SEPTEMBER

It has been about 3 weeks since the surgery on my husband. things are going better with him. Maybe this stimulator will work. The only problem is his limitations. No lifting over 5 lbs, no lifting arms over his head, no bending or twisting, no sitting for more than one half hour and limited walking. So the other day one of my friends stepson asks me now that I don't have a job what to I do all day, just sit around and watch tv? I told him, I do laundry, dishes, cook, clean, mow, take care of my animals,(one cat, two dogs), plus twice a day I take care of the pigeons. If my husband has to go anyplace I am his driver. I wish I had time to sit and watch tv all day, although it would get boring. I always try to spend one hour before going to bed to read. If I do go into Town for anything, I am always gone about 3 hours as I try to go several places to save on gas. Right now the only "fun" thing I do is once a week I play cards with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Although this month I have made it once and now for the next 3 weeks everyone is gone so I don't even have that to do. I guess people need to be educated that not having an outside job doesn't mean a person has a lot of free time.

Success?

I'm not to sure of the success of the surgery my husband had. He is in a lot of pain due to the surgery. Everywhere they placed the wires he is black and blue. Kinda looks like someone hit him on the side with a baseball bat. I do think he is getting some back pain relief, but he is suppose to get a lot of rest which he hates doing. I told him rest at home or rest in the hospital his choice. I do think he would rather be at home.

Other news my dad's brother died this week. Of the 4 boys in the family only one is now left alive. He lives in Alabama. He did two tours in 'Nam, spent 27 years in the army. I wonder how he feels knowing he is the last of his family. It will be a rough week for him.

Last Hope

Monday August 17 my husband Ralph will have surgery to have a spinal cord stimulator inserted in his back. This is the last hope we have for him to have some pain relief. Right now he is taking about 10 pills a day for pain relief. Some days he spends close to 6 hours a day in bed because of the pain. If this works he should be able to cut down on the pain meds and be a lot more active. It has taken almost 2 years for this procedure to be approved by workman's comp.The reason Price $50,000. Of course right now his pain meds are running close to $2,000. a month and don't always work. Our case has been if this procedure cuts the pain meds in half, in 2 years workman's comp. will have saved enough money to pay for the simulator. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed and saying lots of prayers and hoping this will work. It truly is our last hope for pain relief. I'll know more by September. It would be nice if Ralph could have a big smile on his face in time for my birthday. Something I have been waiting for 11 years.

UPDATE

I haven't been writing very much of late. I no longer work as a librarian. I was having problems with my library board, to the point where the stress of my job (which I loved) was making me sick so I resigned. I was able to help my husband and his family while his dad was so sick. I spent 2 hours every day having "LUNCH" with my father-in-law. It gave my mother-in-law a break she needed. I usually just sat next to him and read a book. But if he needed anything I was there. The good thing this summer has been the time to do things with my neighbor's child. I was trying to find some things we could do at the library and found out that Lincoln Public Libraries have summer reading programs for small town libraries in Lancaster County. Bennett was on the list (we live 7 miles away). I also found out about Bennett's Bookmobile (great for me). So because I no longer work I have been able to help a lot of people this spring and summer. But I still think like a Librarian and would want to be a Librarian. After 6 years and tons of training it is hard not to.

Summer Reading

I have been taking my neighbor's boy Tanner to the Summer Reading Program in Bennett. This is a program offered by Lincoln Public Libraries to small towns in Lancaster County that do not have a Library. Lisa has come up with some great ideas for the kids and has a great selection of books to pick from.
Last week I was early and saw the children that were there having a great time. Lisa had brought in children's book jackets (they usually get tossed) and small milk cartons for the kids to decorate. The great thing about the book jackets is that they have great pictures and graphic designs. I saw castles, rocket ships, a haunted house and even a zoo made out of things we usually through away.
I have also been taking Tanner to the events at the Lincoln City Libraries. Tanner looks forward to Wednesday as that is Library Day. We spend the mornings in Lincoln and the afternoons in Bennett. We even checked out the bookmobile. So now I found out I can just go to Bennett every two weeks and not drive all the way into Lincoln. This has been a great summer for Tanner and myself, as I have found out I enjoy the programs just as much as he does.
I only hope with the budget cuts that the Summer Reading Programs is one that gets missed. Lincoln Public Libraries are doing a great job not only in Lincoln, but also in the small towns in Lancaster County. Thanks!!!

April A Very Long Month

The month of April was spent mostly in the icu of Bryan West (or as most of us refer to it as Old Lincoln General) In a span of 10 days my father-in-law had 4 surgerys on his head. He was collecting fluid and they had to insert tubes to drain the fluid, and then he developed what the doctors called a peel. A sponge like material that absorbed fluid and put pressure on the brain. It was a very rough time for the whole family. On Monday May 4 he lost his battle. Last Friday we had a celebration of life service. It took me all last week to convince my husband to attend and say a few words. My father-in-law touched so many people in so many ways. He believed that any one person could make a difference. He believed that getting involved in one's neighborhood, volunteering, and voting was each person responsibility. He believed that education never stoped when you graduated, whether it was high school, or college. He believed that each person should keep themselves informed on what was happening in the world, and when you went to vote, you should know who and what you were voting for or against. There was no minor elected office in his world. Family dinners were required and each person was allowed to voice their opinon. He welcomed people to the table and included them into the discussions. I was blessed to have known him and been part of his family. I had more respect and love for my father-in-law than I did of my own Dad. I named my first son after him, not my husband, even thought they all carry the same first name. The family has started a fund to be able to provide a scholorship to help someone at Southeast Community College. I think he will smile from whever he his to know he was still helping someone.

Snow and Tournaments

Did you ever notice in Nebraska that the worst snow days happen when there are high school sport districts or state tournaments? Friday was the start of district wrestling around the state. The first two weeks of March are basketball state tournament, anyone remember when at least one of the weekends didn't get snow? Last year Summer Reading Workshop was held during one of the weekends of March and it snowed like crazy. Guess What? The first day of boys basketball state tournament, Southeast Nebraska has scheduled our Summer Reading Workshop. I hope it waits to snow until Friday or Saturday of that week.