Jamie's Blog

Ive already had pt this morning,I worked with Jami (it sounds just like my name but thats how she spells it).I did my streaching,balance exercses,and did alot of walking with a cain!Jami said I did very well too :)! Ive come to realize,I need a cain that has some wieght to it.I can use my right or left side to hold the cain but,Jami noticed I'm better holding it with my left but,I'm good with both:).I was gonna go to the "y" too but,my pickup times to go from the "y"to home and from home to hics were only like 20 mins apart!Its casino night at hics tonight,I don't want to miss any of that fun so I had to cancel my trips to and from the "y" :(!

Its November 29 th and Ive got my windows wide open:)!I'm lovin this weather!I was thinkin I need another electronic gismo to keep me organized and keep my brain progressing then I realized,Ive got my pocket pc !I had issues with it staying charged thou!It charged from a usb port on my desktop!Ive got an ac male plug that a usb connector connects to :)!Its charging right now:)!Ive also got a wireless card in it too :)!

Ive got hics and only hics today :)!

Spaulding rehab just called I guess Ive been in a study for them for yrs!I just had to answer some questions about my tbi! I get paid for this too,she said Ill get a check for $60. in the mail soon :)!

I'm beat after having two therapy's so I called the "y" said I'm beat after two therapies ,I'm not gonna make it in today,Ill see you Wednesday.I think that was a good executive decision

Ive got two therapys this morning!Pt and ot,then I come home for a bit and go to the "y" :)!

I'm mainly a pretty happy guy,just small things tend to bother me!I was scooting to walgreens and this pretty young blond lady was driving by and slowed down to say hi to me!For the life of me,I can't remember who this babe is :(!

What to do with myself today?Ive got my routine things to do,laundry,book my trips 4 the wk.Ill book as many of my therapy trips as the site will allow me to.Maybe take a scoot to walgreens and dd's,Ill keep myself busy :)!Ive been doing some thinking about getting the geek squad to do some work here.Ive got all my electronic gadjets here,puters,52 inch hd flat panell tv,my stereo system,I'm thinking hire them to make it all work together!Just a thought,if anyone knows and has all thats needed,wires,connectors,jacks,and wants a project,Ill pay you!

I think I did pretty well shopping!I got some steak strips that look so good they don't need to be marinaded!I did forget some things (go figure) but,I think Ive got enough of everything in reserve :)!I was able to get celeste microwave pizzas for one,quick,easy,and tasty!

Today I'm going food shopping at stop and shop in Braintree

I took my phone with the charging cord to the "y" to see if anyone could help me to get it to charge!Alie worked on it and came to the conclusion its the wrong cord!I came home and searched for another cord!I found the right cord :)!I have it in my kitchen charging!Now so this doesn't happen again,the cord will stay there and Ill only charge my phone in the kitchen!

Im having mega issues getting my cell phone to take a charge!I think it can only connect one way,I connect it a light on the side comes on but then off!I'm tring all the commen sence things I can think of!

Ive had the best thanksgiving!Jan came to get me this morning and drove all the way to Sandwich on the cape where she is living!Great time I had spending good quality time with my bestest friend!Jan came to visit me in the hospital when I was still in my coma!She also came to N Andover to that hospital I hated being at!Jan is so so good to me :)! Tomorrow Ive got the "y" but next week Ive got theapy again!On Monday 11/28 Ive got pt at 8.30 then ot at 9 am!They never used to have two therapys in one day but I love the chalenge :)!I also got the chance to see Shawnie and Cody,I enjoy young adults!I got to take home the left over apple pie but,I did forget my old old laptop I gave to Jan.Its not working now,I figured that would give me something to do that I liked doing :(!

I'm excited and at the same time a little nervous!I know Ill have a great day but its just so far from home!Its just me being me,I trust Jan as much as I do anyone.

I had a home visit from KJ seems like yesterday now then she met me for my appt. with dr.Katz!He put me through lots of memory tests and for the most part I did fairly well!Then he gives me words to remember.Then he alternats my concentratoin,asks me what the words were,I got most of them but with a small hint I was able to recall all of them!I asked about the driving eval and he tested my vision!He said something wasn't quite right with that :(!Next time Ill make it right :)! Tomorrow Jan is coming all the way from Cape Cod to pick me up then bring me to her house for Tg dinna :)!When God created this pretty lady,he created perfection!I love you Jan.

I had hics today!We watched regarding henry !I have the dvd but watching that with many other survivors that have been through similar situations never gets old! Harisson Ford did a fantastic job portraying a tbi survivor!Even the little things about a survivor he does well,not little but sometimes unnoticed !Normal things like how memory is affected but also how emotion is too!The only knock I have about the flick is the rehab wasn't factual but if it was the movie would be way too long! Tomorrow KJ is making a home visit at 7am cause I have a doctors appt. with my nurologist!Hes gonna put me through some easy and some hard memory tests!KJ is gonna go too!I want to speak with him bout the driving eval too!The last time I told him it cost me $300 he didn't really believe me.I remember he said there is a test you can take to see if your ready for the driving eval that only costs $15!Ill see if I can do that one!

The phone ringing this morning woke me up!I couldn't answer it in time but the caller id said it was Braintree hospital which I'm waiting for Kim to call with therapy appts .She started to rattle off some appts . I said Ill never remember those so shes gonna snail mail me what shes got!Getting up b4 I was ready to kinda through me off so I had to cancel going to the ymca today!

That is one pitafull stop and shop!I think I can find more of my needs at wallgreens!My scoot home was successfull thou!I did stop at the fire station and ask if I was going the right way thou!I don't think Ill be using that store at all!

an

I'm getting a little nervous about my trip to s&s in holbrook!My pickup to go there is 11.01 return not till 1pm!Maybe Ill attemp scooting home.

I'm tyring something a little bit different today,Ive got trips planned to and from stop and shop in HOLBROOK !I want to go with "the ride" first b4 I attempt scooting there!Just me kinda overanalizing things!

I started my day by first enjoying 2 large cups of french vanila coffee!I then went to Braintree rehab for pt!I did something Ive never done in therapy b4!I walked backwards with no assistance!Just a few steps but,it gave me a chance to show the pts my balance is much improved :)!I also did my streaching,balance exersizes!Came home for a bit then went to the "y"!I worked with Allie,she is great!She watches me,sees what is hard for me then thinks up ways to make it easy 4 me :)!I'm lucky to have met a pretty young lady like Allie,shes #1 in my book :)!Came home and my homemaker was at the door to my building!She came,I just had her clean,Ill do my laundry on Sunday besides I still remember what Lesli said,she said thats where the chicks are!Ive done lots of laundry,have yet to get even a little lucky :(!

Today Ive got pt then I go to the ymca!Ive got to find time to scoot to walgreens too,Ive got a painfull corn on a toe on my right foot!

Ive had a great day today!The party was fantastic!I think there was between 50-60 people there!Many of whom I knew but the best part was seeing this survivor that moved to Peperille mass next to NH, haven't seen him in many months!I guess its best if he doesn't live alone,hes in a house with other tbi survivors!I guess I should be very,very proud of me cause I can!Ive said b4,next big thing is to get my licence to drive back again :)!

Tomorrow @ hics we are having a holiday luncheon !We can invite family and friends!I ask my young adults every yr Bri came I think last yr but,living in NH and not having her lisence makes it impossible for her to come this yr :( !I think one yr Jan came too :)!DM once again put together a slide show of all the yrs activaties!I'm looking forward to this even if I'm not bringing anyone but me :)!

I had pt this morning,I did the bike like the nustep at the ymca,my balance exercises,streaching aching,and walked around WITHOUT any assisting devise (walker)!I think I did well too but,I must convince the therapists that I'm ready to loose the walker :)!I will always have it around thou only because some days are better than others and my safety is most important :)!I then came home for about 45 mins then off to the ymca!I had a great workout!My right hand grip held for all 12 reps on the rowing machine,no stopping to reajust it :)!I came home and got a call from spaulding rehab!Im in a ongoing study about tbi!They wanted to schedual a phone interview!I guess Ive done lots with them but,its kinda foggy!They called Scituate first then Ed gave them my cell#,I gave them my land line # cause Ive still got issues with my driod plus its easy to put my ll phone on speaker :)!Oh,KJ was here too!Busy day,just the way I love it :)!

I went to my dentist today just for a cleaning and he gave me an agency to call for better dental coverage which being dissabled I'm eligable for!Senior whole health,I guess they will cover deep cleaning and crowns,he said I need a couple crowns.KJ and I got some work to do :)!My bestest friend Jan texted me the other day saying what are you doing on Thanksgiving?Ive been invited down Jans house on cape cod for Thanksgiving :)!I'm surrounding myself with great people that make me so so happy :) :)!

Today Ive got hics then I go to the dentist just for a cleaning!

Ot was great and at the same time very challenging !I did an exercise designed to improve my hand eye coordination by putting these pins in like a peg board,then a sleave over the peg,then add a washer!I did that with my left arm,I was thinking,I could never do this with my right,hope that's not next!Next was to take them all apart with my right side (arm and hand)!Doing exercises similar to this I try to see what works for me and incorporate it into everything I try to use my right hand for!

Today Ive got ot at braintree rehab!I did have the "y" too but,I'm not feeling like going today.I overslept a tad.

anotherattemptwithmyphone

I had a extremely successful scoot to walgreens even though I forgot to get some cookies,I was able to give that pretty young lady who always takes great care of me,my card with my web site and email address on it!Then I find out she is on face book too :)!

While booking my rides 4 the wk the web site said I needed to add value to my account!I then tried to do it online which I have many times b4 but,it says inaccurate password!I think Ive got it right but,I called them and added value the old fashioned way,I think Monday it will get recognized!

I was gonna attempt scooting to stop and shop in Holbrook but I think I'm gonna wait on that task.My scooter has been workin well but I'm just not ready to start something new!I do need to book my rides for the wk,maybe Ill scoot to walgreens or d&d's.Ive got to stay busy!

Tomorrow is my day off but,I do have to do a load of wash,book my rides,maybe try a scoot to stop and shop in holbrook :)!

I'm thinking instead of attempting a scoot to stop and shop in holbrook ,Ill scoot to walgreens and pick up the stuff I know they have!I can always try scooting to stop and shop tomorrow :)!

I did have trips booked to and from stop and shop in Braintree and the pick up times were not bad I just don't like depending on others if Ive got it in my power to depend on only me " :)!Im thinking today may be a good day to see if my scooter can make it to stop and shop in Holbrook!Ive also got to pay all my bills but,I can take my time with that task :)!

My homemaker is supposed to come over @ 3.30 every Friday!Its about 5 pm now so I'm thinkin another no-show!

im tring again to post from my phone

I'm beat after pt so I had to cancel going to the "y" for today :(!

We all make so many choices on a daily or hourly basis but,I believe the most important chose is to be happy or sad,depressed!I proudly have chosen I want to be the happiest I can be :)!I could very easily been depressed!Its no picnic living with tbi but,I choose to look and emphasize the positives in my wonderful life!I could choose to be bummed about what Ive lost,great career ,with a great salary !In 2001 I earned in excess of $150.000,my fiance,she couldn't deal with my tbi !Friends I lost were basically drinking buddies so that's no loss :)! I choose to think of my progression from being comatose for 3.5 months to being pretty much totally independent !I guess the biggest hurtle left is to get my licence to drive a car then to get back on two wheels:)!

This was the first post I started from my phone!As you can see I need to learn some things about my keyboard on my phone,like deleting characters and or just need to find a delete key!I wanted to you tube a song and asked everyone at hics if they knew who the artist is.I knew Id forget the song so I attempted to write it in my pocket calendar.I forgot the song tital and can't read my writting :(!

So far today KJ has made a home visit,I asked if she would check my speaker connections on my puter cause they are not working!All of them seemed fine so we thought my surge protecter was bad!I noticed the light switch on the wall was off!Turned that on and the light on my speakers came on,hopefully they work now,Ill check lata.Ive had ot!I worked on my writing!We found that Ive got to have a pen that has a good point to it with no resistance!I was also working with some of the aids on the pen to make it easyer to hold and try to manuver!Tonight I'm going bowling with hics!Steak and cheese calzone is gonna be my dinna :)!

Ive only got trips planed to and from hics today so less stressing over my rides :)!

Ive had a busy day :)!I had pt this morning!That was great cause I'm doing what I want/need to do and that is working hard on me :)!I did alot of streaching!That helped a great deal with my next trip,to the "y"!I must of had the best workout ever cause I was REAL loose :)!My rides worked out great today now I know how I should book my rides on days I have therapy then the "y" :)!

Today Ive got pt at 10 then I'm tring something that if it works Ill never miss going to the "y" again!I booked my arrival time for 1.15 instead of 1.

Tomorrow Ive got pt and the "y"!Im tring to get my pick up times a little more doable so I booked an arrival time at the "y" for 1.15!I'm usually early anyway!Lets see how it works out!

My yahoo email has been hacked!Ive changed my password and I'm not stranded anywhere!

Today Ive got to book my rides,my homemaker did my laundry so I really have no laundry to do :)!When she does my laundry thou she dosen't do much else so I'm gonna need to do a complete vacume job and maybe wash my kitchen and bathroom floors!Ive got to squwize in a dd's scoot too :)!

I just had a visit from two pretty young ladies!My bestest friend Jan and her daughter Shawnee :)!I should have taken some pics but I didn't think of it till now :)! Shawnee has a friend who is a tatue artist!She is gonna bring him over so I can finally get the ink I want :)!

Today I have trips planed to and from stop and shop in Braintree!Ive gutta make this one too,I need food,and I want to get my smelly shxt(sented candles)!I have yet to get my check but,I always stay within my means!

I had my issues with my monitor then it went to my cordless phone back to my monitor , geesh !I believe everything working now!I should pick up a phone that doesn't need electricity.

My moniter for my desktop all of a sudden stoped working!I did my comen sence things and got it to work :)!

So far today Ive had ot therapy!They asked me how I do cutting up my meat.I told them that it was very hard for me.They then had me show them by attempting to cut a slab of clay!After observing my problems,they gave me some instruments that should help!I was then gonna go to the "y" but,my ride to the "y" was already in my parking lot waiting 4 me!I didn't want to hold him up so I just canceled my trips to and from!I had to put some money on my laundry card so I scooted to the office and put $20. on it,lets see if my homemaker shows up this wk!Watching the news in shock over what that Mccreary woman did to her son!She said he was a nuisance .What child isn't !Still I always cheeriest my children!How anyone could hurt their own child has me so confused!

Ive had a great birthday ! I had hics and we went to the Randoph cinemas and saw a move I forget the title ,money games I think,bout a general manager for the Oakland a's !I guess it is a true story too,great flick,highly recommended !Got home and scooted to walgreens .Heard from all my young adults one way or another.I like it when they fb me,then I can see it again and again :)!Even my x-wife,my friend Denise fbed me wishing me a great day!All the birthday wishes on fb makes 1 happy man!I thought I turned 52 but did the math,I'm 53,yikes!

I'm really blessed with all the support I'm recieving!KJ was over and she sees what I'm having issues with!She is so smart,knows I'm very computer savy,she emails me instructions on things I'm having issues with like my phone!You see email works for me cause when I forget how to do something I can always read the email again :)!

While loading my pill box I noticed I need refills on a couple!Too dark to scoot to walgreens now.I should have time tomorrow after therapy!

My appt. with dr. Koebel went great!He check my muscule tone out by having me do certain movements like making a fist then opening my hand!The difference between my right and left sides is like night and day :( but,I'm working on getting my right to work betta!Then I had hics,the coffee shop next to hics still has a sign that says "opening soon",that sign has been there for 2 wks,hurry up already!

Today Ive got pt to start!It says tone,I think that will consist of a bunch of measurements to check my range of motion.Then I go to hics :)