Where we are now

It is May already, sunny and cold, in the afternoon maybe passing for spring, but genuinely Fall. We accomplished a happy birthday for Emily, complete with sleepover party, which Manford and I left to the happy ministrations of Laura, the 26-year-old ex-DJ housekeeper who has been saving my life weekly the last few months. It seems [that a good time was had by all (possible exception of Laura) and Manford and I had '[some sleep in Cambridge, the next nice little town down the road. Joseph also vacated the premises to a friend's house. Then we had Emily's real birthday on Monday, and Manford and I were able to go to the mall (thanks to the wheelchair) and he picked out a gold locket with a four leaf clover that she loved, as well as all the American treasures brought by Joan and Ross, Manford's sister and nephew who were here visiting for a week in April. I will post pictures from all of that--it was a good visit, especially when we all (all the grown-ups) went to Rotorua for a mineral soak and massage. It was very sad to see them go, though.

Manford has been struggling with all sorts of frustrating symptoms that make it difficult to be happy and believe in the good MRI results. He continues to have postural hypotension, though we have now discontinued lots of meds, including two of his Parkinson's meds. He is also really tired and weak much of the time, and wakes up in the middle of the night with nausea. He has terribly dry skin andThey did some blood work last week, and he had very high blood sugar (it is measured on some different scale here, so I won't bother to say how high), so we did a glucose tolerance test yesterday and are awaiting the results; he may have steroid-induced diabetes. If this can be treated, I suppose it might be good news because he might feel better. He is in the hospice inpatient centre right now, trying to figure out some of this and let me get some sleep. It is very nice there, much nicer than the hospital--a private room with TV and sliding door to a little garden. But I'd better go now, as he will be waiting for me. I will post pictures later.
Carrie