Greetings to Family and Friends,
Christmas is almost here and the new year 2012 is not far behind.
We have been back home in Mazatlan since October 5th. Life continues to be busy and intersting. It has been cool for Mazatlan, so we are hope that it will warm up. There is no danger of a white Christmas, but beach weather is only for the hearty.
We had our great niece visit for a week over Thanksgiving and now have Janice's brother Phil and sister-in-law Charla staying over Chistmas. With my brother Steve and sister-in-law Linda living here we had family on both major holidays.
Joel's health has improved after his August 21, 2011 stroke. Ocassional speech lapses happen, but physical seems back to normal. Both Joel and Janice have been working on our eating habits. Joel has lost 37 pounds and Janice about half of that. The weight loss made Joel's Santa imitation not as convincing.
Ollie has been his usual self, being our faithful watch dog. No matter what happens, Ollie will watch.
Janice's jewelry art has taken off and she is getting a reputation for unique pieces. Joel is continuing his quest to make "power loafing" an Olympic event. Janice now is volunteering at a local orphange and Joel volunteers at the library and also as a tourist aide.
After having a house full on Thanksgiving, we are going out for Christmas dinner. Linda Whitaker will have us over for a Christmas brunch in the morning. Being Janice's hosting DNA couldn't have the holidays pass without guests, we will have 14 people over for Canadian "Boxing Day". She will make her Chilies en Nogada, hot buttered rum and Mexican coffee. For New Years we have been invited to a party only 1 1/2 blocks from our house, so no problems making it home.
To all our firends and Family Feliz Navidad, Feliz Prospero Anos Nuevo, Happy Hannukkah, a fun solstice and any other celebrations you recognize.
Love, Janice, Ollie y Joel
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Road to Recovery
I wish to thank all of you that have encouraged me since my stroke. This is a report to let everyone know how well my recovery is going.
On August 21st I was not making sense, the right of my side of my body was numb, and my speech and my mind were not in sync. To address the first issue of not making sense. That making sense returned quickly. Janice sometimes doesn't make sense of her husband, but that is a common condition that has nothing with stroke and everything about being different genders. (I'm starting to make little jokes once again)
Physically, with in a few days my body was working well and I only have some numbness in my right leg. Nothing has handicaped me and I walk all over Mazatlan. My concentration has taken some time to return, but just this week I had the confidence to drive in Mazatlan. There are people in good health are frightened to this. Today I was able to find the place for our mechanic on a side street the first time. I was always able to do this pre-stroke.
Medically I have made great progress. My Dr. has now taken me off Plavix and my cholestrol is super low 119. I have lost 31 pounds and am eating much better. My tryglyerides are very low and my blood glucose is in recommended levels.
My speech was the most affected. I have only two more sessions of speech therapy. I have had a great speech therapist here who has worked me hard. I now read papers, speeches, and pages out of books out loud. This last week I had the first time where my reading was the normal, with no more pauses, hesitations, and mispronunciations that of a healthy person. I have to slow up my talking from how I was before, but in all probablility I am more understandable now.
Even thought rehab will soon be over, I must continue to work on my speech and continue with the weight loss and sensible eating. 42 percent of all men have a second stroke in five years of the first stroke. My goal is to be one of the 58 percent that doesn't.
Life is precious and I plan on enjoying many more years. I learned that many of those that had a second stroke, disabling strokes or strokes resulting in dealth are those that don't pay attention of the life changes that your body was warning you about. La vida es buena.
On August 21st I was not making sense, the right of my side of my body was numb, and my speech and my mind were not in sync. To address the first issue of not making sense. That making sense returned quickly. Janice sometimes doesn't make sense of her husband, but that is a common condition that has nothing with stroke and everything about being different genders. (I'm starting to make little jokes once again)
Physically, with in a few days my body was working well and I only have some numbness in my right leg. Nothing has handicaped me and I walk all over Mazatlan. My concentration has taken some time to return, but just this week I had the confidence to drive in Mazatlan. There are people in good health are frightened to this. Today I was able to find the place for our mechanic on a side street the first time. I was always able to do this pre-stroke.
Medically I have made great progress. My Dr. has now taken me off Plavix and my cholestrol is super low 119. I have lost 31 pounds and am eating much better. My tryglyerides are very low and my blood glucose is in recommended levels.
My speech was the most affected. I have only two more sessions of speech therapy. I have had a great speech therapist here who has worked me hard. I now read papers, speeches, and pages out of books out loud. This last week I had the first time where my reading was the normal, with no more pauses, hesitations, and mispronunciations that of a healthy person. I have to slow up my talking from how I was before, but in all probablility I am more understandable now.
Even thought rehab will soon be over, I must continue to work on my speech and continue with the weight loss and sensible eating. 42 percent of all men have a second stroke in five years of the first stroke. My goal is to be one of the 58 percent that doesn't.
Life is precious and I plan on enjoying many more years. I learned that many of those that had a second stroke, disabling strokes or strokes resulting in dealth are those that don't pay attention of the life changes that your body was warning you about. La vida es buena.
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