May 26, Tuesday

Milestone day!! Jeanne was able to put in her own earrings, both the French hook and the studs!  That means that some of the feeling is coming back in her fingers.  Yipee.  Also she was thrilled that the holes had not closed in the 3 months since she last wore earrings.  And she can do buttons now!!

Jeanne and Jay will be having a lot of company this summer. So far, Ely is a low risk area but that may change.

Friday, May 22

Jay's brother and family are coming to visit and so Jeanne and Jay were busy with getting the house ready for company.  Jeanne ended out doing quite a bit of work with making beds and cleanning.  Getting down to the floor is still a problem.  This will be the first out of town company they will have had since the virus and her illness.  They will have to self-quarantine afterwards. 

We have a nice happy hour zoom chat every Thursday with our AWEsome travel group.

Saturday, May 16

Jeanne hardly ever uses the walker now.  She uses the cane when she goes out and in the house she does not use any assistive device.  She is helping with some of the cooking and doing some of the home care, like laundry. Some things still present a challenge - like making the bed.  She is starting to have some feeling in her fingers but her feet are still numb and tingling. 

Ely has now had their first case of COVID 19.  Soon tourist season will start and then they will see what happens.  Things are starting to open up a little here.  With the opening of some stores they are encouraging increased compliance with the separation and mask wearing.  Nathan has started coming over for dinner once a week instead of just coming over to go on a walk.  We have been eating out on the deck.  So we are starting to "bubble with another family unit".  That's nice.

May 9, Saturday

Jeanne is using  the walker less and less.  She is using the cane for outside.  She had her therapy reevaluation.  The therapists were impressed with her progress.  They gave her some different exercises to work on her hands and feet.  She is starting to have a little feeling in her fingers.  She needs less and less help from Jay.  She still can't push the buttons on aerosol type cans or spray bottles. 

The virus still has not hit Ely, though they are thinking that when the tourists season begins that may change.  They are starting to open up a few things in the Portland area.  It will be a slow process. The social distancing and wearing masks may be around for quite a while. Many countries have not opened their borders for visitors.  

April 30, Thursday

Jeanne is now walking around the house without the walker. She uses the walker if she wants to walk a little faster. She has had a few outings, though with the virus there are not a lot of places that she can go.  She had to wear a heart monitor for 2 weeks to check for afib.  She returned the monitor this week.  She will talk to the doctor to see if she still needs to be still on the afib medication.  Now if the numbness would just go away.  

April 25, Saturday

Jeanne continues to gain strength.  Going up and down stair is one of her main exercises.  She can manage walking in the kitchen without her walker.  She even managed to make oatmeal for breakfast one morning.  She can get things out of the refrigerator and get them to the counter.  She is constantly gaining strength, so this helps her to not get too depressed about the continued numbness in her hands and feet. She is getting more stinging and pains in her hands and feel which is very irritating but it is supposed to be a good sign.  These pains are worst in the morning.

Ely, so far, has remained virus-free.  But once tourist season starts and things start opening up they are afraid that this may change.  

April 16, Thursday HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday, Jeanne!!

No big party this year, since the Covid 19 business.  But Jay did make her their traditional birthday cake.  She had lost about 15 pounds in the hospital but with Jay's good cooking she  is gaining it back.

Jeanne continues to gain strength and balance.  She can take a few steps without the walker.  So her balance is getting better.  She can do the stairs now with alternating feet and not gripping the railing with both hands. That is a big deal.  Her hands and feet are still numb but she is starting to get tingling and some shooting pains which she has been told is a good thing.  It is a sign that the feeling is beginning to come back.

She has returned to working on her jigsaw puzzles. That is good therapy for her fine motor skills.