911

Scott was sitting on the couch and about 10:30 in the morning he said his back was really hurting.  I didn't think much about it until after his nap when I heard him moaning in the bedroom and went in to check on him. He was laying on the floor in agony.  I tried to get him up but he was in such pain that no matter how we tried he just couldn't bear to be touched..  I finally called Angela and told her what happened and asked if she could come over and help me.  Fortunately she was just picking Ellis up from the bus stop so they came right over. Even with Ellis, Angela and me lifting him he continued to cry out in pain.  Ellis said that we needed to get him onto something that would make it possible to lift him on the bed.  He went down the hallway and came back with an iron board.  We were able to get that under him and with the three of us lifting we got him back onto the bed but left him on the iron board.   I then called his doctor who said that we would have to get him to urgent care before they could give him any medication for the pain.  The reality was that I would need to call 911 because only them helping us would make it possible to get the help that he was going to need.  We got to St. Mary's hospital at 4:30 and left at midnight.  Angela and I followed in the car.  After numerous tests, ex-rays and an MRI the answer was that he had a form of sciatica that would heal in time and there was nothing that they could do but give him muscle relaxants and Tylenol with codine to manage the pain.  After the medicine given in the hospital he was able to rest through the night.  When you add Alzheimer's to the mix you have a very confused man who doesn't understand why he can't get up and down, or last night why I wouldn't let him go home.  Hopefully this is a fluke and we won't have another problem like this in the near future.  I don't know what I would have done last night without Angela.  She never left us and did everything she could to help me distract dad.  I'm sure she saw and heard much more than she wanted to but she stuck with us until he was safely delivered back into his own bed.  

Easter Activities 2017

The weather was perfect for our egg hunt and in the afternoon the kids decided to try out our slip and slide!

Easter Egg Decorating 2017

Easter Egg Hunt 2017

Buds!

I smiled when I saw this picture with Perry and some of his fellow missionaries.  I especially loved it when I saw the picture on the wall behind them. Those four have grabbed some "good buds"!

Salt Art

Ellis made this using salt and his finger.  AMAZING!

I Smiled Today

My last two posts have been pretty down and this morning I knelt in prayer and asked for the help I needed to see the good and feel capable of doing the work that is needed now to take care of Scott.  I almost daily pray that I can be kind and with Scott that is something that in the evening I can express gratitude because I did accomplish much to make Scott happy and comfortable.  This afternoon I was at the stove making spaghetti sauce for our dinner and all of the sudden I had this incredible feeling of joy--so much so that it made me smile.  I realized that I love taking care of my sweet husband and that even with the challenges I am never alone in accomplishing this task I have been given.  I know that in a minute I can pick up the phone and call any of my children or my friends and will receive instant comfort as I sense the love and concern they have for both of us.  But just as important I realized today that I received comfort from our Savior who understands and loves me even when I don't always love myself.  One of the great blessing we have is being able to serve others.  How blessed I am to serve my eternal sweetheart!