Rehab - Day 50 (4 Jan 2011)

Woke up to a nice day - still getting the odd shower tho it's sunny most of the time and lots muggy.  Back into it today and tho feeling awfully lazy (as I do all the time), after a lie-abed until 9.30, I got dressed and was ready for action - not!! hee.

Down to OT and did half the routine, have streamlined it down to those exercises twice a day that I don't mind doing: fine motor skills (rubber band board), push/pull on the incline machine (I do 6 sets with 10 weights now), curls, digiflex and putty and if I run out of time, I leave the peg pole and the shoulder arch until the next time.  Ben (from Speech) came to see me and booked swallowing exercises for 1.30 pm.

Then into Physio and did my bed exercises (warms everything up as well as toning my legs and tummy wall).  I went over to the parallel bars just as Dr O'Sullivan nabbed me for his Tuesday rounds.  He watched me as I went thru my paces (sort of like a performing seal!) and seemed satisfied by my progress which I hope puts him on my side for the meeting this arvo to decide when I go home.  He also seems to have stopped worrying about my chest so much which stops me worrying!  Although I was showing off a bit, I was careful but am proud of how smoothly (and normally) I walk now.  Alissa and I walked me with the stick back to my room (I think she wants me off the wheelie walker and on to the stick full time asap - be easier for when I'm home as I already have Mum's 4-pronged walking stick.  I never thought of it before but the stepping up and down exercises are for stepping up and down over gutters as well as actual stairs).

Lunch was Beef and Cheese Pasta which Irene brought to me in my room (I do get spoilt!) - Ben arrived on time which was great (I do hate tardy people!) and we did the swallowing exercises (first time for me since before Xmas)  I know my swallowing is much better and have no problems if I concentrate on the food and not what's going on around me - which is probably why I'm enjoying the food so much!

Back down to OT for second session.  I got waylaid by Nick to help me test if I can get up from the benches outside (if I can, it means I can go downstairs and sew without a problem and had asked Alissa if we could test) - I can get up, tho very awkwardly and with a lot of leaning on the back of  the bench, but it is do-able - yeay - and it'll get easier - gives me a bit more freedom from the noise and mayhem upstairs.  Then on into OT, made myself a cuppa and settled down in my chair.  Tamsin was just off to the meeting but stopped to arrange that we cook Impossible Pie on Thursday.

I got the news after the meeting - Vonnie can pick me up to take me away from all this at 10.00 am Friday 14th - oh, frabjous day!!  I am so excited, I don't know where to put myself - that's only 9 days - I let everyone know the official date - thank God it's nearly over.  I cannot wait to get home.  Have to ring both Vonnie and Lolly tomorrow to tee everything up.  Should also ring Mary to get her to clean the place, that is if she's still my cleaning lady!!  Got an email back from Julie she'll be here tomorrow or Thursday to see me.

Didn't have a late night, too tired from my long day ... when I kept sliding off to sleep whilst I watched TV shows, knew it was time to button everything down for the night and let myself actually relax into sleep, so did that and asleep in about 5 minutes.