I came to Denver about a month ago to visit my parents for a week. I am still here; Toben and the girls have asked me to stay here with my parents instead of returning to Colorado Springs.
For that past month we have been living in the house they have owned for almost 7 years.However, last fall they decided to downsize and bought a patio home in a 55+ neighborhood nearby. Since then they have been changing things and updating the kitchen, the woodwork, and the carpeting. The contractor called one day last week during breakfast to tell my dad that the house is officially done!
We leave Monday to go camping in Steamboat Springs with my niece and two nephews. After we return, we will begin to move into the new house.
Everything is on the main level with a television and guestroom in the basement. My room is also on the main level and my bathroom is just next door to my room
I will be able to be even more independent in the new house. My shower has no step to enter, the floor is entirely flat and with only a bath chair, I should be able to bathe independently.For now, mom helps me in the shower each evening. We laugh, have water fights, and completely soak the bathroom! My new bathroom should stay much drier unless mom does something that merits a good soaking. we have fun and do our best to keep each other in line. It's may be a losing battle, but we have too much fun to care much.
During the past month, I have been tying my shoes with only one hand, making my own bed, and even helping in the kitchen! When we move, I plan to attempt to do some of my own laundry and even more cooking in the kitchen with mom.
we do grocery shop together every week, and I accompany her on all of her errands and outings. Little by little, I am testing all of the electric carts in the stores around South Denver. I am keeping a list of the best; Home Depot is at the top with Trader Joe's and Sprouts, Walmart comes next, with Target bringing up the rear. I look for power availability, and ease-of-use. Costco is on the same level with Trader Joe’s and sprouts. my complaint with Target carts is that the batteries run out quickly and often there are no carts available for use.
I can walk around the store is necessary, but it wears me out quickly
I prefer to ride when possible.
Living in Denver means I get the opportunity to see many of my friends here.
I also am able to attend church with my parents every weekend. I Sunday school with my dad, who teaches third and fourth grade. We have fun together with all of the kids. I also go to Bible study with my mother every couple of weeks at the home of the pastor and his wife.
I have made many new friends at their church, and enjoy being involved in church once again. it is something I have missed over the past year or so.
I am sleeping really well here at mom and dad’s house. the weather has warmed up so I can sleep with the windows open at night— something I love about summer.
for a while I was sure that winter with never end. But it has and the polls are open. Our new neighborhood has both a swimming pool and a hot tub that I will be able to use, especially since mom and I were able to find a new swimsuit for me the other day.
shopping for its involved both tears and laughter. I sure hope there were no cameras in that dressing room. if by chance there were, mom and I will be cart kid ff to the Illini bin in the near future. we often get hysterical when things go wrong like getting completely tangled up in a swimsuit that is far too small and impossible to get out of
I have also started some physical therapy again now that I am in Denver once more. I I have seen my favorite physical therapist twice so far and will get on her regular schedule when we return from camping. at this point, I am stretching and walking when possible. Getting the mail may become one of my new chores when we move. I will need mom or dad to go with me because I am afraid of falling even though I have not fallen for more than a year. I also need someone to carry the mail since my rate hands is busy with my cane and my left arm is still not on the team.
Not being able to carry things while I walk is frustrating and means that my pockets are usually filled to overflowing with my phone, some Chapstick, a tissue, and maybe a snack. I
am looking forward to camping next week Ava will be my roommates in the master bedroom, while the boys will sleep in sleeping bags on the floor and underneath the sofa bed that mom and dad will use since I will be in their room.
We are taking the children with us because my sister and her husband are doing Riide the Rockies next week. It’s is a week-long bicycle ride through the Rocky Mountains. there are more than 500 miles and something like 28,000 feet in elevation gain. personally, I think they are a little nuts, and better them than me! they camp along the way which is another reason I would never do it sleeping on the ground was fined as a kid. But now I prefer to sleep in the camper where it is comfortable and the toilet flushes. when it comes to camping, I am not a tough girl--not even close!
They will have fun and I'm sure that Kristen will post pictures to her Facebook account I am sure. I will update my Facebook account from the campground in Steamboat Springs, which I am told has Wi-Fi as well as a swimming pool, full hookups, and a playground for the kids.
The rest of the summer includes moving, visits with some out-of-state friends, and a couple more camping trips – two Mount Rushmore and southern Colorado. I also plan to spend time on the deck, watching golfers go by, and soaking up some sun.
I may do some physical therapy in the pool as well, it depends on how much they heat the pool, and how comfortable I feel in the water.
I am looking forward to the summer and being settled in a new routine
The neighborhood is still filled with friendly people; we spend Friday evenings at the weekly potluck at the clubhouse and have met lots of nice people. We are also looking into getting a dog! We want a small dog that doen't shed, loves to cuddle, and is calm rather than hyper. If you know the perfect breed for us to look into please leave a comment. for a long time, dad said if we get a dog, now he is saying when we get a dog;we are more than halfway there!
Thank you for being patient with me and my unintentional sabbatical from blogging. My dictation software and my Apple operating system had a disagreement, and I needed to update my dictation software. Dad was kind and generous to update and install the latest version. I am blogging this post all on my own and it seems to be working so part of a new routine will be posting more often.
My email, blog address, and phone number are allstaying the same. If you need my new address for any reason please send me a private email or message on Facebook. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I will do my best to check in from the road next week if possible.
Love,
Joanne
