July calendar

Hello all.

With my mom being able to shuffle around a bit, my parents will not be needing many overnight guests any more, although out-of-towners will always be welcome to stay at my folks' house. My dad has taken over "calendar" duties, so if you can visit during July please call or email him. bandjhansen@comcast.net or 916-772-7986 (home) or 916-420-2303 (Brian's cell)

The kids and I will be in California with my parents from Sunday, June 22nd through Monday, July 7th. They will be looking for 2-4 hour visits on various days of the week after that, with an occasional overnight stay.

Plans are shaping up for the ongoing search for Rita. A family friend, who lives in Davis and vacations in Hamilton, Montana, offered to either look for Rita or drop off live cat-traps in Challis as they drive through later this week. Thank you Sylvia and Don! The traps would allow a local person to set out food and check the traps every day or so to see if she came in to eat. Animal lovers who have never seen a live trap need not worry, they are very safe and the little door just closes behind the animal with no possibility of injury. So now begins the mad scramble to find two live cat traps by tomorrow around noon.

Monday email, typed by JANET!!!

Its Monday and here I am. Time is going fast and slow. There are lots of medical appointments butalso lots of calls, notes, and visitors. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I got my cast off of my right arm on Thursday. After 6 weks of non use itdoesn't work well. I will need a lot of therapy. The hand doctor said thatthe big pin sticking out of my thumb had to come out and he took out a pairof pliers. He pulld it out without pain but I was sure nervous. I can usemy arm as much as I can. On wed I can put full weight on my leg but I amoften dizzy. Whats new. Brians cousin nael ame from washington state to help for a week. What alifesaver. Today elaine is coming. Wew bought a new white 08 honda accord on Friday. If I have help, I can getinto it. Brian had some time to work on his stamps this weekend. Enjoy the misspellings. Lqve, janet

Awesome news

My mom has had lots of good news from all her appointments this week. She is authorized to put up to 100 pounds of weight on her broken leg/hip for the next week, then she can put as much as is comfortable until she can walk normally! Wow! Also, her arm cast is off and she is allowed full range of motion with it. Her arm is not so happy about that, but I'm sure PT will help. After 6 more weeks or so the doc will evaluate her thumb (the pin is out now) to see if she needs another surgery. Soon she may be able to use a modified walker where she can support herself partially with her healing arm. She also saw some type of counselor, the official diagnosis so far is "wow, that was stressful!"

Today my dad was going to buy a new Honda Accord--with side air bags. He test drove it earlier this week and my mom can fit in the front seat with halo so they will be able to return the handicap van. Neal has been a lot of help to my parents--thanks so much. Now that my mom will be able to walk soon (fingers crossed) they will probably need more local friends stopping by for shorter time periods and not as many overnight visitors. My dad won't be so exhausted from getting up all night to help my mom. As soon as I get my act together and make my reservations to come down in late June/early July I think Elaine and my dad will be putting together the July calendar.

A bit of interesting news from Challis is that my dad received a call today that someone sighted a cat near the wreck site. We had a similar call when we were still in Idaho with no luck. If you'd like to read the article that Eileen got published in the Challis paper, check out http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-2-20080612. Thanks, Eileen, for keeping the hope alive.

ps-The CF Walk was awesome, if a bit chilly. The D Team came in first place (yay, mom, for heading up the "kick butt" division from afar) and the walk raised over $55,500 this year. Last year was just $42,000. Imagine what next year will be like when I get my power volunteers back!!!

The D-man's cool green glasses

Anyone still checking?

For anyone who is still checking the blog, please help us out by planning to call my mom sometime this week. She has a lot of doctors' appointments she's nervous about and could use some cheerful phone calls from friends. Best times are (Pacific time) 10-12, 3-5, and 7-9.

If you know a friend who isn't checking the blog anymore, please pass the word along.

Thanks!
Amy

Doctor appointments

My mom has appointments set up with all the best doctors in the Roseville/Sacto area. Orthopaedic surgeon for her leg, cardiologist for her vena cava filter, hand surgeon for her thumb and arm, neurosurgeon for her neck and back, home health, visiting nurses, OT, PT, primary care doctor, and all the ones I forgot. She started her appointments yesterday (two successful home-van-office transfers! Yay Dad!)

They had dinner at their neighbors' house and Mom is busy thinking up all kinds of things for me to buy Derek and Anna, since she is doing only armchair shopping at the moment. The latest is a watch with an alarm and a family swim pass for the Hamilton pool this summer. Another project she is working on is advice for me, remembering kindergartners from the past...Derek was diagnosed with amblyopia yesterday and will need glasses and an eye patch for the forseeable future. I will try to remember to post a picture once he gets his "green ones".

Monday email!!

I'm safely home in the land of sunshine. I can't do much other than eat,sleep, and watch crummy tv shows but I'm better every day this week I havelots of doctor visits so I'll have more to tell then. Thanks for all yourlove and support. Love, janet

(Mom emailed this to me to post)