Saturday Update

We were able to go and see dad today and it was so much fun. (Sounds odd I'm sure). We arrived at the tail end of his physical therapy. It was the first time for us to see him in actual pants (sweatpants) a shirt and he had a camo baseball cap on backwards. He was in his wheelchair doing a workout on his arms. Of course David saw ALL the balls and was able to play catch with pawpaw some also. Although it almost seemed unreal to see him in a wheelchair he looked natural in it also (hard to explain). I was impressed at how well he was able to get around in the thing. We also got to see him get into his bed from the wheelchair by himself, that was an exhausting ordeal, but he did it. He said it really hurt his body to strain like that with using his arms to throw his legs over...but we were glad to see that he could do it....and was trying.

He is soooo skinny! We would always say before how thin he was and never gained lbs...he was overweight then compared to know.

His stamina is as expected still low, therapies are scheduled out off and on through out the day, still having nausea off and on, extremely light headed if he tries to sit up or move himself up to fast. Still having to be catherized every 4 hours, and things stand the same on little muscle control/feeling from the mid chest down. He has all bandages off his trach area...it looked GREAT! He really does like it at TIRR, and as of now has a "good ol boy, biker" roommate.

We are still encouraging visitors as much as possible. Even if dad is in therapy, it is great for him to know that you are there, and great for mom to have the company. On Sat they do half the therapy and on Sunday there is no therapy at all. From what I can kinda tell, during the week therapies seem to end around 4. Mom has been getting up there around 11am.

A couple of friends took mom out for a "girls night" last Wed evening (dinner, hang out time) and that was such a blessing to her! She needs that type of thing to feel human, normal, rejuvenated, etc. So basically we are doing a call out for "come one, come all" to anyone that could have a "time out" with mom. Mom has thankfully been real good about saying when is a good time or not (as best as she can) on when she can leave dad. I know that we are asking a lot from friends and family with the juggle of visiting dad and also spending time with mom....but this seems to be so important. We as her kids can only do so much, and honestly having other people outside of us kids for her to talk and hang out with is what she needs.

Thanks again for all the prayers. They are hoping to find something out about the MRI at the first part of next week. We are praying that God directs the doctors on what needs to happen with dad as a result of the MRI. They LOVE his Dr. there!! Praise God!

God Bless!