Back to School

After a slight communications mix-up with the nursing home, we finally got Sheila back on her Copaxone (the very expensive MS medication) this past week. The short time she was off of it she seemed to have been doing much better. Her speech was clear and her thought processes were intact. We also noticed that she could raise her arms above her head and could completely flex her hands and fingers. But tonight, after a week back on the medication, her speech has again become very hard to understand, the use of her right side is becoming diminished and she is also back to fixating on certain things. Now we are reminded several times a day where Ashley’s middle name came from. After reading all of the side-effects of the medication we are wondering if it is the cause of her anxiety. We are looking forward to seeing the neurologist to see if we should try one of the other MS drugs since we have not seen any improvements with this one.

We were worried that Sheila would have a hard time this week with the changes in our schedules. On Monday I started back to work, Ashley started classes at Weber State, and Holly started her first day at Ogden High School. The week started out well until Wednesday when I got a call at work that Holly had thrown up in the hallway at school and that I needed to come and get her. Thank goodness she is doing so much better. With the fever gone it is back to school for her.

This week Sheila got a home-made card in the mail from her dear friend, Teresa Birch. She was so thrilled to get it. She has it prominently displayed for everyone to see and she points to it every day when we walk into her room.

This week it has become even clearer that we definitely need to get the car fixed. After the many hours waiting to go here and there, it really adds up. One day this past week I calculated that I spent over 3 hours just waiting for buses. So if anyone knows of a good, but inexpensive mechanic or auto shop that could give me an estimate of what it would cost to fix my car we would greatly appreciate it.

We appreciate everyone who has offered and given us rides (you know who you are). Sometimes this is the only way we make it to see Sheila every day. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends and family.