Dear Hubby has secondary progressive MS so we have regularly scheduled appointments with his neurologist, pain management, physical therapy, and our family doctor.  Then we have his elderly mother’s many appointments we have to schedule around his.  This coming week we have three appointments. 

      His mother has one on Thursday because her doctor changed it.  We normally have a rule about appointments; they are never scheduled on a Thursday if we can help it.  Thursdays are when I have my twice a month critiquing group meeting.  On the alternate Thursdays, I go grocery shopping and to the farmer’s market.  Other times I shop at the pet store for the dogs and Koi, and I drop in to visit a few friends if I have time.  In other words, it’s my day.

      I didn’t go to my critiquing group this week even though it was scheduled.  I didn’t mind not going I had a good reason to stay home.  DH took a nasty tumble into the arm of the couch a few days before and managed to break a rib.  (His MS causes him to fall a lot since he has very little feeling in his feet and a lack of muscle memory.  Usually he manages to fall without even a little bruise because he’s learned to fall.)  He was not thrilled to have me stay home and hover, he wants me to have some ‘me’ time.  He knows I need it, but I know that there are periods where he needs me more. 

      Until early this summer, we hadn’t realized how much he depends on me.  Then I fell and sprained, not one ankle, but both of them.  Yes, BOTH of them and our two Bull Terriers were not involved in the incident.  (Anyone who owns Bull Terriers would think they were but that’s another post.)  The dogs are innocent of this mishap.  However, I do think I need to speak to a contractor about fixing the uneven sidewalk in the back yard.

      I was supposed to stay off my feet, oh yeah that works.  Crutches are fine if you have only one ankle sprained, they don’t work for two ankles.  You have to come down on one or both feet with each swing.  Hobbling around with a cane worked best for me and gave DH many a laugh.

      DH is a jewel among men.  He did his best but he hasn’t the strength or energy to take care of the dogs, the gardens, the pond, or cook meals.  We ate a lot of take-out/delivered food for a few weeks.  If I ever see another bucket O’ chicken, I may sprout wings and cluck, and it was a few months until I wanted pizza or Chinese food again.  The dogs took advantage because they knew I couldn’t chase them down.  The weeds got ahead of me and the pond filters needed a cleaning, but I didn’t care because he tried his best and that’s all anyone could ask of the love of their life.