Things are much better.

My back only gives me pain now when I move suddenly or wrong, or when I hiccup (yes, true).  I'm able to walk, drive and knit with little or no pain which is a relief.

My HRB has progressed well too................................

Binding off is in progress, but still a long way to go.

Finally off the needles, and a sad and sorry sight much in need of blocking.

Off today to Spotlight to buy some blocking pins and dressmaking pins............

.............then I saw this and couldn't resist.  So much for going to ONLY buy the pins.

I will be blocking the blanket tomorrow hopefully as it's been a bit wet today and the only place I could really do it is outside on the lawn.  I will definitely get photo's to show you.

Now for my Dad.  He is doing superbly well, but he is being typically him and not listening to the nurses. He wants to do it all NOW thankyou very much.  Since the strokes, he has had to have a minced diet and thickened fluids, so even tea and coffee have to have a thickening agent put in, and if any of you have ever had to drink thick tea, coffee and water you will know how unpleasant that can be.  Yesterday Mum tried him with ordinary tea, and told him to sip it slowly.  He did, and didn't choke or cough.  Brilliant.  He later enjoyed a cup of unthickened coffee too, so things are looking up.  Next we will try him on food that he actually has to chew, so hopefully he'll soon be able to eat normal foods and not have to have everything vitamised.  He is walking well too...............perhaps not quite as well as he believes though.  Yesterday he rang Mum while she was home to tell her that he couldn't use his bedside phone as the company mistakenly thought his time was up.  Mum then spoke to the company and they re-connected it for him.  Mum thought he had gone to the nurses station to phone her, but when we got back to the hospital we found out that he had actually gone to the receptionist at the front door of the hospital, some 300 metres away.  THAT is a seriously long way for him at the moment, and no doubt he would have been very tired before he got back, and of course that is when he can have falls etc.  Luckily no harm was done, but the nursing staff hadn't even realised he'd done it.  We will have to keep an eagle eye on him.  Hopefully a rehabilitation bed will become available very soon, and they will keep him busy.  I'm sure he will work extremely hard to get back to a state where he will be permitted to return home.  Perhaps he will even make it home before Christmas, what a great present for both he and Mum.

left to right, Mum, Dad, youngest sister Janet and me.  Middle sister Dianne is in front. 

Take care everyone, and happy knitting.

Comments

[Sue]

I am so glad that your dad is eager to get back to his normal self and isnt feeling sorry for himself. I cant wait to see the blanket blocked too. The little book is full of great gift ideas isnt it. I always buy more than I need to when I go to Spotlight too.

[Natalie]

Glad to hear about the progress (Grandad's, your back's and the HRB's) See you soon!