Good morning,
I have been writing about this on Facebook, and I decided to make the bathtub the topic of my blog today because somebody can definitely learn from my experience!
As we get older, we sometimes or we should always have a bar in the bathtub area to hang on to, to help get up, and for overall safety. The problem with this is that we have to ‘hang’ on to it! I have a huge incision across the chest which is physically connected under my arm an I have a ‘frozen’ shoulder for which I am going to physical therapy for treatment. The problem is that I wanted to take a bath. I haven’t had one since July! Now stop that thinking, because I do take a shower. (maybe not every day)
But a tub bath sounded glorious! After I fixed some plumbing problems earlier this week,( I was so proud of my self!!) I prepared to give it a test run. I just did not think I might not be able to get out. Its a huge big oval tub, but it has a step up to get in but the area across the tub is quite wide. I got into the tub without putting water in it, with my clothes on and I sat down.
Now the problem with this is, I should have had someone there, or at least the telephone close by. But you know those old wives tales we have all heard about keeping electronics away from the bathtub (actually I never even thought about that). So I got in and sat down which wasn’t so easy either. I am glad there was not any water in there!
Well I thought, success. Then I realized I had no grab bar to get up. I don’t think that would work anyway because I don’t have to much strength in my good arm. It wouldn’t matter if I weighed 100 or 200 pounds (or in between) I couldn’t get up. So I thought well I will get on my knees and try that. That worked even less, because I still had to use my arms. The left one is totally worthless when it comes to being on my hands and knees. Oh boy, here I sit at 8 o clock at night.
Anyway, the dogs, one Sheltie and one Yorkie, were wondering what in the heck I was doing. The Yorkie whose name is Mimzy hopped up on the edge of the tub and was snooping around. They were both so puzzled because they had never seen me get in this tub before. I finally decided to ask Shadow to get the phone. She is trained really well, and she listens. I often wondered how much does she really understands.
It took me about a half an hour. First, she brought me her ‘froggie’ toy. Next, it was the little stuffed teddybear. “No Shadow, get me the telephone” “talk” and I held up my hand like I was talking on the phone. She cocked her head funny at me and wagged her tail. She came back with a dog biscuit. Now I am thinking this is not going to work! So I tried to crawl out of the tub. While I was doing that and trying to figure out if the faucet would support me….no it would not!!!!
I sat down totally exasperated, and here comes Shadow with the telephone in her mouth. I couldn’t believe it. Where is my camera when I need it? But then she dropped it!! Like two feet away from the tub and ran from the room at the noise! Okay, it was time for a deep breath. It was only two feet away.
I tried yelling for help. My house is not next to anybody elses, and the one right next door is vacant. That didn’t do anything except frighten the dogs. What happened next was unbelievable. Mimzy always hides things. She hides dog biscuits and treats when she is no longer hungry. This poses a problem in that I find treats everywhere…under the covers, under the couch, under pillows on the sofa. And when she hides them, she pushes them with her nose into the covered area. She started pushing the phone with her nose, and she pushed it right over to the tub! I reached down and got it! Then I realized I didn’t know anybody’s phone number. I use the cell all the time, and the numbers are pre-recorded.
So I called 911. I mean, what else was I to do? Can you call information anymore, I don’t even know. Anyway, the fire department came and rescued me but not until after I had to explain to them where the house key was hidden outside.
I hope you all are laughing, cause it was funny…maybe not at the time. Already this morning, Shadow has brought me the telephone again. I guess I will leave the one phone on the charger in the kitchen, on the floor, just in case. You never know when you may not be able to get up! Laughing out loud.
I am back to showers until things are much better physically. Meanwhile I will leave the phone on the floor in case my ‘expiration date’ has problems in the future. I am not that old!!
Have a great day!
