The good, the bad and the hopeful. 

Good: Mom is back at her apartment as she wanted more than anything while in rehab. When tired and frustrated she would often say, "I just want to go home". It's the theme of the Wizard of Oz; maybe it's the theme of all our lives. So it's great that she is out of rehab and back in the place that she calls home. She is very glad to host visitors at her apartment, particularly from 12-4 when her caregivers have some time off. She also enjoys meeting friends for dinner at the numerous restaurants and grilles at Ashby Ponds. She's ALWAYS got an extra meal punch for a friend! Make a date soon.

Bad: Though she's made huge progress from numerous setbacks, Mom is still not able to stand up without moderate assistance and supervision, likewise for walking and that is just short distances with the assistance of a walker. This means that she has caregivers working with her from 8-12 and 4-8 each day. She's also doing PT, OT and Cognitive Work with At-Home Care a couple of times per week. She's almost out of the woods with the Orthopedic Surgeon and Infectious Disease doctor, but until Aug 20 she's still on a course of very strong antibiotics 3 times a day.

Hopeful: Mom is going to the gym at least 3-4 times per week to loosen and strengthen the leg muscles that suffered so much during her long convalesence. She's trying to put new systems into place to keep track of appointments and important information and to keep up with friends. I have yet to turn her into a Facebook poster or much of an email user, however I know she's logging onto the VPC Church Service each Sunday morning and she's often up-to-date on reading her own emails. She's rejoining her Spinners group that plays a dominoes games on Sunday nights and she hosted a small group of ladies at her apartment on Wednesday for a social time. 

Today was her first day "off campus" since returning to Ashby Ponds on July 6. We celebrated her progress with lunch at the Red Lobster! We also tried to install a motion sensor for her lights in the bathroom, however we came up short. If anyone's got a great solution for that, I'm all ears!

Calling via home phone 703-281-4118 is still the best way to reach her! Thanks for all your love and support over the past four months. I've never seen anyone get so many Get Well and encouragement cards!!! I'm easy to find also via email at wahoowendy@verizon.net. Enjoy the photos from 4th of July in rehab with Susan, Riding the Mobility Scooter to the brand-new gym in the building next to her apartment w/ her Physical Therapist, hanging out with her Occupational Therapist, working out on the NuStep equipment and dining with her grandson Matthew at Red Lobster!