Finally we're on city sewer

On May 12 the plumbers came and dug trenches in the front yard for the sewer line and also to replace our water line which had been leaking.  They worked about an hour and a half then quit and didn't get back again until Tuesday the 17th.  Bill wanted so bad to be able to get out and supervise them.  It really didn't take too long when they got down to it.  The city began in August 2009 to put a sewer system throughout our subdivision which we have had to pay for.  We were glad to have it done but it has been painful the manner in which it was done.  The project was finished in July 2010 but we could not hook up until April 2011 because of bureaucratic procedure.  The week after the hookup to the sewer was completed, our septic tank was decommissioned--which means they crushed it and filled it in so we could not use it any more.  Because of our increased use of water after Bill's accident, I worried a lot about the septic tank so this is a positive event for the long run.  

SEWER LINE:

WATER LINE:

FRONT VIEW:

DURING

AFTER

Catching up with April and May 2011

I've not been too good at keeping up with things since I got back home.  I will try to catch up some on what has happened in April and May.  As you may know we were anxiously awaiting the birth of our grandson in April.  Below is a picture of Rory with Xena the last time they were in Franklin before the baby was born.  As you can see they are good buddies.  On April 28, Kendra and Rory made an unscheduled trip to Franklin after tornadoes hit the Madison-Athens area leaving most of North Alabama without power for a week or more.  They decided to travel to Franklin for the comfort of air conditioning and refrigeration despite the fact that Kendra's due date was only 5 days away.  By Sunday, May 3, 2 days from due date, however, she was getting a little nervous about delivering away from home so Josh drove up and they all went back together.  Adam provided them with a generator so they could hook up some of the essential things they needed and wouldn't you know the power came on late that night.  Better prepared for the worst than not.  

May 5: With no baby arriving on the due date, Kendra was induced and Archer Hayden joined his family and the world weighing in at 8 lbs, 15 oz..  Kendra had a relatively easy delivery considering Archer's size and was happy to have it all over with.  

May 8th was Mother's Day and Tami, Tony & Connor sent flowers.  Bill, Adam & I drove to Madison, AL to celebrate the day with Kendra, Josh & Rory and of course Archer.  A special day for a new Mom.

We arrived before lunch so we could fix the meal for them.  

And of course we enjoyed meeting Archer for the first time.  Kendra went home from the hospital on Saturday and we saw him on Sunday.  This picture reminded me of Kendra when she was a baby because this was what she did most of the time for about the first year.    

Lest you think it's his normal personality though, this is how he was most of the time.  I still can't decide who he looks like.  

It appears he overheard something we said about him and didn't like it.   But he appears to have the response on the end of his tongue.

Bill had a chance to hold Archer too and enjoyed being with his new grandson.  He was very careful that we propped Archer up on a pillow so he didn't have to worry about dropping him.  His hands have improved a lot but he still can't grasp objects.

On Friday, May 13,  we again travelled to Kendra's to celebrate her 30th birthday.  Tami and Connor went with us this time.  

Although that may look like humongous ants or possibly cicadas crawling across her birthday cake, it's actually large sugared blackberries.  

Josh and Rory posed in between lunch and cake.

And of course here are the 2 cousins in a very sweet pose.  

All things must come to an end so here we are buckled up and ready to head out for home.  Connor and Papa keep each other company in the back seat.  

A shower for Kendra & Easter in Franklin

Well,  Tami, Connor, Bill and I travelled to Madison, AL on Sunday April 17 for a baby shower that Kendra's church was throwing for her.  It was very nice and Kendra got a lot of nice things but someone goofed.  Her baby boy will look really cute in that dress!

Kendra and Tami in discussion

Kendra and Rory are so ready for little brother.

On Easter Sunday, April 24, Adam, Tami, Connor, Tony and Florrie Ann Lawton (a friend from Tami's church) came over to the house for Easter dinner.  We had a good meal and afterward Tami laid out eggs for an egg hunt for Connor.  He was strutting his Easter stuff as he went out for us to take pictures.

The Harris Family--Easter 2011

The weather was beautiful so we got some good family pictures.  Of course someone has take them so I'm not in it.

Connor had a great time running around searching for the plastic eggs and had to stop and check them all out, especially what was inside them.  After gathering about 15, he asked if that was all.  He was a lot more interested in the finding of the eggs this year.

He shared his stickers with Uncle Adam

And also with Ms Florrie Ann.  He is a good little sharer.

After everyone left we had some quiet time in the backyard just enjoying the weather.  Bill enjoys sitting outside in the sunshine.  

Even Xena took a break and rested.  Actually she was just waiting until a squirrel or rabbit got careless so she could go after them.

Bill's sisters, Quynh & Josephine visit 4/7-4/14/11

From the 7th to the 14th, we had the pleasure of having Bill's 2 sisters visit. We had a good time reminiscing, walking, eating, walking, visiting Kendra, walking. Did I mention that a lot of walking took place. Several mornings Quynh walked down to the Publix grocery and bought something for breakfast--that's 2 miles one way! The two of them did some heavy walking in the neighborhood.

Josephine was enamored with the trees in bloom and took lots of pictures of trees on her walks.

Tami and I watched as Quynh cooked. Needless to say we ate good while she was here

Adam as usual could always find something to fix.

The weather was good the whole time Jo and Quynh were here and we tried to take advantage of it as you see here.

All we needed was a picnic lunch. Tony drew the short straw and had to take the picture, ha. Usually I'm the one absent from the pictures. Connor likes to sit by "PAPA" and he's a great help if Bill needs someone to push the wheelchair.

Xena opted to be in the picture with Bill and sisters. And no Adam is not holding her down.

The Kien Family minus brother Philip (in Paris): Quynh, Josephine and Bill

What a rare treat, I get to be in 2 pictures!

Quynh spoiled Bill by pushing him in his wheelchair on our walk-- I make him do it himself. Big sister has to take care of her younger brother and she did a good job.

We took the sisters to Madison, AL to see Kendra and Rory one day and had lunch with them at their house. You might notice that Kendra is pregnant (very!). She is due May 3 which happens to be Rory's birthday.

Since it was so warm we went out to the backyard and played with Rory, or at least Quynh did.

Rory loved all the extra attention.

Bill misses all the attention too. He got lots of massages from Big Sister and therapy advice from Little Sister. We enjoyed their visit and hope they will visit again.

Home Again!!!

After 4 months in Atlanta at the Shepherd Center, we finally headed back home on February 18th!  There is no way to say how it feels but this picture comes close.  This was taken in the car on the way back to Franklin.  You can tell we had to drag him kicking and screaming from Shepherd.

Our experience at Shepherd was wonderful. It's a great place to be in recovery and rehab. The facilities are designed for its expertise. Not only is the building meant to be cheerful but also the staff. The building on the left is the hospital portion and on the right is the Woodruff Residence Center providing apartments for family staying with patients and for patients and caregivers in the Day Program.

While at Shepherd, we took advantage of the garden area whenever it was not too chilly outside for Bill. It was one of our favorite places. This was taken 2/6/11. As long as he was in the sun and there was no wind, he enjoyed it.

The day before we were to leave we went one last time into the garden. Even on Feb 17, you could see the beginning signs of spring and it was warm...

Bill had 2 graduations. The 1st was from the Hospital Therapy Program on 1/12, the day before we moved from the hospital to the Residence Center to begin the Day program. Pictured are some of his nurses and therapists. Surrounding Bill left to right: Serena (PCT), Erin (OT), Melanie (nurse), Me, Beth (charge nurse), Chris (TR), and Drew (PT). Are they smiling because they're finally getting rid of him? Be sure and ask Bill about his Shepherd Grad t-shirt

Then there was the 2nd graduation on 2/18 from the Day Program. Pictured left to right around Bill: Dan (PT), Darcy (OT), Rachel (nurse), and Amanda (PT). There was, of course, the traditional presenting of the Shepherd Grad t-shirt but this time it was given to Claudia for all her hard work! Almost immediately after this we were on the road heading home.

Do these dogs look like they're glad to see us? Actually they were but I think we wore them out.They were a little leary of Bill's wheelchair. Pepper has been sharing Xena's bed since Shadow has been gone.

Everyone gathered when we got home and it felt so good to be in our own surroundings. The house was in good shape thanks to the kids' keeping everything up.

Here Tami &; Tony are hard at work finishing up on the bathroom that Adam and Tony remodeled for Bill. It turned out pretty good. The three of them have worked really hard. It was very small and they increased the size for wheelchair access plus making a larger accessible shower area.

We are so glad to be home but look forward to a trip back to Atlanta probably in the Fall for more therapy. Meantime we are busy with doctors' appointments, acupuncture, and physical and occupational therapy.