Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Journaling

The other day I came across a short document on our computer. It 's dated April 2010, about seven weeks after my stroke. This was my first attempt of keeping a journal, post-stroke.

It's been a long trip.
 
Sat., March 20, 2010 
Dana (friend) ju came  casserole. Dana worried. The worried faces a 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 
Charlotte;s Web was reading  a help fall bed. 

Sunday, March 28, 2010. Written by Neal at Grace’s request.
Grace notes that if she can read something to herself, she can understand it pretty well and get the meaning. But is she reads out loud, she gets hung up on many of the words (especially the little ones) and has a hard time understanding the meaning. For example, she was trying to read the title of the book “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, and had a really hard time, especially with “This”. 

Thursday, April 08, 2010 
Jenny (babysitter) and the kids now.  (My son) help jenny screen put in

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 
I’m so frustating. A just so any thing.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The sound of one hand shampooing

I have a fair amount of movement in my right (affected) hand. But my sensation isn't great, and even more troubling is my lack of proprioception. If I can't see my hand, sometimes I forget where it is.

I've heard that visualization might help. For example, when I wash my hair I use both hands, but concentrate on visualizing kneading my hair with my right fingers.

But sometimes my mind wanders. Then I realize that something doesn't feel quite right on my right side of my head. When I lower my right hand and look at it, I realize that I've been washing my hair with the back of my wrist.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Spelling Test

Our little girl starts kindergarten on Monday.

On visiting day last week, she got her first "homework" assignment: draw a picture of her family, and write down--with help, of course--one thing she would like to do in kindergarten.

"Don't stress about it,"  her teacher said to the parents.

In the spring, I was still struggling with spelling things out loud. So I thought we would to do the homework--with Neal--this weekend.

But my girl was already to start homework by Friday afternoon. When I asked her what she wanted to do at kindergarten, she had a ready answer: play with the toy food. She wanted me to spell it, out loud. The whole phrase.

I took a deep breath, and starting spelling. Very slowly.

"Mama, I can hear you saying the alphabet before every letter," she said.

But I did it. We're ready for kindergarten.