A Day Off

Dad had therapy yesterday (Thursday) and his blood pressure got a little high during it. So we were keeping an eye on it and this morning he was having a headache and a little bit of high blood pressure again, so we decided it would be best to take a day off of therapy to work on lowering his blood pressure. He seemed dehydrated (he doesn't drink water) so we started him on a strick water intake and are trying to eliminate the tea and soda. By noon his blood pressure was normal. Then by evening it was creeping back up again, although his headache did not return. So we will continue to monitor it and work on stabilizing it. He felt good enough to get into his chair for dinner and go outside to enjoy traffic with mom and the kids. Then Timmy came in and got him ready for bed. Praying for a restful night tonight and normal BP tomorrow. Thanks for checking in - we appreciate your prayers & support and love! (P.S. thanks to dad's friends who sent coconut cake thru mark rogers. . . i got a piece of it and yummy! dad and mom really enjoyed that treat!)

Enjoying the Olympics

Dad has been enjoying the Olympics. He is my news man when it comes to keeping up to speed on who's winning the gold! Robby and I took him to his co-therapy session today and when we brought him home, we put him in mom's recliner and Robby was so amazed at how good pappy looked sitting there. . . if you were to walk in that room and not know that dad couldn't walk, he would just look as healthy and normal as can be! I am still noticing his strength gradually return to his middle section. . . we just have to have patience and endurance to keep the faith through this marathon we are on. We heard a message at church Sunday from a guest speaker from Virginia Beach's Wave Church - Pastor Steve Kelly. . . about the "Caleb Generation". . . which I am now proudly a part of! It was so powerful - talking about so many people who have had a huge impact on this world and it happened after the age of 40. . . some in their 70s. Dad said to me today, "I just wonder some times if this is all worth it". . . meaning getting him in his chair with the lift and going to therapy. . . and so on. And I quickly reversed the roles and asked him if he would do the same if we were in his shoes - he said, yes of course, but you are just 40, I'm so much older. And I told him he wasn't like most 72 year olds. . . and that God was not finished with him yet! Then he laughed and said, well I guess I have no choice of the matter if you're around! Thanks to so many folks in the community who have been stopping in to see mom & dad - wow, you have no idea how much that means to him. He really enjoys the company! We have therapy Thursday and Friday - so I will post later on in the week and let you know what's going on. I also want to publicly thank my siblings - for helping to take such awesome care of our parents. I know it means the world to them to have such devoted children who are giving so much - so to David, Pam, Tommy and Timmy. . . your little sister appreciates you, loves you and thanks God for you every day. . .especially in times like these!

Another Great Week!

Dad did exceptionally well at his co-teaching session of therapy Friday. He sat unassisted with little movement for 5 minutes. He is really getting stronger every day. This is incredible and needed in order to tackle other areas of therapy. After therapy - mom & I took him to the rec center to pick up my boys from their last day at basketball camp. We got to watch the closing ceremonies & awards presentation. We saw lots of friends - he always enjoys times like these to see his old friends and colleagues. Later that day, my brothers Dave and Tim came in to take the next step on the bathroom for dad. We have a plan now for accomplishing that project - that will be so nice when completed! He enjoyed watching the Olympic opening ceremonies last night too. . . and today my brother Tommy came in early to help mom give him a bath and get him up in the recliner. He enjoyed that and watched a lot of the Olympics til mid-day then I ran in real quick and got him back in bed. He is looking forward to my sister Pam coming in tonight and having dinner with them and probably sitting outside to watch the traffic. Tomorrow is church - his work day! Thanks for your continued support and prayers! Love to all!

Bicycling Away!

Another great day for dad at therapy. . .me & the kids headed there early this morning and dropped him off. When I returned I found him on this bicycle machine - working away! I noticed his hair was pretty messed up - he had been practicing in Occupational Therapy earlier taking his shirt on and off by himself! Anyway, they had placed a long mirror in front of the bicycling machine so he could watch himself and see when he began to lean to the left - so he could correct it. . . if you look closely, they have a black stretchy band on his legs to keep that left leg from dropping over - he is still not strong enough to hold it there on his own. But this is a great exercise for him because when he gets going - its forcing his left side to work and do what it's supposed to be doing. . .

We have another co-teaching therapy session on Friday - so that will be great. Tonight my brothers are meeting with my uncle Tommy (Mom's brother) to determine our next step in getting dad's handicap accessible bathroom moving forward. Dad is very excited about that!

Thanks as always for checking in - and remember, dad & mom are outside sitting almost every evening so if you have a few minutes to stop by, they'd love to see you!

Working Hard at Co-Therapy!

Dad had a fantastic day today at his co- therapy session (physical & occupational therapy combined) at the Wellness Center! I stayed today and watched. . .and I was so impressed with the stability and strength he is acquiring in his sitting on the therapy table while doing tasks. He actually sits there and leans to the left, picks up a set of socks with his "left" hand and then slowly works his way, shifting his weight and keeping balance, and then has to drop it on over his right leg into a basket - I watched as he did that at least 6 times! If you look at the picture. . . he is only being "spotted" by his therapists. . . not held up by them. He says he can't believe how hard it is to do such a simple task, but I can't believe that he can actually do that now. He is getting much more focussed. There is a definite improvement in his strength. . . so we are so encouraged by these positive steps forward.

Thanks again everyone who continues to read this blog daily and pray with us - believing for that miracle for dad to walk again. Your support means so much. And thanks to all the folks who continue to stop by and visit dad & mom - old friends, colleagues and family continue to come to see dad and encourage him on this journey. We are so blessed!

A Family Day

Dad enjoyed a visit from his niece Vicky Losh today. . . Shannon, his other niece, brought her sister by to see dad while she was in town visiting. Dad really enjoyed seeing her and their visit. Then we headed up to my sisters house for the baby shower for Pam's daughter Sarah. . . she and her husband Jeff are expecting their 2nd child later this month.

We had a blast. . .we stayed for about 4 hours! Dad laughed his head off during the fun games they played. One game was a torture test with parents being the recipients of clothespins to the face or neck - whichever parent the children could get the most clothespins on- won. Well my brother Timmy almost won - he had 41 points (which equated to 20 clothespins on his face. . . check out the photo. Afterward, we headed home and got snuggled in and ready for bed. As always, dad looks forward to Sundays - that's a job he looks so forward to - he still greets the people as they are leaving first service and those coming in for first service. This gives him a purpose to look forward to each week.

Looking forward to another great week at therapy! Keep him in your prayers for LOTS of progress - we believe!

Fantastic Day at Therapy!

I am so happy to report that dad had a fantastic day at therapy Friday! His Physical Therapist reported to me that he was sitting on the therapy table for up to 15 minutes, with just minor cues when his body started to fall. . . he also was able to work in Occupational therapy at the same time - they had him leaning over while sitting on the table, pick up socks with is left (yes I said left - which is his weak side) and then sit up and place them in a basket on the right side of him! Wow - dad. . . what a great accomplishment. Like I said, his therapist was thrilled with is progress this week - he proclaimed it his very best week by far. . . it seems that dad's focus has now kicked in and he is ready to really work hard at this therapy. Plus, I know he is so determined to get stronger become more independent. They will continue doing "co-teaching" sessions next week to see if that type of therapy will continue to help him progress!

We are looking forward today to head up to Pams for a "picnic" & baby shower for her daughter Sarah who is due with their second child later this month. Me & the kids are picking mom & dad up this afternoon and will head up there for a fun evening. I will take some pictures to post on the blog!

Thanks for checking in - we've had an awesome week. My mom is simply AMAZING - she is getting so independent in her caring of dad. She bathes him, she takes care of most all his care and all we do for her is the transferring and dressing. She is so determined to be his "number one aide". . . she just decided that an outside aide was not necessary anymore. Her health continues to improve all the time!

Mark 9: 23 says " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
We believe. . . will you believe with us? Dad will walk again one day!