Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 23

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

Well, Jack Frost officially arrived last night. I took Ailbe out at 6 AM and there was frost everywhere. All I heard from Ailbe was crunch, crunch as he walked thru the grass. So, I came back in to see what the temp was -- 28 DEGREES!!! The high today will be in the low 60s and the night temps will be in the mid 40s. Since Ailbe is still hungry I've increased his food to 5 cups a day. Once I see he's got a little meat on his bones then I'll cut back. At the moment when its cold he seems to burn off more calories. Since he had a short shave a month ago I'm holding off on his groom till the week of Thanksgiving. I did shave his face and sanitary area yesterday. It was very interesting to do it when you're in a wheelchair. Ailbe was very patient with me even when I gave him some nicks here and there. He's such a trooper and will tolerate anything thrown his way.

At least my dad consisted of a nice hot shower.  I call it a luxury at the moment since we're limited on how many we get per week.  After I was done I took Ailbe out for another walk/run, but we only stayed out long enough for him do his business.  The wind was strong which made the air feel colder then it actually was.

After lunch I watched one program before laying down for a nap.  I'm so tired by 1 PM that it seems so good to snuggle under the blanket.  Plus my room is cold and I just wanted to warm up.  I woke up for my meds and finger prick before dinner.  Out for a quick break for Ailbe.

After dinner I fed Ailbe which he ate really quickly.  BINGO is on Monday night and that's at 7 PM.  So, before the game I took Ailbe out.  I went to the front desk to get help to get down to the games and I was told "You know where its at... start pushing yourself and you'll get there" ... What the heck ... I don't ask for anything else, but going that far in a wheelchair is extremely hard on my left shoulder and elbow.  I can handle the chair in the area where my room is, but not that long distance.  So, it took me awhile to get there which left me in pain.  At least BINGO was fun and I won $8 tonight.  Again no assistance on getting back and this time the pain was thru the room.  Did they care ---- NO!!  I was so ticked off.  From now on I'll give them the silent treatment.  I just wish I could go home, but no weight bearing is the pits.

After our 10 PM last call I put him in the crate and took off my splint.  It felt so good to take it off.  I might as well enjoy it because once the cast goes on I won't be able to see my foot for about 6 to 8 weeks.

I watched TV for awhile before taking Ailbe back out for his final call.... Then it was lights out for me.  I'm usually turning off my lights at 11 PM.  I can't stay up late like I can at home.  5:45 AM is way too early for me to get up... So, night all ....

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 22

My girls and Ailbe

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

It was only 37 degrees out this morning.  I will get my winter coat this morning. I can't wait till my daughter, Teresa bring Sedona and Selah for a visit.  That will be my highlight of the day.

After my early morning routine I decided to shave Ailbe's face, inside of his ear flaps and the sanitary area.  This was a huge challenge for me doing it from a wheelchair.  Ailbe is such a trooper and he didn't care that I nicked him a few time and shaved too close.  After I was done I washed his wounds with nice warm water.  After I tried him off I put Neosporin plus Pain Relief on all the areas that needed it.  This helped him a lot.  There was no licking at all for the entire day.

Teresa brought me lunch today.  It was a Whopper combo with onion rings.  OMG!!!  After a month of crappy food the Whopper tasted so good.  We all ate lunch in the Family Room.  It was so great to talk to Teresa and the girls.

After lunch we went back to my room.  I let Ailbe out of his crate and he was in 7th heaven playing with his girls.  The girls tossed his ball and they played fetch.  I have two balls here and so both of them could play.

Then I took out my drawer of goodies that I had from my Bingo nights.  They really enjoyed getting all of my special things.  I also gave them the quilts and lap afghan that I was given.  They all loved the things I gave them.

My family left a little bit before 3 PM because I had Mass to go too.  My spirits were high after they left and it started me to have a happy week.

After another lousy dinner I watched some programs and read some magazines.  I took Ailbe out around 11 PM tonight and thank heavens I had my winter coat with me.  The wind and cold were horrible.  I heard tomorrow it will be in the 20s..... BURR.... Winter is fast approaching...

Then it was time to let Ailbe go into his crate for the night.  Then it was lights out till tomorrow....

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 19, 20, 21

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

I'll just try to highlight what I've been up too since Wednesday.  As usual its laying down for a couple hours to relieve the swelling in both legs.  The food hasn't changed because it still stinks.  My blood sugars have been really low in the mornings and the days levels are really good.  If they're above 150 then I will cut out certain things on my tray that can spike it.

Ailbe is such a good boy.  His system is back on track and is slowly gaining the weight back that he's lost since June.  His energy levels are high because he feels great.  The boogers in his eyes (usually a sign of food allergies) are slowing disappearing.  He'll either do one or two packages a day.  That's a whole lot better then doing 4 to 6 of them a day.  The more a dog does them means the food isn't being used in his system.  I will keep Ailbe on Nature's Recipe Easy Digestible formula for the rest of his life.  I used it for Shadow, my previous service dog.  Shadow stayed healthy on this formula for his entire life till brain cancer claimed him in June.

Ailbe's outside energy level going around the track has really changed.  His head is held high and he loves to prance to the rhythm of the scooter.  His new task of picking up his leash after his outdoor business is such a hoot.  He'll carry it for the entire eight laps with joy in his heart.

I'm still using my PC as my form of entertainment.  Now that its November I have to finish my Christmas projects.  Sewing on the binding won't take long.  I just got to tell myself "DO IT" instead of saying "Oh, maybe another day".

I was given a couple more lap quilts and another crochet lap afghan.  I think I'll give them to the grandkids.

Halloween came and went this year.  I really missed going out with my grandkids.  Next year I can't wait to tag along with them.

Trick or Treat

So, hopefully I won't fall behind on my daily journal.  Once you start getting behind its hard to catch up....  See you on Sunday....

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 18

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

I can't believe my middle child has turned 33 yrs old today.  It only seems like yesterday that she came into this world.

Ailbe did a great walk/run before I headed back to my room to lay down.  I wanted no swelling in my surgical foot because I had my f/u appt this afternoon.  Before I had a chance to lay down Ailbe wanted to play ball and so we had a great time playing fetch.  Then he went to his crate to lay down and I went to my bed.  I was just getting comfortable before he decided he had to join me and cuddle.  I hate laying down and people wanting to interrupt our time.  Oh, well.....

After lunch I had my Podiatry appt.  The clinic was running behind and I think it was almost 1 1/2 hrs before I got seen.  I was looking forward to getting my cast on and when they took off the soft cast I had a nasty wound infection brewing.  So, they took out the staples and stitches and just put on a simple dressing.  They made a splint and then put an ace wrap around it.  I'm so disappointed to have a set back.  I now have to get daily wound care for the next two weeks.  I'm also back on antibiotics which is my third round.  Ailbe was so good thru out the appt.  It was a small room and it was extremely hard to get the scooter in and out of the room.  I forgot my camera and I'll take pics in two weeks with Ailbe.  I'll take a pic tomorrow of the wound, but won't post it here.

Before heading back to my room I took Ailbe out for a walk/run.  My appt didn't end till 3:30 PM.  After returning to my room Ailbe wanted to play with his monkey and ball.  What ever he gave me I tossed it.  Then it was time for dinner....

After dinner we went out for a few laps around the track before going back to the room.  I finally got to talk to my daughter on her birthday.  I managed to finish a couple programs and then after his final outside routine I went to bed.  Another day is done....

Good night one and all ... See you again...

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 17

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

My typical day of doing things on my PC, laying down to get the swelling down is the pits.  I can't believe its been close to a month since I left home.  Ailbe is having a grand time after doing a couple laps I'll say "Hold leash" and he grabs it and runs/walks the rest of his laps holding it in his mouth.  He's great on picking up my metal grabber.  He does it an angle and drags it to me.  What a character he his.

I love the way they rearranged my room for I can get onto my scooter and not ask for help moving it.  Ailbe has more room to play ball and has a chance to be just a normal dog a few times a day.   His attitude is work comes first and play is a close second.

I also had KT today and got thru my short upper body strength exercises.  I have a couple bands that lets me do them in my room.  When they were done it was nap time.

After my nap was over it was time to go out for our afternoon walk/run around the track.  The leaves are almost gone and so that means winter will be here soon.  The weather is sunny and warm today.  Its suppose to be cooler tonight and tomorrow a little cooler.  We have to remember to set the clocks back Saturday night.  That means our 6:30 PM run will be in the dark.

After dinner Ailbe got his and man he's not picking on eating. I took Ailbe out at 6:30 PM before heading back to my room.  I finally got to finish a couple shows before it was time to watch The Voice on TV.  Yes I said the word TV.......  Ailbe got up in the bed and snuggled with me.  After the show it was time to take Ailbe out for his final call....

When I got back to the room Ailbe went into his crate for the night.  So, that mean... Day is Done... Gone is the Sun...

See you again tomorrow.

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 16

My MONKEY...

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

Another week has begun.  I can't believe on Wednesday it will be four weeks since my surgery.  That means I have another two months left in this joint.

Ailbe was so playful this morning.  After our eight laps on the track he came back to the room to play ball.  Then it was his monkey toss game.  He must have played for a half hour before crashing with it.  He fell asleep in the bed first before heading off to his crate.

I love to snuggle with my monkey...

After KT (part 1) we returned to my room too wait for my phone call from IPhone.  I'm having issues with my acct because it won't update some security info that was tied to an email acct that I had eight years ago.  Its now fixed...  Then it was off to lunch which turned out to be crappy again.

After lunch I watched one program before going off too KT.  After I got back to my room from KT I laid down till around 4 PM. When I got up I took Ailbe out for a walk/run around the track (4 laps) before heading back to my room.  It was med time before dinner.....

I feel like a broken record about dinner and all of the meals here -- THEY STINK!!!  I'm so tired of green beans at most meals.  Eating in the dining room helps us pick our entree, but its either chicken cooked in another way or some odd stuff that looks gross.  I will no longer eat all the breads and starches put on my plate.  Its an overkill for a diabetic.  They had this beef, cheese and onion on a sub roll which I scooped out of the roll.  What was left was about a 1 tblsp worth of food.  So, I asked for a cheeseburger w/out the bun.

Upon returning to my room it was time for Ailbe to eat.  Going back on his old food was the right choice.  He's so happy and has more zip and energy which he hasn't had since June.  We're also still doing two drop packages a day which means the four cups of food is being used in his body.  Also, he's having less eye gook.

After he ate he decided it was another nap for himself.  He doesn't like going out immediately after dinner.  So, I finished up another show, chatted with friends on Facebook and waited to watch the Voice on TV instead of the PC.  So, I took Ailbe out at 7:30 PM and we did a couple laps before returning to my room.

After the show it was time to take Ailbe out for the last duty call of the night.  He then went into his crate for the night.  I finished watching my show and then went to sleep.

So, see you all tomorrow....

SWEET DREAMS

Sir Ailbe Knight's Journey - Day 15

GREETINGS

5:45 AM - Wake up (Med time)
6:15 AM - Out for a walk/run for my morning break
6:45 AM - Breakfast for mom and me

Today started out being boring.  Thank heavens for a great dog who can make you laugh when you need it.  He loves playing ball and chewing on his monkey.  We had a great time playing in the room this morning.  So, in between playing and watching my programs (only when the internet let me) I couldn't believe it was lunch time already.

They brought in my tray and said that a special lunch was being served in the dining room.  That's unusual because we mainly eat in our rooms on the weekends.  So, off to the dining room where we had a FEAST!!!  The chef cooked a special dinner for us.  We had fried catfish, ham, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes (not instant), Brussel Sprouts w/ bacon, fresh green & wax beans, ribs, salad, cornbread and apple crisp.  We were given a plate with everything on it.  We all thought we went to heaven because it tasted so darn good.  All of sudden I didn't feel too hot and headed back to my room.

I had to pull the emergency cord in the bathroom.  I had to get a shower before getting changed.  So, I thought I would lay down because I really didn't feel good.  The nurse came in with a new med and I decided it was safer staying in bed to sleep then to attend Mass.  I just didn't want to be that far from my room.  I dosed off till I woke in pain a little pass 4 PM.  After getting my meds I took Ailbe out before dinner.

After returning from our outside adventure of eight laps it was time to head back in.  My tray was on the table and so I fed Ailbe first before pushing my chair over to eat.  OMG!!!  I took one look at my food and gagged.  The salmon was swimming in this cream sauce which I tried before and couldn't even eat it.  The rice was hard and had no flavor.  The final insult was the cooked spinach.  I only like spinach in dips.  Plus, I'm on blood thinners and greens cause my levels to go up.  I had a box of cheerios from one of breakfasts earlier in the week and I ate that for dinner.

After dinner I watched another show thru interruptions with the wi-fi shutting down.  Played some fetch with Ailbe before taking him out on a break before dark.  Then came back to the room and tried to get online with no success.

Finally, its time for bed....  Took Ailbe out for his last call and so I say goodnight and see you tomorrow.