August 2011

Well, I cannot believe how fast the Summer has gone by. We have been battling through rain, hail, wind, you name it.....and very few days in a row of sunshine and clear skies. I think everyone is experiencing a Summer of inclement weather so I know we are not alone.

All is well with Gord. We have been continuing on with therapies and his speech is still improving on a daily basis. It is very encouraging. Physically, the right arm is not showing any signs of voluntary movement. It is all unvoluntary but the arm still looks normal. We went to a clinic at the Foothills so assess the arm and leg and consider Botox injections. A decision will be made on our next visit sometime in September. Walking is good and Gord continues to walk the back street doing almost a mile a day. He is very motivated to keep moving which is a blessing as it keeps his circulation going etc.

I have once again been remiss in keeping up with the blog and I wasn't even sure if I could get on it again. Obviously, I was successful.

Update on grandchildren......

We are up to number NINE with the impending arrival of a daughter to Colby and Laurie Bell in mid December 2011. You will remember Laurie if you read the first blogs. Laurie was the amazing author of those writings. Talented lady!!!

Well, that's all for now. Not sure who is actually following us anymore, but I will update now and again when new information pops up.

Lots of love to all....

Sheila and Gord

Update coming soon

Sorry sorry....I know you are waiting for an update. I am preparing one soon and just want you to know everything is good. We arrived back home around May 21st or so and have been working like crazy to get the place in shape for the Summer. The weather has not helped...in fact as I write this I may lose my connection due to lightning hitting a pole or something. The sky is black and the wind is a blowing and there are whitecaps on the lake....yikes.

Take care...

Love

Sheila & Gord

January 5, 2011 A GREAT day!

2 years ago today our boy fell and 2 years later he is a miracle. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support through this experience. We both appreciate it very much and I really cannot find enough words to express all I feel. Last night Bette Midler was on TV and she sang the song "You are the wind beneath my wings" and I had a real emotional rush. That describes all of you who are in our lives.
Today we are going to lunch with Su and Ken in Lahaina. Ken was with Gord when he had his stroke and was instrumental in getting help while Su and I frantically drove back from halfway to Makawao. We talked about it last night and Gord had lots of questions. He had Ken walk him through the events as they unfolded. Soon I will get a printout of the blog so that Gord can see for himself the past 2 years of his life.
I am going to get some pictures today and will post soon.
Happy New Year everyone.....
Much love and gratitude from Gord and Sheila

A day in the life of Gord - December 2010

Mele Kalikimaka

Christmas 2010.....Mele Kalikimaka to all our friends. We wish you all a wonderful happy and healthy season of joy!

All is well in Maui in spite of the constant reports of rain. So far each day it has been predicted, we have enjoyed pure sunshine. Must be the Kihei effect being between two mountains. The wind blows the clouds up both sides and we stay clear.

We have started back on the acupuncture, massage routine and are looking at a gym down the road to perhaps get into a muscle strengthening program. Gord may also get into driving the golf carts for friends which will boost his happiness level significantly I think!

We have both been out outrigger paddling with the Maui Canoe Club the past two Fridays. On the first trip we encountered whales very close to the canoe and yesterday we did not even see a blow!

All in all, we are happy and comfortably busy. We will have grandchildren visiting in Jan, Feb and March and are very excited to see them all.

I am sending a shot of a sunset the other evening.....

Once again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love

Sheila and Gord

December 2010

We made the trip successfully and after 9 days of getting acclimatized I think we are ready to roll. These pictures show how much fun we are having already. When Gord sits down for sunset, it is wonderful how everyone pulls up a chair and joins in. This is what it's all about!

The picture looking down from our perch is what we wake up to every morning now that the Maui Canoe Club live right next to us. Awesome!!!

I am watching for the whales so that I can get a picture. Apparently a couple were spotted close to shore this morning....so the season has begun.

Gord is doing so well. He is motivated to get his speech and comprehension better so he is actually sitting down and doing 10 or 12 pages a day of lessons. He is also working with a leg stretcher brace so we will see if that will improve his walking over time. All in all, with upcoming massages and acupuncture, I am excited to see improvements. Of course, the weather really helps - that goes without saying.

If I don't get back on the blog before Christmas, we want to wish one and all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Lots of love

Sheila and Gord

November update

Well it's true...a picture is worth a thousand words. Nov 16th and the first major snowfall has arrived. I shovelled this morning for a while and then gave up. 4 inches of the white stuff is too much for me. Gord will now be doing his exercise route around the house and I will be doing my "indoor" stuff like cleaning and packing.

It is getting close and we are getting excited. Actually the excitement is twofold as we are anticipating the arrival of Grandchild #8 any day AND preparing for our trip to Maui.

Our treatments end here in Sylvan Lake but we will start up again in Maui and by the time we get back to Canada in the Spring Gord will have improved exponentially I am certain.

Have a wonderful season to all those folks we will not see in Maui.

Lots of love

Gord and Sheila