February 11, 2012

Mrs. Doug is staying in Baldwyn tonight.  She hadn't planned to stay, but Bro. Dale didn't want her to leave.  When she said she was going to, he shook his head no.  She asked him if he wanted her to stay and he nodded yes.  So, she decided to stay.  She said he's had a rather emotional day.  He was so glad to see her come in this morning and he motioned for her to sit down and he held her close. 

She said that his stitches looked really good and they are going to see about taking them out next week.  They don't do therapy on the weekends, but she had him working.  :)  She said she had him lifting his right leg up and then bend it and pull it toward him.  She had him repeat that 10x.  He wanted to stop after about 5 and she told him no that he had to do 5 more!  She said his right hand was not looking as swollen today and it was more relaxed looking so she rolled up some washcloths and put in his hand to help him keep it flexed. 

He got a call from Janice and Johanna today.  He is still not able to say more than "well, good" but he is really trying.  But he has learned to control his voice better when saying that so that it is very clear and he doesn't cough as much.  That's without the speaking valve on the trach.  They only cover the trach when he's in therapy and they can monitor him.  Mrs. Doug said that even though the speech therapist at Baldwyn is doing so much with him, they really specialize in getting the speech better in Jackson, so she's looking forward to seeing what he will say next! 

^"1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
   and make his face shine upon us,
 ² that your ways may be known on earth,
   your salvation among all nations.
 ³ May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you rule the peoples justly
   and guide the nations of the earth.                         
⁵ May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you.
 ⁶ Then the land will yield its harvest,
   and God, our God, will bless us.
⁷ God will bless us,
   and all the ends of the earth will fear him."  Psalm 67