May 27, 2012

Here's Mrs. Doug's emailed update:

Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long between updates but with the last week of school and busy last week we just didn't get an update done.  A lot has happened since we last updated.  We now have the leg brace fitting good and his walking is so much better.  The therapist or I whichever is walking  only have to hold on to him with one hand now.  I am trying to work in walking twice a day when we are here during the week.  It will be so exciting to be able to walk into church.  The girls have all told him they want him to walk out and meet them when they come home in July.  We all decided that we needed to stay here this summer for vacation and the girls and the grans are coming here the week of the 4th of July for a week:) 

In speech therapy he is up to almost 50 words.  Today he said Buster his dog's name.  We have had a lot of fun with my name.  I tell him my name is not 'yep.' He can say both of our name names.  Today he said Doug & Dale just as clear as I can but when he wants me he says yep. HA!  I just keep reminding him to call me by my name.  He doesn't  try to talk or use the words he has learned yet.  Everyone I have talked to about people who have had strokes like Dale's says that one day it just clicks.  I know he gets frustrated, he did today and got upset because he couldn't say a word I wanted him to say.  There is one thing that one of the Dr.'s told us in Tupelo to be careful not to say "I know how you feel."  I have to watch myself about this.  When I say this to him I correct myself and tell him I can't imagine how hard it is for him and he nods that it's true that it is so hard.  When he isn't focusing so hard on what he is trying to say, what he is thinking just comes out.  I was telling him something about his little pickup and he looked at me and said "What".  So, when he doesn't think to hard about it, just comes out.  He is doing so good with his speech.  When he gets started on words and can't get the exact word out he starts rhyming words he can say and acting silly and we both laugh.  I have told him he would probably talk before the summer is over with me around or not have any hair one.  That is because when he is trying to tell me something and I have no clue what he is talking about and I finally guess one more thing, he will rub his head and slap his leg and say "shoot".  Could be worse.

We are going to have his right arm and shoulder checked out further and get a shoulder brace to help bring that right shoulder up.  He still has a lot of pain in that right shoulder and arm.  The botox shots have helped so much with the tightness in his hand and arm.  We still don't have movement in the right arm or hand.

Please, pray for patience for him and encouragement.  He wants things to go faster and we both know it's going be a long road.  He has been a little down the last couple of days. 

Now, I also need your prayers.  On Friday of this coming week I have to have a breast biopsy.  I found a small lump this week and went to the Dr.  Thursday and they decided they need to do a biopsy on it.  So I'm having it done next Friday. Pray that when I get there it will be gone or get a good report.  The problem I have is that they told me after the biopsy I couldn't lift anything heavy or pull on anything heavy for 24hrs.  I'm going to need some help with Dale for that 24hrs.

We have gotten into a good routine in the mornings. I get up and walk and he is usually awake when I get back.  After breakfast he goes about his usual routine.  He brushes his teeth and then he comes to the bar and shaves.  He uses an electric razor for now because if he used a regular one he would be shaving with the left hand and the blood thinner he is on might not be a good combination.    Oh, there is a bath thrown in there somewhere. HA   All in all we are truly blessed that he is as far along as he is.  There is so much he understands it's amazing.  Praise the Lord.

Love you,

Doug

Luke 18:27  “ The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” (words of Jesus)