Tuesday, December 20, 2011

(posted by Greg)

Like everyone else, our home seems busy this time of year. We are squeezing in some cooking, shopping and house cleaning between our tours of B.C.'s  health care facilities. I appreciate more than ever how lucky I am that Marley is able to be at home. Because she is with Monica, I am able to look after some of the year-end things that I have to do at work. Marley chauffers Monica around each day and makes sure that Monica doesn't try to do too much. It is a big help.

In the last week, Marley has taken Monica shopping with her. Walking is quite hard for Monica but, fortunately, she is not too proud to use a wheel chair and so they have been able to get quite a bit done.  I think that they are having a great mother-daughter time together as well. Both Monica and Marley are already more appreciative of what handicapped people need to cope with as they do their everyday activities.

One of our family's Xmas traditions is to have a pork pie for breakfast on Xmas morning. On Friday night many of my family came to our house and we spent the evening preparing the pies for everyone. It was a special time as we visited and snacked (and yes did some work) together. This is the 3rd or 4th year we have gotten together to prepare the pies and it is becoming a tradition in itself. Because it was quite relaxing, I think Monica enjoyed it quite a bit too.

On Saturday, we tended to some chores and had a good visit with Oma (and her sister who was also visiting). She is back from the hospital and seemed pretty good.. Ingo came by Saturday night and had dinner with us. I made some meat loafs for the freezer on Saturday night.

After more chores and shopping on Sunday, I made chilli for the freezer while Monica and Marley went to the latest "Twilight" movie.

On Monday Monica and I visited Opa in Richmond Hospital while Marley shopped. He is doing much better and ate all of the chilli which I smuggled in for him (although apparently it needs more spice!). I think the chilli must have helped as we have learned that he is going to be going home at last (6 weeks after going in for day surgery). Ingo is making arrangements with the care home and Fraser Health for additional care for him (with bathing and changing dressings etc.). It will be good to have both Oma and Opa back in the same faciilty again.

Jesse finished his exams yesterday and has come home for the holidays. We are looking forward to being together this holiday season. Daniel, Seanne and Mollie arrive on Thursday night.