Hi Tomi,

Thank you for the great advice. I never even thought about sitting down to get the clothes out or to get into the cabinets! What a great idea!

I have to go do the laundry on another floor to do my clothes, but they have chairs in there. I could scoot one over and sit down and try to reach into the dryer.

The pick up thingie is a good idea, too. I think my neice has one, but I don't know if she'd let me use it. I can ask.

What floor cleaner do you use? Do you just pour it on the floor and then spread it? I'll try to use the bathtub spray to keep the shower and tub clean. That will help.

The manager won't take my rug up. The only way I could change anything would be if I payed for it all myself. I wish I could have a lineolum floor. It would be much nicer than what I have and much easier to clean.

The Dr says I'll have to wear the brace forever, but I'm going to go talk to my surgeon and see if he can "tack" things back in place. The brace hurts my shoulders, back, sides and chest. I am having trouble keeping one of the straps snapped. Mom gave me a wide ace like thing that she used when she had broken ribs. Maybe I can use that, too and maybe it will hold things in better. You know the hard plastic "Y" looking thing that bass drummers wear to carry their drums? That's exactly what my brace looks like. The long part of the "Y" goes right down my sternum and the prongs go over my shoulders. They had to put a foam block in the sternum part to help keep the pressure on the right spot so the brace sticks out about four or five inches there and of course it sticks out over my shoulders. Don't misunderstand, I have friends who have cp and this is so minor compared to what they've had to wear... I am humbled by them and other people who have it much, much worse than I do. It does hurt though.

I have had to tell Friend Cher that I can't take her places anymore. I can't lift her wheelchair into my car anymore. We tried day before yesterday and I just can't do it anymore. I hate it. I feel like I'm letting her down even though the rational part of me says I'm not. She says she is not having some care giver come and help her and I just can't do it. I can't even go buy her groceries for her and bring them in... She's eligible for immediate help, but I don't know if she'll do it. We have such a good time. I will miss our outings so much.

Thanks Tomi. I appreciate everything.

Love and hugs,

Jan