Can we just have a week where nobody's sick…

 Monday June 8 2026

Brooklyn texted to say she was feeling better and asked if it would be OK for her and TJ to come in and do some work for the days they missed. There's always a lot of stuff around here to do, and they could pretty much do anything.

Liberty came in and cared for the dogs. We did some personal care, and then she got me dressed and up in my chair. I had an appointment at Oregon Specialty Group, which includes Cascade Infusion and the infectious disease service. I finished my antibiotics, and the doctor asked how I was feeling. I said I was feeling better, so she's not going to prescribe any further antibiotics. The older you get and the more prescribed antibiotics you have, the more of a chance you have of them stopping working for you, so I avoid them whenever possible! I do have a bladder ostomy test coming up because it's time, and because my bladder is leaking. Last time they put Botox in my bladder, and that helped for almost a year.

We went to pick up my ready glasses, then came home, and I hung out with the pups in my room until Cruz came in. She gave me a nice, long, heart-relaxing bath and washed my hair, what an amazing feeling! Ashlyn came in to do some meal planning, and we picked out another week of delicious food. I hope I have my appetite back, and I can actually eat it! Ashlyn took off to go shopping, and Cruz took off to go home. What a whirlwind day!

Tuesday

Haylee came in, took care of the dogs, and got me some coffee and breakfast. She was going to shadow Liberty, but Liberty wasn't coming in until 8 AM. I am really very impressed with Haylee. I shouldn't be, because I mean, she is related to Ashley, but after only two days of shadowing, she's ready to show up and work on her own. That is pretty darn impressive! 

When Liberty came in, she walked her through the routine, and Haylee just jumped in and started helping. They got me dressed and up in my chair. I already had a class to go to, so she took off, and Haylee and I cleared off all the surfaces in my room that people started piling stuff on. It started looking really nice in here. I've always dreamed of having my room clutter-free and clean. Now, only if I could just get everybody else to put stuff away! Haylee went home, and I blogged, watched a couple of really cute Pixar movies, found a new game on Reddit, played it for a ridiculously long time, and then fell asleep.

Wednesday

Haylee came in, took care of the dogs, and got me some coffee. I haven't had much of an appetite lately, but I haven't slowed down on the coffee. She got me dressed and up in my chair. The weather is starting to get nicer. I can't wait until I can just get dressed, get up in my chair, and not have to wear layers because it's too cold. And now I'll probably start complaining about the heat, but I think if I can get up really early in the morning and get out to take the dogs before it gets hot, I can come back and spend the rest of the day on my computer, and I don't feel guilty at the end of the day.

Ever since I left Valley Medical Center after my spinal cord injury rehab, I have been doing national database studies. I hadn't heard from them in a while, but Michelle started calling me again. I wanted to answer about 200 questions. If I left it here for someone else to help, it wouldn't happen. So I told her we should handle it over the phone, and we did. I think they're trying to get spinal cord injury awareness and health in more cities, and I think it's a great idea. I finally found a spinal cord injury doctor in Portland, but it would be nice to have one even closer. I've had so many problems with spinal cord injury-related specialty problems when I go into the hospital and when I stay there. Of course, you can't expect the nurses to know everything, but I have gotten myself into quite a few problems by not advocating for myself and sticking up for myself. I have learned that it is what I have to do; I never thought I would be able to do it, but I'm doing it. It seems like the older I get, the braver I get.

I took Kona out for 4 miles and Dude out for two. I love being able to take them out for a cruise and just hang around in the front yard and on my back deck. We are all so happy with that deck! It's so peaceful, just kicking back, listening to the waterfall, and watching the fish swim around!

Cruz came in,  toileted, and fed the dogs. I decided to eat dinner on the back porch. By the time dinner rolls around, the back porch is fully shaded, and it feels so good! She put me to bed, and we did some personal care and a nice hot bath! A great way to end a beautiful day!

Thursday

Haylee came in and took care of the dogs; then took care of me. Coffee, breakfast, dressed, and up in my chair. I think I've gotten up almost every day this week, and it feels great! I always feel really sad when I'm not able to get up, and it's nice outside.

My sister-in-law is talking about her and my brother moving back into the old house while it's on the market, renting it out, or moving downstairs into David, Melissa, and the boys' house. I kinda like having everybody around here, but I know my sister-in-law wants her own house and space. And I will admit that it would be nice to have a spare room to put the pine furniture that I bought from Santa Cruz in their room, where they're staying now. I still hope we have some holidays, birthdays, and parties around here still, too.

Brooklyn came in, she toileted and fed the dogs, then we sat down and planned our trip to the coast for the kite festival. I hope it's not going to be too hot, because I hate to ruin everybody's trip by having to come home early from overheating. Robert, McKenzie, Nora, and Jude are going to come along as well! We're going to bring some sandwiches, drinks, and snacks so we don't have to pay the ridiculous prices at the festival. Apparently, I'm responsible like that now! I know it's going to feel great when I get all of my credit cards paid off and get rid of them, and I will be thankful to save more money, but I'm just not used to it!

Friday

Liberty was supposed to come in; it kept getting to 8 AM, then 9 AM. Brooklyn called to see if I wanted to go yard sailing. No, I can't spend any money, but yes, I wanna go and see what I'm missing out on. I texted Liberty back and told her that, since Brooklyn was here, I would just have Brooklyn get me up and go if she didn't mind. We changed our minds and decided to go to the coast to see where we could get a good place for when we go to the kite festival. By the time I got up, it was going to be too late for me to go to the coast and back because Cruz was going to be here at 3:30 PM, and I needed to be here when she got here. They decided to go ahead without me, but take my dogs. I stayed here, hung out with the family, and had a really good time! I love watching the kids play together, and they have some funny moments.

Because traffic is so bad after work between here and Portland, Brooklyn made it in before Cruz, I could've gone and gotten back in plenty of time, but I didn't wanna take a chance. It was really nice to see the dogs just come in the room and pretty much flop down and sleep for the rest of the evening!

Cruz got here, and I ate dinner outside on my new deck, then she put me to bed! This deck out here is in the perfect place because every time I go out, it's more shade than sun, and I love that! They have some gravel out in the front that we're going to take out and put down some turf, so I'm thinking about putting the gravel in the dog jog, so maybe it won't be so muddy when it rains. Also, another tractor-tire garden bed, a couple of bird baths, some critter-friendly plants, and some bird feeders.

I watch TV, play games, and delete unwanted emails until I fall asleep.

Saturday

Brooklyn came in and took care of the dogs, got me some coffee, dressed, and sat down in my chair. It was supposed to get up to 90° today, but I don't think I'm ready for that drastic a change yet! The more I think about this deck in the back, the more I am excited to have it! I don't think there's any time of day when the sun isn't coming through the door into my bedroom, so it keeps the room cooler as well! McKenzie's mom and aunt came over to weed in the front yard. We had a guy taking care of the yard, but it was a lot of work for him since he's the only one. McKenzie's mom is going to start taking care of the garden. I know it's going to look so gorgeous! This house is starting to develop into the beautiful, comfortable home I've always wanted! I have so many plans for this place. ChatGPT has helped me put my ideas and vision together, and it just keeps getting better! I got some hanging baskets, a birdbath, and a birdfeeder, and it already looks amazing! I'm trying to not put too much stuff out there because I have a tendency to do that! I'm bringing another tractor tire from the place we're selling, along with some of the garden statues, to put in my backyard! When we get done!

Brooklyn came back over, put me to bed, and then left for the rest of the day. I kind of like the weekends because I have more time to relax and play games at the end of the day. And that's exactly what I did.

Sunday

Brooklyn came in, toileted, fed the dogs, and then it was time for us to eat our favorite morning takeout from Black Bear Diner! I was so anxious to eat that I forgot coffee, and Brooklyn got me some after we ate.

TJ helped Robert clear the rocks from the walkway so we could lay a nice turf surface for the kids. McKenzie's parents are both here, so knowledgeable and so good with landscaping stuff, there are so many awesome ideas that I never would've even thought of!

It was a little cooler, so I took Kona for her 2-mile cruise, but it ended up being more like 4 miles because it was so nice! Unfortunately, I was afraid that blacktop would be too hot for Dude. I feel so good that they now have the backyard and the front yard to run around where they are fenced in, so we don't have to worry about any mishaps! Eventually, I hope to have my whole property fenced in so they can go wherever they want, as long as they don't bring home any poison ivy or poison oak! Down in the far corner of my property, there is a 1/4 acre lot that I would love to purchase so that my nephew and niece can build their house there. If it doesn't happen, we'll just proceed with our original plan.

Brooklyn came back and put me to bed and got me something to eat, along with the dogs. She took off, leaving me in my nice, cool bedroom. I relaxed for a while and played on the computer until I fell asleep.