May 13, 2012

Here's Mrs. Doug's latest update!

We've had a very busy and a good week.  No more seizures or any problems like that and for that we are very thankful.  On Tuesday we went to the eye Dr. and tried to see if we could figure out what his vision was like.  There was a test they tried on him that required eye and hand coordination and he wasn't able to do it.  So, they said for him to use his contact in his left eye for reading.  Now, this should be interesting me trying to get the contact in his eye and I'm sure he will be hollering "yep" before we get through. 

On Wed. we went back to Jackson to have the brace refitted and to get the botox shots.  Had to be there by 10:00 and I'm proud to say we were there between 9:30 & 9:45.  Which was good because it took over an hour to get the brace readjusted and then we were off to the Methodist Rehab.  Dr. Jones gave him 8 botox shots in his arm.  It was so neat, she had the needles plugged into a machine that when she stuck the needle into the muscle you could hear a static sound.. The static sound was the muscle spasming and she would give the shot there.  They are already helping with the tightness in the hand and arm.  It doesn't take nearly as long to get his hand in the brace he has to wear.  After we finished with all the Dr. appointments we went and ate a late lunch with his brother Larry and Barbara.   We had a good visit with them and enjoyed our time with them.  We headed home about 3:00 so, we had a really long day on Wed.

Thursday he was busy with all the therapy and getting to walk again after not walking for 2 weeks due to the brace not fitting.

On Friday Leigh Ann the Speech Therapist came and he said 38 words.  He was looking for her on Thursday and I guess he had stored up a lot for her on Friday.  He can say my name real clear now but prefers to call me "yep". I am working on him to get him to start calling me by my name.  I got him to say my name and then I got eye to eye with and told him my  name wasn't "Yep" and he laughed and laughed.

Everyone keeps asking me how I'm really doing.  I am doing OK, we have gotten a routine going and I'm enjoying him.  Before he had the stroke we would always drink coffee together in the afternoon when we got home and we are doing that again.  When I get home for school he is waiting for me and is smiling from ear to ear.  I'm very comfortable with where we are right now and I know it's only going to get better.  I'm not living in a fantasy world and think that it won't take a long time for him to recover or if he will ever fully recover or that it won't be hard and tiring but right now I'm comfortable where we are with what we have and look forward to a bright future together.  Last night I was talking to him and was getting him to say some words and my name and told him about how the Dr's. told me that they didn't he would ever be able to talk again and how I told them I believed he would and that he would preach again.  When I told him that he cried and it encouraged him so much to see how far he has come. 

I'm sure your tired of reading by now.  Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and love.

We love you,

Doug & Dale

Such a fabulous update.  Thank you Mrs. Doug for your model to the rest of us of faithfulness.  You truly are a Proverbs 31 kind of woman and not only is your family blessed to have you, the rest of us are too!  

"¹⁰ An excellent wife, who can find?For her worth is far above jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain...
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:10-11, 15, 30-31