Could not have asked for a better day"

September 20, 2009
1554 Hours

The times that everything goes perfectly are such a joy, such sweet, sweet joy.

I could not have asked for nor received a more perfect day than yesterday. Darlene was, as I have not seen her before.

Slow getting started in the morning, in fact a little cautious when it came to realizing it was really me at her bedside at 9:15 in the morning to give her meds.
Being so used to talking to me on the computer phone on a daily basis, Dar was just a little emotional for a few minutes when she finally realized that I was indeed there beside her.

Our morning started off a little slow as I believe it took Dar a little longer to wake up and get to her bright-eyed bushy tail self.

We spent much of the morning out on the porch enjoying the cool breeze and just getting caught up on the events of the week since I had seen her last.

We returned to her room around noon so that she could have her hand splints put on for two hours. Normally this is also a time that Dar takes a little “snooze” so I went to the front room to catch a couple of winks myself. I had not been there very long before Lissa came and told me that Dar was calling for me, yes I said calling for me, by name no less. Something she has never done till this moment.

When I got to her room it was if someone turned her talking switch on. The girl was on fire with words. We talked about our upcoming trip to the eye doctor on Thursday and that we would be taking the Silverado to the doctor.

Dar’s memory recall of recent events and conversations seems to have improved greatly also. Throughout the remainder of the day I would ask her where we were going on Thursday and she would say to the eye doctor. Keep in mind this phrase is 3 syllables, something she has struggled with greatly. Not yesterday, she was spot on, all day.

Dar was even so impressive with her ability to recognize the voices of the staff and put a name with the voice. She knew Lissa as her nurse, Eva, as her assistant and Arthur as another CAN.

It has become very clear that the introduction of the Skype phone calls have become a very important part of Dar’s day.

Even today I have already spoken to Dar once and will be calling again at 5:30. It looks like the afternoons are the best time to catch Dar at her best. Her ability to speak is very good, her personality is infectious and her desire to laugh and be part of whatever might be going on is amazing.
I have to share a cute little story that brought Dar to laughter for more than 30 minutes. Not just a little laugh, a belly-rolling laugh that even took me by surprise.

You remember the silly little joke we all told our kids about Pete and Repeat sitting on the fence and Pete falls off, who is left, Repeat??

I have no idea what made me ask the silly question but when I did, Dar fired back the answer as quick as a gunshot. So, I asked it again, the gun fired again, but this time she started laughing, I think because she knew she had blown me away. We went back and forth and Dar laughed more and more, and every time I asked she laughed harder and harder, so hard that she finally “belched”.

Then the laughter really got going, especially when I asked her if “belch” was related to Pete and Repeat, maybe a cousin or something, You would have thought that Dar had a laugh valve and she turned it all the way up. The little lady was in hysterics, so much so that Lissa and Eva had to find out what was so darn funny. Well, the silly joke was asked again and Belch was on the fence with his cousins and the everyone was almost driven to tears of laughter as Dar found that charismatic personality of hers. It was something again that I can add to my memory book. Totally awesome.

Well as we begin our work week it is our hope that antibiotics will begin on Monday and the “pump” procedure will be 7 days later, thus on the 28th.

We are still trying to get a firm date for an OR Suite at Marin General. Once that is confirmed we can backdate the antibiotics accordingly. We are hoping for Monday the 28th but at least sometime that week. Please continue to pray about this.

I have started to have small talk with Dar about the procedure. Nothing heavy duty, just letting her know that we are going to have a procedure done that may allow her to start moving better and will relieve most of her stiffness and discomfort and possibly help her begin moving her arms and legs when she wants to.

Dar’s attitude has been great, telling me “ok” when we discuss the procedure or going to the eye doctor on Thursday.

Well we hope your weekend was as wonderful as our and to those wives that lost their husbands to the opening day of deer season, I hope you especially enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Have a super week everyone and I will be sure to keep you updated as to the results of our visit to the eye doctor (neuro-opthamoligist) on Thursday.

Love to all,

Dar/Danny