However, we are going to try to order a robotic arm that will do therapy on it while Kevin is home. This will keep the spasms somewhat in check and who knows...maybe it will make a difference.
So this will take us down to having therapy only 3 days a week for two hours a day. I still would love it if we could get either speech or PT to come to the house as that would free up even more time. But we need to get this retirement really settled first before trying for anything else. I know Kev was supposed to be retired on Sat, but I'm not sure if it really happened? Various people have told me there was a glitch? Who knows...
So I am going to end with some photos. I promise Kevin is dressed in the first one. He's just in his underguchies, lol.
And we decorated our tree today. We took a long drive around our development this evening looking at Christmas lights too. Kevin told me he wants to decorate our house with lights, but I have never done that before. Gonna have to really scope out how high I would have to go up the ladder first. I'm not big on heights...
And now I am hoping to go to bed. I don't think Kevin ever went to sleep last night. I finally went to bed at 7:00 this morning and when I woke back up at 8:30 he was still awake. He didn't nap yesterday and he didn't nap today either, so hopefully he goes to sleep soon. It's already 2am though and he's wide awake so I'm not sure. I just don't know how he does it. I guess it's nothing he's trying to do though - I know it frustrates him to no end when he can't sleep. Poor thing...
11 comments:
The pics are wonderful. You can really see how happy the cat makes Kevin, especially in the first picture. :)
We haven't put our tree up yet, since we got a new dog this year who is still in the puppy-must-eat-everything stage. We will probably just do a small tabletop one. Yours looks great!! Too bad I am not closer to FL -- I do the lights on our house every year. Maybe there is someone w/ a local veteran's group that could help out, or a neighbor?
Hope you get to keep reducing his therapy to less (without losing benefits of course) because that would be so nice to have more time at home. Is that arm the one that needs the Botox? Can you try to sneak some in during his next surgery? (Not sure if/when you have one planned.)
Hope you got more sleep tonight.
Kevin does look so happy with his cat! :) Thank you for the pictures. Your tree looks great! Well even though I wish OT would help his arm/hand, I'm glad another thing can be removed from your list of things to do.
Maybe he's not sleeping too good since he's been less active lately. I hope he slept better last night.
Have a great weekend!
Kathy in IA
Have you ever tried melatonin to help Kevin sleep? Its a natural supplement. My son who has ADHD has trouble falling asleep and he uses it. It works great. We get it at GNC, he uses the kind that dissolves under your tongue, but there is also a pill form I think.
Oh Leslie! The pics with Kevin with Ms Princess are so adorable! Thanks for sharing.
Have the docs told you about any wake/sleep areas of Kev's brain? Maybe they were affected by the injury?
Your tree is elegant. I like those gold ribbons. Mine looks boring every year. Ok, I am going to try harder this year after seeing your tree! No excuses for me.
Love to you, Kevin, and the new furball,
Cathy M
Awww, Kevin LOVES his kitty friend. That is so cute.
Your tree is lovely!
Hope a workable care plan is devised with the therapy. If therapists feel Kevin will never regain use of his arm, perhaps use of the home therapy robotic will prevent further contraction.
Miss kitty looks like she's a real buddy for Kevin. Even though she's a female, Buddy may be a good name!
Looks like she's settling in just fine.
Great pictures! Hope you get some sleep.
I'm a sucker for cute kitty pics and those are adorable! I'm so glad it's been working out, though I'm not surprised that Princess Meow slept with you. Animals know on what side their bread is buttered! The more responsibilities Kevin has with PM, the more likely she is to bond with him, at least in my experience.
I hope Kevin got some sleep last night. Insomnia can really drive you crazy. I'll be praying and thinking of you. Take care.
GREAT pictures of pure love. She will provide many years of love, friendship and great companionship. Animals teach so much, it is no wonder they use them in therapy. She sure is a beautiful cat. Is she an all indoor cat ? Saves on flea meds and worry about getting hit or a mishap. Regardless, Kevin sure looks happy and so does his new pet. That sounds so nice. What a wonderful Christmas you will have.
Lovely pictures of Princess and Kevin (I confess that I'm a bit of a junior crazy cat lady, working on my advanced degree lol!) and the look on his face is so delightful; I also loved the photos in an earlier post with him and that dear little baby...
The simplicity and absolute, unconditional love offered by our four-legged friends can be most healing...and I think the cat-door suggestion is an excellent one.
I must say the phrase 'underguchies' made me laugh; I had to look it up and found an online dictionary of Pittsburgh lingo you might enjoy...
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Pittsburgh_English_-_Dialectal_terms/id/5379518
Ya'lls' Christmas tree is quite beautiful; all my best this holiday season!
Anne
Hello Leslie,
I have 3 cat doors in my home. One to the garage where the cat box now resides. One in a hall closet door where the cat box use to reside and is now locked off. The last one is in my bedroom door so I could close it when my brother was living with me. That small door would allow me to NOT have to listen to the cat trying to open the big door by prying at the bottom of the door so it would bounce and wake me up to let her either in or out.
Taping the plastic if its clear will cut down on the light entering.
Some TBI's are apparently not only sound sensitive but light sensitive also.
Getting Princess Meow.."PM"..use to Kevin's wheelchair ...
1. Tie a small bag of cat nip with a ribbon on the back of it so when Kevin is wheeling around it will drag behind it. Temptation that can NOT be resisted by any cat. Kevin may also find it an excellant game to play with "PM" for some together time.
2. The next time you cook chicken save a piece and cut it up into small chunks and put in the 'fridge.
a. Have Kevin give her a piece or two of chicken when he is in the chair.
b. leave a piece or two in the seat of the chair where she has to get in the chair to get the piece. Make certain that she sees Kevin putting it there. Then stand back and watch her. When she takes it lavish praise on her.
Having Kevin put the chicken in the chair that should help with the bonding. Actually, anything that Kevin can do will help with the bonding including play, brushing, and just plain ole cuddling which some cats can't get enough.
The pictures of Kevin and Princess Meow [aka...PM] show that Kevin is truly enjoying his new 4-legged fur ball.
Miss Em
Austell, Ga.
Word of caution. Sometimes cats get aggressive with meat. Be careful she doesn't quickly grab it from Kevin's fingers and scare or scratch him. She would not mean to. It is just their nature. Sometimes they even slightly grown with meat, possibly thinking it is their "catch of the day". Just read Miss Em's suggestion about the chicken. We've had a cat forever and they always seem to be somewhat aggressive towards meat. The catnip is an interesting idea too. So many people have terrific suggestions. Keep them coming. So many cat lovers out there too.
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