walk you through everything.

moscreations wrote on Feb 19, '08

barb5t said

Forget the quality of the video. I see two wonderful people greeting us. Love it!

There is so much to think and wonder about. I hope the weekend goes well. I know it will feel sooooo good to Tony to be home if he can get past the difficult bumps. You both have my continued prayers.

Hugs, Barb 

Thanks Barb, you're too kind :) - Tony is coming home for good tomorrow!!!!

We'll still need those prayers, thanks so much Barb

Hugs

Mo

moscreations wrote on Feb 13, '08

barbarab1313 said.

What a cute video of you two.

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Won't the CLSC come in to help you at least a few days a week, maybe do some cleaning and help Tony a bit or are they leaving it all up to you.

They must realize that you are not 100% either.

Maybe you can make meals in advance and freeze them that way you can prepare one time and not every time you have to eat

It can't be easy for you and no wonder you can't sleep with everything rolling around in your mind,

I think once you get Tony home and settle in to some kind of routine, things will settle down and go well.

The nice weather will be coming soon not today though ha ha and Tony will be able to get outdoors for walks.

At least the workers will be coming with Tony to see if everything is set up for him.

I think Tony will just be happy to get back home to where he is loved by you and Tara, the rest will take some adjusting but you are both strong and love each other and I would bet things will be ok.

Take care of yourself and I know it is easy for me to say don't worry and put it in God's hands but easier said then done.

Take care (((HUGS))) 

Thanks Barbara :) it's not a very good quality video, we were just fooling around with the new laptop :)

It won't be easy that's for sure, but I guess we'll eventually get used to it all, it will be a new routine! We always did prepare meals ahead and froze them :) Right now I have loads of food in the freezer, which I hope will still be good as it's been there for over 3 months! Lots of chicken, tilapia, salmon, pork chops, 1 pot roast and ground beef, we're loaded to the gills......lol

He's also used to going to bed early now, so I don't know how that will work over here, if he'll keep those same hours, I'm sure I'll be up every time he wakes up in the middle of the night.

Winter ain't over yet......lol...more coming tomorrow night again!!! Just in time for his homecoming too!!! Have to make sure the driveway is nice and clean!!

He can't wait to be home and I'm sure Tara will be jumping for joy when she sees him, I'm taking her to the groomer tomorrow, so she'll be nice and clean for him :)

Hugs

Mo

moscreations wrote on Feb 13, '08

dkbtimbo51 said

Mo, I know you aren't sure if you can handle things with Tony when he comes home but I, am, sure God will give you the strength and guide you with HIS wisdom for you to do so. I, know you are a strong woman and you will find the power within yourself to do what needs to be done. Hopefully before you leave the hospital someone will show you how to help Tony with the shower etc. One would think that they would at any rate. I, am, sorry to hear that motion in his one hand and arm is not back where it should be. It may take a lot longer for that mobility to return. Thank you for the video. You two look so happy, with your lovely smiles. Continuing to keep you both in my prayers. Love and hugs, to you both. Donna/Dkbtimbo51 

I'm always praying for strength Donna, sometimes I'm not so strong, but that's when I'm on my own, I've always tried to be strong (or appear to be) in front of Tony, specially in the early days. I don't think it will be all that difficult to get him in the shower, he won't be able to stand, he'll be sitting on that bath bench I bought and take the shower sitting down, I'm hoping the CLSC will be helping with that a couple of times a week anyway, but we'll see how that goes.

Thanks for the prayers Donna

Hugs

Mo

moscreations wrote on Feb 13, '08

mkinwa said

Huge hugs for you Mo!

Years ago, my mother-in-law had a stroke. When she came home, she was to walk around the house, several times a day. I set up a great (well...ok, so it was an OK) path. As she regained her strength, I took her to the grocery store. She was able to get her exercise by walking up and down the aisles, using the grocery cart for stability. It's tedious, but it's indoors, and relatively safe. Grocery carts are good sturdy thingers.

Your budget must be in tatters, and will continue that way. With everybody home 24/7, expect your utility bill to skyrocket. Also your grocery bill. You'll get used to preparing three meals, but not overnight.

I think about you two, was going to get over here yesterday, but I got busy with some research. Was SO happy to receive this alert! 

Keeping you in prayer.

Love,

mk

Thanks M.K. Always appreciate the prayers.

We've cleared the living room so that he can walk around in there, although it's not a large area, but he can walk there, in the hallway to the dining room (no space there to speak of) and through the kitchen, which is only a galley type kitchen, so not much area for him to walk through and because of the snow it makes it hard for him to do anything else right now, and because he can't walk great distances, walking in malls is too much at this time, but hopefully as the months go by and spring arrives it will be better. The grocery bill will go up for sure.....lol

moscreations wrote on Feb 13, '08

dreamyone said

Ah!.. I love the video... You both look so sweet., 

He's looking so much better and it's so good how much progress he's made. It's good news that he'll soon be able to come home with you and that will be such a relief I'm sure. And he'll probably do even better at home then he would at the hospital. 

I just hope you will not over do, I know this all has taken it's toll on you , stress wise and also sleep and such . Just remember to take time out for yourself.

I know you may end up losing more computer time.. but sometimes we have to take care of our own personal needs first and the rest can wait. However I'll miss you , and have already noticed the big void when your not around. I'm so sorry to hear that Tony has to have a basal cell removed but also happy they found it..That is nothing to play around with. I Know I'm scared to death of those things popping up on me too especially since I was such a sun worshiper my entire life. Anyway my dear I really hope that your MRI will turn out not to be too serious and also , again that you'll find sometime for yourself and be able to catch up on some rest. Sure wish I lived closer to you , I'd fix you both some meals and do what ever I could to give you a break. But all I can do is say that I"m praying and thinking of you both constantly and wishing soon for things to get all better again.. Love you friend and heres a big hug for you. I hope you feel it and know I care and I'm thinking of you.. Thank you for the update and don't go to far away okay.. I'll miss you.. Thank you also for the cute things in my mailbox. I haven't had time today to look as we had an awful storm last night and it blew out one of my computers totally and we've been cleaning up since last night here since it hit. Lightening struck two homes near by me last night and burned them to the ground.. thankfully nobody was hurt.. but we lost power all night long.. it was so scary... Well off I go thanks gain for the update.. and heres one more hug cause you need lots of them from us all right now, and cause they make everything better I think.. :)  

Thanks Les, it's not a very good video.....lol

We'll have to get into a routine once he's home for good, including the trips back to the rehab twice a week for 3 to 4 months!

I have yet to call to make that appointment for him to get that basal cell removed, too many things going on at the same time.....lol

Sorry to hear you got hit by lightening at your house, but you're lucky yours didn't burn down to the ground that's just awful that happened to the other 2 homes.

Thanks for the hugs sweet friends and sending them back to you too :)

moscreations wrote on Feb 13, '08

mistyshadows2u said

MO some of the stores in the mall have wheelchairs...Walmart for sure...but again they might be too small for Tony...but you could check them out before he comes home permanently. Such great news he is coming home. Have you got someone that can come in to give you a couple hours for yourself...as in going out for lunch...going grocery shopping...just to take a bath??? They have that and if you don't you get your doctor to help you. You will need that bit of time just for you....It's important! 

Hi Misty, yes malls and hospitals do have wheelchairs, I think though that they will lend us the one he is currently using until we get the one that was fitted for him, I know they will at least for this week-end. I'm sure the CLSC (the organism in Quebec that would do that) will get that done eventually, just have to go with the system, the therapists have to hand over a file to them, a caseworker has to be assign and then they will contact me I guess, I can't seem to be able to be the one to contact them, it has to come from them, so just have to wait and see, at least by next week I should know one way or another (I hope).

barbarab1313 wrote on Feb 13, '08

What a cute video of you two.

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Won't the CLSC come in to help you at least a few days a week, maybe do some cleaning and help Tony a bit or are they leaving it all up to you.

They must realize that you are not 100% either.

Maybe you can make meals in advance and freeze them that way you can prepare one time and not every time you have to eat

It can't be easy for you and no wonder you can't sleep with everything rolling around in your mind,

I think once you get Tony home and settle in to some kind of routine, things will settle down and go well.

The nice weather will be coming soon not today though ha ha and Tony will be able to get outdoors for walks.

At least the workers will be coming with Tony to see if everything is set up for him.

I think Tony will just be happy to get back home to where he is loved by you and Tara, the rest will take some adjusting but you are both strong and love each other and I would bet things will be ok.

Take care of yourself and I know it is easy for me to say don't worry and put it in God's hands but easier said then done.

Take care (((HUGS)))

dkbtimbo51 wrote on Feb 13, '08

Mo, I know you aren't sure if you can handle things with Tony when he comes home but I, am, sure God will give you the strength and guide you with HIS wisdom for you to do so. I, know you are a strong woman and you will find the power within yourself to do what needs to be done. Hopefully before you leave the hospital someone will show you how to help Tony with the shower etc. One would think that they would at any rate. I, am, sorry to hear that motion in his one hand and arm is not back where it should be. It may take a lot longer for that mobility to return. Thank you for the video. You two look so happy, with your lovely smiles. Continuing to keep you both in my prayers. Love and hugs, to you both. Donna/Dkbtimbo51

mkinwa wrote on Feb 13, '08

Huge hugs for you Mo!

Years ago, my mother-in-law had a stroke. When she came home, she was to walk around the house, several times a day. I set up a great (well...ok, so it was an OK) path. As she regained her strength, I took her to the grocery store. She was able to get her exercise by walking up and down the aisles, using the grocery cart for stability. It's tedious, but it's indoors, and relatively safe. Grocery carts are good sturdy thingers.

Your budget must be in tatters, and will continue that way. With everybody home 24/7, expect your utility bill to skyrocket. Also your grocery bill. You'll get used to preparing three meals, but not overnight.

I think about you two, was going to get over here yesterday, but I got busy with some research. Was SO happy to receive this alert! 

Keeping you in prayer.

Love,

mk

dreamyone wrote on Feb 12, '08

Ah!.. I love the video... You both look so sweet., 

He's looking so much better and it's so good how much progress he's made. It's good news that he'll soon be able to come home with you and that will be such a relief I'm sure. And he'll probably do even better at home then he would at the hospital. 

I just hope you will not over do, I know this all has taken it's toll on you , stress wise and also sleep and such . Just remember to take time out for yourself.

I know you may end up losing more computer time.. but sometimes we have to take care of our own personal needs first and the rest can wait. However I'll miss you , and have already noticed the big void when your not around. I'm so sorry to hear that Tony has to have a basal cell removed but also happy they found it..That is nothing to play around with. I Know I'm scared to death of those things popping up on me too especially since I was such a sun worshiper my entire life. Anyway my dear I really hope that your MRI will turn out not to be too serious and also , again that you'll find sometime for yourself and be able to catch up on some rest. Sure wish I lived closer to you , I'd fix you both some meals and do what ever I could to give you a break. But all I can do is say that I"m praying and thinking of you both constantly and wishing soon for things to get all better again.. Love you friend and heres a big hug for you. I hope you feel it and know I care and I'm thinking of you.. Thank you for the update and don't go to far away okay.. I'll miss you.. Thank you also for the cute things in my mailbox. I haven't had time today to look as we had an awful storm last night and it blew out one of my computers totally and we've been cleaning up since last night here since it hit. Lightening struck two homes near by me last night and burned them to the ground.. thankfully nobody was hurt.. but we lost power all night long.. it was so scary... Well off I go thanks gain for the update.. and heres one more hug cause you need lots of them from us all right now, and cause they make everything better I think.. :)

mistyshadows2u wrote on Feb 12, '08

MO some of the stores in the mall have wheelchairs...Walmart for sure...but again they might be too small for Tony...but you could check them out before he comes home permanently. Such great news he is coming home. Have you got someone that can come in to give you a couple hours for yourself...as in going out for lunch...going grocery shopping...just to take a bath??? They have that and if you don't you get your doctor to help you. You will need that bit of time just for you....It's important!

moscreations wrote on Feb 12, '08

kandaphati said

Lots of homework for you, Mo! Hope everything will be done as planned.

Is it possible to hire a helper to help a few hours a day? You might want one....

Rest well. Take care. You are in my thoughts.  

Yup sure is Kanda. I can't afford a helper!! Unless it comes free.......lol, and now I better get to bed :)

kandaphati wrote on Feb 12, '08

Lots of homework for you, Mo! Hope everything will be done as planned.

Is it possible to hire a helper to help a few hours a day? You might want one....

Rest well. Take care. You are in my thoughts.

Where does the time go???

Originally published on Multiply February 2nd., 2008



I don't come on the computer much these days, but when I do, I don't know where the time goes, I'm mainly here usually to do my online banking and then the odd time I actually have time to go through email, though not enough time to forward to all. And blogging is just another matter all together.....lol.....but today I felt I had to make an entry, at least 1 per week :)

Where to start?!?!?!? We had been told there would be a home visit, and when they would come, they would bring Tony along for the ride and to see how he did at home, however that is not how it turned out to be.

The 2 therapists, physio and occupational, came to see the house this week, and assess what needs to be done, installation etc before Tony can come home. But they did not bring Tony along.

I already knew that we would need grab bars in the bathrooms, they took measurement to make sure we got the right size. We had anticipated that he would also require a raised toilet seat, but luckily, he has enough strength to be able to get up from a normal toilet, as long as he has the grab bars, we were both happy that this could be achieved, as those seats are really messy and a pain in the butt, no pun intended.......lol.

They then measured the stairway and as we already knew, we have to install a new railing on the side of the wall, so that he can use that when going down the stairs, so all this was measured and noted by the OC therapist, she is the one in charged of all this co-ordination. They suggested I use the company Wil-Aide Medical for the installation of the grab bars and to also get them to install the railing, one of the therapist had called them previously to enquire about them selling and installing railings and was told they had those in stock and would come to show me what they had, but it turns out that they have to go buy the supplies, wood, brackets etc and stain them if we want (and I do) and then come and install them, so all of that is putting a delay in Tony being able to come home for a week-end visit, we had hoped originally to be able to do that this week-end, but they(therapists) didn't give me the details fast enough to get the information to Pat (my friend who can get me the bars from the company she works for) in time for her to place the order. Employees can only receive delivery of anything they order on Friday, so it was too late for last Friday, so we had to wait until this Friday to take delivery of the bars, I also had to order a bench to help him to get into the bathtub and get washed. You can see it here. So Pat, ordered all the necessary bars and the bench and brought them home yesterday. We also need to install 2 grab bars in the garage doorway to the house, to help him to go up the 2 steps he has to climb to get into the house.

Once all of these are installed he will be able to come home. The grab bars will be installed next Thursday in the afternoon and at that time, the gentleman will check out what needs to be ordered for the railings for the stairway that leads up to the bedrooms, and he will get those, stain them to match what we already have and come back and install them the following Tuesday night, that would be Feb. 12th. It's very disappointing that we couldn't get him to get this done sooner as it delays everything. But he needs 3 days to get the staining done properly, so unless I knew someone else that could do it (which I don't) I pretty much have to wait for him, and hope that doesn't cost an arm and 2 legs. I am very fortunate though that I was able to save a huge bundle on the grab bars and the bench. I ended up paying $79 for the whole thing (5 grab bars 18 inches, one 32 inch, and one angled which on the web site they show installed in a V but will be installed in an L position, plus the bench), the therapist told me that if I had purchased these at a retail place, it would have cost me upwards of $300!!!! At least I saved there, but I know I'll be paying through the nose for the railings! I don't yet know how much that will be!

Before the home visit, Pat and I removed the coffee table from the living room, because I know it will be in the way of Tony getting around there, it is not a very large room. It was also decided (and I already knew it would have to be done) that we would have to move the green leather chair we have in the living room (the only one he can safely sit in) to the other side of the room, so he can watch TV, so the living room will have to be re-organized before he comes home.

Going in to the basement is out of the question because it is a circular staircase and not safe for him to use - at least not at this time, and to be frank I don't even know if he will ever be able to come down this staircase as it stands right now, we may have to invest in a different staircase later on.

We have so much stuff down here (basement) it is totally disorganized right now, because of the mini flood we had in August and Tony, being the procrastinator that he is, was putting off getting this fixed and ready for winter, so everything is all over the place, plus we have the computers down here. Maybe at some point we might have to think of moving these up to the second floor, but right now, I would like to get a wireless router and get the internet working on his laptop when he comes home, so at least he'll be able to entertain himself with that, without the internet, it's pretty boring for him, and I know nothing about those things, so that is something to look at when he comes home for good! Right now we are using 2 different ISP, one for my computer (which is out of commission) and one for his (the reason behind this was that a while back when he would log on to his company through their network (VPN) it would knock me off the internet, so we decided to use a separate ISP for him). We will have to get rid of that - and save money at the same time.

In other news, we've had some pretty harsh weather here in Montreal, and on Wednesday morning as I was taking out a recycling bin, I didn't see there was ice in the driveway, it was dark and didn't show, and I took a bad stumble just in front of my car, I hit my tailbone pretty hard, but it's getting better now, but the worse was my left knee, which is already sore from the cyst I have there, it's still sore, I sat all day with either cold packs or ice bags on my knee at the rehab center. The staff were great at helping me with that. I had to put more on today as it's still painful. Hope that will go away soon. I'm going for the ultrasound next week for the cyst, and Lord only knows when I'll get the results of that and what will need to be done about that.

That's another source of worry for me, because if I need surgery, what will happen to Tony???? And what will happen to me too?? I try not to let it worry me until I know more about it, bit sometimes it does keep me awake thinking about it, I can't help it!

WOW I know I rambled on and on here and hope all of the above makes sense to you and hope that you all have a great week-end!

Thank you all for your thoughts, comments and prayers, we both really appreciate it.

moscreations wrote on Feb 8, '08

nanook84 said

Mo I'm sure he can have some invalid payment from the Québec's Pension Plan, if he is not going to be able to go to work, at least for a year they will pay up, they even send you the back payment, that is what Diane used to buy her electric wheelchair. 

Mo the nice part about Vinegar is that is is such a small dose that it won't affect the Coumadin, here we all are on Coumadin, because of thrombosis in our legs, and that is what we use. but you have to make sure it is like 1/4 cup white vinegar to 3/4 cup warm water, not more than that. Legs are our "bête noire" in this family it is a degenerative bone marrow and arthrosis gene that is defective, and we loose the use of our knee to start, then it keeps on. Make sure you have 2 type of "salt" for when he come home they say that you can use the big de icing salt, up to below 5, then you have to use a mixture as the de icing salt has no effect. I used to buy a huge bucket at Costco with a Polar Bear on it it worked just fine. It was a mixture for all weather. A bit costly, but much less than yet another visit at the hospital.

Now you keep us posted, also for your own test, sending you love and prayers.

Take care now you hear?

Sylvie 

We haven't applied for his QPP yet, want to wait until he's 65, he's 63 right now. Not sure if they would pay for invalidity, not yet anyway, because he hasn't finished all therapies, I guess once everything is over and if they determine he won't be able to do anything then maybe we can go that route. 

I have DVT too, and had a pulmonary embolism in 2002, that's why I'm on Coumadin, some days my legs are just so full of bumps and lumps!!!

Will have to make sure the driveway is nice and clear when he comes home, and wouldn't you know they keep saying it's going to snow almost every day next week!!!!

Will probably take a week or two for my doctor to get the result of the ultrasound!! I know there is definitely something there though, the technician did say there was. But what it is for sure will have to wait and see!

Thanks for the support and prayers Sylvie - merci beaucoup :)

nanook84 wrote on Feb 7, '08

Mo I'm sure he can have some invalid payment from the Québec's Pension Plan, if he is not going to be able to go to work, at least for a year they will pay up, they even send you the back payment, that is what Diane used to buy her electric wheelchair. 

Mo the nice part about Vinegar is that is is such a small dose that it won't affect the Coumadin, here we all are on Coumadin, because of thrombosis in our legs, and that is what we use. but you have to make sure it is like 1/4 cup white vinegar to 3/4 cup warm water, not more than that. Legs are our "bête noire" in this family it is a degenerative bone marrow and arthrosis gene that is defective, and we loose the use of our knee to start, then it keeps on. Make sure you have 2 type of "salt" for when he come home they say that you can use the big de icing salt, up to below 5, then you have to use a mixture as the de icing salt has no effect. I used to buy a huge bucket at Costco with a Polar Bear on it it worked just fine. It was a mixture for all weather. A bit costly, but much less than yet another visit at the hospital.

Now you keep us posted, also for your own test, sending you love and prayers.

Take care now you hear?

Sylvie

moscreations wrote on Feb 6, '08

kandaphati said

Wish you all the best. Make wishes. It's Chinese New Year's Eve today (Feb-6). Best wishes to you, Mo. Things will get better very soon! (-: 

Thanks Kanda, Happy New Year :) although you are not Chinese :) and neither am I......lol

kandaphati wrote on Feb 6, '08

Wish you all the best. Make wishes. It's Chinese New Year's Eve today (Feb-6). Best wishes to you, Mo. Things will get better very soon! (-:

moscreations wrote on Feb 5, '08

nanook84 said

Oh Mo, so sorry to hear that Tony wasn't able to come home, even for a short visit. I do understand what you are going through since I've gone through this with both my older sisters, and 2 nephew already, our Medicare isn't the fastest one.

Have you contacted your local CLSC about it, it did help when I did for my sisters, they lent me equipment so they could come home earlier, till we got their place fixed properly.

As for having only 1 chair that Tony can sit comfortably and securely in the house, my nephews came up with a nifty thing for my sisters, they measured the height that chairs and compared it to others had to be raised in the house, then they made sturdy block out of hard wood with a tiny railing all around so the chair's legs wouldn't slip of them, what is nice with this system is that when my sisters go to visit they can bring the non slip blocks with them and use them at my house or whatever. Most chairs come in only 3 heights, so it was pretty simple to make the sets, once they figured it out.

They also used cedar to design platform to get in and out of the bath, as well a one that my sister Diane can use to get in her pick up, this one has a kind of "handle" that she use to retrieve it with her cane once she is in the pick up.

Both sister have finally been approved by the Québec's Retirement for the full Invalidity program, and their whole house and vehicle will be modified accordingly. 

You ought to discuss it with Tony's specialist. As the cost for equipment sure add up fast.

Otherwise don't forget to have everything approved and then send the bills with your Income tax report.

Black ice, the hypocrite one, now about that knee that is hurting, after a fall like that, they always tell you to put ice on it, true, but alternate with warm not hot compress made of 1 part white Vinegar 3 parts water, Vinegar contains ASA and will go through the skin, to help relieve both the pain, and the swelling, it is also good to "suck" any fluid that might have accumulated out, like for a furoncle, oh not sure if this is in English.

Now you be careful you know that come this week, we will be in for more of the stuff we had last week. We sure have an "old fashioned" Quebec Winter this year. Lets hope Willie was right and that it will be an early Spring.

I'll be praying for you and your family. Big hugs to you and your family. 

Hi Sylvie, thanks for your comment. After I get all the grab bars installed and most especially the extra railing to go upstairs, which will be done next Tuesday, he'll be able to come home for the week-end - not this week-end, but the next one and will be home for good soon after that.

I haven't contacted the local CLSC yet, THEY (the rehab) were supposed to do that, but I'm thinking that I'll have to do it myself if I want to hear anything. They were telling me that after they are contacted they don't do anything for a few weeks, they have to study the case etc etc (the CLSC), because I was hoping to the CLSC nurse to come and give him or help with a bath or shower twice a week. 

That was a great idea with the non-slip block. I think though that Tony will be ok pretty soon, his legs have grown a lot stronger, he can get up now from lower chairs, but of course he does require armchairs, getting up from a chair without arms will take a while!

Sounds like your sisters are in worse shape though than Tony, I don't know that he would be considered "full invalid" not even sure what exactly that means, of course he hasn't finished all therapy, once he is back home, he will be going twice a week as an outpatient, for about 2-3 hour sessions I think, not sure of the timing yet, but twice a week for sure. I guess we'll have to wait a year to see about the driving etc and even working - not that he really wants to go back anyway, he was really tired of it all, but even if he did, he wouldn't be able to get the same job. And that's also why after the rehab is going to be over, he will be going through the one at Constance Lethbridge, at least that's what they told us when we had the family meeting, that is a long way off though, as the outpatient will be for about 3-4 months.

I haven't tried warm compresses as yet, but was thinking about doing that, but I can't use ASA, because I am on Coumadin and you can't use that, so I guess I can't use the vinegar mixture, I had no idea that vinegar had ASA in it though!

Yeah we sure have been getting a real mixture of weather these days haven't we. It's almost like the winter I knew as a little girl, but it was much worse then....lol. I hope it gets better by the time Tony comes home, because it will be hard for him to get around in the snow. They haven't even tried to get him in and out of the car yet, I hope we won't have problems with that!

Thanks for the prayers, I always appreciate those and it's so nice to hear from you, thanks for visiting my page.

Hugs

Mo

moscreations wrote on Feb 5, '08

tenderhope said

Hi Mo,

I really wished we lived closer, I'd be over in a heart beat helping you with all that needs to be done. Please know that you are in my prayers. Keep blogging, it is good for you, and good for us to know how you are! Love and Hugz, Suz 

Thanks Suz. He's doing pretty good though and will be home soon :)

tenderhope wrote on Feb 5, '08

Hi Mo,

I really wished we lived closer, I'd be over in a heart beat helping you with all that needs to be done. Please know that you are in my prayers. Keep blogging, it is good for you, and good for us to know how you are! Love and Hugz, Suz

nanook84 wrote on Feb 4, '08, edited on Feb 4, '08

Oh Mo, so sorry to hear that Tony wasn't able to come home, even for a short visit. I do understand what you are going through since I've gone through this with both my older sisters, and 2 nephew already, our Medicare isn't the fastest one.

Have you contacted your local CLSC about it, it did help when I did for my sisters, they lent me equipment so they could come home earlier, till we got their place fixed properly.

As for having only 1 chair that Tony can sit comfortably and securely in the house, my nephews came up with a nifty thing for my sisters, they measured the height that chairs and compared it to others had to be raised in the house, then they made sturdy block out of hard wood with a tiny railing all around so the chair's legs wouldn't slip of them, what is nice with this system is that when my sisters go to visit they can bring the non slip blocks with them and use them at my house or whatever. Most chairs come in only 3 heights, so it was pretty simple to make the sets, once they figured it out.

They also used cedar to design platform to get in and out of the bath, as well a one that my sister Diane can use to get in her pick up, this one has a kind of "handle" that she use to retrieve it with her cane once she is in the pick up.

Both sister have finally been approved by the Québec's Retirement for the full Invalidity program, and their whole house and vehicle will be modified accordingly. 

You ought to discuss it with Tony's specialist. As the cost for equipment sure add up fast.

Otherwise don't forget to have everything approved and then send the bills with your Income tax report.

Black ice, the hypocrite one, now about that knee that is hurting, after a fall like that, they always tell you to put ice on it, true, but alternate with warm not hot compress made of 1 part white Vinegar 3 parts water, Vinegar contains ASA and will go through the skin, to help relieve both the pain, and the swelling, it is also good to "suck" any fluid that might have accumulated out, like for a furoncle, oh not sure if this is in English.

Now you be careful you know that come this week, we will be in for more of the stuff we had last week. We sure have an "old fashioned" Quebec Winter this year. Lets hope Willie was right and that it will be an early Spring.

I'll be praying for you and your family. Big hugs to you and your family.

moscreations wrote on Feb 4, '08

Not really Kanda, about the same :)

kandaphati wrote on Feb 4, '08

Better today? 

Hope so... Get well soon, Mo. :-)

moscreations wrote on Feb 3, '08

nanatimes8 said

Awww Mo...wish it were all easier for you. So sorry to hear you fell but at least Tony wasn't home with you when it happened. Then you would have really worried. Please take care of yourself and I'll be thinking and praying for ya!!

Huggers

~Nancy~ 

Thanks Nancy, I appreciate it. I think if he had been home he would have been more worried about me, at least he didn't know until after the fact :)

nanatimes8 wrote on Feb 3, '08

Awww Mo...wish it were all easier for you. So sorry to hear you fell but at least Tony wasn't home with you when it happened. Then you would have really worried. Please take care of yourself and I'll be thinking and praying for ya!!

Huggers

~Nancy~

moscreations wrote on Feb 3, '08

andershansen said

Dear Mos! Hope everything turns out well for you with ur installing. You are in my thoughts for your knee and cyst - hope that is not as bad as it sounds. Hugs and lots of love your friend Anders! 

Thank you Anders, I appreciate it

moscreations wrote on Feb 3, '08

kandaphati said

Oh dear, Mo,... You OK?! Don't fall anymore!!!!!!

You certainly need help. Better ask someone that you trust.

The therapists were right to come survey first without bringing Tony.

The bench looked good. Clever. Never seen any designs that good. 

Hope you have them all installed ASAP. 

Looks like you have a lot of homework, Mo!!!! 

Wish I could help more.  

It's not like I did it on purpose Kanda........LOL, accidents will happen, just that I didn't need it to happen just NOW.....lol

moscreations wrote on Feb 3, '08

barbarab1313 said

(((HUGS)))

Boy I thought for sure Tony would have been able to come home for a visit but it sounds like it won't be long now. This weather is nuts, I fell myself the other day on ice but thank goodness I didn't hurt myself.

I hope it is nothing serious with your knee, maybe they can drain it.

You are both still in my prayers and hopefully Tony will be home soon and things can get back to normal or as normal as they can be given the circumstances.

So hang in there and make sure you are taking care of you. 

Thanks Barbara, it's snowing a tiny bit again this morning :( 

for the knee, will just have to wait and see what they say for the cyst, as for the other problem, I hope it stops hurting soon, might ask the tech when she does the ultrasound if she can do something about that too. Don't know if they can for the front part.

Glad that you're doing ok!!!

andershansen wrote on Feb 3, '08

Dear Mos! Hope everything turns out well for you with ur installing. You are in my thoughts for your knee and cyst - hope that is not as bad as it sounds. Hugs and lots of love your friend Anders!

kandaphati wrote on Feb 3, '08

Oh dear, Mo,... You OK?! Don't fall anymore!!!!!!

You certainly need help. Better ask someone that you trust.

The therapists were right to come survey first without bringing Tony.

The bench looked good. Clever. Never seen any designs that good. 

Hope you have them all installed ASAP. 

Looks like you have a lot of homework, Mo!!!! 

Wish I could help more.

barbarab1313 wrote on Feb 2, '08

(((HUGS)))

Boy I thought for sure Tony would have been able to come home for a visit but it sounds like it won't be long now. This weather is nuts, I fell myself the other day on ice but thank goodness I didn't hurt myself.

I hope it is nothing serious with your knee, maybe they can drain it.

You are both still in my prayers and hopefully Tony will be home soon and things can get back to normal or as normal as they can be given the circumstances.

So hang in there and make sure you are taking care of you.