We are on our last day of vacation, and as usual, I think everyone is looking forward to going home–although we have had a great time. There is no place like home, is there?
For instance, yesterday, I helped Lynn take a shower in a regular shower stall. I put in the shower chair for him to sit on and then stood outside the shower to bathe him. Water everywhere, of course! There was no room to move him, so I had to have his son help me get him out. Lynn and I were both exhausted, but the mission was accomplished. I am so looking forward to our own shower unit that was installed by our church so I could roll him in and out.
Our own bed…that will be nice too. Appliances that work and the cookware and utensils we need for dinner. Not having to put all the tables on books so Lynn can get his wheelchair under them. Not having to remove a screen door so he can get onto the deck.
We had a few disappointments. The biggest one was when we tried to take his all-terrain wheelchair-crabbing one night. He spent a lot of money to get this special chair to surf, fish, and go on the beach. Imagine our disappointment when he could not get it to move on the sand! The chair was ordered from South Africa, so getting it fixed will be challenging, but we have already talked to them, and it appears to be a programming issue, so there is still hope. But we will not be on vacation when it gets fixed-disappointing.
Started to go fishing last night. Got everything ready and headed out the door, and it was pouring rain! We waited a while and then decided to get up early this morning to go. We did, got to the pier around 7 a.m., and fished for two hours. Several bites, but all we caught was seaweed.
Now, the triumph! And this is big. Lynn went swimming in the pool. The boys sat him on the side of the pool till he got warm, then he went in. The first day we went into the pool that was only 3 1/2 feet. It was fun but challenging for him to do anything. Yesterday, he went into the 5-foot pool, and it was awesome. I was able to help him float around using afloat. He was ready to kick his legs. He could even float on his back alone, and he’s never been able to do that, but the best part…the very best part was…HE STOOD UP IN THE WATER ALONE!! Ten times!! He supported himself with the float. The boys were on each side to help him get positioned right; then, he pushed himself upright. Awesome… My daughter has the pictures to prove it.
Triumphs and disappointments—what experience doesn’t have them? But all in all, this vacation was awesome. We’re so thankful to have the opportunity to once again vacation together and to have a break from all the usual challenges. I hope you get to have one this year, too.
