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!