A note from Janet...

All is going slowly but surely. I will knowmore information the first week of August. If people want to keep in touchwith me I am responding to email now at bandjhansen@comcast.net. Thanks.Janet

ps (by Jill)-My mom is hoping to phase this blog out by August (I can hear the addicts' outcry now...) and go back to her usual Monday emails. If you would like to be on her list, please email her at the above address with your request. For those of you who don't know about the "Monday email" (or "fam-spam", as I've heard it called), my mom sends a group email to hundreds of her closest friends and family with the weekly update of Hansen news.

Rita and Sylvia

With the commotion of Derek and Anna running around, my friend Lizzy leaving, and Sylvia and Don bringing Rita's carrier into the house, Sylvia cat disappered under my parent's bed. I don't know what triggered it, but within just a few minutes of opening the carrier, Sylvia cat ran out and came nose-to-nose with Rita for the first time in over nine weeks (see video). Then she and Rita wandered down the hall together and Sylvia cat took a hard left and has not come out from under the bed since. Rita continued to check out every single room in the house, even coming out several times to see all of us in the kitchen. Now she is laying on my mom's shoes in the bedroom in a position where she can see Sylvia cat, who is laying with her back turned towards Rita but looks at her over her shoulder. We spent considerable time with Don and Sylvia recounting all the small miracles that added up to this wonderful big miracle of Rita coming home. All of you who played a part--you know who you are--it's just a beautiful thing. My mom is so happy. SO happy. SO HAPPY!!!

Janet's baby is home!!

And more 4th

More 4th

Happy 4th of July!

The real stuff

I realize I've been just posting non-information lately. My mom actually only had two screws tightened last week, as the new ones were too sore to do right away. Her appointment for the other two is for Tuesday at 9 am. I am sorry we will be gone, as it will be a tough 48-72 hours for my dad, trying to help my mom through her most painful time. She will be attended to by the neurosurgeon and the orthotics expert in the fluoroscopy room at the hospital. Sounds intense, doesn't it? She was in quite a lot of pain last week, it was a difficult time for everyone. This week should be better since she has her pain meds figured out (optimal dose and schedule) and the tightening will be less painful than the two new holes. Otherwise, mom has been released from physical therapy--this was mainly to get her walking safely, up stairs, etc. Her occupational therapist, who is working with mom's shoulder and hand and thumb, will continue to come twice a week. Eventually mom may have to go to her appointments rather than have them in-home. Her thumb still needs a lot of work, but because there isn't any real pain, she hopes not to need another surgery.

She is doing really well with her independence and anxiety. When she isn't in excruciating pain she can be alone for several hours--like this morning when my dad and I took the kids to the 4th of July parade. (Which Derek is now watching AGAIN on the Roseville cable channel during his percussions.) My dad bought the kids fireworks and some of our family is coming over tonight for a BBQ. Should be pretty fun. My mom and the kids made cupcakes and she is in good spirits. I programmed her phone with many of her friends so that if she is panicky or alone she can always use her cell. Also (this was new for me) I recorded Derek saying "Answer the phone, Gigi" and put that as her ring tone. She loves it!!! Amy set up Skype for my parents, so now they can video conference for free online. I'm wondering how long it will be before they buy us a web cam so that they can conference with Derek and Anna.....