Trip to clinic

On Tusday Jody, Jennika and i went to San Antonio for a clinic visit My FVC numbner improved from 38-40%. I am waiting on a Hoyer Lift before checking in with Hospice. I am having help with range of motion exercised which i hope will help with shoulder pain.

New TV

I have been wanting a big screen TV for a very long time now. We waited until after Christtmas and got one n sale. It is a 50" DLP: and it is great for football and movies ad am enjoying it a lot.

Christmas

Well, another Christmas has passed. This one is a special one for sure. Thank God for such loving family. The new year is almost upon us.

On December 20 th we went to clinic. Bad news my FVC is down from 68% to 38%. This means that my breathing is much worse. My numbers should have fallen 6-15% but they fell 30%. The doctor said it was tme to talk to a Hospice. We are waiting for a hospital bed now and Jody is now helping me in and out of bed. I am still getting around good in my wheelchair but now I spend more time sleeping in it. I am a little weaaker but I am maintaining my weight and I still can eat, but now I have trouble with my jaws not wanting to alighn right when i am tired. My neck is weaker and i have little control of it anymore.

I still am independent and active and can walk a littlle and my hands are still working ok. I am going all over the area with my van and wheelchair. Thank God for the abilities I still enjoy.

It is a BOY

This morning Jennika and Russ and I went to the doctor and found out that Leacie is a BOY. We met Jody for breakfast aafter and she already had a new outfit for the baby, a cute little blue thing with"stud Muffin" on it and a little muffin embroidery.

Joewseph knew we were going this morning and insisted that we call and let him know it it was a boy. Jennika called the daycare and taked to Joseph wo was very happy to get the call. He said now I am gonna have 2 brothers and one sister.

My health about the same but now Jody has to help me with my showers.

catch up

It has been a very long time since my last blog. It has been to tough for me to blog with the laptop and my eyes ave changed. A week ago I bought some close up vision glasses and now I am seeing better without any glasses close up and am back to my old trifocals for computer work. I think it has to do with my diabetes but who knows.

I have my new wheelchair, a Permobill C-300 and it is great. I am using it everywhere and am sitting comfortably now in it. I have been having occasional trouble with balance lately and sometimes tthe room kinda spins and I think I will lose control. I am watching close for these symptoms and being more careful. I lose my breath more now and am stressed to walk any distances. My answer is to stay in my chair more. My right arm is worse but still able to type with difficulty. I am needing to use my neck brace more now. For the most part the ALS is not progressing much lately.

Last night the temp was below freezing and our heater went out the repairman replaced a sending unit for $200. today the water heater pilot was out. The fun never stops. This past weekend the boys went to a birthday party and we all went to church. Saturday we had a garage sale and we got rid of a lot of stuff for a very little amount of cash. Nan and Lee were also down for the weekend. Progress is being made. Christmas is coming and I for one am not ready for it.

My Bears clenched their division but are still plagued with a poor quarterback. I am ready for them to make a change.

Jennnika and Russ have leased a house around the corner that is a carbon copy of our house with the exact same floor plan. They take possesion on Dec 15 and are now into the packing part. I feel her pain.

Some day maybe we will all be settled, at least one can hope.

Current condition 10/27/06

It has been 8 months since diagnosis. I am having trouble getting out of low chairs and sometimes require assistance. I am using a shower seat to be able to shower. I use liquid soap to help get clean. Both of my arms are pretty much dead. I can occcasionally reach a light switch with my right hand. I am now using my head to operate light switches and my shoulder to turn the shower off. I can no longer dry myself. My left hand has the quivers a lot and my grip is slipping only a little. I fell in the bathroom and it took a week to get over the soreness. I use my bypap 2-6 hrs per night. I am still eating but need to be fed now to conserve energy. I am sleeping about 11 hrs per night. I can no longer set up in bed so now I roll out onto the floor and work my way up from there. I am still able to turn over by myself in bed. My walking is more labored and my right calf stays stiff and sore now. My neck is still weak not not any worse than always. I am using my power chair more now. My typing skills are worse but still manageable with great effort. My speach is very low volume and I am starting to have trouble getting words to form. I hiss my breath but the vocal cords do not always respond. I am still doing range of motion excercises with no problems. For the most part I am still doing fine.

Sea World

This past weekend we took the boys to Sea World and attended their "Howl-o-Sream" festivities. Nan and Lee, Tika and Russ, the boys, oone of Jonson's friends, Jody and I. It was good fun f0r all. We split up and half of us went t0 r0llercoasters and haunted houses and the others went t0 the kiddie rides and the "Jack is Back" show. We watch the Shamoo show and the boys and Russ got soaking wet. The weather was great in the 80's and clear.

Da' Bears

Last Monday night I saw the Chicago Bears play in person in Pheonix! It was GREAT. What a game, and to see them pull the game out of the fire and win! The whole trip went like a dream. The whole excursioon was Jennika and Russ's gift to me and i will never forget it. I have always been a die hard Bears fan and to be there in person was as good as being at a Superbowl. It was an emotional rollercoaster beyond description.