Post by Kristen Gamauf on Oct 14, 2005 21:27:00 GMT -5
DAY 11 AT EDWIN SHAW
Mike is awesome. He amazes us all every day.
Tonight he just seemed so much more there than other nights this week. He is so sweet, and aside from when he's in therapy, he is mostly mild-mannered.
He said he doesn't like getting blood drawn and waking up early. Goodbye time is the hardest because he begs us to take him home. It will be okay though.
He got to eat some mashed potatoes and gravy today, though he told us it wasn't very tasty, and he only ate half of them.
Mike had so many visitors tonight! It was so cool, because he just comes alive and has the biggest smile whenever someone new walks in. He tells them thanks for coming too when they leave.
He had us, Grandma & Grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in there tonight. They all seemed to bring him something. The boys brought him some of those funny nose/eyebrow/mustache glasses and a extenda-gripper hand from the Dollar Store. They affectionately named it "The Nurse Grabber".
People brought in some magazines, balloons, and other miscellaneous items to look at. The Parkers brought in a stuffed animal Woodstock character and a twisty tie thingy toy (don't know how to describe it but it's cool and he loves it). Mike told them, "You guys didn't have to bring me anything." But he loves opening up a bag and seeing what's in it. He was even reading about Britney Spears in one of his magazines and told us about it! Also, thank you Paul & Nancy (our Uncle & Aunt in PA) for the very nice flowers and balloon.
Grandma was grinning ear to ear the entire night. She gets so excited when Mike says hi to her and that he loves her.
We were doing a lot of reminiscing tonight. Mike seemed a little bit better at remembering memories tonight than other nights.
A couple things I forgot to mention the other day. Mike has gained about 5 pounds. Also, he is off the continuous feeding tube. He now gets bolus (large dose/one shot) feedings, twice a day. This alleviates having an extra long tube hooked to him.
We found out today too that Mike is now on blood thinners. He gets them in his feeding tube in the morning, but Mike hates it. He refused this morning. We asked about it seeing how they were unable to give him blood thinners at AGMC because of the brain injury. The nurse was checking into what the doctor wrote. She said it is probably because he is to the point where the bleeding in the brain has dissipated. None-the-less, we want to be sure everyone is on top of things.
We also can't wait until his trache hole heals. Once that happens, Mike can take a normal bath and can have his hair cut. They can't do it yet because it would be very dangerous if water or hair clippings were to make their way into that wound.
Also, Scott, Mike's friend from Michigan, emailed me tonight. He told me his dog's name is Dakota, that Mike has met his dog, and that Mike always told him Dakota was an awesome dog. So maybe that is where Mike got the name for his stuffed animal.
And I now have all of my crucial supplies for my Halloween costume. I will admit that finding a waist cincher corset was a bit tricky, but seeing how Arlington Plaza has a store especially for the girls who work at the Platinum Horse, I was able to find one for $4.99. Beats the $68 Mr. Funs wanted for one!! And just to remind you, my costume is very classy and from the movie Van Helsing, and the corset is not used in such a manner as the girls at the Platinum Horse would use it. It is grey, so Grandma is going to help me dye it black. I bought some gold trim and embellishments at JoAnn Fabrics today to use with the costume. I have fabric glue for that. Technology is now antiquating sewing. But the dye, that is an art. Grandma is a pro at stuff like that. She has helped salvage so many shirts that my dad has put in with Iron Out in the wash. Mike & I owe her big time. In fact, one time Mike counted 75 patches in his favorite work jeans that Grandma had made for him. She's a good grandma.
Well, we will be back down tomorrow at noon to see Mike's therapy. I am off to start working on my costume. Goodnight.
Mike is awesome. He amazes us all every day.
Tonight he just seemed so much more there than other nights this week. He is so sweet, and aside from when he's in therapy, he is mostly mild-mannered.
He said he doesn't like getting blood drawn and waking up early. Goodbye time is the hardest because he begs us to take him home. It will be okay though.
He got to eat some mashed potatoes and gravy today, though he told us it wasn't very tasty, and he only ate half of them.
Mike had so many visitors tonight! It was so cool, because he just comes alive and has the biggest smile whenever someone new walks in. He tells them thanks for coming too when they leave.
He had us, Grandma & Grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in there tonight. They all seemed to bring him something. The boys brought him some of those funny nose/eyebrow/mustache glasses and a extenda-gripper hand from the Dollar Store. They affectionately named it "The Nurse Grabber".
People brought in some magazines, balloons, and other miscellaneous items to look at. The Parkers brought in a stuffed animal Woodstock character and a twisty tie thingy toy (don't know how to describe it but it's cool and he loves it). Mike told them, "You guys didn't have to bring me anything." But he loves opening up a bag and seeing what's in it. He was even reading about Britney Spears in one of his magazines and told us about it! Also, thank you Paul & Nancy (our Uncle & Aunt in PA) for the very nice flowers and balloon.
Grandma was grinning ear to ear the entire night. She gets so excited when Mike says hi to her and that he loves her.
We were doing a lot of reminiscing tonight. Mike seemed a little bit better at remembering memories tonight than other nights.
A couple things I forgot to mention the other day. Mike has gained about 5 pounds. Also, he is off the continuous feeding tube. He now gets bolus (large dose/one shot) feedings, twice a day. This alleviates having an extra long tube hooked to him.
We found out today too that Mike is now on blood thinners. He gets them in his feeding tube in the morning, but Mike hates it. He refused this morning. We asked about it seeing how they were unable to give him blood thinners at AGMC because of the brain injury. The nurse was checking into what the doctor wrote. She said it is probably because he is to the point where the bleeding in the brain has dissipated. None-the-less, we want to be sure everyone is on top of things.
We also can't wait until his trache hole heals. Once that happens, Mike can take a normal bath and can have his hair cut. They can't do it yet because it would be very dangerous if water or hair clippings were to make their way into that wound.
Also, Scott, Mike's friend from Michigan, emailed me tonight. He told me his dog's name is Dakota, that Mike has met his dog, and that Mike always told him Dakota was an awesome dog. So maybe that is where Mike got the name for his stuffed animal.
And I now have all of my crucial supplies for my Halloween costume. I will admit that finding a waist cincher corset was a bit tricky, but seeing how Arlington Plaza has a store especially for the girls who work at the Platinum Horse, I was able to find one for $4.99. Beats the $68 Mr. Funs wanted for one!! And just to remind you, my costume is very classy and from the movie Van Helsing, and the corset is not used in such a manner as the girls at the Platinum Horse would use it. It is grey, so Grandma is going to help me dye it black. I bought some gold trim and embellishments at JoAnn Fabrics today to use with the costume. I have fabric glue for that. Technology is now antiquating sewing. But the dye, that is an art. Grandma is a pro at stuff like that. She has helped salvage so many shirts that my dad has put in with Iron Out in the wash. Mike & I owe her big time. In fact, one time Mike counted 75 patches in his favorite work jeans that Grandma had made for him. She's a good grandma.
Well, we will be back down tomorrow at noon to see Mike's therapy. I am off to start working on my costume. Goodnight.