It has been way too long since I updated – but, until about a month ago, there wasn’t a whole lot of new to talk about.  In the past month, Bob has done some really good things.  He can now sit himself up in bed and swing his legs over the side.  He is walking more and further and he can go up and down the 2 small steps that we have separating our family room from our living area.  His memory is also continually improving and his sense of humor is returning.  He teases and laughs which are both so great to see!  We did have an interesting thing happen about 3 weeks ago.  One morning when he woke up, he didn’t know how to do anything.  I just thought it was unusual but didn’t think that much about it.  When my sister Jane got here for the day, he introduced himself to her.  We looked at each other and then started to be a little concerned.  He didn’t know anything that morning, not that he was married, had children, nothing.  As my sister and I talked through the morning, we decided that we better take him to the emergency room in case he was having some bleeding, pressure or swelling in his brain.  They did a CT scan, blood work, other labs etc. and they determined that there wasn’t anything new or unusual.  Ryan and I have been attending a support group here in the valley and found out from the instructor that this is a normal part of the healing process.  When the brain is trying to heal something “big” the rest of the brain has to shut down so that all of the energy can go to help whatever is healing at that time.  He has had one other of those particular events and two other different kinds.  Last night his head was spinning and it appeared that he was maybe having a mini seizure.  He was unresponsive for a few seconds and then back again.  We were scared and concerned but as we watched him through the evening, things got better and by this morning, he felt fine.  We decided that it was just another way the brain reacts to another something big that is trying to heal.  What a complex thing our brain is . . . we see just how much every day.  Bob has been attending sacrament meeting for about the last 6 weeks or so and he really loves being there.  Last week he asked if we could stay to the other meetings, so we did.  Things are progressing slowly but we shouldn’t expect anything else considering the severity of his injury.  When life gets extra hard and I don’t think I can do anymore, my angels pick me up and away we go!  It has been an incredible journey!  Thanks so much for all the support, you will NEVER know how much it has meant.  I haven’t been good at getting thank you cards out, but please know that it doesn’t mean that I don’t care or that I don’t appreciate EVERYTHING that has been done for us!  We love you all!

"I was doing dishes and turned to see Bob standing at the island - 

he had pulled himself up."

"This is the first step in re-training Bob on how to 

go up and down the stairs."

Tuesday - May 29, 2012

Bob's progress is slow and steady these days.  He can now get his legs up onto the bed all by himself!  His memory is coming, some days much better than others.  He did have quite a time the last 3 weeks or so, when he was experiencing more bad days than good ones.  With some medication adjustments and some very fervent prayers to the Lord, the past week has been really good.  We had a broken chair and he figured out where the bolt needed to go and he drew my closet remodel that I want to do.  It is very obvious, that part of his brain was not affected.  On the flip side, when I ask him what he wants for dinner, he can not tell me.  Simple objects and names are still really hard for him to name.  If you show him a picture, then he knows exactly what you are talking about.  The brain is a very interesting and complex thing, as well as very fragile.  I was reminded the other day just how fragile it is.  I said something in fun to Bob and it upset him very much.  I felt really bad and had to take a step back and remember that he doesn't understand things right now like he use to, things are much more magnified than they were before.  Time and patience are what we need to endure now.  We were told it would be a very long process and it will be.  Things are moving along and I think, with time, it will all be ok.  Thanks so much for your continued prayers and thoughts in our behalf!   

Day 175 

May 2, 2012
I decided I better update the blog for those who are interested in Bob's progress.  He is doing well, getting stronger all the time.  He is still going to therapy once or twice a week and we continue to work with him at home as well.  He really enjoys doing his morning leg stretches in bed, it seems to help his walking throughout the day.  There have been great improvements and he can see that.  His cognition is improving also, he talks more and his conversation is getting better all the time.  He is strong enough now that it only takes one person to help with his showers and to get him into the car.  He dresses himself, puts on his shoes and even ties them.  He helps around the house with dishes, folding clothes and helps with meal preparation.  He should be practicing his walking more than he will right now.  He gets a little stubborn and doesn't want to do it!  Some days are better than others, some days he gets sad and depressed.  He is starting to realize that he can't do what he use to be able to do, and it's hard!  I try to remind him of how far he has come and that his life was spared for a reason.  I am encouraging him to use the energy that it takes to be upset and use it to be determined to work hard to get better.  Some days it works, other days, not so much!  He still struggles with names, he knows faces but can't always put the right name to the face.   We are approaching 6 months since his accident - boy what a ride it has been!  Thanks so much for you constant support and love.  We are so very blessed to have so many great people on our side.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  We love you!

Day 130

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Well, Bob has been home for 2 weeks now and I decided that when people ask how things are going, I try to explain the we have just exchanged hard for hard.  What I mean by that is that it was so hard to travel every weekend to see him and try to work and do everything else that needs to be done.  Well, I don't have the travel, which I am so grateful for, but it is hard to have him home too.  He doesn't sleep very well at nights and needs constant care.  There has to be someone with him all the time.  I have a great support team that is helping me with that, wonderful kids and in-law kids and my sweet sister (she has been a god-send).  The first week home we made sure there were 2 of us here all day so we could see what it was going to entail.  The second week we found that we just needed one of us here during the day and I, of course, am here at night.  The only time 2 people are needed to help is on bath night.  It is still too difficult for me to do by myself.  Bob is getting stronger and is going into Logan Regional twice a week for his therapy's.  He is remembering a few things from his past, every now and again he will say something that makes me cheer that he remembered.  His short term memory still isn't very good, sometimes he doesn't even remember what just happened an hour ago.  He has been out to his shop twice now and that definitely makes him happy.  We are going to try to figure out a way to get him out there for an hour or so to watch Rod work and maybe even help him sand or something.  He put the cover back on our light switch plate in our bedroom, the picture is of him vacuuming out the hole to get all the dust out before he screwed the cover back on.  It was pretty amazing to watch, he knew exactly how to do it. His wording still gets pretty mixed up but the one thing I have noticed, when he prays, his words are always perfect!  I know Heavenly Father will make it all good, there has just been too many miracles for him to stop here.  Leaving IMC was bitter-sweet, when a nurse told me that, I thought she had to be crazy, but it was so true.  The nurses and therapists there were absolutely incredible.  We grew really close to them and it was hard to say good-bye.  They were definitely some of the angels that Heavenly Father saw fit to bless our lives with.  Tuesday is Bob's birthday and I am so grateful that I get to celebrate another birthday with him.  Please remember how precious life is . . . don't take a second of it for granted!  Thanks so much for all the support and love, visits, meals, phone calls, texts, emails, treats, prayers, messages, thoughts, cards, foot zones :) . . . the list is endless - thank you!

Brain Injury Survivors Information

Below is a link to what I think is great information that most people don't even think about.  It may also help you understand why Bob's behavior isn't always positive.  Short visits are appreciated and most of all PLEASE don't take anything that he might say personal!!  The filter still isn't fully intact.  Thanks for understanding and please still keep us in your prayers!

http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/07/lost-found-what-brain-injury-survivors-want-you-to-know.html

Bob is home!

Day 110

Monday, March 5, 2012

Well, we have a discharge date!  Bob is coming home Sunday, March 11th!!  I really didn't think this day would ever come!  It has been almost 4 months since I have been home on a weekend.  I can't wait for a Sunday afternoon nap!  We have some things that need to be done inside and outside of the house to get ready for him to come home.  The generosity of so many people has made these things possible - thank you to those of you who have been so generous and kind!!  We will be eternally grateful to all of you!  We are hoping that this last week will be beneficial for Bob to help him get that much stronger for his return home.  This is a scary time for us and we have so much to learn and practice.  Please continue to pray for us to stay healthy and strong enough to be able to best help Bob and to keep him safe.  We still have a long way to go but I think he will continue to progress well at home.  Heavenly Father has been so gracious and I know he will continue to bless us with many more miracles.  Life is precious, don't take a second for granted!  Love to all of you!

Day 109

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Bob had another pretty good week and weekend, some ups and downs.  He is having lots more good days than bad now and is making great progress and getting stronger every day.  The therapists are pleased with his progress and they decided he was ready to try the stairs.  He went up the stairs fairly well, but coming down was hard.  He was very scared and didn't want to do them again.  He walked a total of about 200 feet today with 3 sit down rests in between.  He is working really hard to pass off his goals so he can come home.  They are talking about him coming home not next week but possibly the first part of the next.  The family members that will be the caregivers need to be trained and then they will set a discharge date.  They also do what they call "transition" where I will go down and stay 2 to 3 days and nights in a room that has a queen sized bed.  I will be responsible for the majority of his care with the nurses and staff standing by to assist with problems and questions that I might have.  We will do that next weekend and see how we do.  I can't believe that it is just about here.  Please keep us in your prayers, coming home is not going to be a picnic for awhile either!

Day 101

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Bob has had a couple of GREAT days!  He walked 50+ feet yesterday with only the walker and very little help from the therapist.  He walked in the gym on the wood floor so it was a little easier than the carpet.  Today, he walked about 24 feet in the hall on the carpet!!  He is doing great and getting stronger every day.  He loved the visits that he got today, thanks so much to all of you!!  It was a great weekend!  

Thank You!

Thanks so much to whoever heart attacked my house on Valentines Day.  I got home late and saw the hearts and just sat in my car and cried.  Thank you so much for thinking of me! 

Day 99

Friday, February 24, 2012

Bob has, for the most part, had a good week.  He is getting stronger and being able to do more every day.  He walked with a walker today, with only a belt and some assistance from the therapist.  This is a very good thing!  This is one of the things he will need to do to be able to come home and today was the beginning!  He will now have to continue to get stronger with it and be able to do it with minimal to no assistance.  His cognitive is also getting better and he understands that he doesn't always say the right words.  It is frustrating to him and he looks to whoever is with him for help.  Sometimes we can guess what he is talking about and then again, sometimes we can't.  If you give him a choice of words or names, he will usually get it right.  The way our brain works is just amazing!  He is remembering more events from his past, which is good.  They removed his feeding tube last week so he is finally tube free!!  I am starting to see the determination returning because he wants to come home so badly.  He still definitely has down moments and days, but they are becoming less and less.  He can do most of his shower by himself and has really made some good progress in all areas the last couple of weeks.  They are still saying 3 to 4 weeks for his return home.  Bob is just amazed when I tell him about all the love and support that we have gotten from everyone - thanks so much!  Miracles are still happening in our lives, and in the lives of people around us.  It has been simply amazing to see and recognize them!  Thanks so much for your prayers and support, it means more than you'll ever know! 

Day 92

Friday, February 17, 2012

It's been a while since I updated with new information about Bob's progress, sorry!  He is steadily progressing and getting stronger all the time.  You can see in the photos that he is beginning to walk, with the help of therapists, slings, parallel bars and walkers, but he is walking!  Today he walked without the sling and with very little assistance from the therapists.  He made it to the end of the parallel bars twice in his morning therapy and again once in the afternoon.  He is starting to retain some information for a little longer than he has and does make some sense on his good days.  He actually told me last night that he remembered cleaning the church the morning of his accident.  His progress is slow but it is happening!  We are probably still out another 3 weeks or so until he can come home, but after 3 months, that sounds like a very short amount of time to me!  Thanks so much to everyone who sent Valentines to Bob.  He was really excited that so many people had thought about him that day!  The picture shows just a very few of the Valentines he got, there were lots more, thank you!  Please continue to pray for Bob, the miracles are continuing in his behalf.  He wants to come home so bad but realizes that he can't quite yet.  It makes him sad and emotional when we have to leave to come home, without him.  Thanks so much to those who have visited him, he really enjoys seeing familiar faces.  If you happen to be in the Murray area, please consider stopping in for a visit, it is kind of a fun thing!  I know he recognizes people, he still just can't put the right name with the right face.  If I haven't learned anything else from all of this, it is that we all take so very much for granted.  Our lives and our abilities are amazing, but they can be taken from us in just a split second.  Be grateful for every little thing you can do!  Your kindness and love will be forever appreciated.  Love to all of you!

Day 80

Sunday, February 5, 2012

This has been a great week for Bob!  He continued to stand up in therapy all week.  He increased the number of times he stood and length of time each day.  He is starting to be able to transfer from his bed to his wheel chair better and do more of it on his own.  He is eating better so they haven't had to do tube feeds for most of the week.  It sounds like they will be removing his feeding tube in the next few days.  On Saturday night, Bob asked his male nurse to give him a blessing because he had had kind of a hard day on Friday.  His nurse told him he was honored to have been asked and that was the first time a patient had requested that from him.  It was a really good experience for Bob, his nurse and for me.  We talked about his accident again and he was taken back by the details.  I think he realized what a miracle he is when I explained it to him.  He is making good progress and each day he seems to be getting a little stronger.  He worked out on a machine that looks like an elliptical machine but you sit down to do it.  He did that for 12 minutes and said he really liked it.  The most exciting news for this week was today, he took his first steps!  It was really exciting and he was really proud of himself!  What a great thing to have experienced!  I am so glad that I got to see it!  I think this next week will be as good, if not better than this week has been.  He is really working hard so he can come home.  He realizes that he isn't strong enough to come home quite yet but is willing to work hard so he can.  He asked our Bishop to give our ward a message from him today.  He wanted everyone to know that he loves his Heavenly Father and that he knows his Heavenly Father loves him and is blessing him.  What more can be said?  Thanks so much for your continued prayers in our behalf!  

Day 74

Bob writing me a letter!

Bob standing at the parallel bars!

Bob standing by the ladder, he used the rungs to help pull himself up!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Great things are starting to really happen with Bob.  He had more good days than bad this past week!  Saturday he stood another 6 times and by the last one, he was using a lot of his own strength to get up.  He did great in all his therapy's this past weekend and even wrote me a letter in occupational therapy, with his right hand.  It was a very sweet letter!  He wanted a blessing on Sunday, so he asked Aram & I to help him call and arrange for that. It was a beautiful blessing and I think it made him feel better about things.  He is starting to remember more and asking more questions about his accident and about other things.  He is still struggling with names and doesn't make sense some of the time, but it is getting better.  Today in therapy, he stood 10 times and did a lot of it with his own strength.  His therapist said that this was by far his best day!  She said that his next challenge will be to start taking steps, with assistance of course, but isn't that great?  It is so exciting to see him coming back and to experience the greatness of the miracles that we are seeing.  His doctor told him today that if he continues to progress and does everything that he needs to do, he thinks he will be coming home sometime in February. Doesn't he look good?  We are all just really proud of what he is doing!  Please pray for him to have the strength he needs to do well in his therapy.  It will be so great to walk along side him again!  Thanks for all the love and support.  When we were explaining some of the accident to him on Saturday, he wanted us to please let everyone know how much he appreciates your love and concern.  

Day 69

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Today was an amazing day!  Bob was the Superstar of IMC!  I think the light switch might be starting to come on.  His day started off with heartfelt phone calls to me and Ryan.  He was just very appreciative and grateful for lots of things today.  He thanked the nurses and therapists for all that they are doing to help him get better.  He played connect 4 with the occupational therapist and did really well.  He played sequential card games with the speech therapist, and wheeled himself in his chair from the dining room to his room after therapy.  He paused for a moment and bowed his head to ask Heavenly Father to help him before his morning physical therapy.  He stood up, with help, at the parallel bars 6 times this morning and stood in the other machine during his afternoon therapy session.  He ate well today and asked a lot of questions about the accident.  He asked the doctor why he (Bob) didn't like him (the doctor) the first day he got there.  For him to remember that, the light switch is definitely starting to come on!  I think everyone knows but if not, he really, really didn't like the doctor the first day he got to IMC.  He even tried to hit him, so this today was good.  The occupational therapist reminded us that he will still have good days and bad days, especially as his cognition gets better.  As he realizes that he can't do something that he use to be able to do, he will get frustrated and angry.  Today was, we hope, the beginning of more better days.  The time frame for coming home is still at 3 - 5 weeks but if he now understands that he needs to work hard to come home, we may see some great improvements in his leg and arm strength, we hope.  The pictures are of him standing at the parallel bars, him wheeling himself back to his room and the healing process of his incision.  Please continue to pray in our behalf, the prayers are definitely working!  Thanks so much for all the support and love that is being sent our way!

Day 65

Sunday, January 22, 2012

I think Bob got on an even bigger roller coaster this past week.  It has been a very hard week for all of us.  He had a couple of good days but the majority were rough.  We had a family meeting with the doctor, a nurse, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, a social worker and someone from the neuro-psych department on Friday.  With input from us and with some research from all of us, we determined that there might be a possibility that some of the medicines might be having an adverse effect on Bob.  They are going to change some of his meds and see if that helps to eliminate some of his "hard moments."  Along with the medications, he is experiencing post traumatic amnesia which is the cause of most of his confusion, anxiety and anger.  He also has aphasia which is the reason he struggles to find the right words to express himself.  The medical people explained that until the confusion lessons, he will continue to struggle with his physical therapy because he can't make sense of why he needs to do it to get stronger.  The meeting was good and helped to make us understand why things are moving slowly in his progression.  They have seen all of what Bob is experiencing, just not all in the same patient.  They reiterated to us again that his injury was extreme and that it is going to take a very long time for Bob to get better.  He had a really good day yesterday and we even went down to the cafeteria for dinner.  He did well feeding himself, even with his right hand!  Please continue to pray for Bob, he needs all that our Heavenly Father sees fit for him.  Thanks for the continued support!

Day 61

This picture is how they lift Bob from his bed to his chair.  They call it the big green pea pod.  It makes it nice for both the nurse and for Bob!

This is Bob and Ali watching Tangled, a favorite for both of them.

Day 58

Monday, January 16, 2012

It has been a week now at IMC and Bob has made some great progress.  They have him standing in 2 different machines for a very few minutes.  It is very painful on his legs but he is doing it!  He had a really bad day on Thursday, they wondered if he had more bleeding on his brain so they took him in for another CT scan.  It didn't show anything new so that was great news!  I think he may have just had a touch of the flu - he complained of a bad headache, he threw up and just didn't feel well.  They gave him medication to help him sleep and he just rested all day.  He was up and ready to go on Friday.  He was extremely grumpy though, with everyone.  We ended his speech therapy early because he was not cooperating at all.  He had a nap and then I talked to him about his attitude and when the kids arrived for a visit, he was feeling much better.  We are on a roller coaster right now, up one moment and down the next.  It's hard to keep up with sometimes!  I'm hoping he is understanding that he needs to work really hard now to get strong so he can come home.  Kami and I had a pep talk with him last night before we left and we are really hoping that he will remember it and keep trying to do what they ask him to do.  He is remembering some things, doing quite well with numbers and letters but can't tell you the names of simple objects.  Kami had some great apps on her I-pad and worked with him on those.  It is very interesting to sit and watch what his responses are, truly amazing how our brain works!  Please continue to pray for Bob, I think the real ride has just begun!  Thanks so much for the support and love being sent our way - people have been truly amazing!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

We finally got Bob moved out of Promise on Friday!  He had another really hard day on Friday but by Saturday, it was a totally different thing.  He spent the day trying to figure out who was married to who.  We had some good laughs and he was acting like what my brother-in-law referred to as a "cheap drunk."  It was a fun day to see him happy and content.  He did well in his physical therapy and the people at the IMC facility are awesome!  We are looking forward to good progress now and I'm sure many new challenges along the way.  He was a little more calm and quiet yesterday, I think he was trying to fit some of the puzzle pieces together by the questions he was asking us.  Just to give you all some glimpse of this healing process, Saturday he got our names right, for the most part, but couldn't tell us the correct time.  Sunday, he didn't get any of our names right but was right on the money with the time.  It is so interesting to see each day, the differences in what is connecting and what isn't.  He is eating now and only has the tube feed at night.  His therapy is 1 1/2 hours in the morning and 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon.  The policy at IMC for visitors is that you try to visit after 3:30 p.m. so it doesn't interfere with his therapy.  Thanks so much for your support - love to all of you!   

 Wednesday, January 4, 2012

These pictures are from rehab at Promise.  Doesn't he look happy in the one?  This is the machine that they pinched his left big toe in and pulled his whole toenail off of his right foot - ouch!!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

We had a pretty rough weekend at Promise.  Since the trach was removed, Bob's sleep apnea has kicked back in.  His C-pap wasn't working because the air was escaping out the hole in his neck, thus, no sleep, upset Bob!  I think it was a combination of no sleep and just the stage that he is in right now, but he is not a happy camper!  He is agitated, angry, paranoid, uncomfortable and just not feeling well.  He didn't make much sense of anything this weekend other than on Saturday, he was determined that he was going home.  The photo below is when he was trying to convince Daxton to got out and convince the nurses that we were going to sneak him out of there.  They moved him into a semi-private room on Thursday afternoon, which just isn't a good thing when you are sick.  With Bob not sleeping and yelling out and being loud, they moved his "room mate" out on Saturday afternoon.  Yesterday late afternoon, the staff came in and moved Bob again, to another semi private room with a new "room mate."  They are sedating him at night which is hard for me, but they say he is out of control and it is for him as well as the other patients.  He wants to kiss the nurses and can't understand why that isn't appropriate.  I am struggling with all of it - it isn't Bob and he would be so upset to know what he is doing and what they are doing to him!  I hope this phase moves quickly and that he will soon know what is going on and be able to remember things and people!  They are talking about moving him to either McKay Dee or Murray acute rehabilitation on Friday, so we will see if he is ready at that time.  Please continue prayers in our behalf, this is by far the hardest thing I have EVER had to go through in my life.  We are far from done and please don't forget about us, we need you and your prayers!  Thanks so much to family members for helping at the hospital - I couldn't do it without you!  Thanks so much to everyone who has visited Bob, we will forever be grateful for your sacrifice!  Thank you!