Poor Guy...

September is almost over. It's hard for me to believe (and I'm sure a lot of other people!) that October is this week! Yikes! It's strange for me to think that the last thing Cale was seeing in stores was a bunch of red hearts and lots of chocolate. The seasons are passing by, and we're still in a hospital. I'm excited for fall though, I love getting to wear scarfs and boots :) I thought it was going to start cooling way off here...but, today it was over a 100! I forgot I was in CA instead of NY! haha!

In OT, Monica had Cale working on more writing and memory stuff. I'm not a fan of the lack of short-term memory Cale has now. I already know it's going to be a big struggle...it's very much already started. Everyone was thinking that Saturday when we were on the boat, that it would be a big enough thing, that maybe he'd remember more. When I talked with him about it Saturday night, Cale didn't remember the boat, or even leaving the hospital. Blah. It's a daily thing, but I'm praying that God will restore that to Cale's body! It just gets sad when we have special moments or do fun things, and he doesn't remember. All of these things, are being stored so nicely in my heart, but for him, it's in and out.

For the first part of the session in PT, Patty started off with getting Cale to talk and answer questions. He did good; I just feel like that kind of stuff is a day to day thing. He's not consistent with making progress in that area, but that is all cognitive, which is where Cale is having the hardest time. The last half of the session, Cale ate from his lunch tray! It was some kind of turkey-chicken burger thing, and Cale ate almost half of it! He also ate some veggies (woohoo!). I keep explaining to him that every meal he has is like a therapy, it's helping him get better so he can come home with me!

His schedule was mixed up today, so between 2-4, Cale and I went to the store. It was fun taking him along so I could pick up the few things I needed. He really enjoyed it too :) Before getting to the store, I took the Honda to a car wash. When Cale and I were dating, we would go to the car wash for something fun to do. We always loved getting to watch the colorful soap on the windows (we were young and silly!), so that made it special going together today.

When we got back, it was time for a late session of PT. We were only in PT for about 10 minutes, and Cale started saying "all done" three times really fast. After giving him a small break, we tried something different. He was acting really strange and wouldn't let go of his walker at all. I was thinking maybe because it was a new person that worked with him, he didn't trust her. Well, it didn't take long for Cale to say he was done and wanted to sit. At that point I knew something wasn't good...after checking his vitals and getting him back to his room, we decided he was dehydrated. I felt so bad for him. He was saying he was dizzy and felt like he was going to fall. he didn't want to eat dinner either. Until now, he's been getting his tube feeds and any liquid through his tube. Yesterday was the first day that he started having thickened liquids with meals. Now I'll be able to give him lots more water through the day. When I told him it made me sad that he didn't feel good, he said "I don't like it either." By the time I left tonight he seemed to be feeling better!

He was feeling better, but hooked up to a bunch of stuff! They're going to be testing Cale for sleep apnea. It's very common with TBI patients, so we'll see. Even though it's common and can be treated, I don't want him to have it, but if he does, it will be good to get him started on the CPAP device. He looked so sad after they hooked him up and I said goodnight. Poor guy!


My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm 73:26

I read something today that seemed to fit so well with the foot ball season. I'm not a sporty person at all...I can pretend, only until someone watches me play! I always loved the idea, but some how I was born with two left feet. When I try to kick the soccer ball, I think it purposefully moves right when I'm going to kick. If I try to throw, the ball seems to go in it's own direction-maybe it's just always windy? I don't enjoy playing much either. I never know which way I'm supposed to be going...Cale still loves me :) Anyways, I love that even though I may be going all crazy ways on the field, God is rooting for the Darlings and He's on our side!

"God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that's God cheering you on. Look past the finish line; that's God applauding your steps. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He'll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He's picking you up. God is for you. Our devotion may falter, but God's never does."