Tara is up early and wants to go for a run! Last Sunday when she went out for a walk with Juanita and the dogs, she said she ran the whole way – running back and forth while waiting for the grownups to catch up. Juanita said she walked 2 kilometers. Tara thinks she did almost three times that. She believes that she is a runner … like her Daddy – her hero.
“Come on, call Marianne,” she pleads. “I can run with her.” I explain that this is a regular workday for most people and that I didn’t think Marianne would want to run right at that time. Tara disagrees. I persuade her to wait until Saturday to go for a run. Then I cleverly change the subject and tell her about an invite for her to do a sleep over tonight. Her enthusiasm has sky rocketed again.
It’s an in-service day. Quinn is still feeling a little off. We go to the hospital for a little visit. Tara plays her ukulele while I unpack the game I found last night. It’s called ‘TableTopics Family edition’. Tara’s sharp eyes spot it right away. “What’s that?” she asked. “It’s a game I thought you and Quinn might be able to play with Daddy.”
She dives right in and starts firing questions at you. Simple questions, thoughtful questions and philosophical thought provoking questions.
“Would you rather be a poor player on a winning team or a good player on a losing team?” She asks you. “A good player on a losing team.” you reply without a pause to think. Both Tara and Quinn agree with your answer. They have learned from you the importance of being true to the spirit of the game not the win.
“If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?” “Ireland” That’s not a surprise answer – Ireland has always held a mystic interest for you ever since I’ve known you. We both thought that our next big trip away would involve Ireland and the children.
“If all your wishes could come true – what would your life be like?” There is a little pause then you said “Empty”. “Empty, why empty?” I asked. “I’d be so busy with all the things in my life that I wouldn’t take time to appreciate the most important things.”
“Who is your hero?” Tara and Quinn both say that you are their hero because you choose to live. You say that I should be their hero. They don’t buy it. You say your hero is “Rod Carew for playing baseball right.”
“What do you most worry about?” Tara asks. Your reply is “My family”
There were many questions and many answers – some expected, some a surprise. The game certainly engaged both Tara and Quinn with you. It was a pleasure to witness.
After a while, Tara and I play a game of Truth or Dare – My dare is to wear my hair styled by her for a full day – I talk her down to 10 minutes. Tara goes to town on ‘styling’ my hair while I read get well soon cards to you. When Kristin and Jacinda come in they both comment on the unusual hairdo I have – “It’s my Dr. Suessian hair-do” I looked a little like a ‘Who’ from Whoville in the ‘Grinch Who Stole Christmas’.
Tara is very interested in your physio session. Kristin gets you sitting on the side of the bed – you are getting better – much stronger and you are finding your balance. As you balance your torso, you intermittently give Kristin high fives to the right, in the middle and to the left of your field of vision. You have to really search to find her hand, poised in the air to your left, waiting for your hand to make contact.
You are certainly better then last week.
Tara helps Ainsley guide you to operate the wheel chair. You take it for a drive down the hall – navigating past the many carts and chairs and laundry bins in the hall. Your reduced visual field makes it difficult. Lately you have described ‘wrinkles’ in what you see. I can almost imagine this – Julia, who had an aneurysm, described a similar aberration in her vision. It’s not surprising – Dr. McNally, felt that your visual field will always be reduced but I hope the details of your vision sort themselves out.
The chair really tires you out. We have to beg you to eat lunch in the chair. I think that this may be a point of recovery that you well get hung up on.
Quinn was fading fast after lunch. I hope he didn’t infect you. He kept pretty much to himself during the visit. I have to carry him out of the hospital. He’s heavy. He has a fever now. Once home, I gave him some medication and he fell asleep. Tara hangs out with him – I advise her to not touch his tissues etc.
I go outside and work on Annie proofing the back yard. It feels so good to be outside in the garden – three hours pass in a flash. Quinn slept, Tara did some homework on the computer and I recharged myself in the garden. All things considered, It was a good afternoon.
Because Quinn is ill, I can’t get in to see you at night, I call you but you don’t answer. The nurses probably moved the phone. I call Terry G to see if she would stay with the children while I go to the hospital. She had her vaccine but the time period for it to work hasn’t passed yet.
Terry calls a friend who is working at the hospital. She fixes up the phone. Before I get a chance to call you, Caroline, from the school, calls from the hospital – she asks about Quinn for you. You say that I need not come over tonight because ”I’m a grown-up.”
You haven’t changed – if you can worry about someone else – you don’t think so much about yourself.
Tara heads off to her friend’s for a sleep over. That should be fun for her.
Quinn fell asleep at 5pm. He is sick. Oh boy I hope this isn’t the beginning of the H1N1 virus.
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I too certainly hope that none of you get sick. Good health to you all, as everyone depends on that especially now. It is so heartwarming to hear how much better Chris is doing and how well he interacted with that game. Have a good day and hope that the kids dont get sicker.
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