Wheelchairs, Weather and Weekly Workload

Let's talk wheelchairs and cockeyed photos, shall we?

Now, I happen to know a little tiny bit about wheelchairs, knowledge I picked up during the year that I lived with Alice as her live-in caretaker/helper.  Alice always made sure that we put the brakes on before we lifted her into her chair.  A lesson that came from some experience prior-me, I'm sure - but that knowledge stuck.

When the guy came into the hospital to give me the wheelchair lesson that was the first thing he mentioned.  Make sure the brakes are on. Got it. He proceeded to explain the adjustments that could be made, the leg rests, the foot rests (neither of which Brian is able to reach or use) and then wanted me to sign a paper saying that he taught me everything I needed to know.

But wait, I said - how does it recline?  (Alice's chair didn't recline)
Recline?
Yeah...recline.
Um - this one doesn't recline.
Well then. Um. That one isn't going to work - just look at the boy - he can't sit.

I almost felt bad for the guy. The workorders said recline - whoever ordered it (he assured me it wasn't him) didn't say recline.  The poor guy had wiggled his way across Ann Arbor during rush hour to get the chair for us and was not happy to find out then that it wouldn't even work and he'd have to go back. 

So he went back and got us a 14" recliner. Rules are all the same with the addition of showing me how it reclined.  I signed that time.

When I got to the hospital the next day on Greg's shift he told me we were waiting for another replacement wheelchair because Brian wouldn't fit in a 14" with his leg span, but would need a 16".  Why they didn't think of measuring the boy before ordering, is beyond me - but hey, we went home with the correct chair.

The other thing that still has me wondering, is that another dude kept trying to convince me that probably, we wouldn't use the chair much anyway and would call to have it picked up within a week.  Huh?  We use it all the time.  He thought a wagon would be easier and more comfortable. Oh...I can see it now.  Half deaf me pulling my kid to town in a wagon that he doesn't fit in and he goes tumbling off the top a full block behind me before I notice he's missing.  Right. 

Altho, the shocks on the wagon might be better.

We walked to the library yesterday and felt every single crack in the sidewalk. Alice's wheelchair was far superior.  What a ride.

At least the weather was nice.
Did I mention that my mom is supposed to come on Wednesday to help me get thru a few days?
She sent me the weather report yesterday - snowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnow - lots of it.  My mom doesn't much like driving thru the snow, so let's hope it just bypasses the Lake Superior region, shall we?  I saw pictures that Northern Minnesota got bombed tho. sorry guys!

This week is busy (I really need my mom)

I have to clean out my laundry room - a daunting chore at best. We got an estimate on a complete redo from top to bottom - paint job, shelves, sliding door where the swing door now is, custom cabinet - the works.  That will begin on Wednesday or Thursday.  The laundry room right now is a catch-all.  What I want to know is where does one move the catch all stuff when the catch all room is getting gutted???

I also need to prep for some deadlines
finish proofing wedding photos
sketch up some ideas for scrapsupply projects - lots of fun stuff coming up there
keep my head above water
bustle the needs of two needy boys

The good news is - I actually slept last night, for the first night in over 3 weeks. Wow - that was something.

be good
happy monday!! 

Comments

[Jan C.]

Good thing you asked the guy how the wheelchair reclined and didn't just say to yourself, "I'll figure it out when I get home."

[Ashley Harris]

Oh man! What a reclining wheel chair deal! So glad you got sleep, here's to many more nights of sleep!

[Auntie Barb]

Shoot. I don't check out blogs as often as I'd like. Missed the auction. This grammie would have out-bid the older grammie in a New York minute. I especially like the hair on this old buck. He has more than most guys his age, so I suppose he takes pride in arranging it. Email me next time somebody goes on the auction block.

[sue Treiber]

When my stepdad needed a wheelchair this past winter my mom had to go thru a whole rigamrole to get the right one as well. She ended up with one she couldn't lift at all. Time to get smart, health care peoples!

[~ Junkyard Jennifer]

Glad to hear you got some sleep!

Snow... Two feet yesterday, and almost half of it melted today. It's looking good!