This has been quite a day. First of all my husband, Wayne, slept until 11:00. Then we had a difficult transfer from his bed to his chair first thing this morning. A friend of our neighbor was sitting outside visiting with them, and I had to solicit his help to get Wayne into his chair. Wayne had not fallen all the way, but had half slipped. So I could not get him up and into the chair.
Around noon I canceled Wayne’s therapy for the afternoon because I knew he was having a “need to recharge with sleep” day. Wayne ate lunch, and then I was going to transfer him to his recliner chair. I decided it was safer not to do this, so I instead put him way back in his new mobility chair which has a tilt on it. He slept that way for another 5 hours.
It is hard to not let these negative happenings color the rest of the day especially since my back and neck feels strained tonight after this morning’s happenings. We had a few such beautiful days, and then bang another difficult day.
I need to concentrate tonight, however, on the pleasant things that also happened today. I received a Skype call today from my son’s family in London. My little two-year-old London granddaughter told our son that she wanted to call Grandma on the “puter” (translated computer) She talked to me, sang songs for me, etc.
We also went to the State Park for awhile tonight with my son’s family who live near by. After sleeping all day Wayne was in pretty good shape for that, although he was in bed again at around 9:00 tonight. It is always fun to interact with my grandkids. One of my granddaughters presented me tonight with a story she had written about me when I was a girl. She “interviewed” me the other day, and then had written a story about a funny thing that happened to me as a child.
So I am extremely physically and emotionally tired tonight. I must decide tonight, however, what I will concentrate on tonight. Will I concentrate on the pleasant and joyful moments or the stressful and discouraging moments?
You are a disruptor. The delivery of health care starts with you, continues because of you, and ends with you. Let's disrupt together to make the world better for family caregivers. 
G-J
Sharon, as we’ve discussed before, I can relate to the sleeping husbands. My husband has days when he will nap for four hours plus sleep over eight hours that night. After a long nap, I worry that he’ll have trouble sleeping at night.
I don’t have to help my husband move, so I don’t have those back and neck pains, but I do have days with shoulder pain for whatever reason. We have a few heating pads (they seem to be filled with something like rice) that go in the microwave. They are wonderful! Let me know if you’d like information on them. They help and are comforting as well.
Thinking of you.
Karen
Sharon,
It can be hard work to concentrate on the pleasant and joyful things when you are tired. I understand being both physically and emotionally tired. Concentrate on the joy. I’m rooting for you!
Donna Ryan
Sharon….You are the most spiritual person I know and somehow you are always able no matter how down your feeling to see some brightness in the day despite the clouds…this post included. Your writing about the pleasant skype visit with your grandaughter and your interview with another was so wonderful. You dont even realize I dont think that you answered your own questiion…you are concentrating on the blessings…you always do.
It is also ok however to focus on the difficulties as well. Sometimes you have to do this and there is nothing wrong with that at all….
you need pampering and comforting also…I agree with GJ..those heat wraps are very good….we actually got one in a kiosk at the mall but ours have some sort of herbs or something in them that helps ease aches and pains…..that might be something you can do for you….a nice herbal heat wrap, a cup of herbal tea, and your devotions….it wont solve all the sadness but it might ease a little of the tenseness for you.
I hope knowing we are all on your side also helps you…
Keep communicating…just talking for me at times makes me feel better and I know when Im down the applause from all my friends in here gets me back on my feet….you definately have our applause my friend:)
Bette
Hi Sharon,
How wonderful that your granddaughter knew to call her grandmother on the “puter”. I would focus on that all you can.(: I am so glad for you that you have your grandchildren to focus on. And, they have you! I hope today is a better day and you get some much deserved relaxing time.
Sharon
Thanks, ladies, for your kind and helpful comments. The heat wraps sound like a wonderful idea. Do they keep their heat for quite awhile after being heated in the microwave? I have an electic heating pad, but I always think even the low setting is too hot.
Wayne seems to be having a good day so far today after his “sleep recharge” yesterday. I think he is in better shape than I am. I am still stiff fom yesterday and am still feeling some of the physical and emotional tiredeness.
Denise
Hi Sharon–I think you can feel the hugs from all over for you. On those days when it’s just a struggle, I hope you’ll also remember the hugs from us.
I’m glad today is better!
G-J
Hi, Sharon! I didn’t forget to get you the information. We like the microwavable heating pads so much, we have a few and had gotten one for my Dad. We purchased most of ours through http://www.gardeners.com. Click on wellness & comfort on the left-hand side and then on warm & cool comfort. We usually roll them up to heat, set the microwave for half of the desired time, and then unroll it and roll it the opposite way and heat it for the rest of the time. My husband likes it REALLY hot and heats it for three minutes total, re-rolling it after 1 1/2 minutes. They go anywhere since they aren’t plugged in. We even throw them into the suitcase to use when we travel. And if you like something cool, rather than hot, throw it in the freezer. It doesn’t freeze
We have one my sis-in-law gave us a bunch of years ago that started us on these in the first place. I think she may have made it. It doesn’t look too hard. To me it looks like it was made from hand towel, folded in half, so it is long and skinny. At that point you have a long folded side that doesn’t need a seam, and a short top and bottom. Stitch the top and bottom closed. Use sewing to divide the rest of the folded towel into four equal sections. Working with one section at a time, put about 1 1/2-2 cups of uncooked, rice, (not instant or minute) into a section and then stitch it closed. (Let me know if you want more of an idea of how much rice. My son is sleeping on it right now.) When you’re done, you can freeze or microwave it. For more specific directions and other filler ideas, you can google microwave heating pad. I found good information on http://www.tipnut.com, then search microwave heating pad and click the first one that comes up. Just remember that you can’t put the bag in the wash!
Hope this helps and brings you warm comfort.
Sharon
Thanks, G-J. I decided to order a couple of those heat wraps from the web address you gave me. Thanks for the info.
G-J
Sharon, I just noticed that I didn’t finish the last sentence in my first paragraph. I meant to say that it doesn’t freeze solid like water, but it gets, and stays, cold. My son uses the one my sis-in-law made, freezes it every morning and sleeps on it every night. He even took it with us on our recent vacations!
Hope you enjoy the heat wraps when you get them.