Many Visitors

August 29, 2008 started early for me. I woke up at midnight when my sister in-law closed the front door. My brother and sister in-law were traveling from their home in Iowa to visit their daughter, son in-law and granddaughter in Iowa. They left their home after work and drove here arriving in the middle of the night. This morning we visited for a couple of hours, after which they headed off to their daughters.

Almost as soon as they left, the home aid walked in to help me shower and get dressed. While I was getting dressed, the front door opened and it was the oxygen deliveryman. He had been here earlier this week, when we noticed that both oxygen tanks were empty. At that time he told me he would stop back today to weigh the tanks to see if they were losing oxygen faster than expected. Everything appeared normal so we will just keep an eye on the tanks.

A short time later the Occupation Therapist showed up to discuss a different design shower chair. Hopefully this new design will make it both easier and safer for my to transfer into and out of the shower.

I was just finishing up my lunch when my younger brother and his wife walked in. They were on their way from home to a wedding in Michigan. My brother wheeled in his bicycle, the bicycle he is riding on his RSBT. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours visiting before they left to continue their trip.

What a busy day to finish a busy week.

Determination

On Sunday July 15, 2008, my younger brother started his Renewing Spirits Bicycle Tour. You can read about why he wanted to do this cross-country ride at his RSBT Blog.

I used to love bicycle riding, not that I rode as many miles a year as my brother. Then I became ill and was no longer able to ride. When my brother told me about his plan for the RSBT I thought, “great, this will be a way for me to ride along side of him.” He on his bike and I in my wheelchair at home.

On June 15, 2008 the RSBT got under way. For the next couple of weeks my brother worked his way through the mountains to the Great Plains. Then on July 4th my brother crashed. At the time, because of my brother’s injuries, (4 broken ribs, broken collarbone, and bruised sternum), we all thought the RSBT was finished. Two weeks later my brother decided to try and complete the RSBT yet this year. On August 15, 2008 six weeks after his crash, my brother started his ride at the place where he had crashed.

When I talked to him this morning, he told me that he has completed 2,375 miles of his RSBT. This means he has finished 2/3 of the tour.

Way to go Brother.

A Birthday weekend

What a weekend! Late Thursday night, son J came down to clean and detail his car on Friday. Before he started on his car, he started the smoker and put a 13-pound ham on to smoke. It took 8 hours to smoke the ham, which gave him a lot of time to work on his car. Once the smoker and the ham are started there really isn't much you need to do except every hour or so check that the temp in correct and there is enough wood and water in the smoker.

By suppertime the ham was finished and the neighbor came over asking if we were making bacon. After supper he finished cleaning and detailing his car and took a package of ham home.

Sunday morning J once again started the smoker. This time he made BBQ ribs. We were aiming for a 4 PM dinner, which meant the ribs would be smoking at a low temp for a long time. After church my daughter K and her fiance K took off for Trinity College where K's younger brother is starting as a freshmen. Also about 1:00 our son K and his girl friend C showed up. K made his Famous Corn Bread. We also had sweet corn and a medley of vegetables which we grilled using my vegetable grilling basket. If that wasn't enough, we all managed to have a small piece of Cold Stone Creamery peanut butter ice cream cake for dessert.

After all that, there were presents, a couple of cards, one funny one from my wife. Shortly after dinner, my brother in-law R called and sang Happy Birthday and after he talked for a while, sister F got into the act and sang Happy Birthday. She offered to sing Happy Birthday a second time only she didn't thanks to her son M who convinced her not to.

It was a great weekend.