Fruit heaven

Isobelle and Avalon (Nelson said Avalon was there, anyway) visited Nelson today and took him out to a lovely Italian fruit shop. He said they spent about 45 minutes there and he was fascinated by all the other things they sell as well. He sounded like he'd really enjoyed himself looking through the whole shop.

Already got the Compleat set

Today I took Nelson a letter addressed to him. He read the enclosed sale brochure from the Compleat Angler with great interest and then announced that he already has everything anyway. Although he was a little bit interested in one of the torches which he pronounced, "just amazing".

He spent a fair bit of time comparing the prices and pointing out that you could get almost the same thing for $12 as you could for $19 which he thought was a bit silly really.

Before we left hom, Darius was very adamant he didn't want to go to visit Daddy. When we got there he was postive he didn't want to go in so I had to tuck him unceremoniously under my arm and carry him in from the car, complete with very loud continuous "NO" and significant wiggling. Despite this negative start, he and Nelson actually had a really nice play together today. For the first time Nelson managed to convert Darius' "I'm about to start being difficult" moment into having a really engaging game with him, getting him to smile and giggle. This Nelson did completely on his own without any input or prompting at all from me.

Swings and Roundabouts

Today I visited Nelson, taking Darius with me. Since Darius was wanting a bit of outdoors action, Nelson came with us to the playground just around the corner from the home.

Darius has changed a fair bit over the past 6 or so months while Nelson's been ill, so he is not really used to how competent Darius is at climbing and so on now. Nelson was initially a bit worried when Darius confidently strode up to the play equipment and started climbing...

After he'd got bored with the various "jungle gym" equipment, Darius decided on a little game of  running away in order to be chased which meant that Nelson got a good little bit of walking exercise - very good (and I got to do the odd sprint as well)!

"Cheeseman" John visited just after Darius and I had left, and reported noticing an "enormous difference" in Nelson after just 2 weeks. He said he could really see "the old Nelson" showing through when that really hadn't been the case before.

How are you?

Yesterday Terry visited and said he'd had a lovely conversation, parts of which Nelson accurately related to me today.

Today I took in a parcel addressed to Nelson that arrived at the house yesterday. Inside he found a book of optical puzzles from his sister Brenda. He especially loved the card she sent, which has a cat on the front and as you open and close the card it moves, running along.

We had a very good chat and Nelson said he'd been thinking about a lot of things. For the first time since he's been ill, he asked me, "How are you - generally?". This has to be a real sign of  improvement - quite a shift I feel. I'm not at all sure it's how it works, but it seems almost like the development of a child discovering empathy for others in the realisation that they have lives and feelings too. There was a time not too long ago when Nelson couldn't understand why I wasn't with him all the time, seeming to have no concept of anything else in my life apart from him and Darius.

Art therapy

Today I arrived to find Nelson in the upstairs lounge about to start art therapy. There is now an artist who comes in to do this activity with the residents. Nelson had already started a painting the previous week so continued with that today.

 I was planning to just sit with him through the session but was coaxed into participating as well. Nelson and I both really enjoyed the session which was really a lot of fun. Nelson finished his painting of a beach scene.

The art therapist is very up-beat, patient and encouraging. He was very happy to find out competent Nelson is and could just leave him with it most of the time.

It's so wonderful to see Nelson finally doing these things again that he's always loved.

Funky headphones!

Mark visited Nelson today.

On Saturday Darius and I visited and Rhonda joined us, bearing food which Nelson always appreciates!

We had a bit of time on the front verandah and then came inside when it got too cold. Rhonda has got Nelson started using his portable DVD player that Brenda gave him, watching a nature documentary with him when she visited on Thursday.

She had also brought in some radio-headphones of Lorraine's for Nelson to use. Here he is testing them out:

Darius was so taken by Nelson's finger clicking that when it was his turn he just had to do the same thing while he wiggled to the music (even when it was off the station!).

Brotherly lunch

Today I took Nelson to have lunch at his brother Raymond's house. Before we left the nursing home, Avalon made a flying visit to see her dad for the first time in a couple of weeks of intensive school study. Isobelle and I left her to have some alone time with Nelson which they both seemed to really enjoy.

On our way to visit Raymond and Bev, Nelson directed me from the big round-a-bout to their house, even pointing out his old house on the way. Talk about an improvement from him not being grounded in time and place only a little over 3 months ago!

We had a lovely lunch and Nelson seemed completely unconcerned by the TV being on quite close to the dining table and continued to have a conversation with Bev and me without it interferring with his ability to focus. This is also a huge step forwards as when he was still in Balmain Hospital he couldn't carry on a conversation if someone else or a TV was talking near him.

 This room pendant was made by Brenda and given by her to Nelson recently. Isobelle took this lovely photograph of it - thank you.

Boy time

Lyndon and Marlon visited Nelson with Isobelle today. Isobelle took some great photos of the visit.

Lyndon, Marlon and Nelson sharing a joke at lunchtime on the verandah.

Enjoying the greenery on a short walk.

Nelson and Marlon.

Nelson and Lyndon.

Marlon and Pookie

Crystal and the orchid in Nelson's room.

The giant crysanthemum that I gave Nelson.

Goodbye hug from Marlon.

Monkey hide and seek

Darius has been quite wary with Nelson since he's been ill and simply not the Daddy he knew and loved. He has often refused to go to Nelson and upsets him by loudly refusing a cuddle or kiss with true 2 year old honesty.

Allan visited Nelson with Darius and me today. He seems very good at facilitating Nelson and Darius towards having a nice game together. Today a lovely game of "Monkey hide and seek" created a light playful dynamic between Nelson and Darius.

Allan took these lovely photos of it all - thank you!

Cancer all clear

On Thursday Nelson had his routine visit with the oncologist. After the CT scan and blood tests the doctor was able to say there are no signs of cancer - hooray!

Yesterday we discovered that the best thing to amuse Darius during a visit with Nelson is walking along the wall of the next door house in the sun.

Neurology and hot chocolate

Yesterday we finally got to visit Nelson's neurologist/neuro-rehab doctor. It was the first time he'd seen Nelson since he left the hospital at the beginning of February. During the visit he referred to the neuropsychology assessment that Nelson had in mid-March. It's hard to believe that's already almost 2 months ago!

The doctor seemed a bit surprised and very pleased that Nelson has progressed quite a bit since that assessment was done. He was very impressed with the improvement in Nelson's speech. He advised me to leave Nelson to get better as he is currently doing for at least another 2 months, then he will reassess him.

Today I had to take Nelson to get a blood test. We went to Leichhardt and I got him to walk a fair way down a road, lured by the thought of a hot chocolate in the cafe at the other end. We had a lovely walk in the sun and then walked back again so he got a nice bit of exercise into the bargain. He really enjoyed the hot chocolate!

Chocolate kebab

Now that the real dramas have died down, it is time to catch up with Nelson's other ongoing medical issues, so today was time for a CT scan as a regular routine check-up for his cancer, now overdue by a few months.

Unfortunately it was impossible for the nurses (talented as they are) to find a vein to inject the contrast dye into him. Chemotherapy does this to your veins it seems. So, we had to wait 2 extra hours for him to have an ultrasound of his liver to check things out thoroughly.

Nelson went to sleep on the bed they provided and I snuck down to the coffee shop with one of the nurses and managed to find a wonderful chocolate mud cookie that was gluten free for Nelson. It looked soooo good that I got one for myself as well. It was even better than it looked so I made sure I ate it while Nelson was asleep as he'd been fasting for the tests.

After all the tests we left to find some lunch. Nelson insisted we go to his favourite Crows Nest restaurant - Sentosa.

While we drove between the hospital and the restaurant I told Nelson about the wonderful cookie I had for him. Obviously this was still in his mind when he looked at the menu in the restaurant as he told me he'd have the "chocolate kebab" which we both thought highly amusing.

Happy Mothers' Day

On Friday I found the most wonderful enormous crysanthemum in a pot. I know Nelson loves these "royal" crysanthemums so, although he's definitely not a mother, I got one for him. Isobelle brought him some jonquils on Sunday as well, so it seems that on Mothers' Day Nelson scored all the flowers!

When I arrived late on Sunday Brenda and Rhonda had just arrived and Isobelle had been there for a long visit already. It was Brenda's goodbye visit as she leaves tomorrow morning at "sparrows".

Although a couple of weeks ago I was bracing myself for it, I did have a lovely Mothers' Day thanks to my own mother. Brenda also surprised me with a lovely gift today - thank you!

The last brunch...

This morning Brenda and I planned a water-side picnic with Nelson. However, the wind was a bit brisk and Nelson feels the cold so much that we decided to convene inside instead, and found Drummoyne Rowers with its lovely view and not too far from the nursing home.

Nelson ate a surprising amount of a big plate of fresh tuna with lovely green vegetables. He really enjoyed it!

It was the last outing with Nelson before Brenda returns home to the US on Monday.

I'm not too sure about Brenda's interesting hair (chair) ornament here, but it's still a lovely photograph of them both.

Green juice

Allan visited Nelson today and took some home juiced "green juice" made from green vegetables - VERY healthy!

This looks suspiciously like a Brenda-cooked meal too!

Allan said he'd advised Nelson to wear his hat and socks to bed as he was complaining of being cold.

The traveller returns

Richard visited earlier today and Nelson enjoyed seeing him.

Terry and Heather have just returned from a jaunt in their campervan around southern NSW, the Snowy Mountains, down to Melbourne and surrounds. Terry came with Darius and I to visit this afternoon and Brenda was also there.

Terry told Nelson some of his fishing stories from the trip, insisting this trip was just a "reckie" for the trip he and Nelson will do when Nelson is better.

Meanwhile, Darius investigated the lift and eventually realised that it goes up and down (when Mummy presses the buttons).

Both Nelson and Darius enjoyed hearing a couple of Beatrix Potter stories before we took the small wigglie escape artist home for some dinner.

Fitness check

Unfortunately, on Saturday evening Nelson had an argument with his room mate, who in the process physically lashed out at Nelson. Nelson had a slightly bloody nose and was checked by a doctor yesterday just in case. The incident was dealt with immediately by the staff and the room mate has now been moved, leaving Nelson with the room to himself again. Today Nelson seemed fine about it, but not all that complementary about the room mate!

Isobelle and the children visited him yesterday. He always really enjoys seeing them and it's great that he's now able to remember their visits too.

Nelson very much enjoyed the Chinese fish Brenda left him for his lunch today - yum! While I was there both Brenda and Rhonda had arrived to visit.

Vanessa the physiotherapist did a re-assessment on Nelson's strength and fitness today as it's 3 months since his admission into the nursing home. She reported him to have improved a lot, especially in his strength, and declared him ready to move up to the next level of effort to increase his endurance and stamina and specifically his hand grip strength and his right shoulder. She will also specify some strengthening exercises in the new program to help his head and neck posture to return to upright. Personally I feel this will also help his state of mind as well and Vanessa agreed that the two things are very closely linked.

One of the recommendations was more walks around the block with visitors. If you haven't taken Nelson out before, let me know beforehand as there are a few procedures that need to be followed so they know he hasn't escaped or been abducted!