"seven weeks and counting"

I know I am tired - but it is tiring waking up listening to good Bible messages and songs. Then arriving at Magee in a really happy spirit and come in and say hi to a grump. Moaning and complaining about his shoulder and hips and a "dead hand" that is heavy and that isn't his.
He is so busy complaining that he doesn't always say hi, or give me a kiss, or even say I love you.
He just tells me how difficult his day has been.

Every other night he gets a shower. They place him on a big trolley, they call it. The way they move him onto the trolley is by moving the sheet from his bed and they slide him over to the trolley then after the shower they use a dry sheet and slide him back onto his bed. Now think about it - a big man with a bad right shoulder and "dead" hand/arm/leg being moved by two women. Not an easy thing to do with two strapping men. He describes it as being flopped around like a fish.

Sunday night he got a shower and the ladies were not the gentlest. So when it came to tonight he "refused" to do it. He "WAS NOT" going to have a shower. He was going to go home and take one. I kindly explained that not able to do that yet. That went no where. Lior one of the nurses that he has had all during his stay is very sweet and came in and said "Now Mr. Steve let's rock and roll. I like all my patients to smell good when I take care of them. I'll stay right with you and help the girls." Lior and the ladies did a great job calming him and washing him gently. He even said so. Although he did scream out a number of times - "you're hurting me".


Now that I am back to work full time I do get the "left overs". He is tired by the time I get him.
Today one of the nurses let him call home and leave a message for me. He was telling me that he was tired of this and was ready to come up and would I pick him up.

As we were praying Steve was "amening" everything I was saying. So I know he was understanding what I was praying about. We prayed that God would help Steve to be patient and look at the little accomplishments. I think he is holding his head up a lot better even tonight when he was tired. We also prayed that he would have a happy spirit and try to think of things to be thankful for rather than complaining. He amened that as well. So we'll see how tomorrow is.

Tomorrow I visit with the case manager - we'll see if they kick him out or not. He is sleeping better at night from what I understand and that is a blessing. Because Andrew asked to be moved because Steve was keeping him awake. Sorry Andrew.

Have a great day -

Mr. Steve and company