Pat is doing great actually. He hasn't been walking quite as much as I would like, but we are building up to it. :) I figured we would start by having him get up at 8 or 8:30ish every morning (he is not loving that). But I am used to getting up early, so my day is halfway done before he starts to stir.
This afternoon we went to the Discovery Bay Pool with some family friends. For those of you who haven't been there, we highly recommend it. There are a couple of really great waterslides, an awesome wading pool, a lazy river (although the current is much stronger than the current on the one at the FunPlex) and a nice regular pool that goes as high as 5 feet deep. Pat did quite a bit of walking, he will be super sore tomorrow. He was able to take a lot of steps on his own in the water and kept his balance very well, except for the Lazy River. We think they should rename it the Rapid River, since the current kept pulling him away from me and then moving us both along much faster than we were comfortable with.
If that wasn't enough walking for him, I got him to walk into a frozen yogurt place with me. As a reward, a very sweet stranger bought both of us some frozen yogurt. I don't know his name, but his kind words really touched me and I felt so blessed that someone we didn't even know would take the time to acknowledge what we are trying to do together.
Well enough of the fun stuff, now back to packing. Groan.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Starting off right
Last evening Pat suprised me at work by joining my coworkers in a goodbye party for me. The surprise was on him though when he couldn't get to the elevator to come up to the second floor because the way was blocked by a pallet of toilets. But he rallied nicely and made the climb up the stairs in the fastest time I have ever seen him make. Our sweet friend Bonnie volunteered to manuver around the toilets to bring the chair up the elevator as Pat set off. He was about 3/4 of the way up the stairs when she got off the elevator. The whole trip up the stairs took less than 5 minutes.
And if that wasn't enough showing off, he continued to use his walker for the party and then to get back out to the car as well as again later that evening when we visited some friends. At one point he had to turn the walker sideways to fit in the space between two desks, it was just a quarter of an inch too small for the walker to fit the regular way. He did it like a pro and even volunteered to go that way on the way back, even though it meant walking sideways again.
He did take the elevator back down to the first floor instead of taking the stairs, but he used the walker instead of the chair. I do have to say that I really love watching the look on his face when he goes in an elevator standing up instead of sitting in the chair, it's priceless everytime.
And if that wasn't enough showing off, he continued to use his walker for the party and then to get back out to the car as well as again later that evening when we visited some friends. At one point he had to turn the walker sideways to fit in the space between two desks, it was just a quarter of an inch too small for the walker to fit the regular way. He did it like a pro and even volunteered to go that way on the way back, even though it meant walking sideways again.
He did take the elevator back down to the first floor instead of taking the stairs, but he used the walker instead of the chair. I do have to say that I really love watching the look on his face when he goes in an elevator standing up instead of sitting in the chair, it's priceless everytime.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Pat's challenge should you choose to accept it...
Pat has set a goal for himself to be walking with the walker and no assistance from another person by Labor Day. He would like to invite anyone else who would like to set their own personal goals to join him and use him as their pace setter (Mom - he wants you to join because he wants lots of candy bars). Daniel, he would really like you to join him since you were his first pen pal, he might have said something about a target on your back, but I really didn't understand where he was going with it.
To meet his goal, he will be working his tail off. This looks like:
- Walking and not choosing to use the chair in the house for daily activities
- Not taking the easy road i.e. not letting someone do things for him that he can do himself
- Always getting up to try again
- Trying something new and challenging every day
- Put a quarter into a savings jar to use on a celebratory trip to Big Jud's
- He will do a chore with his walker for someone to earn the quarter. Melissa will donate the quarters if people will help find chores he can do.
To join his challenge is very simple. Just make a goal for yourself and find a way to reward/motivate yourself. If you mess up, figure out how/why you messed up and don't do it again the next time. Easy right?
If you don't want to join Pat's challenge, you can still show your support by suggesting ways that he can do household chores with his walker or helping us find ways to get him more mobile.
To meet his goal, he will be working his tail off. This looks like:
- Walking and not choosing to use the chair in the house for daily activities
- Not taking the easy road i.e. not letting someone do things for him that he can do himself
- Always getting up to try again
- Trying something new and challenging every day
- Mom - he says his goal is to learn to vaccum with the walker, so guess what our first hurdle will be :)
- Dad - he would like to learn to shoot your BB gun from a standing position so that he can kill some of those pesky birds for you
- Hershey - he would like to take you for a walk around Dad's property without you eating any of Dad's veg
- Melissa - he will learn to put his equipment (chair/walker) in the car and get it out again
- Put a quarter into a savings jar to use on a celebratory trip to Big Jud's
- He will do a chore with his walker for someone to earn the quarter. Melissa will donate the quarters if people will help find chores he can do.
To join his challenge is very simple. Just make a goal for yourself and find a way to reward/motivate yourself. If you mess up, figure out how/why you messed up and don't do it again the next time. Easy right?
If you don't want to join Pat's challenge, you can still show your support by suggesting ways that he can do household chores with his walker or helping us find ways to get him more mobile.
A new speed record
Tonight Pat walked a whole lap (1/4 mile) at the track with only one rest break in under 30 minutes. I don't think he has ever walked that fast before. He says it was pretty simple (but he didn't ask if I wanted to do another lap when we were done). We'll see how sore he is tomorrow. I hope everyone in Idaho is ready to dust of their walking or running shoes because Pat is going to make sure you get good use out of them. :)
Nerves of Steel or Steel full of nerves?
I thought I had nerves of steel. Has anyone ever been so anxious for something they have wanted for so long and then it comes true? In about two weeks one of my dreams that I've been longing for will be coming true. But let me tell you something else that mom and the wife thought I should let everyone know. Just what I've been doing lately.
Thursday Melissa and I went to pick up our friend Julie. We went to Walmart. We went to the eye doctor's place, the automotive area, my wife want to do a little clothes shopping and then self check out and last I got got to carry the items to the van and you know what I did that all on my feet. I've never used the self check standing up and it was kind of hard to take the items with my left hand and scan them and then put them into the bag with my right hand but I did it. I also got my wallet out of my pocket and paid with my debit card standing up too. It was very tiring, but I was so proud of myself.
Then a little later, we went to King Soopers and got some groceries. I walked into the store but used an electric cart because my legs were tired. On the way out of the store I pushed the grocery cart to the car. I got stuck a bit and had to get unstuck but I did it. I didn't know how heavy 4 cases of pop were until now though.
Stay tuned...
Thursday Melissa and I went to pick up our friend Julie. We went to Walmart. We went to the eye doctor's place, the automotive area, my wife want to do a little clothes shopping and then self check out and last I got got to carry the items to the van and you know what I did that all on my feet. I've never used the self check standing up and it was kind of hard to take the items with my left hand and scan them and then put them into the bag with my right hand but I did it. I also got my wallet out of my pocket and paid with my debit card standing up too. It was very tiring, but I was so proud of myself.
Then a little later, we went to King Soopers and got some groceries. I walked into the store but used an electric cart because my legs were tired. On the way out of the store I pushed the grocery cart to the car. I got stuck a bit and had to get unstuck but I did it. I didn't know how heavy 4 cases of pop were until now though.
Stay tuned...
Monday, June 25, 2012
It's official
Melissa's last day of work with PFC will be July 7th and Melissa's parents will be coming up to help load and drive our remaining stuff to Idaho on the weekend of July 13th. We have been spending our time packing, cleaning, and working with occasional breaks to house surf on the internet. We aren't sure yet exactly where we will end up, but will stay with Melissa's parents for a short time while we figure things out.
One of the sad things is that we compromised by finding our dog Buster a new home. He is very happy with his new family, but we surely miss him. We have tried to get Hershey acclimatized to taking longer care trips, and it has been interesting. We think he is still feeling the strain of Buster's leaving.
One of the positive things is that Pat's walking just gets better and better every day. He still isn't terribly fast or strong, but his balance is really improving. I guess all of those long hours in the pool were really worth it!
One of the sad things is that we compromised by finding our dog Buster a new home. He is very happy with his new family, but we surely miss him. We have tried to get Hershey acclimatized to taking longer care trips, and it has been interesting. We think he is still feeling the strain of Buster's leaving.
One of the positive things is that Pat's walking just gets better and better every day. He still isn't terribly fast or strong, but his balance is really improving. I guess all of those long hours in the pool were really worth it!
Pat's thoughts on the move
Have you ever been really scared in the life you've lived? Living in one place for many years, I have the opportunity to take my family and take a journey. Making a new life for the ones dearest to my heart. I have had many dreams. Finally my dream is reality!
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