She's coming HOME!

She's coming home! 

Amy and I cleaned her apt yesterday and thankfully she was able to help. It is overwhelming for 1 person to do and while I was busy in the kitchen/living room, Amy was going through the closet and we were donating clothes that no longer fit to others in the building. We spent most of the day just going through things that needed to be pitched and things that needed to be given away. We accomplished much in a few hours. Thank you Amy!

The way Amy and I left it on Friday...doesn't look like we did much!

Karen and I were there today, along with Joe, Sydney, Chase and Parker. We finished what we did yesterday and let me tell you...it took all of us to get it done. It is homey and cozy and Lisa will feel at home I am sure! I had a pretty rug at home that I was going to donate to a garage sale, forgot. Then I was going to donate it to Good Will. Forgot. This morning while I was walking over it for the hundredth time...it finally came to me that it should be Lisa's...but then again....God had that planned all along!

Chase and Parker playing on the rug

Her apt is beautiful! Dad said that he could live there and we all feel really good about it! Lisa is nervous! But I told her that she will be walking in her apt and she will be doing things for herself. She said with a smile on her face..."that will be great!" The apt manager, Joe, as well as all her friends at the apts are so... I mean REALLY... excited for her to come home again!  They are a family in and of themselves. They look out for each other, they have spats, and they are in and out of each others apartments all the time. It will be good for Lisa.

Sydney and Parker

Tonight is Lisa's last night at the nursing home! Her homecoming is Oct 31st. A little less than 6 months shy of her leaving for her surgery. We are grateful and are truly thrilled that this day is here. It has been a very long and very hard road for Lisa. She will get better now. The apt manager is hoping and we are all praying that she will blossom and improve!

We are going to go get her after (our) church and go to her church service with her. We will box up everything and say goodbyes and head HOME! But Lisa wants Pizza for lunch...we are thinking that we will eat it at her apt and have a party with her family. Until everything is figured out, Karen or I will need to be her her in the morning and at night...filling in until her staff helps her. Please pray for the perfect person to help her, one that will see her humor, her sensitivity, and her strength. One that will love her and treat her with dignity.

Curtains up, rug, pictures and it looks awesome!

Thank you Lord for your continued provision over Lisa. Thank you for allowing her to come back home...and thank you for allowing us, her family to help her become independent again!

Getting Ready

So many memories arose while cleaning out Lisa's belongings. Sweaters, socks, jewelry, t-shirts, pins. She kept so much! I especially loved all her little notes!

The sweetest memory was mom's old DL next to her state ID in her jewelry box. Lisa always wanted a DL, she was so excited to get a state ID. She even had a separate tin box of Obits (I know, morbid, but sentimental)!

I especially loved all her notes to everyone who entered her domain! "Do not Touch Photos, You can look, but do not TOUCH"... "Do not take any Diet Pepsi, if you do, please leave money" "Do not wake me up", Do not...

What made me sappy.. LINDA.. Lisa's neighbor, who was visiting Karla and I, overheard me talking to Karla that I thought her floor was too hard(tile), I thought if she fell, it would hurt, cause more damage.. ect... Linda took my hand hand and said "Amy, if she falls, I will be there for her!" I just looked at her and wanted to cry and give her a hug! But totally thanked her instead! Linda told me she has a walkie talkie and she will give one to Lisa. I had the biggest smile as I know how walkie talkies are so helpful :)

Lisa's friends cannot wait for her to arrive! The visits and energy was enough to keep Karla and busy and motivated! More to come! Welcome Home Lisa!!!!!!!!!

Closer and closer

We are getting much closer to getting Lisa home...as in...the next few days!

Karen and I have been working with a couple of agencies, well Karen has, and we bounce ideas off each other. With prayer, provision we will have her at home in her new apt by this weekend! We don't want her to spend any more time at the nursing home then she needs to be and she is not getting the therapy that she needs there. Lisa wants to know the date...I told her that it is sooner than she thinks. Woo Hoo! We have some work to do to get her apt ready for her.

Karen went to figure out all that she needed for her adjustment to her new life...a wheel chair that she will be able to maneuver, and a hospital bed with rails. We hope and pray that these are only temporary! Only time will tell. Prayer helps:)

Ummm, she is in good spirits. She gets tired easily. We are still working on how many hours she will be approved for by the state. We will need to fill in if she does not get them in the beginning. So many people are helping us with EVERYTHING...people who others will listen to...not just family members. We are low on the totem pole. But as long as Lisa has support, we do not care who gets the glory, so to speak. We just thank God that this day is within reach and that Lisa will truly start recovery at home...you always get better at home!

Lisa's last few days at the nursing home are finally here! We couldn't be happier. Lisa too.

Getting Close

Today I went to Lisa's and Carmen from the Housing who is helping us get Lisa moved back into her Apt. she was there asking her questions and getting her medication list all the formal stuff to move back in. Carmen asked Lisa if she would show her how she gets in and out of her bed on her own. Lisa was not to sure she wanted to do this so I said OH come on Lisa you can do it. She finally said OK Karen just for you I will. So she goes over to her bed and gets out of her wheel chair, climbs into bed lays down. Then we said OK it's time to wake up so she pulls herself up and gets out of bed and back into her wheel chair. Let me tell you how excited I was that she did this, it has been worrying me that she wouldn't be able to do this on her own and by golly she did it all on her own. The smile on her face was priceless. She is so ready to get home and we are so ready for her to get back home.

Nothing exciting going on

No news is well, no news...

Lisa is doing well, she has both good and bad days like the rest of us. She loves to be teased by Joe and all his "turkey" remarks...she gets the biggest smiles on her face when they go back and forth calling each other Turkey.

We are trying to get her out of the nursing home. Her 100 days are up and she needs to pay for her stay from now on. The good thing about that is that we can come and get her anytime we or she wants. No more 4 hour a month outings!!! Woo Hoo!!! Therapy has stopped with the PT and that, in our eyes, is not good. She really needs therapy so she does not lose what she has got. Repetition is key for anything...but for Lisa...it is everything.

We continue to press on and we have so many people helping us with all the processes we are going through. Is it enough? I think so. Is it going as planned? I think so. Lisa will prevail...she is strong and she is trusting.
We have no other options but to do what we think is the very best for her.

Lisa makes me laugh at times and also makes me cry some times. I had Dalton and Parker yesterday, Lisa had a hair apt. Gayle her hairdresser comes to the nursing home and cuts her hair she is so sweet, Gayle told me that she would come to her apt to cut her hair. We have the nicest people in our lives that are helping us on a day to day basis we are so thankful for everyone. OK so after her haircut it’s time to eat and Parker is normal 2 year old little boy. LOUD and getting on Lisa’s nerves she tells him to be a quiet all the time but that doesn’t stop him one bit. So I have to calm Lisa down and try to tell Parker to be quiet and tell Dalton to play with his brother I’m so tired when I get home. I finally said Lisa I have got to get Parker home so I’ll see you tomorrow. Her answer always is that fine Karen you go home.

Today I didn’t have Parker so I figured I would visit her after work, Dalton and I went into her room she is just sitting in her wheelchair she really looks good, happy to see us. We chit chat for a little bit and somehow we got on the subject of dreams I asked Dalton what his dream in life was, he said to go to Paris and to see the Eiffel Tower. I asked Lisa what her dream was and she said to WALK. It made me so sad the simple things in life we take for granted. I hope and pray that one day Lisa will get her dream. In fact I’m sure she will someday.

Favorites!

On Monday, Columbus Day, Joe decided to go get Lisa...well, I asked him if he and the kids could go visit her, since I had a photo shoot and he gladly went to go see her. He loaded her and the 3 kids up in the truck and brought them down to the store! Lisa has a girlfriend from her days at Raymond school who had just found out that she was in the nursing home, and she came to visit her 3 days in a row!!!! She brought Lisa a hamburger and fries and a Diet and Lisa was so happy. Joe said that Karen, her friend, kissed her on the cheek and told her she would see her soon. Awww...when he told me that I was so happy for Lisa.

Joe brought Lisa to the store and we just hung out for about an hour or 2. We brought her outside to sit under the canopy because we have had the most perfect weather here lately...too stuffy in the store. We are all outside and Joe and Lisa are at their usual giving each other heck! Joe tells her that he is gonna go buy her a witches hat and he has an extra broom at home that she can borrow so she can fly around on Halloween...she tells him to shut his mouth, calls him a turkey and tells him that she is going to buy him a witches hat...they go back and forth like that all the time. It is so fun for both of them and Lisa just smiles. Says he is a Cuke. She couldn't hit him, so she used her empty pepsi bottle to get him...he moved away from her. It is so funny to watch.

teasing Lisa about who's her favorite!

Amy pulls up, none of us knew she was coming...she sees Lisa and comes over and gives her a kiss...Lisa told her that she didn't give her a kiss, so Amy bends down so Lisa can kiss her on the cheek. Sweet. Lisa asks Amy if she can take her back to the nursing home. When Amy gets her in the car, she asks Lisa which one of us is her favorite sister...we are all standing there and Lisa gets this big smile on her face and declares, "You're all my favorite sisters!" Good answer Lisa...she will never tell you which one she likes best. We shouldn't ask, I suppose, but we like to tease her, and, she likes to be teased, if she is in the mood.

Supporting Lisa

We, Lisa's immediate family, are asking for continued prayers for Lisa and ourselves. We are in need specifically for wise decisions on behalf of her emotional health.  Lisa is strong and brave! We need her/us to be that way! She is going through some tough times that we cannot disclose at this time.


Lisa was sitting outside a lot today. It was the most gorgeous day here in town. There was not a cloud in the sky. The temperature was about 80, the leaves are about a week away from turning the brilliant reds and oranges and bright yellows that come every autumn. This is Lisa's favorite time of year. It reminds us of Mom and her (moms) favorite time of year. Lisa talked to Joe, her brother-in-law, and to so many other people who care about her. She is so sweet, so child-like. I learn so much from her..  I wish had her trust in others. Lisa has made such an impact on so many people at the nursing home. They will miss her when she leaves...

Lisa giggled as she read her initial on these cute little kleenex's that she received from Aunt Vera...this was on our way to see Dr Tracy!

Lisa, one day soon, will live alone with her friends at the apartments. We can't wait for her to be happy again. She will...and we will be there with her every step of the way.

Dr Tracy

Lisa had an appointment with Dr Tracy, the surgeon who did her brain surgery. He was happy to see Lisa and was sincere when he told us that he has been thinking about her and wondering how she is doing. He wants to see her again in 3 months. He said that she is making good progress and was very happy when we reported that she has not had a seizure, that we know of, since the procedure. So far, so good. That was the goal. We told him that he kept her memory in there and that was a good thing. Lisa agreed.

We then took Lisa shopping...shopping for new items in her new apartment. We will donate some of the things that she already has, to other people in the complex that are just starting out. Lisa was so cute when we went to register her for new things! Big Smiles from that girl! She kept asking Karen and I what she should get and wanting us to pick her things out for her. When she would ask us which one, we would both tell her we liked all of them, or both of them and she needed to pick out the one she liked best. Two things she was sure of and one was a front door mat that said "Welcome" and a shower curtain that was not see through. She told us she didn't want "nobody peeking" exact words. It took us awhile to try to explain that we would get her some shower liners. She had a hard time grasping that one.

Lisa's 100th day in the nursing home is on Oct. 20th. We are still having some challenges with the state trying to get all the paper work in. So she can move back to her Apt.

We are in need of prayers for her. Please pray for Lisa to stay strong and for her emotional health. She is going through some tough times and she does not quite understand what is going on with some issues. We, her sisters also need prayers with provision on what to tackle next. We have run into some issues that we can not disclose at this time. Please pray for our decisions and for Lisa's best interest. We are trying to do what is best for Lisa.

The best part is this. Lisa will have a homecoming party. We have registered her at Kohl's and she is so excited to get back to her apt. She is registered under her name. She hand picked everything on her list. We are having items shipped to the store so we do not run the risk of someone else getting her gifts. If you would like to check out her registry...go to any Kohls store or shop online. http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/gift_registry/kohlsgrw_generic_landing.jsp
She would be thrilled to get something in the mail. She deserves it, after everything that she has gone through. Thanks for your support and thank you for your continued prayers.

Lisa Today

Lisa today was very somber and very tired. Although she loved that I came, I could tell she wasn't feeling quite herself. What does this mean I have to wonder? All I know is she has been through a lot. She can have a somber day or two. History has shown us that if she is somber for over a week, something is wrong. So I'm checking in on her daily and hoping her spirits are lifted!

Her paralyzed arm is still moving, although her hand is chaffed. Her eyes are still not working (as she says) and she is still in a wheel chair. She still is learning to do a lot of everyday tasks, and we are praying and hoping she can do even more. She will be moving back to her group home in a few short weeks with assistance. We are scared for her, but excited at the same time.

Moving without Lisa

Apparently I forgotten about the blog. Sorry.

Lisa is continuing to get better. She is really back to normal; however, she is tired. She is zapped! Poor thing.

Karen and I took her to her shunt dr on Tuesday. He took out her stitches and staples in her tummy. She feels much better now that those staples are out. She cried a bit though...she feels helpless I think. But, the good news is that she does not cry at the drop of a pin as she did before her shunt replacement. Yay!

It has been bitter-sweet lately. Joe and I have spent the last day and will continue today to clean out her apt. It is really hard to go through and box things up and realize that this is her very life, one that she will never get to live again. Sure she will adjust to the way she is now, it is just hard for me personally to go through her things and move them. I called her and asked her if she wanted anything thrown away. She answered with..."I want to keep all my old stuff and keep my Diet Pepsi!" I of course told her I would....Joe was cleaning out her kitchen cabinets and low and behold...more 1 liter Diet Pepsi's....24 more to be exact, hiding below the shelf. Mind you, that is in addition to the 90+ that are being kept cold in the fridge:) We laughed. She is so funny.

For the record...every card that was ever sent to her for any occasion...from the past 12 years, she has them haphazardly in a couple of drawers. Joe wanted to pitch them...I told him "no way" those mean something to her, they mean something to me too I guess.

We are moving Lisa downstairs to a wheelchair accessible apt. We are hoping that this will work. If it doesn't we have options, but not here in Bloomington. We must try this first.

It has been a hard couple of days for me and for Karen too. We have our moments, alone in the apt. when we think about how life used to be for Lisa. But, it is what it is and there has to be a reason for it...we just need to keep faith that this is for the best.

I will do better at keeping you all updated. I forget that others do care about how she is doing. Out of sight out of mind I guess. Thank you for your continued prayers. I absolutely do not know how anyone goes through life without faith in the One and Only Lord! I know that Lisa, would not be here if she did not have people throughout her entire life praying...In His Grace- Karla