Easy Weekend

I had a fairly easy weekend.  My body cooperated and didn't give me a hard time.

Unfortunately, I had a relatively painful morning today-- more urination issues.  That problem is getting much better, though.  I'm more in control, even if it can still be painful.

Still Waiting On Hours

I was approved for more aide hours a couple weeks ago, but, as I understand it, the state has yet to approve the new plan that uses those hours, so we're still operating under the restrained schedule of the past few weeks.

That means I had two days this week when my dinner shift started at seven, and I'll have to get through another weekend with no aide from 8 to 11 in the morning.  That's fine if I don't need the bathroom during that time, but mornings tend to be my worst times, so weekends can be tough.

Tiffany

My aide Tiffany has been getting lots of hours with me lately, which suits me just fine.  She's a nice lady and a good aide, and we get along well.

Her birthday is Monday and mine is next Friday, and Tiffany insists we're going to celebrate together in some way.  We'll see if she comes up with anything.

Swallow Study

Nurse Danielle was here while I was eating lunch Monday, and she suggested I might need a swallow study to make sure food is not getting into my lungs, which could cause problems.

It's always something.

Playoff Bound

My Pirates clinched a playoff berth for the first time in 21 years last night.  Right now, they would be a wild card team, but they still have a shot at winning their division.

I'm pumped!

Stretching Out Times

I urinated yesterday afternoon about 2:30, not again until after 10 last night, and not again after that until about 7:30 this morning.   Since I had bladder cancer I worry about such things.

I wasn't in particular pain during either interval, and when I finally did go there was no problem, so I guess it's okay.  I want to get to the point, however, where I control my urination, not the other way around.

Saturday Morning

I dread Saturday mornings.  My current aide schedule has one aide leaving at 8, and the next one not coming until 11, so I have to go a long time without using the bathroom.  It can be extremely painful.  I try to use the urinal sometimes, but that only works as the very last resort.

Hopefully, with more aide hours approved, that gap weekend mornings can be addressed.

Another Long Afternoon

Today is another day when my dinner shift won't begin until seven o'clock.  It makes for a long, uncomfortable afternoon because of my urination issues.

I got more aide hours in the latest review of my case, as I understand it.  I hope some of those aide hours can be deployed soon.

Folorunso

My aide Folorunso stayed for three straight shifts yesterday and today.  The dinner shift started at 7 last evening-- though he was late-- and stayed until after 8 this morning.

Aides are increasingly staying multiple shifts with me, which I like.  Dealing with a few aides is better than regularly getting new ones.

Working Well

The new wheelchair Jeff brought me yesterday is working out very well.  That's not surprising, as it is very like the chair I had before, but it does make my life easier.

Medicare/Medicaid probably won't pay for this chair, so I'll have to, but that's okay.

New Wheelchair

My old push wheelchair finally gave out last week, and the one I used this weekend past was really uncomfortable, so my brother Jeff saved the day.  He just brought a new chair.

It's very much like my old chair, so I have no doubt it will work just fine.

Wheelchair Problem

One tire of my push wheelchair shredded badly last night, so now I'm using a chair that seems to have been made for children.

Mom bought the chair on QVC more than twenty years ago, so we got good value out of it, but now we need to see about a new one.

Getting To Seven

For the past month, maybe, I've had two evenings a week when my dinner shift aides have come at 7, not 6, to save some aide-hours.  It can be a difficult time for me, as it means I can't use the bathroom for that extra hour.

I've gotten more hours from the state, however, so I'm hoping today is the last time I'll have to worry about getting to 7.

Busy Time

This has been a busy time for me-- looking for a new apartment, contributing to the email discussions about the Hawaii conference, and keeping up with my other stuff.  The move itself is still ahead, as well.

Hopefully, things will calm down.

Addendum

I made a mistake in today's post.  The sites under consideration for the conference are not on the Kona coast, but on the South Kohala coast on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I guess if this works out I'm going to have to learn my Hawaiian coasts.

Yesterday

Yesterday turned out to be a pretty good day for me.  Not only did I get final approval for my new apartment, but my beloved Pirates won their 82nd game, clinching their first winning season in twenty years.  They also have a playoff spot all but locked up.

The Hawaii conference project is also moving ahead.  We're looking at possible sites on the Kona coast, and planning to formally announce the conference before Christmas.

All Systems Are Go

The snags have been worked out, and I'm getting the apartment at The Masters.  It's a relief to have that settled.

Moving day will likely be Saturday, November 8.

Hours Up

I got some good news yesterday.  The state has approved an increase in my aide hours and agreed to let us use them more as I need them.

I hope that means we can get back to the old schedule.

Bum Battery

Yodit and I were on our way to Target last night when the battery in my power chair quit.  Yodit had to push my chair the rest of the time.  Fortunately, Yodit's son, Evan, came along at exactly the right time, and he was a big help.

I'm not sure pushing it was the best thing for the power chair, but it went easily, so maybe Yodit knew what to do.  Anyway, we had little choice.

Ball State Football

My alma mater, Ball State, scored 51 points in a season-opening victory over those mighty Illinois State Redbirds.

BSU played in a bowl game last season, and the Cardinals seem off to a good start towards getting in another one.  That would be quite an achievement.  I remember when Ball State played teams like Butler and St. Joseph's in football.  Now, they'll occasionally play the big boys like Nebraska and Oklahoma.  That's quite a move up.

Another Snag

There's another problem with finally securing my new apartment.  It seems the complex has questions about my financial situation.

Hopefully, the matter will be resolved soon.

Hawaii Conference III

A planning session for the lunar settlement conference I suggested to some of my contacts in the space community a few weeks ago was held Friday via teleconference.  The project is moving ahead with the conference tentatively scheduled for fall 2014 on the Big Island in Hawaii.

I'm pleased to have finally contributed to something important.