Post by Kristen Gamauf on Nov 4, 2005 10:48:33 GMT -5
Well, since you guys are obviously still checking this out, I'll give you an update.
MIKE IS HOME! IT IS MORE AWESOME THAN WE COULD EVER IMAGINE!
He is eating a lot still, and enjoying the cable Grandma & Grandpa had installed for us (thanks!). However, I fear it might make him into a couch potato!
We moved his bed downstairs and put the dining room table up in his room. He sleeps in the bed and Mom is sleeping on the couch for a bit till he is more steady at night (she is a light sleeper, Dad isn't).
Mike is walking better at home than when he was in therapy. It is weird! But good. However, he still needs a little watching over sometimes.
I managed to convince him to sit up in a chair and work his arms a bit. We tried to stretch his legs too. Thursday he just was feeling a little icky, but seems to get better with time. I think it is the adjusting to all the different foods and stuff.
I am in Akron right now, between classes. I decided I better drag my butt to class. At home, we don't quite have the internet set up yet, so I am slow to get emails and such (dial-up). I also hadn't read any posts since Wednesday either. Once we have the fast internet set up in Wadsworth, I'll be able to upload new pictures and stuff.
As far as I know, today's mission for Mike, since it is so nice, is to get him out to his car, and probably take him around the block in it or something.
Mike had many visitors yesterday. Grandma & Grandpa came over and we cooked out hamburgers and hotdogs. Also, Brian stopped by, and later his dad stopped by to see Mike. He hadn't seen him since Mike was in the SICU just starting to open the eyes, so he was amazed. Kurt stopped by as well.
Also, I should note, Wednesday night when we got home with Mike, Deonna was there waiting and shared in the celebration. We picked Louie up from the Akron house on the way home from Edwin Shaw and she is so happy to be home. She is a country cat, and likes going outside. When they moved Mike's bed downstairs, Louie claimed it. It was as if she thought, "Wow, after all these years they finally brought the bed down here for me." Mike enjoys being with Louie just lounging around.
Once all the house stuff is in place (i.e. bars for the toilet), then the plan is to get Mike into a daily schedule of things. Thanks to all our relatives who've had a lot of equipment and let us borrow it. We got a shower seat from Uncle Bus and a wheelchair from Aunt Jean. Also, I know we've got lots of canes, walkers, etc. in the family, and Grandma has some hospital tables from her stint at Invacare. We are lucky, cause that stuff costs a bundle!
Hmm, other than that, I've got one more class and then I am back home. It feels like waking up from a bad dream. It feels like you've got this second chance and you have to make up for the lost time and the fact that you came so close to losing him. When I was getting ready for class I walked by his bed (it is impossible not to...) and he was sleeping there and it was like, Wow he's there. I had to almost pinch myself.
So now, when I thought it would be easier to get back to "normal", whatever that is, I am finding that I want to be there, home, more than anything. It is funny cause I once told you guys that I had no desire to go home to Wadsworth because no one I loved was there. Well now, I wanna go home to Wadsworth cause everything I love is there! Anyways, it proves that home is relative.
I'll try and get the internet hooked up soon so that I can continue giving you guys updates, but I'll admit it has been nice having a break and just enjoying time with family. We have a long road of recovery ahead, but it is much easier to deal with it if you can do something about it (unlike when he was unconscious)!
I'll throw something up here soon hopefully with pictures and maybe a video shot...
MIKE IS HOME! IT IS MORE AWESOME THAN WE COULD EVER IMAGINE!
He is eating a lot still, and enjoying the cable Grandma & Grandpa had installed for us (thanks!). However, I fear it might make him into a couch potato!
We moved his bed downstairs and put the dining room table up in his room. He sleeps in the bed and Mom is sleeping on the couch for a bit till he is more steady at night (she is a light sleeper, Dad isn't).
Mike is walking better at home than when he was in therapy. It is weird! But good. However, he still needs a little watching over sometimes.
I managed to convince him to sit up in a chair and work his arms a bit. We tried to stretch his legs too. Thursday he just was feeling a little icky, but seems to get better with time. I think it is the adjusting to all the different foods and stuff.
I am in Akron right now, between classes. I decided I better drag my butt to class. At home, we don't quite have the internet set up yet, so I am slow to get emails and such (dial-up). I also hadn't read any posts since Wednesday either. Once we have the fast internet set up in Wadsworth, I'll be able to upload new pictures and stuff.
As far as I know, today's mission for Mike, since it is so nice, is to get him out to his car, and probably take him around the block in it or something.
Mike had many visitors yesterday. Grandma & Grandpa came over and we cooked out hamburgers and hotdogs. Also, Brian stopped by, and later his dad stopped by to see Mike. He hadn't seen him since Mike was in the SICU just starting to open the eyes, so he was amazed. Kurt stopped by as well.
Also, I should note, Wednesday night when we got home with Mike, Deonna was there waiting and shared in the celebration. We picked Louie up from the Akron house on the way home from Edwin Shaw and she is so happy to be home. She is a country cat, and likes going outside. When they moved Mike's bed downstairs, Louie claimed it. It was as if she thought, "Wow, after all these years they finally brought the bed down here for me." Mike enjoys being with Louie just lounging around.
Once all the house stuff is in place (i.e. bars for the toilet), then the plan is to get Mike into a daily schedule of things. Thanks to all our relatives who've had a lot of equipment and let us borrow it. We got a shower seat from Uncle Bus and a wheelchair from Aunt Jean. Also, I know we've got lots of canes, walkers, etc. in the family, and Grandma has some hospital tables from her stint at Invacare. We are lucky, cause that stuff costs a bundle!
Hmm, other than that, I've got one more class and then I am back home. It feels like waking up from a bad dream. It feels like you've got this second chance and you have to make up for the lost time and the fact that you came so close to losing him. When I was getting ready for class I walked by his bed (it is impossible not to...) and he was sleeping there and it was like, Wow he's there. I had to almost pinch myself.
So now, when I thought it would be easier to get back to "normal", whatever that is, I am finding that I want to be there, home, more than anything. It is funny cause I once told you guys that I had no desire to go home to Wadsworth because no one I loved was there. Well now, I wanna go home to Wadsworth cause everything I love is there! Anyways, it proves that home is relative.
I'll try and get the internet hooked up soon so that I can continue giving you guys updates, but I'll admit it has been nice having a break and just enjoying time with family. We have a long road of recovery ahead, but it is much easier to deal with it if you can do something about it (unlike when he was unconscious)!
I'll throw something up here soon hopefully with pictures and maybe a video shot...