The people we love
Don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard,
But always near,
Still loved, still missed
And very dear.
Monday, 25 January 2016
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Monday, 30 November 2015
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Foam lollipops and medicine
Lots of lollipops
A constant supply of pink foam lollipops and medicine has tto be ordered and kept up.
A constant supply of pink foam lollipops and medicine has tto be ordered and kept up.
Friday, 30 October 2015
Musical chairs
Aha - what fun. Twice a day let's move all the furniture around.
Yvonne finds the chair in the conservatory to be the most comfortable as it has a high back for shoulder and neck support as well as comfortable cushions and the arm rests, ( these have towels over them to make them softer!)
We have moved one of these to the bedroom which she uses before and after sleeping and at 3am, when she wakes to clear her mouth.
The other one of the pair is in the conservatory where she sits in the late morning and lunchtime.
After lunch, she likes to move into the lounge.
This means transferring her and her breathing machine to the wheelchair for the journey, then...
Open the big conservatory doors and move ' Rosie' and a dinning chair out of the way. Carry yvonne's chair through to the lounge and sit her in it, then....
The rest of the paraphernalia has to be taken too!
Footrest, fan, drink, cloths, ipad etc.
We even have a couple of bricks in the lounge to ' jack up' the front legs of the chair so she can see the TV easier, ( now that her neck is too weak to support her head upright).
Of coursem in the morning, this operation has to be reversed for her to sit in the conservatory! !!
Yvonne finds the chair in the conservatory to be the most comfortable as it has a high back for shoulder and neck support as well as comfortable cushions and the arm rests, ( these have towels over them to make them softer!)
We have moved one of these to the bedroom which she uses before and after sleeping and at 3am, when she wakes to clear her mouth.
The other one of the pair is in the conservatory where she sits in the late morning and lunchtime.
After lunch, she likes to move into the lounge.
This means transferring her and her breathing machine to the wheelchair for the journey, then...
Open the big conservatory doors and move ' Rosie' and a dinning chair out of the way. Carry yvonne's chair through to the lounge and sit her in it, then....
The rest of the paraphernalia has to be taken too!
Footrest, fan, drink, cloths, ipad etc.
We even have a couple of bricks in the lounge to ' jack up' the front legs of the chair so she can see the TV easier, ( now that her neck is too weak to support her head upright).
Of coursem in the morning, this operation has to be reversed for her to sit in the conservatory! !!
Thursday, 29 October 2015
A quick nip to the chemist
Just going to the chemist for yvonne's prescription.
As I can't leave her alone, she has to come with me. At least we can stop on the yellow lines outside the chemist using her blue badge!
Not only do I have to put my shoes and coat on, I have to get Yvonne ready. Shoes, jumper, get into wheelchair, go out to car, transfer into front seat drive the car, drive forward to get the wheelchair into the back, drive to the chemist (1mile into town) . Go in and collect prescription.
The process is then repeated in reverse order to get home.
This whole excursion could take an hour or more.
It could be a 15min trip on my bike!
As I can't leave her alone, she has to come with me. At least we can stop on the yellow lines outside the chemist using her blue badge!
Not only do I have to put my shoes and coat on, I have to get Yvonne ready. Shoes, jumper, get into wheelchair, go out to car, transfer into front seat drive the car, drive forward to get the wheelchair into the back, drive to the chemist (1mile into town) . Go in and collect prescription.
The process is then repeated in reverse order to get home.
This whole excursion could take an hour or more.
It could be a 15min trip on my bike!
Life on a breathing machine
As for Yvonnes condition has deteriorated and her breathing is very weak, she is now using the 'nippy ' non-invasive breathing machine most of the time during the day as well as all night.
The face mask, covering nose and mouth, is held in place with a neoprene strap. Her mouth secretions continue but she cannot clear them. Every few hours it becomes unbearable and I have to take it off so she can clear. The mask has to be washed and dried. Having two masks is necessary so 1 can be drying. A damp mask doesn't seal correctly!
Yvonne is now unable to fit or remove the mask herself.
Also having a battery backup is important so that she's not tied to a power outlet. Transferring between chairs, bed and toilet, whilst connected (even on battery ) is another challenge, the pipe between mask and machine can get twisted, could pull on the mask and tangle both Yvonne and myself.
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