We are blessed to have a way to share our extraordinary lives that prove why for us, Walking Is, Way Overrated. You'll see... Stories, Life lessons, Problem Solving, Aging with a disability, all intended to encourage and help out anyone who may be new to using wheels for legs, aging, have a loved one facing challenges or you may just be interested in reading something unique. You may even smile! All glory goes to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
At this point it's been a couple of months almost since Craig has been in a hospital bed because of a pressure wound on his backside. Due to our physical disabilities, we can't even kiss or make any physical contact. I can hold his one hand, that's it.
This day, he was able to sit in his wheelchair for up to two hours. So we made the most of it.
So for the first time, we actually get to make physical contact including hanging out at the hospital cafeteria. This day was extra special. He was only allowed one to two hours a day in his chair until recently as you'll see by the newest vlog coming soon
(This video was made for some special folks in our life- I want to share it because it's the only one we took)
These have been most challenging times. I could say that about the entire world in light of all of the events and issues have been going on for the last few years. In our home challenges have arisen upon challenges. As a married couple who both live with physical disabilities, we are aware that anything can happen at any time. These recent days, my dear husband suddenly discovered a sore on his backside. Something you always want to be checking for when you sit in a wheelchair all the time or are in bed for long periods of time. Developing a pressure ulcer is a very challenging thing to deal with because it means the bone inside the body such as the hips or pelvic bone, is pressing from the inside towards the outside and therefore the wound gradually begins on the other side. But it's preventable when you first discover just a red spot. It would mean stay off that area and stop sitting up or laying down in the same spot for too long.
Watch Below
I won't say too much because most of it is shared in the log that we made and we will be following through with updates on how Craig is doing and
confirmations as we get them, regarding what exactly is this quite infected wound on his poor backside.
Don't you just love this monarch butterfly on my thumbnail? This deserves it's own little blurb. A couple weeks ago I noticed them on her butterfly enjoying our zinnias. Then there was the time I almost got hit in the head by the hummingbird poking around our zinnias. Love it. This day I was observing the butterfly from our window, believing there was no way I would be able to take a picture of it. I decided to ask God to keep the butterfly there long enough so I can get outside with my camera and get a shot. Well the most amazing thing happened. I cannot lift my arms at all from where I sit in my wheelchair or at any time for that matter. So I took my little Canon PowerShot camera pointed up to where the majestic butterfly was sitting on the tallest zinnia flower. Not an easy shot because like I said, I cannot lift my arms and to mention I also can't see through the screen to even see what I'm shooting at. So I trust in God, guessed that I had it in frame and click. And the butterfly went and that was that. When I checked the viewfinder, I was thrilled to see it was the perfect shot. Nothing was blurry and even the composition seemed perfect. I am quite sure that God help me with that because, that butterfly on top of the Zinnia was far too high for where my camera could point to to get a decent side view of the butterfly. So all glory goes to God and I'm thinking him for a once in a lifetime shot that I get to enjoy and hopefully paint eventually.
Watch Below!
Last night we camped indoors, which for those of you who don't know me and Anita, that's me slept in my wheelchair. The problem with that is I don't usually get a lot of sleep. By the time I settle down, and close my eyes it's usually about three hours. I've realized that I think it's because I'm so used to having to go to bed when someone here has been pre-scheduled to come and help me into and out of bed, then having the freedom to move around at any time whenever I like. It's just too wonderful for me. So these are the only nights I get to live unfettered, and yes that's where the hyperactive part of my ADHD diagnosis seems to come in to play. I had to laugh when I thought, maybe that's why God allowed me to be in a wheelchair, because he knew I'd be all over the place if I was on my feet. I hope I remember to ask him that one day, these days I've been choosing basically, to sleep in my wheelchair about once a week. But the driving force behind it is having limited personal care attendants, and wanting to make sure that works out the best way possible. Plus I really like the idea that I get to choose as well.
Seating clinic for new wheelchairs
I believe that was mentioned in this video a little bit. If not they're somewhere else. But I am thrilled that I am entitled to a new wheelchair a year sooner than I originally thought. Our government provides 75% funding basically, every five years for things like power wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs. The funny thing is they don't cover very expensive wheelchair batteries. But we deal with it. Craig has a decent healthcare plan from his days as a letter carrier. What will be great about this is it has a power tilt along with a power recline and power foot rest that raise up and down. I will be sharing all I can and the blogs and that in case anyone else is interested and want it all is. Because I didn't know about it until after it was too late when I got my last year. Or I would have applied for that kind. It means that I would be able to sleep far more comfortably in my wheelchair. Even though I already sleep pretty decently. It will just be good because my hips and legs will be able to stretch out and the circulation can flow better. I have chronic lymphoedema which means my legs and feet and ankles have been swelled for a lot of years. Including the left side of my face and left arm. .. That's why I wear my wedding ring on my right hand.
I know I shared the last process about five years ago with you everyone here at walking railroaded. This time it won't just be my process by Craig's at the same time because he's going through a different vendor but is still seeking a new power assist wheelchair. Pretty exciting now we just gotta find the client portion of the funding which can get pretty expensive, but it's worth it. He actually has his power assist wheels that he bought without any government funding only about two years ago so he will just be getting a regular manual wheelchair and then they add rackets so he can use his emotion M25 wheels. That he loves so much. Makes life a lot easier when your shoulders are battling things like rotator cuff damage and osteoarthritis.
Fifty Celsius has never been reached in my life time, that I know of. Today, our thermometer reached the highest we've ever seen. No doubt it may be out by a few degrees, but still, pretty jaw dropping. Especially for September. Conspiracy theories abound regarding not just the moon landing, but also about the sun. Conspiracy theorists are often scorned or looked down upon. I confess, we do consider theories because we realized we can't always believe what we are told. Let's face it some events just don't compute. Critical thinking is critical. There are too many events throughout history, that leave us scratching our heads, wondering...did whatever it is really happen that way?
Not say I believe the sun is not our original ball of light made by our God and Creator. But, there's definitely something that makes us scratch our heads. Why?
Lately, I've discovered that my power tilt wheelchair suddenly turns red indicating that there is no more power in the batteries. The batteries in a wheelchair like mine look like the size of a car battery. There are two 12 volt batteries. Back in the olden days, my first power wheelchair came to me when I was about 17 years old, the batteries needed to be changed out every year. During the modern era, my batteries seem to last for years. About three or four. Mind you, I don't trek around the countryside like I used to. Once we got married and had a vehicle, there was no need to be bouncing around the streets. But recently when I spend the night sleeping in my wheelchair, (that's if I even sleep, I'm usually waking up and moving around napping and moving around again). By the next evening my chair battery light jumps from having power to no power. Which is a very alarming thing when your wheels are your legs.
Watch Video Below
Craig and I have a seating clinic to go to this week. We are both qualified to get new wheelchairs through the governments assistive devices program. This program cover is 75% of the cost of a wheelchair. The bizarre thing is they do not cover batteries which are quite expensive these days. So far I haven't decided if I want a whole new wheelchair, because we have to cover the other 25%. And since this time I definitely am in need of a power tilt, with the reclining feature which also means electric foot rest that go up and down... I am guessing the entire price goes up another $10,000. Because my chair is a special teacher, and it's quite expensive the provincial government technically owns my chair. Even though we pay 25% and have to pay for maintenance and new batteries for however long we have it. I am thankful that we are blessed with such a program. At the same time a bit confused but that's OK. in the meantime I have this chair, dying batteries and an odd sound that's been coming from my left we'll pretty much the whole time I've had the chair. I have been paid for a couple of check ups, to find out what was wrong but to no avail. That's one of the main reasons why I also think I might go for the new chair and not just a new cushion and a new back. You are entitled to get a new cushion and a new back every two years through the government program.
Unfortunately when I started filming this video, the phone was having problems with storage space. I thought I cleared everything out to film but then sure enough it cut out after four minutes. The silly thing is I kept talking and filming not knowing it had cut out. So I really was talking to myself.
The answer to the question that I set out to answer by going for a walk to the location of our seating clinic this week is..... Yes. Made it there and back and my battery light says full. I will see what happens this evening because that's when it could jump to red meaning empty. The nerve-wrecking thing is the chair still moves around on red so I don't know if it just stops suddenly or what. All my older wheelchairs I always gave me a warning and they literally started to slow down to a tortoise pace.
First of all I am really excited to say welcome to a new subscriber from Japan. They took the time out to make a comment and we just wanna welcome them and say how thrilled we are to know that someone from a completely different country across the world is interested in our channel content. We would love to know more about Japan and even visit there. Unfortunately due to our physical challenges Craig and I can visit through things like Google earth but not on an actual plane. That's why there are so many great YouTube videos and blogs where people share their lives from other countries. For folks like us who can't literally travel I can virtually travel.
And thank you to all of the other subscribers it's hard to believe, that we're up to 783 people. And it definitely helps if you're feeling like it, to like comment share and subscribe to our YouTube channel and any other social media sources.
Today's video is primarily about the progress of Craig's latest acrylic painting. When he has been working on for months and months. At the same time it's a bit bit of a collide as we talk about some other things like we were in a log for walking way overrated. So I will definitely be posting the video on both blog pages.
Hi guys. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Well I guess we're in the middle of the week so it's a little late to ask that. I'm a little late in sharing this Vlog that I posted a few days ago. But it's worth the wait after a couple of failed attempts at filming in the wee hours of the morning. To find out why you have to watch the video of course. So if you need a diversion or are just plain bored, check out a couple days worth of vlogs below.
It's another camp out night, indoors (where I sleep in my power tilt wheelchair).and it's already 4:30 in the morning. Craig passed out on his futon over an hour and a half ago and as usual, my artistic brain seems to kick in if I don't get to bed fast enough. Decided to go outside in this beautiful weather and make a video yapping about a few Life things. Everything from Vincent van Gogh to current events in our lives. I am working on a new video that I'm excited about because my dad has let me take over promoting his artwork ina whole new special way. It's 18 I plan on posting it by the end of the day.
Happy Saturday everyone. Join us as we share life experiences as they relate specifically to life and marriage with a disability. Including some of my childhood ones that stand out well.
In no way are we mocking those who have given us these adventures. Just trying to make light of what can sometimes be a challenge.
As well, maybe we will answer a question or two regarding political correctness. What words, if any should we use when addressing someone like us? Or does it even matter? All based on our own opinion of course!
It's an indoor campout night and we splurged on the new Elvis Movie. I figure for $30 to purchase this masterpiece, it works out the same as attending it at the local theatre. Since the movie was over two and a half hours long, by the time we were done, it was already late. That prompted me begging Craig to go for a walk at 2ish in the morning.
Watch Below
What Stinks, Marriage Or The Fridge?
In a previous shimmer watercolour video, I was mumbling about telling Craig how bad the refrigerator stunk for a week. Responding with how he can't smell it or its the garbage. But it never was quite the source. Until The other day when he finally decided to clean the fridge or I am moving out until I can breath! Ha ha. So I made a video but unfortunately a bunch of files ended up corrupted. So disappointed because we had physical evidence. So to substitute for the missing video, we covered what he found in this vlog!
Another gorgeous day outside. Perfect time for me to Basque outside and breathe in the fresh air, letting the sun's rays show off my new shimmery handmade watercolours. I've already posted some videos about how to create these watercolour paints. but after recently trying to purchase a set from amazon that ended up not working out, the notice claimed that they were undeliverable. It all worked out how it was meant to so I i decided i would just continue making my own.
Another big lesson learned
I also learned that you should watch reviews about items like paint and art supplies before buying them online. So I'm glad it worked out that the product never arrived anyway. Because the day before they were supposed to arrive I was watching other artists on YouTube swatch out and test these shimmer paints and I was quite disappointed at what I saw. I remember saying, oh man my paints are far more pigmented, not worth $55. So I actually ordered up some more chameleon pigment powders to make more paints. My husband keeps telling me to just paint already.
I don't know about you but, it feels like I need to have everything in place and organize just right, and then it means I'll be able to create some great artwork. So far what I've learned in my decades of existence, no matter how organized or how many variations of art supplies I may have, my artwork doesn't get any better. What does make artwork get better, the act of actually doing it. Not worrying about how good you are at it or whether or not you have the perfect brand or colour or paint brush.
Enjoy this Sparkle Watch Below
But that's not all, I haven't been pleading with my husband all week about this increasingly horrid stench "not" coming from our refrigerator. And yes, if I could take care of it myself, I would happily do so but unfortunately my arms and overall body doesn't like to cooperate with me. Which means my dear husband, has a lot of responsibilities. He is kind of like my arms and legs and I am the nose, eyes,… Well basically the grey matter part. Trying to help out by pointing out things that need to be done or taken care of. I'm not the greatest at it but it helps me to feel a teeny bit useful. However, what happens when he doesn't believe you or has a nose that doesn't quite pick up the same sense you do. 😊If you're married or in a special relationship, you may be able to relate to this. You know, Where one loved one says one thing about something and the other loved one does not agree at all. Usually resulting in some form of ongoing debate or an all out fight. 😏 nothing more frustrating than trying to get someone to see or hear what you see or hear or in this case smell and they insist you're wrong. Definitely one of those moments that result in some humourous content for your YouTube or blog channel.
This video is just an intro into our stinky fridge debate. It's called Worlds collide because when two or more of our blog subjects collide, for instance heartfully creating is intended to be a creativity art blog with tutorials and anything art related. Where as our other Vlog/blog Walking Way Overrated, primarily focuses on anything to do with our unique married life as a couple living with physical disabilities. Sometimes we just can't keep the topics completely separated so today is one of those days, I get to share the beautiful colours from my DIY Shimmery watercolours and then the other subject, our stinky fridge! Worlds Collided.
Imagine peacefully eating your dinner and you see a passing vehicle fly by in your pereferral vision. Along with an instantaneous house vibrating thud, as soon as the car's tail passes our van parked in our driveway. My husband and I look at eachother surprised. My instant reaction was oh know some kind of impact. Craig mentioned our Gian Tough Garbage can. Realizing how still the air was, we both flew out our rickety screen door.
Sadly, there were about five people across from our house and the neighbour's, A shorter man in a red t-shirt was upset, yelling at the slicked backyounger tall man, dressed in black simple garb. Obviously the visibly upset man in red had been driving with his very upset wife or mother. As she was crying, almost in hysterics at one point. Seeing the air bags all inflated spilled out filling the front of their vehicle and the extremely crumpled up drivers side, her tears and hi anger made perfect sense. It was obvious that the young man, whose car I caught in peripheral had been driving dangerously fast swerving toward oncoming traffic enough to have basically a head on collision.
Watch The Short Clip Here
My first instinct was to call 911, but initially I assumed the people involved and those near by must have phoned already. But a rush in my head said, just call 911 right now. So I ran inside and dialled them. Telling the kind female voice about the accident in front of our house. What was so strange was after she asked if it looked like all bodies were out of the vehicle, I said I think so but suddenly My voice broke and tears started pouring down my cheeks. unable to to talk with the operator. Unable to communicate clearly, she asked me if I was alright. (Obviously she was confused because I was not in the accident). Asking what was wrong, I couldn't answer without breaking down more. I think she figure it out and within minutes the firetruck, and ambulance arrived. A tad embarrassed, I just felt the sadness and need to pray for those involved.
Voyeurism?
As a couple other neighbours came out to observe the scene in front of our house, I struggled with feeling like one of those staring at bad things kind of folks. Which was why It took so long to get our video phone to vlog about what happened. Wanting to respect people's privacy, I couldn't film everyone including our heroes, so that's why it's just pass by and mostly my mug showing!
After living here for nineteen years, I have been home for about 3-4 two car crashes. Not ones I saw happen, just heard a horrific sound to discover the scene. This was the closest to seeing the event. All because once again someone was was going way to fast or ignoring a stop sign. I confess something like this definitely activates adrenaline and easy stirs up emotions. Thank You Lord, it appears that no one was severely hurt.
These are definitely crazy days as we watch the news and hear about areas in Europe experience burning temperatures like we have been having in our City in Canada. Along with a lot of other news events that cause us to contemplate what it all means. All the more reason for somewhat comedic relief moments or even diversions just to interject into "real" life, with our real life.
Last Saturday night we had another indoor campout. As I try to master these indoor "adventures, " it's fun to share what's happening with us as some what of a video journal/vlog record. After all, one day, we may be really bored and want to be reminded about what we did on July such and such 2022!
Watch Below
Wound Update
Thank you for those who are concerned about Craig's battle with Veinous Stasis Ulcers. We will post a video update after there is something more to share. I have been doing his dressing changes after trying the local community homecare nursing system. For details just check out this previous blogpost.
Take care everyone and thank you so much for helping our channel and vlog /blog to grow!
❤️Hi guys. Hope you're having a great weekend. If you've been following her blog or the YouTube channel portion that coincides with this and a couple of other blogs, you may know that Craig has been battling pretty risky wound in his foot something called Veinous stasis ulcer. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can just check here or below to find out what happened in the first video we posted about his wound care and what causes it. I have been doing his dressing changes because I know the basics. and the local wound clinic only sees him every 2-3 weeks! Even after trying to arrange a home
care visiting nurse to do his dressing changes, assuming that would be far better than me doing it. Since I can only work with one hand, which I do improvise and make it happen. But nevertheless of course the best care for my husband is what matters most to me. However the company that was supposed to arrange the visit never made contact after Craig called them. When we heard the name of the company, we were pretty cynical anyway due to the very negative reputation they have in our city. Whether it's from employees I've had it worked for them or people who've tried to have them come and help out a relative or themselves, the news on the street has never been very good. So he said Anita will take care of the dressing changes between visits to the wound care clinic. I learned a little bit from seeing what they did to his dressing and ordered up some supplies from Amazon. And it didn't hurt that I have spent months having fun oozing wounds pouring out of my back for weeks after spinal surgery when I was an early teenager. I may not have been able to see them because they're on my back, but I sure do you remember what was done to them all the time to keep them clean and safe and free from infection.
Part one of this video that we did about a week ago it's not for the faint of heart because I do show some of the collection of photos I've been taking along the way. It's good to have a record of wounds so you can see how much progress you're either making or not making and then assess whether you're going to need to seek a doctor or go to emergency. The number one priority with Craig's wound is to make sure that he does not get any infection. For anyone who doesn't know the woman caring for his foot at the wound care clinic confirmed what I already knew, by telling me you're watching for things like redness and heat around the wound source. Of course fever is never a good thing, and most definitely when the fluid changes colour from white or clear to yellow to green and the edges of the wound become inflamed and red… I think you get the idea get to Emergency. But of course our number one goal for these many months has been to avoid that ever happening.
Watch Part One: What Is Veinous Stasis? Craig's Condition And Serious WoundCare
Update On Craig's Wound Care, Comparing A Home Care Visit From A Nurse VS Craig's Wife, Anita.
Watch The Update Below: For details about our experience withe the so far, only home nurse visit, read the article below
Our Home Care Nurse Visit Will It Be The Last?
Unfortunately, yesterday a day after Craig attended a wound care clinic and they changed his dressing and sent back a note explaining to me about what to watch for if it got infected. Oh yeah there's also not great order that can come from the wound which is another sign of infection. In the morning and informed me that the band they put on fell off which meant is open wound was rubbing up against the sheets.
I freaked out a little bit because I was so scared of it getting infected. Knowing that he had finally been able to arrange a nurse to come to our home and tend to his dressing, I said we can't wait for him because we didn't know when they were coming. (another con about having this particular company come to your home) so instead of waiting I changed the Band-Aid that Craig knew to put on when he saw his vulnerable and exposed wound. He sprayed it with Bactine which is kind of an emergency spray use for small cuts and burns or things like that. But I wouldn't recommend putting it on the type of one he has. But he did a good job working with what he knew. Needless to say, when I went to change that Band-Aid, for the first time in months it didn't look as good as it had been. And I'm talking more about the area around the wound. There was a specific Swath of pinkness in his skin, I was slightly warmer than normal. So I was a little relieved that a nurse would be coming so they could assess the situation.
Well we ever have a home care nurse visit again?
earlier veinous stasis ulcers on Craig's leg
We waited for the home care nurse to call and let Craig know when they would be coming to change his dressing. Another drawback to this particular company because they don't set up appointments for non-serious medical situation. Which is understandable, but for me after seeing the pinkness and warmth in his wound that same morning yesterday, waiting and definitely wasn't exactly a comforting thought. I know how fast blood infections can happen spread and even the worst case scenario. He finally called after three saying he would be here before four. Thankfully he honoured what he said and was here by about 3:50 PM. They had already told us that we would both be needing to wear masks which makes sense because our home is their office while they are here. In fact after not only mentioning the mask part, he also had a paper that Craig had to sign acknowledging all of this including if there are any pets that they felt were too dangerous to be around, we would put them in another room. Thankfully that won't ever happen because, sniff sniff.
He seemed like a very nice well-meaning nurse. I'm guessing he hadn't graduated too long ago. The company that he's working for unfortunately does not have a positive reputation based on everything I have heard over the last decade or more from people who work for me, that took jobs with them. And then people that we know who were seeking care from them and how things did not go very well. Including having home care workers not even show up. Or showing up whenever they wanted or could. So I was hoping that the nursing division of this company, may change our minds about Bayshore.
Hoping to learn something that might help me help Craig when it comes to addressing his wound care and changing his dressings, I watched and ask questions. I was definitely taken aback when I saw that he had a quite shovelled beard spilling out on the bottom sides of his face mask. We learned a long time ago about facemasks and preventing Covid and assuming other viruses, that masks cannot seal on beards. The most important thing about a facemask is how it fits well around the sides of the face and under the
chin and across the bridge of the nose. Craig has a beard but generally it does when you can to keep it trimmed fairly short. It's not perfect but it's better than a bushy beard where it just floats and all the bacteria and viruses can come in all around that mask. May all of you with your beard wearers please learn more about this for your own safety and the safety of your family. I realize that masks are not the be-all end-all to keep me out viruses but, it's been drilled into our heads so much since Covid began, it's hard not to take it seriously.
I put that thought out of my head and he told me that he was going to irrigate Craig's one with the sailing solution that had arrived in our supply pack from the local pharmacy the day before. The place that arranges the visit make sure the wound care supplies are sent to the home prior to the nurses visit. Thankfully this young man was on the ball and based on the referring description of Craig's wound, brought some smaller foam compound Band-Aid like designs.
Craig called me that when the wound clinic offered for the home nurse visits every second day, he thought that would help free me from doing his dressing changes. And I thought, he felt more comfortable having them do it for him. Especially since the wound care clinic person told him there was still too much fluid leaking and it wasn't healing as fast as it should be. So she offered the carrot to him that we had already passed on a couple months earlier when they never responded to a call. And especially when we heard the name of the company providing a home care services. Again bad reputation of not showing up and lousy quality of care.
Wanting to give this person a fair chance and knowing it was in the nursing department, I was hoping it would be a great experience and we could continue on with it if it would help Craig heal faster. And then we could say positive things about Bayshore. What's interesting as we learned that this company is the only one available because the other companies that we would like to choose such as VON end, have no openings available. Makes us wonder if it is really true about the hiring standards of other company.
My hope for negative feelings to change went out the window when he touched his mask and didn't wash his hands through that. When he didn't wash his hands when he entered our home and didn't wash his hands before he left our home or anything like that caused great concern. Not to mention he didn't irrigate his wound like he said he would. And in light of the fact that he did basically everything that I would do or have been doing thanks to what I had already learned from the wound care clinic he had been going to every two or three weeks. We concluded it was far less stressful worrying about germs and whatever other viruses or germs that are lurking out there from people who go home to home in that manner, that it's better just to keep doing things the way we are with the occasional visit to the wound care clinic.
But They Were wearing gloves? Doesn't that make it safe ?
Yes this nurse was wearing gloves. I have to tell you something that a lot of people do not seem to know including people in the nursing or medical field. My dear sister who has been a dental assistant for 30+ years taught me many many things that have helped me throughout the course of my life when it comes to safety and the prevention of spreading bacteria germs and viruses. The dental field is definitely far more meticulous when it comes to sterilization and cleanliness than any hospital or emergency room other than surgery of course. Surgeries have very explicit protocols to follow in order to avoid infection. But even then how often do we hear about infections in hospitals or patients getting sick while being in the hospital and in nursing homes, I think you get the point.
My sister Teresa, told me that you have to wash your hands before you put on medical gloves and wash your hands after taking them off. Makes sense when you think about it. If you don't wash your hands before you put on these clean gloves whatever you touched whatever germs or bacteria that you can't see is going to end up on the gloves and therefore making contact with your patient or client. Then once you're done what you're doing, if you just rip off your gloves go to the next client and patient putting on another pair of gloves what are you doing? Every germs and bacteria that you picked up from that last client is now on those gloves and everything that you touch with contaminated hands spreads to whatever you're touching. Now this can make one paranoid I know, but it's true. How do you think all of these poor seniors in these long-term healthcare facilities, and people patients, staff etc. have viruses spread so often within their walls. And how do you think families can get or coworkers or people just getting together en masse.
This is why it is really important to take protection safety seriously. As we see people slacking off since mask rules and population limits have been lifted during these last few months. We are also hearing about the increase of diagnosis once again. For me personally, I have always been concerned about catching any kind of sickness or virus long before Covid. This has been the way I try to live and have the grace of God, and the wisdom he provides, been able to say that I have been quite healthy for a very long time. So if you're one of those people who wear gloves without washing first and then switch to another parent how do you switch to another person, without washing, I beg you please rethink that and that includes all the nurses that I know who do this. I have had conscientious nursing people work with me who are in University at the time learning their career and power reported to me that horrific germs spreading they have seen during their clinical placements. This is as they witness experience nurses go from one patient to another patient switching gloves, sometimes not even switching gloves, and not washing between. This is a very very serious issue that I wish people would take more seriously and therefore we wouldn't have as many viruses and infections being spread within our healthcare facilities or communities for that matter.
So will we have This Organization come again into our home for Craig's Dressing Change?
No, we concluded that there wasn't anything different than what I had already been doing for him. Just more convenient and I like being able to help. We understand that this company doesn't find a dressing change a priority compared to other clients. For us, since they can't preschedule him and therefore it's a day of waiting, it's easier just to do it ourselves. However, please don't do it yourself if you are not comfortable or if your Doctor, care giver says not to. Avoiding infection is the number one priority.
Being in the kitchen together can be a challenge for us. Craig does all the cooking, often on his own. However, sometimes, I give directions like he's my arms and "legs" and that's where things can get challenging. Craig is a laid back fellow and I am a freak for not overcooking supper and that means timing is everything. I am guessing it's so critical for me because supper is my main only meal of the day.
Today world's collide as we not only share our daily life ( Walking Way Overrated ) cook burgers but I get to share and review the swatches from my handmade interference pigments from Let's Resin. That's the other world (HeArtfully Creating ). Join us...
Initially as the Thunder Storm Warnings flooded in all day, we excitedly went outside at about 7pm last night as the blue skies had become filled with changing dramatic cloud formations. My words can't express God's beauty so watch what we saw below in our vlog. Which contains one very sweet, big surprise.
About forty years ago, I began discovering the challenges of hygiene and physical accessibility. Times
like when I was recovering from a broken leg or spine surgeries, staying at my parents home (unable to freely access a bath tub or shower), or even if I went away where access to easy bathing methods were a challenge. I even tried getting hair permanents (curling hair with rollers and a chemical solution wreaking of ammonia) that dries out your hair, even burning some off. Resulting in hopeful curls or waves, trying to delay that oily greasy hair thing.
If you've ever been recovering from surgery, illness or live with a physical challenge like I have since childhood, then you know what I am talking about. In fact when you are in the hospital, you may also have experienced sponge or bed baths. What's that you ask? It means a nurse sets a bowl of warm water by your bedside with a washcloth (not usually a sponge), bar of soap and towel in hand. I remember it happening daily. Depending how long I was to be laid up for, my hair was never washed in bed, so no matter how clean I may have felt after, the greasy hair feeling increased daily. Back then I never heard of dry or waterless shampoos (which is what this video is about). You know how icky your head and body can feel when you can bath. Hard to believe that in the middle ages bathing was apparently annually if it all!
Watch Video Here
People don't talk about this much so I want to share ideas, reviews and offer what I can to help anyone with mobility issues that want to know ways of feeling clean even when you can't access the shower. Today I want to share a video Craig and I made last year, that I totally forgot about, testing out something called waterless shampoo. Watch to see if it was successful or not.
Good morning everyone! Yay the sun is shining and very very slowly the temperatures seem to be warming up. Definitely seems very delayed compared to every other year I've been on this earth. Just recently, I went to turn on our 55 inch TCL Roku television only to face darkness. After investigating all of the YouTube videos on the subject. And after spending countless hours trying to press button sequences and unplug and re-plug and unplug and re-plug, trying to reboot and reset this television that was less than 2 1/2 years old.... There was sound and you could select channels blindly, but nothing else changed. It hit me really hard realizing just how addicted I was to that idiot box. It was like experiencing withdrawal from sugar or something. Well maybe not that bad, but noticeable.
So we accepted that it was not going to work and we're able to give it away to someone who said they had a friend who could fix it. Tell them they could have it. It wasn't worth trying to find a part and repaired since it looked too complicated for us to manage. No I've been kind of enjoying the challenge of watching TV we need screens like the one you'll see in this video. We definitely have a lot of screens to look at it's just none of them are close to 55 inches. As we look into the open white space we now have because this big black wall is gone, things feel hopeful and better. Craig and I realize we didn't know what we were thinking getting such a mammoth television for such a small space. Maybe we were trying to avoid going to the movie theater. Come to think of it Covid happened a few months after we purchased it. Hmmm...
WATCH VIDEO HERE
It's time to move on, it's time to get going... Tom Petty's song is when I like to play whenever it's time to move on, it's time to get going. That's what I decided had to happen with my old power wheelchair. A couple of big changes in the last few days. I had kept my power wheelchair that was almost 18-19 years old, just in case my new one broke down again. If you look back at these blogs and videos you'll see that I had some issues getting my new chair set up. In fact they had to replace that wheelchair entirely within the first six months because the first one was a lemon. Having a lemon for a wheelchair doesn't work well and doesn't exactly instill trust to the point that you want to get rid of your really old but still working wheelchair. So finally, as I look at that big clunker sitting in our living room piled up with stuff, I felt it was safe to finally see if there was someone else who could use it. Thank you God a home was found fairly quickly. Now we have another big space. Spaces are good because then I get to fill it up with something. Just praying and hoping my no four year old wheelchair continues working.
Art Supply Heaven
Worlds are colliding in this blog because not only are we dealing with the television issue, I was happily distracted watching out new metallic watercolour paints and continuing to set up my new watercolour palette as my art supplies from Currys art supply shop in southern Ontario arrive.
After another night and I'm trying to camp out in our living room. While Craig sleeps soundly, I foolishly get distracted trying to communicate with others. Have you ever tried to do that when you're completely exhausted and falling asleep. But so determined to do it but you don't give up and before you know it sun is rising and you still haven't successfully sent any texts or messages. I definitely need to do some soul-searching to try to understand why I would forfeit so much rest in order to worry about that
After the hoyer lift break down the other day, see the video for that story here. Unfortunately, dear Leeann ended up with a lot of very black grease on her shoulder from supporting the boom part of the lift while Craig was disconnecting the hydraulic cylinder. We felt bad about it (didn't know it was greasy up there). Knowing what a great laundry guy Craig s, I told her to leave it to him and he can get the black grease out. The Next Video shows how he did! Here is the vlog for that fun day.
There are more details below the video about Craig's laundry tools and my DIY formula ingredients.
Watch Today's Video vlog
DIY Talk
It's that time of year when crawly critters start returning into our home. I usually nag Craig to keep the bugs at bay with RAID. He will spray the front door threshold, up and around the door cracks. Living on the ground floor means creepy crawlers work their way in. Concerned about him breathing in RAID fumes, I have been trying to create DIY critter repellents. DIY sprays are so easy to make for countless purposes. Never being someone to follow recipes, I just look for ideas on the internet and then wing it from there. I like to over do the amounts of everything just to make it strong.
Here are some notes on the loose recipe for my DIY Spray Formulas:
Bergie Critter repellent spray:
You do not need to use all the oils. I have them and used them. I am using ones that were mentioned in various recipes. Peppermint oil is a key main ingredient- just using one or 2 more will keep them at bay.
A Spray bottle
Rubbing Alcohol - fill bottle %50%
Distilled or Tap Water - fill bottle 50%
I just Add a lot od drops or pour what I think is enough of these oils:
Peppermint Oil (deters a lot of crawlies)
Lemon or Orange Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Cinnamon Oil
Should be some cayenne pepper but we used a bit of fine ground black pepper.
Wintergreen Oil
Spray ever 7 days or after rain also.
Peppermint and shaved Irish Spring soap will help repel rodents also like, skunks, rats and mice. Safer than moth balls.
Laundry Guy: stain removal tools
And Craig used (to work out all kinds of stains)
Method Laundry Stain Remover (Craig discovered that the stain remover is really just method laundry soap inside a bottle that has a little special brush like a toothbrush to work out stains)
So if you don't have any of that just use the laundry detergent or Dawn dish soap apparently works really well too and a used soft toothbrush.
Today one of my biggest fears came to pass. All I can say is Thank You God for blessing me with the best of care and that things didn't happen the way they could have. I have a number of stories about how I believe God protected me. How? Things like my brand new wheelchair batteries stopped working just after I arrived at a safe location, instead of the middle of a crazy freeway/expressway!
Find out what by watching our vlogventure for today.
I name these particular vlogs Worlds Collide because we have more than one vlog/blog. So when the subject matter covers our life and creativity or our faith in Jesus, worlds essentially collide! Makes sense to me anyway. Walking Way Overrated is our life vlog/blog And Heartfully Creating is my creativity and Sure Hope Gazette is our Christianity Blog/Vlog
I name these particular vlogs Worlds Collide because we have more than one vlog/blog. So when the subject matter covers our life and creativity or our faith in Jesus, worlds essentially collide! Makes sense to me anyway. Walking Way Overrated is our life vlog/blog And Heartfully Creating is my creativity and Sure Hope Gazette is our Christianity Blog/Vlog
WATCH Below
Thank you for stopping by!
This posting coincides with my creativity/art blog- Heartfully Creating here: https://heartfullycreating.blogspot.com and Our Life blog- WALKING WAY OVERRATED: www.walkingwayoverrated.blogspot.com
Hi guys! Finally finally finally, we can see the yard and the White Mountain has been annihilated. Here's a short vlog that also includes a big surprise for us!
This vlog was a challenge to edit. It was the morning after another night of camping out in the living room. That's where Craig sleeps on the great futon my Dad made for him and I tilt my wheelchair back and try to sleep beside him. The morning after was Craig's 70th Birthday. That meant we were celebrating with cake for breakfast. Not just on his birthday morning, but the day before. We call that birthday eve. But since we only drink coffee for breakfast, we simply must have a slice of cake with it.
Since Craig's birthday was on Sunday, we also spend the morning at our online church with Pastor Charles Lawson.
We are experiencing snow again! I will spare you guys from another snow related vlog. They don't seem to end. It's definitely most unusual for this time of year to not have experienced green grass and some new growth by now. April is Craig's birthday month and the night before we had one of our living room indoor camping adventures. For fun, and blogging content that will most likely cause most viewers to nod off. It is fun for us to have visual record of some parts of our unique life, either way. Admittedly it was embarrassing as I edited this vlog, to find out why you must watch!
We don't attend a physical building for church anymore as you will see. In this vlog we recorded not just Craig's birthday morning but how we. go to our online church. The pastor is Charles Lawson, you will hear his voice in the background.
Hi guys. It's been a trying spring. Well, trying as we wait for spring. It's April 22nd and we still have snow on the ground. In all my years of living in northwestern Ontario, I have never seen snow stay on the ground for so long. Usually we've had green and even possible crocuses trying to poke through. Pretty sure I remember that correctly. Here are just a couple short videos from the last couple nights of the lovely "Spring" we are having so far. One is a pretty cool surprise. I do love dramatic weather.
No, the thumbnail for this educating and fun (for us anyway) video doesn't include myself, Norman my old cat and wonder nephew Jesse. But I couldn't come up with a thumbnail for the actual topic that might be cute. Thought this would be a great excuse to share this memorable moment from twenty plus years ago.
We all use the restroom and most of us have encountered plumbing issues. Craig, my husband, the uncle of a plumber and our great new great friend Leeann, daughter of a plumber, get together and we learn we were all taught wrong. (Explains why it didn't work well) From a sitting position, this is a challenge. Take a watch, you will also see how much fun we have doing essential icky tasks!
Watch Below
We concluded most of us learn to plunge this way. Not something we all talk about yet, it's a real issue that we all face at one time in our life. We are never too old to learn new things.
