Greetings!

I ask your kind forgiveness for not submitting information about Steve since last November!  I had not realized it had been that long!  He did get his colonoscopy - with complications - spending the entire month of November in the hospital.  But that is now far behind us.  Except for some hospitalizations in March and April, he has been home.  So, I guess you could say, “it’s been boring around here!”  Truth is we LOVE BORING!  😇

Today is the second anniversary of the day our lives flipped upside down!  (That doesn’t seem possible, either!)  Steve no longer goes to physical therapy, because it just didn’t seem to be getting him anywhere.  The problem was that we obviously had to be tied to the facility’s schedule, and many times had to cancel at the last minute due to Steve having a bad day. Or we would go in anyway and he would not be able to do much or he would throw up or even pass out. 
We recently met with Steve’s neurologist and he agreed to prescribe a PT assessment whereby we can hopefully get an exercise unit in our house that will actually cause his legs to respond to electrode stimulations to keep his legs moving and regain some strength.  Having a device at home will be a great asset, since many days - or even at times of days - Steve will feel good enough to do some PT and we can take advantage of that right then - without needing any appointment.  It seems that would be much more beneficial all the way around. So we are anxiously waiting for the appointment for that assessment and the resulting authorization to get him better help. 
Just the other day, our long-time dear friends posted on FB that they were enjoying pickle ball, which I understand is great fun for all ages. I know if Steve was able, we would certainly be enjoying that, as well, right now.  We used to play handball after we were first married and even played around at tennis, so I know this latest craze would have been great fun for us. No, I don’t expect that Steve will ever be able to do that, but I would like to see him enjoy life more. He really misses just playing the guitar, so I’m hoping that might be possible after several stimulated PT sessions. We shall see . . .

Other than that, Steve spends most of his days lying in bed.  He usually gets up late afternoon or early evening to sit in a lift chair.  Then a couple of hours after dinner (he feeds himself), he will ask to go back to bed because he is pretty tuckered out.  I use the wheelchair to move him from bed to chair and back.  Upon getting out of the bed, I don’t have to assist him too much - except that I always have the gait belt around him in case he was to slip or lean the wrong way.  It is far different after he has sat up in his chair for awhile.  He doesn’t have much strength and that gait belt sure comes in handy to use all my strength to get him up.  In fact, one night, while putting him back into bed, we both fell.  Try and try as I might, I could not get Steve up and into bed, so called our son, Andrew, who came right over, carefully picked up Steve, and put him in the bed!  Wow!  Had I known he was that strong, I would have called him right away!  Next time I wii know!  😉  Hopefully, however, there won’t be a next time!

Steve’s phone has been religated to being used just for checking his blood glucose level with his FreeStyle Libre Monitor on his upper arm; as well as helping me to find my phone “somewhere in the house” by using his to call me!  This past weekend, I noticed the voicemail section on his phone was completely full, so we sat there and listened to them, realizing that some of you had his # and were trying to find out how he is doing!  OMG!  I’m so sorry!  Makes us wonder how many others also tried but couldn’t get through with his voicemail box being full!  Therefore, please know that anyone can reach Steve through me at 850-803-8769.  If I don’t answer, I’m either busy or don’t recognize your # (we still get lots of calls for past due bills, but are doing our best!), or maybe I’ve misplaced my phone AGAIN!  🤪   Or possibly Steve is asleep.  Therefore, please do leave a voicemail so I can add you to my contacts and we can gladly return the call.  Also, if anyone is inclined to send Steve a hopeful note (which he really appreciates), our address is 5962 Sleepy Hollow Ct, Milton, FL  32570.

Sometimes I think about the kind of Grandpa whom Lori & Adam’s kids will remember, and the kind whom Andrew & Bernadette’s kids know are so completely different!  No more air shows or working outside or helping Grandpa make chocolate chip pancakes on Sunday mornings!  So many things are lost!  But we are so thankful for the time we do get to spend with all of them!  2-year-old Emily gives her Grandpa a kiss and asks that Jesus bless him!  Awwwwww . . . so precious!  We have 8 grandkids now with Thomas due to arrive at the end of August!  Our oldest, Ava, is already a senior in high school!  Where does the time go?!?  But whatever Steve is able to do with us, we are super thankful he is here to share in their lives and watch them grow!  We are so very blessed!

We pray that you and your family know the blessings of God in your lives!  You have certainly blessed us!  Thank you so much!