Here is it, another week gone by. Life is great to me. I just know certain things are not to be done by me. This is getting easier to accept now than it was a month ago. Changing light bulbs used to be easy for me, but no, they are a problem now. I have to get a stool out to do them. When you are as tall as me, these should be much easier than they are. The reaching part is what gets me to hurting. I got out and mowed yesterday and the effort made me hurt yesterday. The flat part goes OK but the slope of the ditches make me fight more.
I got a message for my cousin Jo since my last note. She is one of the many that still watches my progress. She was always one of those kind of people that helps watch out for me. Many of you do this and I always appreciate the thoughts and prayers. I started to quit writing here, but several people like to know where I am and how I am doing.
Work is going OK, too. There are many parts of it that I can not do, but most of them out there know this and help out when asked. I told one of them that I needed someone to climb and look at a job and that I could do it, but would be out for a couple of weeks in pain. He told me NOT to climb up there. He would make sure this got done. The last thing he needed was for me to be out again! Another guy at work talked with me about an issue and we had discussed it before, but I did not remember any details. I apologized for my mind not being like it was before my accident and that I am only about half of where it was before. He was OK with this because me, at half of where I was before, is better than others at full capacity. This made me feel good to hear this. I have known him for many years and for him to have this much faith in me helps a lot.
Betty is talking again about me going in and having my mind capacity checked. There is a doctor that the hospital recommended that does this. She wants it done but I am afraid to find out the truth here. I know it is not where it used to be, but someone telling me the truth may hurt a little bit. She will line this doctor up for me and figure out what needs to happen from there. She also wants me to go back to the hospital physical therapist and find out this information, too. Another person hurting me with truthful things I may not want to know. The truth hurts sometimes! I am still here because of her so if this is something she wants, off I go.
I am trying to find out what needs to be done around the house to fix it up for us to move out. I know there are a lot of things that I can't do, but we will hire someone to do them. A little bit here and a little bit there and then, we can look forward to where we are and how we need to be.....
If you are one of the people that reads this, Thanks. Even if you only look once in a while, I am OK with that too. You people are all part of me now. I love each of you more than you realize. I am still here because of these feelings.
Thanks and may God be with you as needed. It means the world to still be here breathing on my own...
Mark 3/30/08
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday 3/23 and still moving along
Wow, a beautiful weekend this was. All is going good for us. Life is still here! I went to the rodeo in Houston on Friday night. We went over to look at the show animals, but most were already gone. I did not realize how much effect that much walking would do to me. I limped around the area most of the time, taking more rests than I was wanting to. It amazes me how much my body can not take something like walking. All I can say is at least the escalators were working because the ramps would have made it this much harder. I was still feeling the pain the next day. I wanted to work in my garage, but I just could not do much. My pelvic area does not seem to be improving as fast as the rest of me. My shoulders still hurt to reach them out, but I don't use them like this very much. One day I will realize my body is not going to be where I think it should be.
Betty told me last week that we better start looking for another house because I still have some trouble with the stairs. She thinks if this is this bad now, where will I be in 5 years. I don't like to think about things like that, but she let's me see reality. I am lucky to still be here and breathing, but wanted to be back where I should be. This may never happen and I guess I should realize this. I got outside and washed vehicles today and just cleaning the tops is not as easy task and the lower parts still hurt my pelvic area. I guess I will have to adjust my mind to where my body finds reality and learn to live like that. I know my sleeping is not getting any better either. I just don't sleep as good as I used to. I tried to blame it on our bed, but we bought one of those sleep number beds about a year ago, so it must be ME. I try to keep my chin up, but it is hard not to be down over this.
I am still here and have so many people that love me. This always means so much to me every day. I am still here breathing on my own because God and prayers to him decided this was best for me. Thanks to all of you people, friends and family, for all the support you have provided for me and my family. So, I am still here to bother anyone that needs to be bothered! Just let me know if you need some of this and I will provide to you all I can... I hope this all makes sense but sometimes I talk in circles because my mind is not where it should be either...
Love you all so much,
Mark 3/23/08
Betty told me last week that we better start looking for another house because I still have some trouble with the stairs. She thinks if this is this bad now, where will I be in 5 years. I don't like to think about things like that, but she let's me see reality. I am lucky to still be here and breathing, but wanted to be back where I should be. This may never happen and I guess I should realize this. I got outside and washed vehicles today and just cleaning the tops is not as easy task and the lower parts still hurt my pelvic area. I guess I will have to adjust my mind to where my body finds reality and learn to live like that. I know my sleeping is not getting any better either. I just don't sleep as good as I used to. I tried to blame it on our bed, but we bought one of those sleep number beds about a year ago, so it must be ME. I try to keep my chin up, but it is hard not to be down over this.
I am still here and have so many people that love me. This always means so much to me every day. I am still here breathing on my own because God and prayers to him decided this was best for me. Thanks to all of you people, friends and family, for all the support you have provided for me and my family. So, I am still here to bother anyone that needs to be bothered! Just let me know if you need some of this and I will provide to you all I can... I hope this all makes sense but sometimes I talk in circles because my mind is not where it should be either...
Love you all so much,
Mark 3/23/08
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 18 and still going forward
Well, today is Tuesday and I am still alive and improving. Life is great for me, but pain is an everyday thing. Maybe I tolerate it better, but it still bothers me. I can still feel it on stairs. A broken tailbone is never pleasant to have. I still have one pelvic area that hurts with every move. Maybe I am more tolerant than I used to be because I don't get down about it.
I got to talk to a couple of people today that I have not seen in a while. One was at work and one on the phone. Both made me feel good even though one of them did not know about my fall or the time I spent trying to recover. I also had a discussion with one of the people in purchasing. She was running behind and was going to be off the next two days. She was stressed out but handled everything well. I makes me feel good to know people that deal with my type of stress load, too. I know some days are so full of things that must get done and deal with them as well as I can. I leave work every day with the thought of knowing I did as much as I could. I deal with so many people every day. Some are in our facility and some do business with me. I have learned to treat people with all the respect they have deserved. You treat them right and they will usually do the same to you. I would like to think I was always like this, but I don't know for sure. My mind is still trying to figure some things out and HOPEFULLY is improving day to day. Betty tells me quite regularly that my mind is not all there. I need to hear this even though it sounds depressingly. I have to know how I am doing from her point of sight. My mind thinks I am OK, but she will tell me where I really am. This is one of the MANY things about her that I love. The last thing I need at this point is to be lied to. I can really tell my mind status when I see someone I know but can't come up with their name.
It still hurts me to ride a bicycle but I ride one at work. It hurts to get me leg up and over the seat, but will not get better by not doing it. Climbing and reaching still get me, too. I know this limits me on my work because these are a "normal" part of my job. I have friends out there that care enough about me to help or at least offer to help. This is part of my life, now. I have to be thankful to God for helping me stay in this world. I love you all and hope I did not bore anyone with information that is unhelpful.
Mark 3/18/08
I got to talk to a couple of people today that I have not seen in a while. One was at work and one on the phone. Both made me feel good even though one of them did not know about my fall or the time I spent trying to recover. I also had a discussion with one of the people in purchasing. She was running behind and was going to be off the next two days. She was stressed out but handled everything well. I makes me feel good to know people that deal with my type of stress load, too. I know some days are so full of things that must get done and deal with them as well as I can. I leave work every day with the thought of knowing I did as much as I could. I deal with so many people every day. Some are in our facility and some do business with me. I have learned to treat people with all the respect they have deserved. You treat them right and they will usually do the same to you. I would like to think I was always like this, but I don't know for sure. My mind is still trying to figure some things out and HOPEFULLY is improving day to day. Betty tells me quite regularly that my mind is not all there. I need to hear this even though it sounds depressingly. I have to know how I am doing from her point of sight. My mind thinks I am OK, but she will tell me where I really am. This is one of the MANY things about her that I love. The last thing I need at this point is to be lied to. I can really tell my mind status when I see someone I know but can't come up with their name.
It still hurts me to ride a bicycle but I ride one at work. It hurts to get me leg up and over the seat, but will not get better by not doing it. Climbing and reaching still get me, too. I know this limits me on my work because these are a "normal" part of my job. I have friends out there that care enough about me to help or at least offer to help. This is part of my life, now. I have to be thankful to God for helping me stay in this world. I love you all and hope I did not bore anyone with information that is unhelpful.
Mark 3/18/08
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunday, March 9 and still moving along
Another week has passed us by and I woke up this morning breathing on my own. That makes it a good day! All is going well for me. I still have pains every day and may have them for the rest of my life, but thanks to God's help, I am still here. I got out in the back yard today and tried to do a few things that my body is not ready for, yet. I have a small wooden walkway that I built SO MANY years ago. I need to work on it some and just trying to move it hurts. I will learn someday that I can not lift anything heavy that is on the ground or floor, but my mind seems to think I can. Therefore, I try and it proves what is right and what is wrong. I just have to keep trying to improve or I will never be where I think I can be,
I had a message from Janet in my last entry. She is one of my older cousins that shows me how important my life is to so many. It always means the world to see her write me some words of encouragement. She made a comment about our minds and how taking some time off of work effects it. She is so right on this one. My mind is not the same as it was before and I HOPE it will be someday. Betty tells me quite regularly how my mind is not all there, yet. So many things used to be easy for me to remember, but now they are not. Names and numbers seem to be the worst of this. I was never real good at names, but once I learned it, I was OK. And numbers? Tell me your phone number and I would usually remember it. That is not so true anymore. I have to really push myself to come up with phone numbers that I call a lot. If this number has been with me for a few years, I am OK for the most part. I have numbers at work that I call a lot and can't seem to remember them, yet. And, if that were not enough, I have a hard time remembering someone's name to look it up. One thing about me that has not changed much is may attitude towards people. I always wanted to be one of those people that was easy to get along with and enjoyable to be around. For the most part, that is still there, unless something sets me off. This happens a lot more now than before. Sometimes, it is the simple things that will do it to me. Like putting something in the dishwasher. If this item won't fit it easily, the trouble begins. Or, like getting a trash bag out of the box. If I can not grab it in a couple of tries, the box is torn open so next time this won't be a problem. Somehow, I have to get over all of this, but it will be a hard thing to do.
Life is going good for me most of the time, though. We went to the Houston rodeo last Thursday night and all the walking made me so sore that I was limping when we got back to the car. This still drives me nuts not being where I want to be, but I will have to make adjustments and move on. Life is great because so many people still love me so much and care about me. This always means so much to me.
I went in a couple of days ago and re-read my blog notes from early after my accident and this still scares me still. I realize that I am so lucky to still be around for every one to love on. The notes did not sound as if I would still be around but thanks to all the family and friends pulling for me, I am still here. The love and support came from so many different people and directions. Everyone worked with God to bring me back to life! Thank you so much for caring and reading about all of this for me. And one more thought, yes, Janet, I am your younger cousin, but am VERY PROUD of that. It is one thing about being the youngest in my generation of the Bradley family. So many there have stayed in touch and it always means so much every time I get an e-mail, card or even just a thought. I love you all and will be there in June to bother EVERY ONE of you!
Passed on with great love and thoughts to you all.
Mark 3/9/08
I had a message from Janet in my last entry. She is one of my older cousins that shows me how important my life is to so many. It always means the world to see her write me some words of encouragement. She made a comment about our minds and how taking some time off of work effects it. She is so right on this one. My mind is not the same as it was before and I HOPE it will be someday. Betty tells me quite regularly how my mind is not all there, yet. So many things used to be easy for me to remember, but now they are not. Names and numbers seem to be the worst of this. I was never real good at names, but once I learned it, I was OK. And numbers? Tell me your phone number and I would usually remember it. That is not so true anymore. I have to really push myself to come up with phone numbers that I call a lot. If this number has been with me for a few years, I am OK for the most part. I have numbers at work that I call a lot and can't seem to remember them, yet. And, if that were not enough, I have a hard time remembering someone's name to look it up. One thing about me that has not changed much is may attitude towards people. I always wanted to be one of those people that was easy to get along with and enjoyable to be around. For the most part, that is still there, unless something sets me off. This happens a lot more now than before. Sometimes, it is the simple things that will do it to me. Like putting something in the dishwasher. If this item won't fit it easily, the trouble begins. Or, like getting a trash bag out of the box. If I can not grab it in a couple of tries, the box is torn open so next time this won't be a problem. Somehow, I have to get over all of this, but it will be a hard thing to do.
Life is going good for me most of the time, though. We went to the Houston rodeo last Thursday night and all the walking made me so sore that I was limping when we got back to the car. This still drives me nuts not being where I want to be, but I will have to make adjustments and move on. Life is great because so many people still love me so much and care about me. This always means so much to me.
I went in a couple of days ago and re-read my blog notes from early after my accident and this still scares me still. I realize that I am so lucky to still be around for every one to love on. The notes did not sound as if I would still be around but thanks to all the family and friends pulling for me, I am still here. The love and support came from so many different people and directions. Everyone worked with God to bring me back to life! Thank you so much for caring and reading about all of this for me. And one more thought, yes, Janet, I am your younger cousin, but am VERY PROUD of that. It is one thing about being the youngest in my generation of the Bradley family. So many there have stayed in touch and it always means so much every time I get an e-mail, card or even just a thought. I love you all and will be there in June to bother EVERY ONE of you!
Passed on with great love and thoughts to you all.
Mark 3/9/08
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
March 4 and still going forward
Well, another month is upon us and the weather can't decide if it wants to be warm or cold. Sunday was short sleeve weather and today a coat was needed. Welcome another winter month in Houston!
I went to physical therapy yesterday and could sure feel it today. This tells me that I am moving forward but not as fast as I want to. I work out harder and harder every time I go. Some of these exercises sting muscles when I work out so I know I am going in the right direction. My pain seems to be getting better but my pelvic area still hurts every day. I still have problems lifting things that are heavy but this will work out well in the long run. Betty went to San Marcos on Sunday and Monday and brought have a truck bed full of stuff. Unloading it all was a work out but, with Tiff's help, it all went to the garage.
I broke down the pool on Saturday and Sunday. I moved it into the back yard in small pieces and will work on getting rid of it, too. Many of the poles are long and will be hard to get rid of, but with time, it will all be gone. It was not used much this past summer because of my accident and not used much the summer before. It was nice to have once in a while, but lately was not worth the effort put into keeping it right.
Work is going OK. Some days are better than others but as long as I am learning more about what needs to be done, the better it is. I had to carry a 2" valve today and had to struggle with it with every step. I used to be able to carry these much easier but this will come back over time. I deal with so many different people every day. Many people recognize my voice over the phone, but I still tell them who it is, just in case. It is a nice feeling to have so many people that depend on me to do my job right and many others that help me find the items I need. It is a great feeling to have this type of relationships with people. Many of the people I work with hate my job but I don't. Several others are just glad I am back to take care of certain responsibilities.
I am here and moving along with great thanks to God and the special way he treated me. I know I will still be working in the right direction for a while, but with His help and your support, all will work out for me.
I love you all so much. Stay in touch with me and talk to God when you need his help or support.
Mark
I went to physical therapy yesterday and could sure feel it today. This tells me that I am moving forward but not as fast as I want to. I work out harder and harder every time I go. Some of these exercises sting muscles when I work out so I know I am going in the right direction. My pain seems to be getting better but my pelvic area still hurts every day. I still have problems lifting things that are heavy but this will work out well in the long run. Betty went to San Marcos on Sunday and Monday and brought have a truck bed full of stuff. Unloading it all was a work out but, with Tiff's help, it all went to the garage.
I broke down the pool on Saturday and Sunday. I moved it into the back yard in small pieces and will work on getting rid of it, too. Many of the poles are long and will be hard to get rid of, but with time, it will all be gone. It was not used much this past summer because of my accident and not used much the summer before. It was nice to have once in a while, but lately was not worth the effort put into keeping it right.
Work is going OK. Some days are better than others but as long as I am learning more about what needs to be done, the better it is. I had to carry a 2" valve today and had to struggle with it with every step. I used to be able to carry these much easier but this will come back over time. I deal with so many different people every day. Many people recognize my voice over the phone, but I still tell them who it is, just in case. It is a nice feeling to have so many people that depend on me to do my job right and many others that help me find the items I need. It is a great feeling to have this type of relationships with people. Many of the people I work with hate my job but I don't. Several others are just glad I am back to take care of certain responsibilities.
I am here and moving along with great thanks to God and the special way he treated me. I know I will still be working in the right direction for a while, but with His help and your support, all will work out for me.
I love you all so much. Stay in touch with me and talk to God when you need his help or support.
Mark
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