Answers to our questions

For all of those with questions, here goes our best attempt:

Monday--he claims he wasn't lost. There's a hallway on his floor that gives the uneducated (like we first were) the impression that you can cross over from the Shepherd building to the Marcus building---but you can't. That pathway, walkway like area, leads to doors similar to those you would see at the CCU ward, locked with signs saying no admittance except by employees that pertain to what appears some top secret area.

Any whos, Justin found that walkway area and said that's his spot to go to get warm for one thing, the sun beats through the windows and it's more comfortable than the 65 degrees they keep everything else. Also gives him time to get away from everyone. I guess no one thought to check there since it's not a spot that most personnel frequent.

His call to his dad that day was a fluke, they were doing some new things in PT/OT and he ended up dialing his dad and didn't realize it so when dad called him back, he didn't answer and didn't check his phone for voicemail or texts.

Tuesday found him tired and trying out a manual chair so Wednesday really had him wore out. He does have his collar off and is doing really good with that. He got his feeding tube out yesterday and continues to say how 'weird' he is. He can feel things internally yet can't feel the sensation of that same thing externally. Even the staff are confused sometimes by how he explains what he feels--time and prayer will tell!!!

We got in around 2am Atlanta time, found our room and crashed out with intentions of getting back up 4 1/2 hours later. That turned into 5 1/2 hours later which resulted in a phone call from Justin by 9:15 wanting to know if we were almost ready. He decided to do an 'outing' which was a trip to Cumberland Mall. Robyn was first one ready by call time so she took the baby to meet up with them and ride out to the mall. Dad and I (after getting turned around and briefly lost) managed to make it out there around 11:30 just in time for lunch and a short shopping spree.

Dad took him for some shorts and shirts at American Eagle while Robyn and I took off with son in car-like roller to hunt a dress for Robyn. He seemed to enjoy the outing with respect that it was nice for him to be out with his son and not be so stir crazy staying at Shepherd all the time. Unfortunate side about it all was that he was under the impression that the outing finalized our 'day pass' training and he wanted to cross the street and treat everyone to some TGIF---didn't work out, PT nurse is off this week and she didn't sign off on our training so we couldn't leave the premises. This of course wasn't the best news and Justin got a bit perturbed. I'm hoping this will not set in some anger or depression. I told him it was just another week, she'll be back Monday, we'll be back Friday to finalize what she wants then we can get him out next weekend. Pray for a good week for him (or better yet, pray for the nurses--he's gonna be a tyrant)

AMANDA---thanks for the package, yes he did get it, he said thank you very much. He said that while he prefers spray deoderant he used what you sent and said it smells "GOOOOOD". He truthfully is liking whatever flavor it is that you found!!!

Susan---he got the card and wanted to say Thank you!! Of course, you know Justin--he had to approach it with the "Aw, wasn't that so sweet" Justin personality but it's taped to his locker door staring at him everyday.

Lydia---he showed Doc the "da**it doll"; he told him he if he didn't watch it he would use it on him (ha ha). He has a nurse here whose husband graduated from LSU and got a blanket there from when he was studying there. It is a nice blanket, this couple gave it to Justin. He wants us to pick out an extra special thank you card for them and he's without doubt daring someone to touch that thing. She went home telling her husband what an avid fan he was so they gave it to him, go figure the kindness of people.

We couldn't do TGIF so we did cafeteria food. He managed to eat all his tater tots by himself with his own fingers (all the tots, even the ones that thought they were too low in the take-out container for him to get to--lol). We cut up his turkey burger into wedges and while he thought it was a good idea, he managed to eat that too, with the help of his 'eating apparatus'.