Tuesday, January 9, 2024

 Tuesday, January 9, 2024

 

  Strong wind and pouring rain made the morning walk impossible. I found two spots of Elsa pee on the lanai rug but no poop. Thank you, Elsa. 

Although, the pee is actually worse. When I clean up the poop, it's gone. The pee leaves an acrid odor that's impossible to eliminate, especially now that my Rainbow is out of commission.

   I called the repair company today to check on the vacuum cleaner. 

It's a small local operation that repairs Rainbows along with other vacuums. A little old Filipino lady runs the place. She asked what kind of a vacuum I had. When I told her a Rainbow, she said, 'The part hasn't arrived yet," in an annoyed tone. I asked how she knew this if she didn't know who I was. I got my tag and read the number. The lady took a few minutes and came back to ask me if I was Betty. Yes. "The technician hasn't checked your Rainbow yet." 

It turns out that the only technician on the island who can repair Rainbows has been out sick. There is a backlog of twenty vacuum cleaners. Will I ever see my vacuum again?

    I had a nine am appointment with my occupational therapist to work on my hand. It feels like there isn't much more she can do for me. I have regained strength in my left hand. It is 80% of what my right hand can do. The OT said I was making good progress. I work hard and recover quickly. I am an unusual complaint patient. 

    I complained about how I had permanently lost my graceful arm motions. Wendy suggested we work in the mirror so my left arm can learn from my right. This brought tears to my eyes. I loved feeling my arms were graceful. No more. Bent with a limited range of motion with a numb and partially paralyzed hand at the end of it. It was the first time I felt strongly about the accident and its outcome. Otherwise, I've been calm and accepting.

    I made two stops before I went home. I figured shops and the post office would be empty. Who would go out in this downpour? We rarely have a full day of light rain. It was strong winds and a downpour, big fat drops pelting us today. 

   When I stopped at the post office to return the literature of the Bayada agency that provided the PT and OT who did home visits after my accident and surgeries. The line at the post office was surprisingly long and slow. Not as bad as Christmas time, but bad.

    Then, I stopped at Costco. I needed to pick up more moisturizing lotion with 30 spf. It was on my way home.

    I tried to nap when I came home. I lay on the sofa in the living room rather than the screened-in lanai. Despite a warm blanket, I was chilled. When I got up, I moved my computers into my bedroom. That room can be closed. There are two doors to the outside, one to the inside of the house, and a window. With all those closed, the air is much warmer. You'd be surprised how much body heat can warm up a space.

   I was set up to meet with Mama K's crew at three pm. 

There was no response. I texted and called. There was no response. I didn't hear from her until my evening walk with Darby. She was out doing chores and had set up the iPad. The kids chose not to respond. Mama K was not happy.

  At 4 pm, I met with Adolescent D.  He read Fry list 101- 150. The goal is to strengthen his neurological circuits, not remember any particular words. I told him to read the words with a consistent rhythm rather than fast. He did very well on 101-25. He missed three words on the second list. This list is still on a second-grade level. Even if we had only achieved a solid second-grade level in the three and half years to four years we've been working together, it would still be amazing. He was reading at a first-grade level in the spring of eighth grade. When I started working with him. Last spring, he tested on a 5th-grade level. His test result was a measure of his comprehension rather than his word recognition accuracy. He was not required to read out loud for the test.  

    I videoed D reading the list to show it to his mom. I was concerned she'd see the glass half empty. Is it any wonder D is a downer? The apple hasn't fallen far from the tree.

  Judy sent me an email about someone looking for a room to rent. 

I talked with Yvette. We will work on this together.

    The wind quieted as Darby and I made it around our usual circuit, completing three thousand steps. The wind started picking up again as I turned into my driveway.