For A Lifetime, I'll Love You

Last night we were sitting on the couch; eyes fixed on the news. We were both silent, the only sound was the TV telling us that Osama Bin laden is dead. I moved and adjusted a little and very quickly felt Cale’s grasp tighter around me. When I turned to look at his face, he had a very serious and sad expression. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “It’s sad.” “What’s sad?” “He died.” I was confused and thinking that Cale was probably confused as well. “Do you know who it is?” At that point, Cale with tears in his eyes said in a very serious soft tone, “Our President.” Poor Guy! I was trying so hard not to laugh! It’s so sad that he’s all mixed up and confused, but it was so funny!

I then went on to explain how Barak Obama is our president and not Osama Bin Laden. It was interesting because he didn’t remember Bin Laden. He is a soldier, deployed twice, and in Intelligence and he didn’t remember that name. After my explaining, he remembered when I brought it up when President Obama came on TV. This brain injury is just too much sometimes! Haha…keeps things interesting! ;)

So, I switched face cleanser products a couple weeks ago. A lady in our church and a good friend started selling Mary Kay. I decided to give it a try! Well, I’ve been using a line that they have and so far I like it. My chin has still been breaking out though, so I thought I would try the acne specific cream. I looked at the ingredients and knew that my overly sensitive face would not agree, but I went for the cream anyways. Bad idea. I woke up this morning with swollen eye lids, and a very red puffy face…! It was burning and itchy, and really tight. Around 2:30 this afternoon, the puffiness was finally going away. It’s still really red though! I caked on a little make up, but it didn’t cover it all the way! This has happened in the past with similar products and others. I asked Cale if I looked like an alien, he said, "If you did, you'd be a beautiful alien!" Adventures… :)

This morning when Cale woke up, I gave him a goal for the day and challenged him to see if he could meet it. Guess what? He did!!!! The goal for the day was for him to walk around the house with no help-no walker-no cane-no Kathleen. He’s been doing so good with the cane that I wanted to give him a little nudge to keep getting stronger. He did use the walls a lot, but for the most part I kept reminding him that he can do it, so he would walk. Its slower going and I can’t just let him walk all over yet by himself, but he did it! He even told me at one point that it was hard, but that didn’t stop him!!! I’m so proud of him for working at it!

Here is Cale after making his goal!! :)


We had a GREAT day! I got up this morning and with my red puffy face, I got some things done before he woke up. Then, I was able to get showered and ready and actually be with him. We played Sorry and Crazy 8’s, laughed, and played with Basil. It was so much fun! I talked with Mama last night about what I realized was happening. I know I’ve been saying I’m tired and that’s what has been making all of this so hard, but that’s not it. Well, in a sense. I realized that I am constantly in a battle with Cale. There is no nurse around to do the dirty work. I have to fight with him to get him to take his meds, I have to fight with him to eat something (other than Mc Donald’s-his new obsession), I have to fight with him about this being his home, I have to fight to get him to brush his teeth, I have to fight to get him to exercise, and now I have to fight to get him to drink water! Maybe “fight” isn’t the right word, but it’s what I’m going to use. It feels as though I’m constantly having to fight to make things happen and not getting to be the wife. All these things are important, but he doesn’t like any of them! I’m the person that has to make things happen and with a stubborn TBI husband, things can be tough. He’s not a child, so I can’t go about things as if he was-to a point.

Things aren’t all better and figured out, but it helped today so much (where I was coming from), to understand what was happening! I’m surprised I didn’t think of it before!

Please be praying for this!

Cale laid down for a nap but it wasn’t very successful. I was on the couch reading my Bible, sipping some yummy coffee, and listening to the rain. Basil was sleeping on the other half of the couch and things were calm. About 15 minutes later, I hear Cale talking…he was leaving me a voicemail. I decided to just wait and see if he would fall asleep. About 10 more minutes and again I hear him talking! I was going to stay put, but I decided it would be a lot more fun if I went and snuggled up next to him! It gave him a really big smile and felt so nice for us to have some snuggle time in the middle of the day. We haven’t done that for way too long!

After we decided we should get back up, we started another game of Sorry and Joe and Beth showed up! It was fun getting to see them and play some more games!

We’ve been slowly writing a catchy little tune together since we were at Palo Alto. We’ve finished (or at least part of it) over this last week, and I thought I’d share it with you. I love singing it with Cale because I sing and he adds in…it’s so sweet!

I love you, oh yes I do
You are amazing, to me
Caleb Michael, I said I do
For a lifetime,
I’ll love you.