They have completely taken Bro. Dale off the oxygen now and he is doing really well with it! They've only had to suction him twice today too, so that's good too. Whitney Casey came by today in time to go in during his therapy for a little while. They had Bro. Dale standing for about 25 minutes in the harness and he's doing really well with that. They have a peg board for him to put pegs in, which helps him develop more fine motor skills and his hand-eye coordination.
He did not meet with the OT today. The speech therapist had him saying, "wow" and "good" again. At one point she was using a sponge and sticking way back in his throat to see how his gag reflex was working. She said that it was working well and he is definitely swallowing. She thinks he is ready for a swallow test. They might wait until after the surgery to do that. One of the nurses came in at one point today and asked him if he wanted his television left on and she turned expecting him to motion and instead he said, "no" very clearly. He was wearing the speaking valve at that point. He is wearing that some, but not all the time.
Mrs. Doug got her first experience with shaving him with a regular razor today. She has only been using an electric one so far. They had a good laugh at how she had shaving cream until it was nearly all over his head. He didn't let her stop shaving him until it was just like he wanted it. She said he didn't bleed to death, so she was proud of that.
Yesterday she didn't go up there, but she did call to check on him and they told her that he had a good day. He had been really busy and at one point he was kinda clammy but his blood pressure and heart rate were great. They think it's because he's up more and doing more now.
Today he also had visits from Cheryl Mallory, Tina Dye and Jonathan Crum. They had a really good visit.
Mrs. Doug said that she's getting to where she really misses having him at home and is glad to see him when she gets the chance. She suggested that she stay there tonight and just sit on the side of the bed and talk to him, but he shook his head "no." :) She said that she has been feeling a little more balanced with working and being with him, which has helped reduce some of her stress. She has been reading the cards from everyone to him. He takes the cards and studies them. She's not sure if he can read them, but she thinks he is testing to see if he can. It's as if he knows that he used to be able to read it or make it out and he is testing to see if it's improving. She talked to him again today about the upcoming surgery. She touched the part of his head where the skull is missing and told him that they were going to get it fixed. He is very conscious that it is not there. He nodded in agreement as she told him that.
"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1
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