July - It flew by.

Well July this year brought the heat and near defeat, along with jubilation.

After lots of paperwork, preparations, running around and whatnot, the Drs. did an about face and discharged Grammy to home, vs. nursing home. Gramps was happy about this, while others were not, some progress was made, while bridges also were burnt. Dementia isn’t convenient, but ultimately one must do what is best for the patient and find respite for the caregivers. For now, Grammy & Grampy prevailed. I’m happy they’ll get to spend a bit more time being together and see their first great grandchild born before things get a bit harder for them. Sven was happy to see her again, as he wasn’t allowed to visit in the hospital. We managed to go to dinner, the farmer’s market and some shopping together.

As for us, I’m burnt out, still unpacking and experiencing insomnia and cycling migraines again. Way too much paperwork, reading, and writing going on for me. I wasn’t even here a month when the office sent out the “annual recertification papers” for the lease, inspections and finances. You would have thought I would have had a pass on this until the following year, but nope. So along with all Grammy’s paperwork, I had a mountain of my own to print and fill out. OMGs. but I just had to press on and do it. In the meantime, I’d bought an AC that was recalled, so after waiting a month for the COA volunteer handymen to install, now it needed to come out and be replaced and reinstalled. Then I get a letter it needs to come out again for annual inspections then be reinstalled for Aug and uninstalled again in Oct. OMGs. Can’t an old girl catch a break? Talk about Hairpulling madness,

Eyestrain, neck strain and things due by deadline in the July heat nearly brought defeat to me. The exhaustion was just too much, and I’m 25 yrs. Younger than Grampy! Normally, I absolutely do not make any non-essential appointments in July/Aug & Jan/Feb, it’s just too much to deal with disability. the weather and try to keep myself and Sven upright & hydrated. Somehow, we pulled through. The black callous on my foot needed trimming, it was pretty deep and eventually that fell off and healed up. Thankfully No cancer, the blackness was dead skin and blood deep in the tissue. Still hurts to walk on it and I’m still wrapping the foot and toe trying to keep it off the pressure points a while longer.  Most of Sven’s walks have been in large stores, warehouse clubs or the mall. This greatly helped reduce the duration of his allergy breakout this year. I found an allergy specialist near by in Saugus and we’re working on getting all Sven’s records over to them, maybe we can finally solve it. I’m hopeful.

 Earlier in the month one of the units in another building had a small fire that went to second alarm having to do with HVAC or wall under HVAC. Didn’t seem too bad, not sure how much water damage. Didn’t seem that they had to move out, repairs made, etc. So… imagine my surprised when last night the Alarms went off in our building at 2am. I couldn’t imagine what for, smoking, cooking fire? Gas leak? There’s only 4 of us to a building or so I thought. I didn’t know that when the alarms for one unit go off the entire block goes off. What a racket, but honestly that is a good thing when considering the recent tragedy at Gabiel house in Fall River, MA. In the meantime, I managed to helicopter my way into a piolet and sprung out of bed in nano seconds. Usually takes me much longer but adrenaline being what it is and my PTSD off the charts. I was up, Sven meeting me at my side, rushing to put clothing on for outdoors, I tripped 3 times, hands shaking, stumbling with my crocs to grab phone, keys and dog, we made it outside in good time. Thankful to be on the first floor and not have to deal with the dreadfully treacherous 4 flights of stairs we used to have to navigate when living in Salem. Sven normally barking high alert and full bore at the alarms, remained uncharacteristically calm. Dreading the impending water damage, I was really bewildered at no smoke or flames but wasn’t going to chance it. Out the door we went. Even more surprised that no one else was coming out of the building. After a few minutes some of the neighbors appeared. And eventually the fire department. I eventually learned that it was in a unit about 3 or 4 doors down from us. Eventually we got the all clear to go back inside. It took me another 3 hours to stop the adrenaline shakes. It really takes a lot out of me; I couldn’t stand up or walk for a while and thankful to have space enough for a lift a recliner to have a meltdown in. 

Below are a few pictures from our travels and I’m hoping that August is a quieter month so we can get back on track. I’m thankful the freezer is full as are the cupboards, but with all the exhaustion I wasn’t cooking or eating well and looking forward to getting back on track.

July 17th... and the fall decor and Halloween decorations were in the stores around here!

If you're squeamish... last two pics are of my toe & the puke pail, gross i know, but we post what's real & happening because this is what disability looks like. It's not easy or fun when you're spinning and everything is exiting your body simultaneously. I could choke on my vomit or fall and split my head open, break a hip, etc.