You just can't imagine how much liquid is in one of the huge mugs they give you in the hospital - until you see it all over everything and the floor.

Well sounds like today was a challenge, but tomorrow will be much better! We all should lift weights--been trying to start for months--maybe tomorrow will be better for me too!

At least Rick wasn't hurt. You are such a srong and caring person Shirlene. I know some don't like to hear it but I'm a firm believer that the Good Lord will never give you more than you can handle at a time. But each time the hurdle gets higher and higher. Hugs..Carol

I know how you feel. When my dad use to fall, I really had a hard getting him without help. I am so glad that he did not get hurt and you did not hurt yourself. Still keeping you and Rick in my prayers. DeVon

Hope tomorrow will be a better day for Rick and you. Think he feeled ashamed with that smell of ice tea around him but wanna keep his dignity and selfrespect. Sometimes it is hard to accept the help even from a loving hand...
Greetings and a big hug for you
Bettina

Such a bad feeling to feel helpless. When my mom started falling and getting hurt we went into baby mode and moved stuff around and wrapped legs of furniture in bubble wrap, found some styrofoam corners in a package and used swimming pool noodles cut down the center to cushion furniture and sharp corners. She would hit the bubble wrap and it would startle her but no more bloody toes. It is nice how hard he is trying to do things for himself you just have to keep that extra ear alert and let him keep trying. Hugs and prayers to you both. You made it through another incident.

Dear Shirlene and Rick, so glad all is now o.k. You poor thing I hope your back is not suffering too much. It's hard as we get older all our muscles seem to clam up. Are you wearing armguards Shirlene as I see you say your wrists and hands are bad? At least Rick is being independant and trying so hard to accomplish things on his own. Good for him. You are always in my prayers. God bless you both love Chris

oh dear this is not funny :(:( have you got a neibour that can help or a son or daughter that can be there in a few minutes lol (mine are hours away) Yep you better give Rick a big hug and maybe laugh if you can hugs for both CAROLYN

How on earth did you manage to maintain decorum with Rick sloshing around like a beached whale in sweet tea?

They say that life begins at 40 but the funny bits don't begin until a tad later than that!!!
I'm so glad that this episode ended up the way it did.
You and Rick can have a good laugh about it when the newness wears off and get on with tomorrow.

Have you been game to call him Sweetie yet????
AlmaG.

Shirlene, I'm sorry Rick has so much to deal with and of course I know you do also. I can't imagine how upset he gets when he can't do the things he has done all of his life before is stroke. I will continue to pray for you both.
Hugs, Judy

Shirlene and Rick, glad to hear that everything turn out okay. Please take care. Thinking of you both. Hugs Lynn

sending love an light to surround you both.........soozie

I agree, Shirlene; walk away and come back in a bit. Rick needs to keep some muscles of his own working, so getting up by himself, even if it takes longer, is better than someone always helping him. We all have to be able to laugh at life, because none of it is in our control, and it sends us some tough tests at times! I have found that laughter is just a good a stress reliever, as crying, and it lightens your heart and mood at the moment even more!!
Take care of your health, Shirlene. As women, we have a way of "trying to do it all", and that takes a toll on our strength and stamina! May God bless you and Rick with good days, and a sense of humor for things that try to ruin them!
Hugs!!
Angel

Shirlene, I am very happy you both are doing fine. God bless you.

He must really like your sweet tea. I'm just glad you are both ok. Take care
Bev

Shirlene good to hear from you and Rick again.

Thank god he did not get hurt Take care Maria

Doesn't life throw you some punches now and then! Just glad you both are ok.

Oh Shirlene, just hope tomorrow is a better day for the pair of you

I am glad he was not hurt. It is really scary when things like this happen. I hope tomorrow is a better day for both of you. Hugs, Mary

Honestly Shirlene. Will it ever stop? I m just glad it wasn't too serious but you guys could really use a brake. I keep on praying that the tide will turn for you. hugs Angie

I'm sorry you have these things to deal with. But now you can call Rick "Sweet Thing" & it'd be true for sure!! Praying for you as you all face each day.

What a guy will go through for some good ole ice tea!

I've had you on my mind, I've been wanting to contact you to check up on you. I know all of this must be so frustrating sometimes, but you both are prayed for every single day!

I send you a hug!

well it sure was a way to start your day. Thank God he's okay afterall. Perhaps next time he has to try to drink the tea first before start moving around.
But oh dear, hope your wrists and back doesn't hurt that much anymore. and a big hug for the both of you.

Well now I am just starting to think that Rick is a clutz, I bump into walls and fall down as much as he does, hehe. Seriously though, I am glad that he didn't get hurt and hope he isn't sore today. You poor thing, it must frustrate you to tears when you can't help him up. My hubby is over 260 pounds and I sometimes have to grab his hand and help him from a chair but I could never get him off the floor. He has lost 10 pounds so far though on Jenny Craig but it is slow because he cheats too much! Diabetic and eats ice cream and candy and donuts all the time and even sneaks so I won't know!

OH dear Shirlene, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I read your post.

I have to tell you though, it happens to all of us sooner or later.

A couple of years ago I took MIL shopping and we were walking through an outdoor eating mall when she somehow managed to fall over, taking me with her. For the life of me I could not get her up off the ground and it was only thanks to a very tall, very robust, lady coming to our aid or she would have been there until I called paramedics. I was so distraught realising how useless I was in that situation.

But it's all in how you look at things.

You know my Dad was crippled from Polio, well he had no use of his legs whatsoever unless he put on his iron legs (as he called them) which he hated doing because they hurt him so much. Anyway, most of the time he would slide himself onto this timber box that had wheels on it, (his "CHARIOT") and he'd sort of work his way through the house pulling himself along the walls with his hands.
Every now and then something would go wrong and he'd end up on his bum, on the floor. It used to take Mum, my sister and myself in a major team effort and sheer determination to get him up off the floor by all of us getting a hold of his pants belt. We all used to laugh ourselves silly while we were struggling to lift him, but now I think back I can appreciate how frustrating it must have been for him but I never heard him, ever complain about his affliction until the day he died.
After Mumsy passed away I inherited Dad's Chariot, you can just see it in the bottom right of the photo's below, Dad also used it to put his wasted, useless legs on. He also had restricted use of his left arm and you can see the difference in the size of his arms in the bottom pic.
I called him Buddha and if he had his singlet off you'd see why.

I hope you don't mind me sharing these photo's here with you, but your story brought back so many memories of Dad having falls. I don't know how we ever managed to lift him, thankfully Mumsy was a pretty strong and determined lady.

I hope you will share this with Rick and keep your spirits up.
Hugs and love, Meg

Glad that Rick is doing well and wasn't hurt. It is so hard to be in that position, to feel helpless when someone you love needs help. I can remember my hubby's service animal alerting me that hubby needed help. He was down on the floor in full grand mall seizure just 1/2 hr after receiving a flu shot. He is a big man and I have degenerative disc disease and weigh 130 lbs. Being on the phone with 911 and them telling me that I had to roll him onto his side had me in a panic. I really don't know where I got the strength to move him as he weighs 280 but I did it. I really think he had an angel helping him out that day. Just a scary situation that ended well.

Hey, Shirlene, just a random thought--I know money is tight and don't know about insurance, but when you mentioned "going to the gym" it sparked this idea. Could you get a Y membership for reduced price because he (and you) is disabled, and go together? Water aerobics or some kind of water exercise would help build up his strength without any fear of falling, and it might be something you can both do together, even if it isn't an organized class. He might also meet others who are in the same boat, and learn from them how better to cope with the results of this stroke. It's always easier to listen to someone who's been there, who really knows what is and is not possible. As wives, of course, we don't know anything, hee hee hee. Anyway, just a though. Love, Marji

Oh My - what a mess. It brings to mind a story my daddy told me about my mother. As most know, she had Alzheimer's and would try to get out of bed. I purchased one of those child gates for the bed so she would not get out. Well he caught her slipping over the end of the 4 poster bed trying to get up (now, she could not walk, but she did not remember that) He caught her, and when he did, they both fell to the floor. She looked at him and started to laugh, and of course he got to laughing too. How he got her back up was another issue, but they survied and he got a chuckle out of it telling all of us about it. Bless your heart - Chin up, you two will make it. Hugs

Sorry Shirlene...how awful for you both!! Happy to know Rick did not break any bones. Tell him after this if he wants to go skating to wait for ice in the winter...instead of cheating buy doing the ice tea skating in the summer. Just alittle light thought...as I know how serious this all is. God bless. H&*

Shirlene, I am very happy you both are doing fine.
God protect them! hugs

So glad he wasn't hurt! As for you it's frustrating and exhausting to try to do things when everything hurts. You don't want to get hurt. You have enough going on yourself. Please take care. As for the pool idea mentioned, I'm sure a floatation device would help him to some extent. Wish there was something in your area. Hugs

Shirlene, I am so sorry to read the latest on Rick. Thank goodness he was not hurt. Take care of each other. Hugs Sarah.

Dear Shirlene, thank you for your update.
Even if it is difficult, it is well tha tRick can do things by himself. Well that he has not hurt.But it is important for him to try, and often, he succeed.
I know that it is difficult for you to take care of both. Look that he has done many progress., and have always faith.
Love
Claude

that is almost a funny story, but I know it is not.. hugs to both of you.. if I lived closer I would love to go to the gym with you.. kathy