Day 136 - Sunday 11th September - Part One
kp and I had an awful night sleep. kp much more so than I :-(
She was BOILING hot all night. She can't stay on her side unless she has something to prop her up, the idea was that I would play the role the pillows play at the hospital and be the prop. I couldn't get close to her without keeping the duvet between us (she was that hot), which is not what either of us had in mind. And it is very tricky to get kp on her side, watching her bad arm, whilst getting the duvet between us and getting myself comfy with my pillow.
And when you are changing sides about once every hour in the night, its even harder doing it when you are just woken up and have no energy. We got her comfy each time, but it wasn't enough. She did sleep a bit, but I would say she had about 1 hours sleep all night and she felt utterly miserable this morning. It put a real dampener on such a wonderful Saturday.
We think it is because it is a double bed and not the actual bed itself. In her hospital bed, she can't move too much 'cos its a single, but a double bed allows much more freedom which seems to be a bad thing in hindsight.
As I write this blog entry, she is fast asleep on the sofa and wishing she had gone to sleep last night on it, because she is trapped by the back of the sofa in a comfy position.
I walked the dogs before she got up, and when I got back, I joined her for a snooze in bed. We were woken up by kp's sudden need for a trip to the bathroom, we made it in time I am pleased to say. The transfers are going swimmingly.
All dressed, she looked very solemn, and we sat outside (glorious day) and had a cup of tea. Eileen popped her head over the fence for a natter, but I could tell kp wasn't 100%.
After Eileen went ........
kp:- I think I prefer to sleep at home (she meant the hospital, but interesting that she referred to it as home).
I suggested she ask to take home a sleeping tablet for next week in case she can't get to sleep again. She thought this was a good idea but was unsure if they would give it to her. We'll probably ask before next weekend.
The other option is kp sleeping on the couch, but that's not really an ideal weekend at home.
Whilst we were having our tea, kp said :-
kp:- I need to ask you something, I need some reassurance
dp:- Whaddya mean love ?
kp:- I need to know things are going to get better.
I reassured her that they would and when she was walking, she wouldn't feel as trapped etc... It would be a LONG road ahead, but she would get there with all the family's help etc... She felt better after our chat.
kp:- I am f+cking angry at the driver now (of the vehicle that caused the accident)
For kp to swear is VERY unusual. She hates people swearing, and I can count on one hand times she has sworn before. In fact, I can't recall any time before.
We had a good natter, and within 30 minutes of her being as low as she could get, she was feeling a lot better.
kp:- Let's try a transfer to the car.
We had planned to stop using taxis (£25 a time, £50 there and back) to get us home and we would try a transfer to and from the car before Sunday night, so we would know if we needed to book a taxi.
Both of us thought it would be tricky, with getting out of the car harder than getting in.
Getting out was harder, but I am pleased to report kp managed both transfers and I helped only the SLIGHTEST bit with her stand out of the car. This is a big relief to both of us as it means we are not reliant on others, which is so helpful for one's self esteem.
We sat out the back of the house in the gloriously HOT sunshine for an hour or so, and then kp phoned some family members while I prepared the Roast (Beef) for tonight.
She was then aching from sitting for so long, so I brought her back in and that's where she fell asleep on the couch. Interesting new bit of pleasure for me is when her "bum goes numb" (as she calls it), she likes me to smack it before she transfers to the other seat. It's great to smack your wife's bum (and get away with it), and at the same time know you're helping her !
So, Dad's coming at 4.30pm for a few hours which is very good of him given he has just got back from a week's holidays and been to a Christening this lunchtime. Mum can't come as she is minding the dogs for my sister who has just gone on hols.
I'll do another blog entry when I get back from the hospital later, but for now that's it......
She was BOILING hot all night. She can't stay on her side unless she has something to prop her up, the idea was that I would play the role the pillows play at the hospital and be the prop. I couldn't get close to her without keeping the duvet between us (she was that hot), which is not what either of us had in mind. And it is very tricky to get kp on her side, watching her bad arm, whilst getting the duvet between us and getting myself comfy with my pillow.
And when you are changing sides about once every hour in the night, its even harder doing it when you are just woken up and have no energy. We got her comfy each time, but it wasn't enough. She did sleep a bit, but I would say she had about 1 hours sleep all night and she felt utterly miserable this morning. It put a real dampener on such a wonderful Saturday.
We think it is because it is a double bed and not the actual bed itself. In her hospital bed, she can't move too much 'cos its a single, but a double bed allows much more freedom which seems to be a bad thing in hindsight.
As I write this blog entry, she is fast asleep on the sofa and wishing she had gone to sleep last night on it, because she is trapped by the back of the sofa in a comfy position.
I walked the dogs before she got up, and when I got back, I joined her for a snooze in bed. We were woken up by kp's sudden need for a trip to the bathroom, we made it in time I am pleased to say. The transfers are going swimmingly.
All dressed, she looked very solemn, and we sat outside (glorious day) and had a cup of tea. Eileen popped her head over the fence for a natter, but I could tell kp wasn't 100%.
After Eileen went ........
kp:- I think I prefer to sleep at home (she meant the hospital, but interesting that she referred to it as home).
I suggested she ask to take home a sleeping tablet for next week in case she can't get to sleep again. She thought this was a good idea but was unsure if they would give it to her. We'll probably ask before next weekend.
The other option is kp sleeping on the couch, but that's not really an ideal weekend at home.
Whilst we were having our tea, kp said :-
kp:- I need to ask you something, I need some reassurance
dp:- Whaddya mean love ?
kp:- I need to know things are going to get better.
I reassured her that they would and when she was walking, she wouldn't feel as trapped etc... It would be a LONG road ahead, but she would get there with all the family's help etc... She felt better after our chat.
kp:- I am f+cking angry at the driver now (of the vehicle that caused the accident)
For kp to swear is VERY unusual. She hates people swearing, and I can count on one hand times she has sworn before. In fact, I can't recall any time before.
We had a good natter, and within 30 minutes of her being as low as she could get, she was feeling a lot better.
kp:- Let's try a transfer to the car.
We had planned to stop using taxis (£25 a time, £50 there and back) to get us home and we would try a transfer to and from the car before Sunday night, so we would know if we needed to book a taxi.
Both of us thought it would be tricky, with getting out of the car harder than getting in.
Getting out was harder, but I am pleased to report kp managed both transfers and I helped only the SLIGHTEST bit with her stand out of the car. This is a big relief to both of us as it means we are not reliant on others, which is so helpful for one's self esteem.
We sat out the back of the house in the gloriously HOT sunshine for an hour or so, and then kp phoned some family members while I prepared the Roast (Beef) for tonight.
She was then aching from sitting for so long, so I brought her back in and that's where she fell asleep on the couch. Interesting new bit of pleasure for me is when her "bum goes numb" (as she calls it), she likes me to smack it before she transfers to the other seat. It's great to smack your wife's bum (and get away with it), and at the same time know you're helping her !
So, Dad's coming at 4.30pm for a few hours which is very good of him given he has just got back from a week's holidays and been to a Christening this lunchtime. Mum can't come as she is minding the dogs for my sister who has just gone on hols.
I'll do another blog entry when I get back from the hospital later, but for now that's it......
posted by David Pollard at Sunday, September 11, 2005
1 Comments:
Hello David and Karen, its carole, Susan Knights friend.. Just wanted to say, you two are remarkable, thanks for allowing us all to share this with you... you two are like characters in a love story I know there will be a happy ending sooner or later.
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