April 7, 2012

Mrs. Doug called and said they've had a good but busy week.  Janice is in town.  She came in Wednesday and will be here until Tuesday.  Today they took Bro. Dale to Walmart to get tomato plants.  This afternoon they planted the tomato plants and he sat in his wheelchair and pointed to exactly where he wanted the plants.  He wanted to put them in the same place he had them last year.

Janice and Mrs. Doug walked him today by themselves up and down the hallway.  He did really well.  They couldn't figure out how to get his brace on, so he walked without it and did really well.  Mrs. Doug is going to go back to work next week, but she's going to try to come home when the physical therapist is there so she can talk to him about exercises they can do at home.  Next week OT & PT will only come twice a week, so they will have to start doing more of the work themselves to keep him on track.  Glenda, the lady that will be sitting with him, is going to help him with his exercises too.   Mrs. Doug said that she is such a blessing.  Bro. Dale seems to have adjusted to the idea that she's going to be coming and she's so good with him.  She's also really thorough about keeping notes on what any of the therapists say and what all he's done each day so Mrs. Doug can stay informed.  She also knows all of his traditional food preferences (pineapple sandwich and such) that he likes to eat everyday, so he's enjoying eating. 

Mrs. Doug said that Bro. Dale is learning more and more words.  Yesterday in speech the speech therapist got him to say 10 new words.  He works hard with the therapist, but he doesn't really try to initiate words in chatting. 

He and Janice are playing checkers tonight.  He won a set and she has won a set.  He knows what he's doing.    

Keep praying for Mrs. Doug to have the strength to face each day.  I could tell she was tired tonight.  Pray that at night when she gets in bed, she will be able to go to sleep and get good rest.  She admits that this has been hard, but she remains hopeful and trusts God to get them through this.  As they get into their routine and find their groove, we'll probably just do updates here on the blog about once a week unless there's anything in particular that they want to report otherwise.  Please keep them in your prayers each day though. 

"³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:30-31

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9