Chewbacca

What a day! Lately, it feels like at the end of each day, I get in bed and the first thought is about how it's been such a busy day! It' s not a bad thing though! Lots of things are happening :)

The morning was busy with OT and RT, lunch in the afternoon, and then it was time for the family meeting. The first moment was a little nerve-racking, when I walked in, and there were 8 staff sitting around a big table, with all eyes on me. I managed to squeak out a soft "hi"...awkward. After the next breath, all was good again. The social worker explained a few things and the meeting started. After each member of the team would speak, they would ask if I had any questions. It was decided that I ask a lot, because for the most part I didn't have any, I had already asked them all :) It was funny because as each person was speaking, they were looking at me and thinking the same thing I was-we've already talked about this. That's okay though, awkward times are good! Haha. We were supposed to talk about where they see Cale is at and what the next little while will hold for us, but decided that they all agreed it was too early to know with him. I'm thinking this might be because of the cold? Not sure.

After everyone was done speaking, the doctor asked if I had anything to add. I talked about what I see as the next 3 stepping stones: 1) Swallowing/getting to eat real food 2) Voice-I really want to hear it! 3) Control bladder-this would just be really nice... :) and than of course I mentioned my overall goal is to get Cale back home with me!! VERY much wanted! I also talked about wanting to get to the point of trust. I know that we've only been here a week; I'm still learning them and they're still learning me. I've been really missing the staff at Wake. All the things Cale has been doing, I wish they could see and be a part of. I keep picturing getting to tell them and wanting to call a million times a day to tell them every detail. I want that again here. I want the staff here to get to the point that they can trust me when I point something out about Cale (like how he's had a cold) and I want to be able to trust them with how they're doing things with him. I think so far it's good and I see that both ways, but again, it's that stage of learning.

Cale did great in speech today. One thing that he did earlier this morning; he's been coughing gunk a lot and I've been trying to get him to cough it out so he can spit. Well, I was making sounds to clear my throat with voice to show him what to do, and he did it...twice! He used his voice! It was so cool! He's done it a few more times since then, but I wouldn't say they were purposeful like the first two times. It's a start though! So in speech, Patricia was trying several different things with Cale. We were able to show off how good he's been with numbers. He's been so great at counting and recognizing lots of numbers. She also started to write words and had him choose the correct answer. The first she wrote his name and a random name, he got his right. Next she wrote my name and than Chewbacca, "Cale, can you point to your wife's name?", Cale looked at each name and pointed to Chewbacca! The next question, she wrote Alabama and Washington, again asking him to point, this time to the state where he was born...he pointed to Washington! What?! You get that one right but your married to Chewbacca?! hahahaha! Oh goodness...I told him I was going to hold that against him for the rest of our lives! We're going to be 88 one day, and I'm going to say "Come here honey, give Chewbacca a big kiss!" ;)

Last thing...well, maybe! In PT today, Cale did so much! He did some balancing, walking with a walker, time on the bike, AND...he stood! It was for at least 30 seconds all by himself! Yes! He still has trouble getting the full balance, but he was standing!!


By standing firm you will gain life. Luke 21:19

Cale and I are not only working on physical strength for him, but we also need to be able to stand firm in our faith through the good, the bad, the hard, the easy, and everything in between. The only way for this to be possible is for us to dig in to God's word TOGETHER everyday, and seek wisdom and grow more intimate with the Lord. It gets hard to do when the days get so busy with therapy's and meetings but we want life-life in Him.



~Just call me Chewie