The beat goes on...

 This year is as dry as last year, I am thankful for the dryness today as there are many sheets of drywall outside on a trailer. I covered it with Visqueen just in case. Of course, if I would like rain, I should leave it uncovered. Today 30 sheets went to the attic as the remodel continues. Yes, I carried some of them but not near as many as my son-in-law.

I checked on the cost of respite care today; I was not surprised at the significant increase in price. Luckily it is only for a short time. The shortest time they accept is 2 weeks. Better than the old rule of 30 days. Time to put the chickens to bed.

Strangely enough the SIL who has spent most of the day in a semi-alert state is almost wide-awake. Not sure that even trying that the situation could be reversed. Part of it is medication related but I am not sure all of it is. When we watch television, the characters are real for her. There is no such thing as "actors" and the donation commercials are just as real. She is responsible for the animals, the kids, the veterans. She also has every disorder that is advertised with medication commercials.

Now we begin the evening/nighttime routine. I get followed around with inches between us, questioned about the "stuff" in her empty hand. So far this round of living here has not brought dead relatives to the party. Or hostages in the HVAC system or in the attic. Good thing too, the kids may be up there before the end of the school year.

The cold weather can leave anytime

This dog chased me down the road today

I am glad that he just ran alongside me once we were off the main road. I am not sure who he belongs to but he did not follow me into the driveway. I do not need another dog, or cat, or gerbil, pig, hamster, guinea pig, bird, nothing I need no more responsibilities!

Fast forward it is 7 days from the start of this post. We have been to Oklahoma and back. It was much more adventurous this round. The weather, the passengers, the dropping the keys down the elevator shaft at the first hotel. You name it, I think it happened. Driving into a storm on day one was scary enough. trying to find motels in the dark is not my thing. We stopped just as the sun was setting. It had been a long, long day. We were still in Texas. The last time we made this trip we made it almost all the way to Eufaula. No where near our destination we sort of rested. I unloaded the car and got the kids to their room and DH and SIL to our room. I returned to the car to get a few more things. That is when the next disaster struck. As I attempted to exit the elevator on the second floor... 2 handicapped ladies were trying to enter. As I backed up into the elevator to let them board my keys slipped from their position and the three of us watched as they fell down to edge of the elevator floor and over the edge into the shaft.

I could not believe my eyes, neither could the two ladies as they struggled to get on the elevator. I went to the front desk immediately and the circus act began. I could not sleep that night as I was afraid, I would miss a call from the rental car company. Morning came and soon I had to tell DH our dilemma. Whenever I start with "now don't get mad" one should be concerned, very concerned. By the end of the morning the hotel had $500 extra to get the keys out of the elevator shaft for me. The rental company never called, and we went on our way.

Of course, getting on the highway I went the wrong direction. Ten miles added to the day. We arrived in McAlester after 5pm that day. I had to remind myself that the real reason for the trip was to keep DH out of the work area. Seeing the houses that we wanted to look at was just a bonus. That would happen the next day. 

See the houses we did, and I was just as torn between them as I was before I saw them. Again, a house that fit our needs and land that appealed to me on the other. Not that the land on the nice house was bad. It just wasn't as isolated or private as the other house. That said, the layout was really nice, there was room for everyone. DH muddled through the place as if he were being forced to walk on coals and hold a sign that said he was in heaven. If his negative attitude could have been any worse, I would have just walked away from both houses right then and there. Afterall it is he that is more miserable here in Colorado than I. Or at least I think it is.

After seeing the houses and the behavior and having to lift SIL in and out of the car and changing adult diapers for three days straight I was done. If I never go on another road trip with dementia and handicapped passengers, it will be too soon. The fourth day was the ride home in wind that reminded me that I do not care for the weather here, but I dislike tornados even more so. No more road trips for a while. My arm is so sore that I really cannot justify doing any more lifting. After arriving home and changed another diaper and unloaded the minivan, made lunch for everyone and returned the minivan to the rental company I came home only to get people ready for the next day.

Today is that next day and I received my MRI results from last week. No wonder my arm is sore!

I took a shower and looked out the window at the tree

After I went out and enjoyed the sunset

I can understand now why I cannot do certain movements with my arm. Sadly, there are going to have to be some changes around here. Alas I will close there are pills to pass...