September 24th Monday - A beautiful fall morning 36 degrees
I know I had promised I would blog more frequently once we reached home; however I didn't know what awaited me at home. We arrived home and Preston and Susie helped us unpack and get things cleaned up. In fact, they helped us clean the motor home on Sunday and left for home. Lou and I were finishing up the last of the washing and decided we would clean out the compartments and I was working on the compartment on the drivers side and he tackled the lock on the entrance door that we were having problems with and I heard a crash, I came around the RV and found Lou on the ground. He had taken a "swan dive" from the second step onto the paved driveway. I helped him roll over and up to his knees and we was able to pull himself up using the step ladder that was beside of him. Knowing Lou he put the screw back in the door, but found it was very painful to take a step, so I got him to the car and we went to the ER. To make a long story short. at 11:00 pm he was admitted to the hospital for a fractured him, and told he would have surgery on Monday.
When Monday morning arrived at the orthopedist looked at the CAT scan he made the decision, that surgery would not correct the problem. Lou was discharged with a walker and told he could use his toe for balance, but bed rest for three weeks would tell the story. He could come home, if we thought he could get up the steps. Krista come down and between the three of us, we got him up the steps and we quickly converted the house back to walker safe and Lou did very well. Most all of the equipment we needed was still here in storage, so we were in business. Lou was a very good patient and did just exactly what the doctor said. He always told everyone that he married me because he needed a full time nurse, well it was true this time and it was nice to be a care giver again. Kris, once again, was right here to do whatever she needed to do, even with little Matthew, and Michelle was good to help out when needed also. Even Steve helped out when I went to paint the front deck and found my iron rail had rusted out. Steve went to Lowe's and got new railing and he replaced it for me. Lou had to do the "grunting" for Steve, but soon realized he needed to have his leg up.
After almost four weeks, Lou went back to the doctor, had x-rays done and found the break had almost healed. The doctor told him to get rid of the walker, use a cane, if he felt he needed it, but he didn't think he would need it, come back in three weeks if he had pain, but he felt he would be fine. Lou does still have a little pain, if her over does, or if the weather is rainy, but is doing very nicely. As Lou says not ready to dance a jig, but very pleased with his progress.
We have had a lot of company, phone calls, cards, prayers and we went a month without going to church and have been able to go again, and we really missed our church family, so things are back to normal. We did get our motor home cleaned up for winter and have it back in the barn thanks to Preston and it will stay there until we winterize it and it is ready for the trip to Florida in January. Everyone had a hand in getting it cleaned up ready for the barn. Krista and Mary washed the windows while we were at the ER. Little Matthew loves wheels and he played with the wheels that I had sprayed with cleaner before I left and he left little hand prints around one side of the RV, real cute!!
The picture of the Cactus will be appreciated by Scott, the year after Al died, I stayed two weeks with Scott and Sue, and Greg and I went next door and I found this darling little cactus and I wanted to try and grow it at home and Scott told me I couldn't bring it home on the plane, so I told him I would mail it home along with some other plants, I think Scott was a little doubtful about my thoughts, but he went along with me, so I gathered up some things and Scott took me to the UPS and I mailed them, well they looked a little sick when they arrived, but I planted them anyhow, and they all lived, and this cactus just keeps growing. Each winter when I go to Florida, I leave it here alone, so heat or water and it does alright, and each summer I put it outside, but his year, it has just grown after I repotted it. Now Scott aren't you amazed??
Michelle and I have always been fascinated by Monarch butterflies and when she was in kindergarten we captured a larva like the picture and watched it turn to the pupa and eventually the Monarch, but we noticed that the Milkweed are disappearing, so I starting planting seeds, to try to help the Monarchs; however, this year I only noted one larva. Perhaps next year will be better.
