A Breath of Fresh Air

We got mom into her wheel chair and outside. This is the first time she has been outside for a walk in her wheel chair in over a year. I basically had to tell her I was getting her up into the recliner, then when I had her in the lift I told her that actually we were going outside. She didn't get too mad at me.

She needed the fresh air and just to get out of the house. I was so happy and emotional I didn't know if I wanted to cry or do a jig. So I did both. :)

God is amazing. I found a cab/van service which is run by an awesome lady and who after hearing mom's story said she would come on the weekends when they are closed so that mom can go to church or to walmart, out to eat or wherever she wants to go.

Mom's birthday is Tuesday and I told the lady she had not been out to a restaurant in almost 2 years, so this coming Sat the woman is sending her driver to come pick us up and take us wherever mom wants to go. I'm crying as I'm typing this because I am so very happy for her and the Lord never ceases to amaze me. He never fails me even when I fail Him what seems like lately everyday.

Mom had accepted that she would always live like this, in bed, only getting out to go to the doctor.

I have never accepted that and I remind her daily of what the doctors told me when I had my car accident. They said I would never walk again and if I had accepted that then I would never have walked again.

But I believed then as I do now that God can do all things, and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So I'm having her recite that verse everyday.

Anyway this post turned out a lot longer than planned. I was just going to post the pictures from yesterday.

Don't ask what Roo was wearing it was his own creation :)






r

The Following Was Done For Safety Reasons Only

We rented a U haul on Sat and drove 45 min to moms to load up all of the stuff they are keeping so that we could bring it back here and put it in storage. The good Lord blessed us with the help of several volunteers from the Knights of Columbus from our church.

They were awesome.

It was pouring down rain and these men were moving heavy objects which included a piano and a huge refrigerator. The most amazing part....they had smiles on their faces the whole time. I was blown away and saw God in each of their smiles.

It was an exhausting day and we still do not have their house cleared, everything else is going to be sold, donated, or trashed. And we have until Sat. to do this. Good thing stressed is desserts spelled backwards because that is what I have been doing :)

Anyway, on to the pictures. We have gotten mom and DD moved into our family room. Mom's therapist thought it would be good to have a chair beside mom's bed so we could use the lift and have her sit up during the day. She has not sat in a recliner in over a year.

Well before we could do that we had to make sure it could be done safely so Jose and I were bored and wanted to be entertained agreed to get in the lift to determine the best way to get mom into the chair.

And just in case Marissa ever decided to jump in Nana's lap while she was in the lift we had to make sure that it would be safe.
I can assure you we were not monkeying around and had absolutely no fun playing with testing mom's lift to ensure her safety.

Up Up and Away

Mom's Hoyer lift arrived two days after we got her here in our home. We have only used it a few times with home health supervision but today Deana and I did it on our own.



We transferred her safely from the bed into the lift and then into her wheel chair. We used the big chair which unfortunately will not fit through our doorways, not even the front door, and it doesn't even fit the portable ramps we have outside. But it's more comfortable for her so I thought we should get her used to sitting up before we try the smaller wheelchair, which is the one she will have to ride in to her doctor's appointment in one week.





We did however open the door and let her look out at the real world and get some fresh air. She said it was awesome.



And we snapped some goofy family pictures while we were at it.




Good thing she does not have access to the computer at this time because I would be in a heep of trouble for posting that first picture....so sshhhhh.