Preparing

Today, A friend came over and just went to work on Riley's room, boxing up the trophies and the toys on the shelves and counters. She got the posters carefully down from the walls and the room ready for tomorrow's crew. She was a whirlwind. I am so glad she came, I think if I had done it alone I would not have been able to complete it. I would have gotten distracted by the baby box with all his early childhood treasures, or I would have started reading the labels on his trophies of the sports he will never play again. She just swept them into boxes, and away they went into the other room. We can go through them at our leasure after Riley's room is done tomorrow.

She said she would have sorted but we didn't have that luxury of time. She was right. I enjoyed her company hugely. She could be impersonal with the items the way I could not. I did clear out the closet of Riley's clothes, hanging them in the laundry room temporarily. Then I did laundry, while she packed the room. We were able to talk about our children and parenting techniques as if everything were normal, when boys should be allowed to date, the new sex ed class at school for eighth graders.

The room is now ready for the movers and painters tomorrow. I am hopeful to have the project done by mid evening. I hope so, because Tom asked if I was going to spend Wednesday night at the hospital. Three nights in a row is a lot, as I can attest from last weekend. My mom will sit with Riley tomorrow so Tom can go hide at her house and get a good rest, while we work on Riley's room. It is definitely a juggling act to get everything covered and be ready for Riley's return.

I spent the rest of the day running errands. I found I needed the pad that goes under the laminate, so swung by the builders store. I asked for brad nails, but didn't know what size so I will have to deal with that tomorrow some time. They told me to just bring in the gun.
My air compressor is at the neighbors. I'll get it tomorrow.

I got a call from the school liaison, so swung by the district office to facilitate getting the tutor for next week going. We get 5 hours a week and will have to figure out the schedule to be flexible for the days we have to go to the clinic at Dornbechers.

I also hit the bank with some checks that had been waiting for deposit. Including a refund from Grandpa Tom's assisted living, that needed to be deposited so we could pay the over expenses to the funeral home.

I also stopped by the mattress store and ordered the mattress and box spring for Riley to be delivered Friday, after his room is finished. Riley said soft, so did the woman in the store. She said if he was spending a lot of time in bed, he would want it soft. It will be the best set we have in the house. Most of our mattresses are hand me downs, and all are at least 10 years old minimum. Riley's will come sealed in plastic. We will just leave the plastic on for now.

The hospital beds and the day bed are vinyl so they can be wiped clean after each use. Riley gets his sheets changed every day. His room is wiped clean twice a day. It will be a difficult level to continue at home, but if I just focus on Riley's room and bathroom each day, I think I can manage. The rest of the house can be a little less attention to detail. At least I hope so. I think the hospital breaks it to you gently a little at a time.

I head to the hospital. The nurse was prepping Riley today to give himself his own shots once he comes home. Twice a day in the leg, he is to inject himself, just like a diabetic. I think it is his blood booster. He is right on the cusp of doing it himself or having his parents do it for him. Tom cringes at the thought.

I have a dear friend who's daughter is diabetic. I remember watching her hug her daughter as she injected the insulin. She hated doing it, sticking her daughter with a needle, causing pain. But it was life or death. It will be the same for Riley. Hopefully he will figure it out and become used to it, so I don't have to do it.

When I was in high school I took care of an elderly neighbor who was diabetic. She got to the point of being so frail she could not inject herself. The health care nurse had me practice on an orange with a needle to get the feel of the needle entering the skin and the correct angle. I suggested to the nurse with Riley, perhaps tomorrow Riley could practice on an orange to get used to the feel, before he tries injecting himself.

Tom is looking forward to a good nights rest and a good shower tomorrow. He looks a little unshaven this evening. Some old friends drop by who are in the neighborhood because they have their own appointment to see their doctor. Riley comments that his parents get more visitors than he does. But you can tell he is pleased with all the attention. He plays with the bed, elevating it as high as it will go showing off all the electronics in the room. Tom makes us all laugh over his adventures recently in Vegas and at home (It is his story to tell so I wont, but ask him about it because it is hysterical). Our friends ask if we can join them for dinner but we say our regrets. Right now is our Riley time. Adult time will come later.