Update on my mom...week 3 1/2

It has been 3 1/2 weeks since my mom had her stroke.  Here is a little update on this past week...

She is back at the gym working out a little bit.  She goes with my dad and has tried out a few classes.  Her first one being circuit training where she had to follow quiet a few directions from the teacher....since she can't really see...it was a difficult class...hopefully she will find a class that she can just work at her own pace.  If there is anyone that would like to pick her up to go mall walking before the mall opens, give her a call.  She is a little nervous about running into people, but she has a walking stick and if she is with someone they can help her out.

A gal came to their house to give them ideas of how to adapt to the community around her.  Since my mom has worked with special needs people for quiet some time now, a lot of the information was not new to her.  Some perks on not being able to see.....she does not have to wait until 65 to get discounts at certain places!! Woo hoo!!  She now has a handicap hang tag...no more parking far away at the gym and other places and she can now get into all of the federal parks for free!!! Such a perk.  Do you sense my sarcasm.  I would rather have eyesight...than a few perks...but anyways...she will be meeting with this gal at the end of the month at a location that is not familiar to my mom and will be teaching her how to use her walking stick properly.

They also met with the eye specialist I told you about last week and had a 3 hour consultation with him. I was hoping that he would have her signed up with eye restoration therapy...a super expensive treatment that insurance doesn't cover...but he said he wouldn't recommend anything right now.  He said her stroke was pretty big and there is still blood behind her right eye.  He wants to meet with her in 3 months to see if there are any improvements.  It will just take time.  He said that she has no depth or peripheral perception, but has a pretty good field of vision straight on....even though it is just a blur.  They bought some prisms to put on her glasses to help with this field of vision...so we will see if that works.   

Other things...we spent a few days in Omaha this week.  She made homemade waffles with the kids.  She can't really measure things very well...obviously...but did a good job trying.  No big deal that between her and Jocelyn the vegetable oil spilled everywhere...and I was lucky enough to be the cleaner upper gal...do you know how messy veggie oil is to clean up?  Not fun.  Not much else to report on my mom...that is all for now...just pray the bleed on her brain completely heals and she will be able to see again!!

Valentines Day 2012!

We did  a few things this year leading up to Valentines Day!  Here is a little recap in picture form of some of our activities!  The big party was supposed to be yesterday, but was postponed until Friday so I will have to post more pictures at another time!  Enjoy!

My first try with fondant...I made strawberry flavored roses and hearts for some cupcakes!

The kiddos helping out as usual!

We made chocolate covered strawberries one morning...with sprinkles of course...because according to my kids sprinkles make everything better!

I painted the side of the kids' hands and they formed hearts.  We sent these out to a few family members!

and then the kids made cards for Sean using paint and toilet paper rolls!

Tortilla baked hearts with powdered sugar...and of course sprinkles!

and then Sean surprised me with a dozen roses...such a sweetheart!

Field Trip to the Fire Station!

I started a little homeschool friends meet-up group in Lincoln last month!  This was the second activity of the year-- a trip to a local fire station!  The kids had a good time seeing all of their equipment and learning about fire safety! 

Quick weekly update on my mom...

Jocelyn and my mom at the museum in 2008

I just wanted to post a quick update on my mom.  Sorry it has been a while and sorry if I haven't returned everyone's messages.  Last Saturday my mom was not feeling very well...she even hung up on me...seriously, who would do such a thing...she loves talking to me...her blood pressure went way high again---in the 200's.  It was like that for a few readings so my dad took her back to the ER at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha.  They took another catscan and found no new bleeds on her brain.  They admitted her to the ICU for monitoring.  She got to share a floor with several patients who severely cut their hands from snowblower incidents and a few heart attack patients from shoveling-- so be careful out there people!  Anyways, they switcher her blood pressure medicine to see if they could find something that might be a better fit.  There a million blood pressure medicines out there.  The one that my mom was on for this latest stroke caused her to have a really bad cough...nice little side effect.  This new one does not have that as a side effect. 

As far as this week goes, she has been doing a lot better.  Her eyesight has not changed.  If you are just joining us, she can not see anything out of her left eye and a little blur out of her right eye.  She has been learning to adapt to things in her house.  She can move about pretty well and has been doing a few things here and there.  She can't sleep at night.  She isn't sure why.  Probably too much going through her head.  So many changes.  She listens to a lot of radio Bible programs and she has a Bible that is read to her on an iPod type thing.  My dad bought her an iPad.  The nice thing about an iPad that she can enlarge the font quiet a bit so she can read things...like my blog...and facebook updates on her two favorite people (my sister and I).  I got her situated on a few aps yesterday that will help her out.  She can also listen to archived broadcasts of different radio programs she has missed. 

She had an appointment with the neurologist from Lakeside today.  I think that is her title.  I am not really sure.  I just remember her as the rolling of the eyes, very impatient Dr. that I met.  She was kind of rude the last time I was at the hospital.  She hadn't got a chance to look at my mom's catscan from the weekend.  So that was a bit discouraging.  She answered quiet a few questions that my parents both had.  She also referred them to a eye specialist that specializes in stroke rehabilitation...yes!!  So my mom has an appointment on February 19th.  I need to do a little research on the guy, but he is at UNMC...and since my favorite Dr. works there (our family Dr.) I am sure he is just as good.  Ok...only joking...but I do need to look him up.  She needs to at least try some type of eye rehabilitation.  She is meeting with her family doctor again this next Tuesday.

My dad is hanging in there with all of these appointments and I am sure he is enjoying spending time with my mom now that she isn't crazy busy with school.  It is just like summer vacation...ok...not really...but it is probably setting in that my mom is way off from returning to work.  Lots and lots of paper work is being filled out right now regarding insurance and other things I won't go into. 

My sister has left and returned to Alexandria, VA.  We are finally over the million illnesses we had over the past few weeks and were safe to return to help my parents out yesterday.  I helped my mom with her technology stuff, scrubbed down her bathrooms, and made them dinner.  Next week we plan on doing the same thing, to relieve my dad of some of the pressure.  Sean travels quiet a bit and since we homeschool, we are pretty flexible to be where ever, whenever.  Lots of changes, lots of things to still pray for, lots of patience for everyone.

I knew this would happen...

There were several reasons why I didn't want to join Pinterest.  The first was that I didn't need anymore ideas spinning around in my head of things that I would like to try.  Trust me...I have a LOT of ideas that are spinning around in my head.  It is just a matter of finding time to try out some of these cool things.  I have found quiet a few recipes on Pinterest that I liked.  I have tried 3 so far and have 2 more slated for this weekend.  There are also a few organizational things that I have tried.  So here is a little recap of how Pinterest has inspired me to try new things:)

1.  Spice clips!

I have quiet a few organizational issue in our kitchen, but one was the cabinet that stores our spices.  I could never see what anything was, so I was constantly pulling out a few bottles before I actually got to the one I was looking for.  There are many things that you can buy to organize spices, however I haven't found anything that would work for our space.  Then I saw a little photo on Pinterest, there was no link attached, so I checked it out on Amazon.  Got it in a few days and whoola!!  Isn't it beautiful!  Ok...cool! 
Here is a link on Amazon.  They do occasionally sell out...must be a popular item!

2.  Peanut butter cup brownies

My husband says there is nothing wrong with a plain brownie...he is right...but I saw a yummy picture on Pinterest and had to try it.  We have church potluck every Sunday, so I always have a good excuse for making sweets!  These were snagged up quickly.  You can get the recipe: HERE!

3.  White Chicken Enchiladas

The picture is NOT mine.....the recipe and photographer can be found: HERE.  My husband is not a fan of mush and didn't really like this recipe.  I thought the sauce was decent, but the chicken needed a bit more pizzazz.  I am not good with improvising on recipes...so I just followed the directions.  Everyone raved about it, but it probably won't be making another appearance at our house anytime soon.

4.  Slow cooker cream cheese chili

I made this at my parents house.  I got busy and forgot to ask everyone what they thought.  I thought it was really good.  We served it with tortillas and bread.  The picture again is NOT mine.  You can find the recipe and photographer:  HERE

5.  Ribbon organizer

 I have quiet a bit of ribbon from various projects and have always been looking for a cool way to organize all of the spools...so I saw another picture on Pinterest...link: HERE.  I think it will work out well even though I am not finished with it yet...still need to cut down a dowl for it.

Little update on my mom....

My mom with Weston

 My mom had a few appointments this week.  She met with her family Dr. and he said her blood pressure is a bit too high still.  So hopefully the medication she is taking will help with that.  

She also had a appointment with her eye Dr.  He didn't notice any changes in her eye, except for the pucker that has been on her right eye for a while now.  Her retina might blow some day...or it might not.   There is no telling what will happen.  That is the eye right now that she can see a little blur out of.  She still can't see out of her left at all.  He recommended waiting to see what came back on the catscan next Thursday before recommending therapies.  He also mentioned that UNMC has a new eye institute of some sort, that might be able to help with retraining her brain to see.  He did mention that usually they retrain your brain to see with what little vision you already have...since she doesn't really have any vision...there is no telling what they would do, but it doesn't hurt to at least try. 

Other things that she is up to:  She picked up a white walking stick, so when she is out and about...people will know to steer clear.  She used this walking stick to walk in the park behind their house.  She is getting around more and gave me a list (over the phone) of things she wanted to do yet today...one including cutting vegetables...I told her that was not a wise idea at all...and reminded her that my sister is there to help. 

She was able to visit her students yesterday.  She explained to them what was going on and told them now she has a disability just like them (she teaching young adults with disabilities ages 18-21).  I think she has realized that she will not be making a return to work during this school year.  She thinks she has a decent sub to take over for her.  The kids seem to like him...so that is reassuring for her.

These Dr. appointments have kept her busy over the past few days...but she has commented on how she is worried that she will get bored soon.  Sean and I have been fighting various things over this past week, so hopefully once we are well, we will return to Omaha...and hopefully we don't get too much snow...I don't drive in snow. 

Last thing...my parents celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary yesterday!  Yay!!

Tortilla Hearts & Snowflakes

My creativity has been lacking this week.  We only played a few games and did this one semi-creative thing for snack.  I have been sick with various things from an intense sinus infection, exhaustion, cold, cough...lovely stuff...please don't e-mail me advice on how to get better...thanks.  My husband has just about the same thing as I do.  Thank goodness for the snow...maybe we can rest a few days and have an excuse not to leave the house.  So I am off to get our groceries for the week in just a bit with the kiddos, but I thought I would share this one food related activity this week....maybe you are going to be snowed in this weekend and want to try something that the whole family would enjoy!  I did this last year...and the enthusiasm was still there!

Ingredients:
Soft shell tortillas (1 for each person)
Vegetable oil or canola oil
Powdered sugar and other things to decorate the tortilla with...we used frosting spray and sprinkles.

Directions:  
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
Warm tortillas in microwave for 15 seconds. 
Cut out desired shape.  We did 3 hearts and 1 snowflake.
Lightly brush the tortillas with one of the oils
Bake on a cookie sheet for approximately 5 minutes or until lightly brown
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and other toppings....and enjoy!!

As you can see from our photos...we are still in our jammies at 10am...and I don't think anyone has brushed there hair yet.