Health, housing, and Halloween

Earlier this month Mom started physical therapy – five or six weeks of two or three a week – PT that turned out to be a little funky, Penny-style, and that she’s not sure about it. But I have encouraged Mom to try this. Perhaps she’ll try to a different PT if this doesn’t work out. While she does this PT, she is not doing exercises at home or tai chi. Tuesday evening – after stalling for a couple of weeks – with aid from a fellow church member and retired nurse – and after months of negotiating with the drug company and her insurance company – Mom tried self-injecting herself with a relatively new drug that it supposed to combat osteoporosis and start to build back her bones, including bones near her hip that may be dangerously depleted. Good for you, Mom, for trying out PT and the shot.

While Mom is busy working with her health, Stephanie’s Mom, Nancy, is supervising the completion of a major home renovation. She has posted pictures on Facebook of helping knock down a wall and some of her new kitchen appliances. Much of Nancy and Bob’s home’s first floor will be quite different.

Stephanie has caught the bug too – after I started the ball rolling Saturday – searching the Internet and peppering her colleagues and students with questions about New Albany real estate. I’m more skeptical.

Speaking of bugs and health, the sister of one of Stephanie’s students – who herself seemed sick last week – has come down with H1N1 flu. I bet it’s only a matter of time before Stephanie brings it home to Vincent and me. Cold and allergies have dogged Stephanie and Vincent for several weeks as it is. Stephanie has missed church and Children’s Fellowship for both of the past two Sundays, partly because of feeling crappy. Vincent always has smoker’s cough – but has been more grumpy – more like his old self – as he – with urging from Jessi – has been – in fits and starts – trying to quit smoking and is so going through nicotine withdrawal. We’ve had more arguments than usual.

I’ve been trying to floss and maintain my dermatological routine – with a bath every night and some lotion. I went to the dermatologist – way out – last week – and switched lotions.

Stephanie and I were both together at a Weight Watchers meeting for the first time in several weeks after we both try to lose some weight.

After several weeks off Vincent was back to his weekly counseling sessions – now on Saturdays – last week. He’s back to the psychiatrist next week. Vincent is very enamored with making money, but we’ve been trying to push him to do school work too, especially since he’s close to finishing one class and if he finished it he could go in and get out of a class the school enrolled him that he’s taken before and enroll to get credit for working. He’s applied for some other jobs – that we’re now thinking he shouldn’t pursue until he finishes his two classes – and his current job (at Halloween Express in the Mall at St. Matthews - pictured - from above - above) – if he makes it through – he’s toyed with quitting, I think, since after the store actually opened it’s gotten boring – although he likes some of the people he works with – is slated to end after Halloween.

-- Perry