Let’s just say Duane is not too happy with me.  This morning I had to call 911.  I needed help getting him off the floor.  As his shower was finishing he began to slip of his chair, I tried to push him back on, pull him up …nothing worked.  The only thing that happened was I got pinned between the shower wall and his chair.  He kept sliding so I lowered him to the shower floor and he laid down.  Unable to pick him up by myself (he was slippery and could not assist in anyway) I was forced to call 911.  He immediately made me grab some shorts and try to put them on him.  He cried hysterically dreading the help that was coming. 

The paramedics arrived first and it took two of them, with some help from me to get him to the couch.  Then the fire department got here.  CRAP!!  He really lost it as that point.  I walked them out and told them we were ok and explained the situation.  I told them it wouldn’t happen again because I ordered a shower slider chair I just couldn’t put it together by myself and that I would have help tonight.  They didn’t like that answer…they came back in and put the whole thing together.  

As they were leaving the captain talked to Duane and told him we’ll always come help you, your our brother.  That only made him cry more. 

I walked them out and they told me to stop picking him up myself, call them, they will help!!  They were so nice and such a great group of firemen.  

Tonight I am in the room watching basketball and Duane is on the couch watching basketball.  He is done talking to me – blaming me for calling them.  I think it’s pride and ego and embarrassment  more than anything though.  

– xoxo Victoria

This is the first post with no pictures.  It is 11:45 pm, Duane is in bed and I am on the couch with ice on my elbow, back and hip.  I fell tonight…hard.  I, Duane and we have fallen other times, a few minor injuries here and there but tonight was a turning point.  Up until this point it has been just us, I will be calling for help tomorrow.  It is time.  

Almost two hours ago we were getting ready for bed and I tried to lift him off the couch and he couldn’t stand, we both fell onto the couch.  We tried again…he fell sideways onto the couch I fell backwards onto the hard tile floor.  

He has always fought me on getting extra help, after ever fall and after every progression he gives me a reason it happened – I always give in.  If I don’t get someone in soon, the next fall will be worse.  He will be mad and he will not even want to talk to me but there is no choice any more. 

– xoxo Victoria

What do you do when you’re bored?  We shave neck beards on Duane.  This gave us about 45 minutes of straight laughter and on and off giggles for the rest of the day!  We’ve always joked around about neck beards…well now we can say we did it! HAHAHAHAHA!

– xoxo Victoria

A while ago I mentioned that my sister was raising money for her walk for ALS research!  Well she did it!! She ended up raising thousands of much needed dollars to help with the research of this horrific disease.  She even had my brother in law and nice and nephew walk with her!  Thank you Catherine from the bottom of my heart for all you support and love.  #thisisals

– xoxo Victoria

Duane can not longer walk up and down the yacht stairs, even with help.  His happy place is up on the bridge telling people where to go, what to do and how to fish… so we carry him!  I think he likes sitting in the co-pilot seat just as much as he liked driving, he loves teaching everyone and sharing his knowledge.  It’s great that he is so happy watching other people learn how to do the things he loves!

– xoxo Victoria

Duane was in heaven teaching Dupree all about Lake Mead!!  He is so excited about the US Open.  The smile stayed on Duane’s face all day.  As soon as we got home he started ordering new baits and looking at aerial maps all to help Dupree win!

– xoxo Victoria

I have seriously been lacking in the blogging department.  Once again, I will try and do better, hopefully posting a few times a week.  The following blogs are from these past few weeks of us going back and forth to the yacht in San Diego and spending time with his family.  As fun as it is while we are there, we pay for it when we get home. Duane is tired for days when we return making even conversation difficult, putting him in moods that don’t really allow for much blogging time.  We have our next months scheduled, with a few free weekends and days in between San Diego and Havasu.  If you would like to see Duane and hang out on the boat, please let us know.  As the ALS progresses he is getting more and more tired and I’m not sure how much longer we will be able to take the boat out and have a fun day on the lake!

– xoxo Victoria

On days when we don’t have any visitors we like to take Buddy down to the lake and throw the tennis ball for him.  Yesterday I grabbed Duane his taquitos snack and off to the beach we went.  We usually go to a very hard packed sand area where I can pull the car to the very edge so Duane can watch Buddy being Buddy.  Well, yesterday Duane wanted to try a new area…I told him it was too steep and sandy…what do I know?  Well apparently I knew right!  We got stuck.  He will say I drove wrong and didn’t listen but if we hadn’t tried the new spot in the first place we wouldn’t have gotten stuck.  

Right when I was about to call a tow truck a 4-wheel drive truck pulled up and starting backing down his jet ski.  I walked over to him, explained the situation and he said he could try to help.  He saw the fire sticker and asked about it, I told him Duane was a retired fire captain that medicaled out.  He went on to say that his entire family was made up of fire fighters and he would love to help us out.  He explained to me what I needed to do and then pulled us up to flat, hard land.  As he unhooked the strap he asked it it would be alright if he went to shake Duane’s hand.  I took him over to the passenger side and he grabbed Duane’s hand and thanked him for all he did!

I love nice people!  There have been so many times when the right people have come along and really helped out.  Next time you see someone struggling or needing help, please help them – you never know what their back story is.

– xoxo Victoria

– xoxo Victoria

We love it when friends come to visit and we get to take the Pontoon out!!  We were overloaded and taking on water, Buddy was freaking out, but the smile never left Duane’s face!

– xoxo Victoria