Day 13

Today my hair lost its brown sheen. Dyed it blue black.

And I got a 64gb touch.

Went shopping with the units.

Went back to the hospical.

Home.

Sleep.

Day 11/12

Yesterday is now a blur. I don't think I did very much. I know I went to see him at for a few hours as the hospital. I had hospital food! Haha! It wasn't all that bad. I quite enjoyed it. Also got to see him do a bit of proper physio and that was really good. It looks like he is regaining his control of some motor skills. It's looking good. He came home today as well, which was a pity, because I had planned to go out the whole day. Tomorrow, he's coming back as well, but maybe no Avatar, according to her, because he needs to do some work as well. But at least I'll be able to spend more time with him tomorrow. =)

We also set up our new Samsung LED TV last night. IT LOOKS AMAZING.

Today was a busy day. I went to Marina's graduation with Josh, which was really cool to see everyone in gowns and stuff. I found the colors of the silk things really interesting.

Then I went to David's birthday/graduation thing, which was really enjoyable. Mafia was fun. =) Food was good. Company was good. =D

After, I got a lift from Ben to Fiona's birthday. That was good fun too, apart from some people constantly asking what I ENTER I got. >_<" We played spoons and singstar, generally. Thanks Fitty fitty bang bang. Hope you liked the necklace. =) and that it wasn't too awkward when I put it on you... =_="

T'was a good night, I must say.

Anyways, I really need to catch up on MORE sleep. So farewell and good night to you all. Merry Christmas! =)

Day 10

TEE HEE. Today was Avatar.

That was probably the major highlight.

It started with me waking to Chris's music/singing, then going back to sleep to wake up at the comfortable time of 10:30. I Skyped with one of the love(s) of my lives. AND CONGRATS ON GETTING INTO FREAKING NYU, BIATCH. ILY <3

Then took my Hazards test, which I passed comfortably. On the way to the Burwood testing centre I got into an argument with her, because before we left the home we couldn't find the registration number, so she was basically saying that I should be more independent. That got me into a pretty shitty mood. I retaliated by suggesting that maybe I should go to Sydney, which I am actually still considering, because it seems all that I'm doing here in Melbourne is giving him and her stress. He definitely doesn't need that, but I feel all this sudden pressure to do a course that he approves of. I didn't even know he had that much of a say in what I do until mid this year. Before that, I was under the impression that I had free reign to study whatever the heck I want. And now that he is in hospital, he can receive professional care including physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and all his TCM stuff too. He doesn't need me as much to drive him around or help him with therapy. I still massage him when I see him, but apart from that my role as a caregiver has somewhat diminished.

I went home, quick lunch, didn't have time to pop by to see him in hospital before I went out and I feel kinda bad about that.

Avatar was AWESOME. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I would seriously watched maybe another 2 times and buy the DVD. Absolutely epic. LOVED. IT. Nathan and I got jibbed though... we didn't get a 3D glasses case! I WANT A REFUND. SO I CAN WATCH IT AGAIN. =D

Post-movie, I went straight to the hospital to see him. It was kind of crappy though, because he almost immediately brought up my course selections. I really have no idea what to do at university anymore. No idea. I have three days to decide. OH. MY. FREAKING. GOSH. Whatever.

I went straight to work after, and I just got home from work. Wasn't a bad day at work, apart from the fact that my boss sorta raged at me for not wanting to stay til 2 in the morning.

Today had a good balance of awesome and shittiness.

BTW. I'm thinking of getting an iPod Touch. Anyone want one? Because I can get it for around 205 this weekend. Anyone want?

Day 9

Today was okay/good.

Morning was just bumming, then Jessie came over and we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Later, I went to collect the TV we bought and then I went with her to see him in hospital. He complained about being in a shared room, because he can't sleep. He says the physio is pretty good and that the food isn't bad either. Haha.

After I went to work. I'm working on boxing day!! DOUBLE PAY. FROM 6-10. AWESOME. I can shop in the morning/arvo. YAY.

Today was also long, but okay/good.

Day 8

Today was TIRING.

Because I worked last night and I had a doctors appointment this morning, so I was DEAD tired today. After doctors, we came home so that I could get some "rest", but instead I watched some movies. My Sassy Girl, the English version.

Bummed a bit, then brought him to the rehab hospital, where he got admitted. It seems like a really good hospital, but he was complaining that he didn't get a private room. I'll go see him often.

I went home and ate an early dinner then took a 20 minute nap, a rushed shower and then went to work for 5 hours.

Now I'm home. Not so tired, but I'll go to bed soon.

Day 6/Day 7

Yesterday was fun. Had dinner with the LinC year 12s and leaders at Chinabar Signature. It was good. Enjoyed it a lot. I was way too tired to blog last night...

Today, I'm also way too tired to blog and I'm paining, but I'll blog anyways. Today was a normal day, save the VCE results. I went to school with Nathan to pick up art crap. Then went to acupuncture for him, her and myself. Then went to Box Hill to buy some comfort stuff for a friend, whose house I crashed afterwards in attempt to cheer him up. I hope I did. Or at least the Korean take-out, ice cream, gummies and Friends did... Haha. I also brought fudge brownie mix, but we didn't get around to making it, because I had to go to his neuro consult. When I got into the car, I realized how tired I was and was nodding off. I also got into a heated discussion with him about my uni preferences... I really don't know what to do with that now. He asks me why I keep changing my mind and why have I changed my mind to arts after I took so much time and effort to convince him that nursing is a good career choice. I don't think he realizes that I'm staying in Melbourne, partially, to take care of him and the rest of the family and by staying in Melbourne, I essentially cut out any decision-making choices that I could make. So now I'm left with airy-fairy courses to pick from and when I pick one, he tells me that it has no commercial value. When I ask for an alternative, or something that he would approve of, or deem to have some commercial value, he just says I should do nursing then.

Hmmm. Now I'm thinking that if I'm going to be adding this sort of stress to him (and myself for that matter) at this point in time, it may be better that I move to Sydney.

I worked tonight as well. I'm working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights as well. So yay! I get money, but no contract. Oh well...

My ankle is killing me from all the squatting and bending I have to do at work, so I'm going to go take a shower and massage it a bit. In the meantime, go do something meaningful with your life and stop reading this blog! =P

Day 6

Today was a fun day.

Too tired. Blog later.

Day 5

Today was a good day... then it turned sour.

We went to the rehab hospital and it looks like he is gonna be admitted so that he can have therapy twice a day. If he goes for rehab as an out-patient he would probably only be able to get professional physio twice a week. The rehab specialist we saw was interesting.

Later we went to buy a dining table from Harvey Norman then we went to buy a TV from The Good Guys. Yay! New stuff. We were close to buying a couch, but didn't buy it in the end.

Got home, helped him with a bit of physio and massage, then I helped her cook for some dinner guests. Had the dinner guests over, then they left. One of them learnt deep tissue massage from a Chinese master a while back and so he gave him a massage.

Once they left, it was about time to sleep, but he just stayed up. She got worried and told me to get him to go to bed, because he was worrying about Chris, who wasn't home yet. I sat down with him for a bit and he started talking about Chris. I just sat there sort of acknowledging what he was saying, while looking blankly into space. I tried to get him to go to bed, but to no avail. Eventually I resorted to just massaging him until he goes to bed. It sort of worked. I don't know whether it was because of my massage or just because it was getting late. He was worried about the shit that Chris is getting himself into... He will probably kick Chris out soon.

I don't know what to do...

Today became a crappy Day 5.

Day 4

Nothing much happened today.

We went to the acupuncturist today! I got my sinuses done. Yay. Haha. He got his arm, face and leg done. She got dunno what done...but she got massage too.

After that we had lunch in Box Hill, then went shopping for a couch, a TV and a new table. Then I made a massive dinner of fish (fried Taiwanese style, credit to Auntie Cher), grilled tomato and asparagus/mushroom thing, a soup and a vegetable thing.

Then we did a bit of physio and I helped massage his arm.

Then we went shopping again! Harvey Norman for couches and TVs. Didn't actually buy anything, but we've decided on a TV which we are going to pick up tomorrow.

Today was a mediocre Day 4.

Day 3

Today was actually really enjoyable. Not that the past two days haven't been, but today was just exceptionally enjoyable.

Didn't have any doctor appointments or anything, or work for that matter. They went to get him a blood test this morning, before I woke up, and then I got up made breakfast for us. For him, I toasted a piece of bread with a slice of chicken in it which he ate with half boiled eggs. She ate... half boiled eggs on toast. And I had a nice big sandwich of CHEESE, CHICKEN and sun-dried tomato stuff. Yumm.

We basically ran errands all day. Picked up my passport, overdue by a month, from the Chinese embassy. Dropped into school to do my exit form stuff and just chat with a few of the teachers. Got to talk to Ms. Mill about my derived score application, which, fortunately, has been approved for all my subjects, save English. Praise God for that! We had lunch in South Yarra, then we headed to Richmond MLN, a computer store, to buy me a nice laptop, on which I am currently typing. I took a loan from her first, because this lappy is a Christmas sale special and I'll be working throughout Christmas season.

We then went around looking at furniture, because we are looking to buy a new L-shaped, leather couch. We couldn't really find anything great. Although I did find a futon-couch thing in Fantastic for $199, which I want for my room. Gotta do some reorganising first though. We're also looking for a TV, but didn't have time to look today.

Then we came home and I helped him with around an hour of physio, which was good quality time. His hand has gotten a bit swollen, and I have this fear that it could be my massaging from yesterday... Actually now that I think about it, maybe it's the acupuncture. Hopefully it's just the progression of his condition though. He says it's just water retention. Helped him with stretches and exercises. His arm feels like soft Japanese tofu... I hope that we can speed up the return of his muscle strength with physio and all.

He just tugged my sleeve and asked me to tell him a bedtime story when I put him into bed. Haha. He said this 'cause the last time I tucked him in I said "Oh, look! It's a role reversal... I'm doing the tuckin' in now!"

Today was a good Day 3.

Day 2

Yesterday and today have been long days.

Today, I went to see the GP with them, who referred him to a neurologist and a close by hospital with facilities for his physio and rehab. Afterward, we came home to have lunch, which she made, and he whispered to me when she wasn't looking "I like your cooking better." I didn't have the opportunity to taste for myself, because I ate leftovers from last night. I was going to prepare lunch, but he wanted to do his physio exercises, so I helped him with that instead.

Then we went to see the acupunturist, whom she absolutely adores. And I quite like him as well, although sometimes I get the feeling that the whole traditional Chinese medicine thing is all a bit... iffy. The only really substantial thing that I would actually be interested in learning is the massage component. The herbs and acupuncutre would be fun to learn, but I'm still a little skeptical of it's health benefits. Not that I don't trust it, I'm sure it helps, but I'm just not sure to what extent. The doctor is really nice. He jokes around with us. He told me not to study "bloody medicine". When the doctor was stabbing needles into his face, it was clear he was quite uncomfortable and so the doctor said that he can just call out if it hurts "AIYO", but then he continued to say that if he calls out, he'll charge double. This got him laughing hard...with needles jiggling in his face, arms and legs.

After the doctor had left and he was just laying on the table-bed-thing, they told me a story of rehab in China. They went to a new hospital and she had gone to re-register him for more physiotherapy and when she came back she opened then curtain and said "Darling, should I pay for another 5 times or just one for now?" and looked at him and was shocked to see no needles in his head. Instead she saw him face down bent over with a collection in needles sticking out from his ass. Then she realizes it's not him. This gets him cracking up from the memory.

After physio, I dropped him in BH to wait for his business partners to meet up with him. He said that the morning was his time and the afternoon is my time, but I really don't mind spending the day with him. On the way to Camberwell to do a bit of shopping with Nathan, I got into a little argument with her about leaving him byhimself. You see, it was the first time he had been left alone since it happened. So we made a U-turn to see where and how he is. Turns out, he called his partners to come earlier, so he doesn't have to wait as long. That convinced her, so we left for Camberwell. In the end, I just went to Koorong to buy EJ's present. Bumped into Van, Tabs and Wesley there.

I rushed to take a shower and get to EJ's. It was good fun - mafia, spoons, eating, chatting, ipod touching, etc. Happy late birthday, EJ! Sorry that I had to leave a little early, I know you understand though. I hope you had a great night!

I left early, because she called me to tell me to come home, because he was upset. He had found out that Chris had sold the phone that he had given Chris as a gift to a conperson in Nigeria. Absolute genius. This had got him worked up and she decided that he needed a drive and so they came to pick me up. They came just in time, 'cause I managed to get some cake too.

I got home I helped massage and stretch his arm and hand. The Chinese doctor had taught me how to perform simple deep tissue massage on the hand and I found it quite fascinating actually. He thought that my technique was okay, and attributed it partially to performing Wushu. Also when I had lived in China, there had been a massage parlour on the ground floor, where I hung out everyday after school with the masseurs and talked to them. They also taught my some massage techniques. I don't remember all of it, but I remember the gist and some of the simple techniques. I think I might actually enjoy physiotherapy a lot.

While I massaged and stretched him, I think I managed to get his mind off Chris and his problems, by talking about his condition. I was curious about his spatial awareness, as in whether or not he was able to tell where his hand is. I wondered about this because it seems that he has little motor function, but sensation. I wasn't sure how spatial awareness fit into all of that. So I asked him to perform a few simple tasks. I moved his arm and asked him to point to where his palm, thumb, pinky, elbow, wrist, etc is. He managed to do all of it.... until one try when I pulled his arm outward and asked him to touch his palm with his left hand. He randomly grasped the air underneath his arm and burst out laughing. He was trying to trick me into thinking that his spatial awareness was affected too. I just "CHE!"ed him and walked out. Later he showed me that he could tell what I was touching without looking, by identifying the area on his left arm. After the GP this morning he also told me a story about when he went to flush the toilet once in China, and he realized that he had washed his hand as well, because he was unable to lift his right hand. That means when he flushed his hand, he could feel it rushing against his hand... Haha. He also told me a story of when he was in Malaysia and after dinner, he had wiped the table and the dishes with his hand, because it just dragged across the table. Haha. He is very postive and is determined to get better.

He says that his hand feels "normal" today. I think that is a good sign.

Oh, I forgot to wish Nick happy birthday. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY. And Nick asked me to be his bestman, which I would be honored to be and definitely do it happily!

Today was a unique Day 2.

Day 1

They got back to Melbourne today.

It's been a pretty emotional day for everyone I guess. I've noticed what people mean when they say what looks like only a little progress, it is and feels like a lot. He cried around three times. First was when he arrived home. Second was while he just laid down to rest, and third after I had helped him with some of his physio exercises. I just stayed silent and hugged him when he cried. I teared up, but wouldn't let him see my fears. When he cries, I want to tell him "What's there to cry about?" Not in a mean, insensitive way, but in a joking ignorance to help him not think about it. But then again, when it happens, I freeze up and I get tongue tied, seeing someone who I've regarded as a manly man breaking down before my eyes.

It was all worth it for the laughs that I got out of him. One was when he got me to check whether he could be my supervising driver now that he's an "invalid". I don't like that word. I feel that it's somewhat degrading. I flipped through the book and said, quite indifferent towards the law, "Nuh, doesn't seem to have any rules against it." and chucked the book to the side. That got him laughing, and that was definitely worth it. The second time was when I made a joke about her desire to study taxation for the sake of "cheating the system". That got him chuckling.

Apart from the emotional periods, he is very positive. Which is good, I think. It keeps everyone positive. She cries everytime she sees him cry. And it all becomes one massive waterworks. Not really, but you get the picture.

While I was helping him with his exercises, I found it hard to understand him sometimes, possibly because of his slur, but I think that it was mainly 'cause he spoke it disjointed phrases, rather than completed sentences. Eventually I got the hang of it, and now I'm understanding him better. A highlight of this is when he says "SPAM!!", and I responded with a "huh?" and he starts working his right hand with his left and says "MUSCLE SPAM!" and then I realized he means muscle spasm. So now whenever he says "spam", I know he wants me to stretch his muscles and massage it.

He seems determined. After he gets emotional, he seems to have even more determination to get better. I see it in his body, his face and his eyes. When he tries to "simply" wave, I see his whole body tense, his face contorts in strain and determination. His eyes start leaking at this point.

In reflection of all of this, I've decided to get healthy. I'm taking this crap which my big bro is taking that is supposed to be for high cholesterol. It's a fiber supplement. I'm also eating somewhat healthy.

I cooked lunch and dinner today. Simple variants of soup noodles. Just changing the soup. It's gonna take me some time to get used to eating bland food. Almost no salt is killing me. I enjoy the cooking through. It is a challenge and an opportunity to learn to make great tasting dishes that are also healthy and can accommodate for him.

Today was Day 1.