Good Morning!
We hope you are well. It finally feels like summer. Last weekend, the trend of chillier temps and cool winds continued, but by early week, we had shifted to a more seasonal fare. The most significant change was the loss of that intolerant wind. The temperatures also climbed into the upper '80s. I spent as much time as I could outside trying to play catchup. Although you never run out of stuff to do, I feel a lot better about things accomplished this week.
It has become oh so apparent that Judy's disposition and mood can be tied to the weather. She is usually happy and gregarious when the sun is shining and the temperatures are warm. She is reveling in the change of clothing as we have also moved into the summer part of her closet. The fact that she also had a killer speech session was an added bonus. I knew she would bounce back from her subpar session last week, and she did. The difference between this week and last was night and day. Strokes can be funny. They destroy all the pathways or roads going in and out. All this work is to partially open a road that will get you to your information. The problem is that the road is constantly moving and easily becomes congested or plugged. Through time, you learn to play the game and pick up some coping mechanisms and shortcuts, but you are totally at the mercy of all the elements...but I digress; this week, she was smooth and accurate with her responses and interactions during the session.
Judy had a fun Wednesday. Not only did her friend Kelly stop over to puzzle, but her old therapist, Sarah, did as well. They all talked, laughed, and puzzled for close to three hours. This kind of social participation does Judy better than anything I can imagine. It is a mental challenge to track and engage with everyone, and it can leave her both drained and excited, but she had a great time!
We arrived at physical therapy to a packed house. It is good to see the facility full and the company doing well. They are amazing. It wasn't that long ago that dealing with all the people and ambient and actual room noise would have been a sensory overload for Judy. She literally takes it all in stride now and will even join in with bantering back and forth with the therapists and other patients. The session went well. They worked on leg strength, footwork, and balance. She has been applying her own pressure to work hard and do exercises correctly. We stopped at Old Chicago for dinner on the way home.
Well, that's about it for now. I plan to putter outside this weekend while the weather is warm and to my liking. We will cool down this coming week, with temperatures stretching from the low '60s to the mid-'70s—hopefully with some rain. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. Please take care and be safe. God Bless. Until next week............
Judy & Glenn
giliff@gmail.com
