This is certainly a new experience for me. Managing on my own that is. I have been made very aware of how much my husband deals with around the house. There are so many chores, many of them outside-related for which I now need to take responsibility.
I actually managed to tackle the task of getting new tires for the car. All the driving back and forth to the Bay Area has resulted in balding tires, so they had to go. That was an experience made torturous by the extremely loud heavy metal music the tire place played in the background in the waiting area. Whose idea was that? Torture. At one point I actually had my hands over my ears.
The other day one of the smoke alarms started beeping. How to make it stop? Well, it did involve my tallest step ladder, which I used to climb up and remove the battery from the smoke alarm. It beeped twice more in protest, and I haven't heard another sound out of it. I will get up there again and replace that battery, but baby steps.
I've also had to take over the job of watering the plants outside regularly, which is more work than one would imagine.
Best of all, I gave Archie a bath. He had turned into a tan dog after his boarding session with a lovely woman nearby who does dog boarding in her home. She has a large dirt lot where the dogs can run and play with each other. Archie evidently thoroughly enjoyed himself because when I picked him up, he was filthy. So first thing Saturday morning I took him over to our local "Tractor Supply" store where they have a pet bathing station. I was flabbergasted by how well that experience went.
Archie actually seemed to enjoy it. The warm water from the spray nozzle, the massage with the oatmeal shampoo, my soothing words to him about what a good boy he was….He was so good! And now he is a white dog again.
Husband update:
Now that a diagnosis of Gillain Barre Syndrome has been made, my husband has begun infusion treatments. He claims to be feeling better and on Sunday was able to raise his right leg a few inches off the mattress and his left leg nearly two feet up in the air. This makes me so hopeful and I will keep you posted as to what this week brings. Thanks so much to those of you who shared your stories of friends or relatives who recovered from Gillain Barre Syndrome and to those of you who experienced the disorder yourselves. Your stories make me very optimistic about my husband's recovery.
Meanwhile, I am doing my best to handle things at home on the weekends and to tackle the trip to the Bay Area in the earlier part of the week to sit at my husband's side.
Hope you all have a good week.
22 Responses
Remember to take care of yourself too. You can do this.🤗
I’m so glad to hear this good report on your husband’s health! Also, sorry you are having to do all the work, but it certainly helps us appreciate our husbands when we have to do double, doesn’t it? As my mother always says to me, keep your chin up! I continue to keep you and yours in my prayers.
Great news! Don’t be afraid to reach out to people for help such as with the smoke alarm. Many people want to help, but they don’t know what you need. You know who will be willing, so please ask.
Hoping to read of more good news. Hugs to you both.
So many things on your plate all at once! I’m glad your husband is already showing progress. And Archie is doing better. As said before, please take care of yourself. I hope you are getting a little Eva time to brighten your day.
Big hugs Nicole! Prayers continue for your husband’s recovery, and your energy and sanity. You are a reminder not to take my husband for granted. I wish I lived closer to take something off your plate. Please reach out to your friends nearby who I’m sure are willing to assist you. Little things can make a big difference in your stress. Hurray for that sweet Archie. He knew you did not need to deal with a rebellious pup.
Glad Archie “enjoyed” his dirt bath.
Amazing what husbands do.
It is encouraging that Dennis is responding to treatment.
As others have said, take care of yourself.
Hugs and prayers.
It has occurred to me more than once that when we were newly married we had no idea what we meant by “in sickness and in health”. This is the time of life for many of us. Happy for both of you that your husband is seeing some positive results. I am in a similar situation and have decided to look in my neighborhood for a reliable high school or college student who can do some of the more physical chores. They need the money, and we don’t need to overwork ourselves. You KNOW you have to take good care of yourself so you can take good care of him.
You have sooooo much on your plate right now! Remember to take care of yourself – I know that sounds simplistic but take a wee bit of you me for some thing that makes you smile and rejuvenates you. You need it for your physical and mental health during this difficult time. With all the added stress of learning to care for all the things around the house, you are on overload ! Be gentle with yourself 🥰
I’m so thankful that your husband is seeing improvement already with the infusion! Continuing to pray for his recovery
I echo everyone else in their comments expressing our joy in your husband’s progress. Praying he continues to regain his strength and that you stay strong and healthy also!
I’m so glad to hear that your husband is showing signs of improvement from the Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Such a scary time for him and you. Prayers and healing thoughts for a speedy recovery are coming your way. Take care of yourself!
It’s wonderful to hear that Dennis is making some visible progress after the infusion treatments! And, you certainly accomplished so many things at home this weekend! Your tire store waiting room experience was definitely not pleasant, however! Archie will probably bounce right into Tractor Supply for his next bath since this was such a nice experience! We can’t say it often enough…take care of yourself, too! We’ll all be right here thinking the good thoughts for you all week.💕
Wonderful news about your husband’s show of movement! It should relieve both of you and keep you on a positive tack. Our smoke alarms are all “wired” to each other and no battery easy fix. Mostly hubby fixes it (one of those multi-step-push-the=button-and-hold types) but I’ve had to learn how to stop it too. New ways to appreciate your husband!
Sounds like your husband’s recovery is starting well. What a relief! Take care of yourself too. Sending lots of well wishes to you and your husband.
Baby steps are wonderful! Archie deserves high praise, too. Please don’t be surprised by the nasty but inevitable backward steps we have to take. Babies fall down a lot when learning to walk, but they never let that stop them. Your dear husband may have days when his progress may reverse a bit. That just happens. We all want only forward progress, but life is what it is. Please reward yourself as much as you can!
Our fire department will come and change the batteries in the alarms for free. You could check that out instead of getting on the ladder yourself.
I’m so glad to hear your husband is improving. What a scary ordeal you 2 have been through.
It’s truly frightening to have to deal with anything neurological but take heart with the story of the three year old son of the World Series MVP. The little guy had the GBS diagnosis but when we last saw him he was in his daddy’s arms as the Dodgers were celebrating. Your time to celebrate will come as well Best wishes to both of you.
sending all my love and encouragement to all of you. maybe you could give email your address so we could send Dennis notes of encouragement? it might cheer him to know so many are praying for him.
My suggestion – get someone to come help and get new batteries for all the smoke detectors, so they replace all of them at once. We do that annually. One of my daughters climbs the ladder. I keep track of handing her the new batteries and collecting the old ones for recycling.
My mother has the HVAC guy do all hers when he comes to check/clean/service the furnace each fall.
Our tractor supply has a dog washing station too. I think that is a great service.
My daughter washes her two dogs in my bath tub once a month (I have a big tub with an excellent sprayer). Then she scrubs the daylights out of my tub. Best deal ever. It is hard for me to clean it.
Glad things are better.
Vickie
So glad your husband is doing better! Baby steps. Taking over all the tasks at home is so stressful. I feel for you and what you’re going through. Sounds like Archie is enjoying daycare.
Continued prayers for you and your husband. I am so pleased for you that he has begun to show some improvement. Please that extra care for yourself because care giving is terribly draining.
I am so glad that Dennis is doing better. Some fire departments will change your smoke alarm battery.
Oh my goodness you have so much going on! Our husbands so take care of a lot of honey dos and sounds like you’re doing a great job of keeping up. What a sweetie Archie is! He must feel how stressed you are and makes up for it by being extra good! Pets are amazing! Hang in there!