Sunday update

Found Justin in good spirits this morning. Slept in a bit but was raring to go once he had is "java" (lol). Appetite still good and was a bit impressed this evening when he saw himself in the mirror and saw he is getting some "muscle" back.

He is starting to recognize when his legs are hot or cold and said it feels as though he is getting some sensation back. The 'spasms' are getting worse, some really bad. He said they hard worst when laying in bed. He said one nearly through him out of bed, he likes being in the chair now and has pretty much met their goal of trying to do 8 to 12 hours a day in the chair. He said he also realized the more he's in the chair, the less they have to turn him in bed (which sucks as per Justin).

The night nurses told him that the spasms, especially coming so hard and so frequent is a good thing. They said it means things are "waking" up and trying to do work. He said while I was down in the "secret garden"--which isn't a secret, it's the smoking spot so now I just say I'm going to the garden (ha)--he said he was concentrating hard on getting his leg to move. He said he didn't know if he made it move or it was a spasm but it jumped some, then it didn't happen again. He also said it can be exhausting trying so hard to make things move.

Funny the things we take for granted, a simple arm movement--like Justin said, when you go through something like this, it puts perspective on it when you get it back.

He made some calls last night. He seemed extremely tickled today telling me about some of the conversations and people he spoke with. He's getting real good at handling his cell phone and he said they will start him next week on the 'bicycle'--it has electrodes (or some kind of shock thing) that pulses his leg nerves and helps him to peddle a bike (this I've got to see). He said they really work him hard during the week (he can't stand the down time and slow pace during the weekends). We try real hard to keep him company on weekends, at least until the traech comes out, then he can leave the floor without having to have PT or OT with him.

We should know more in the morning about the traech and he finally got a nurse that figured out what kind of meds he needed to help with the spasms. He said other nurses during the week kept telling him they didn't know what he was talking about. Justin listens and pays attention, he corrects me plenty and can tell you what everything means--he should have been a doc, he's paying that much attention to what is said about him.

Busy, busy week--Doc conference in the morning, hopefully will get a better idea of what they anticipate because we still know nothing more than we did 12 days ago. Also get a "team" meeting Thursday, that's when all of the "specialists" get to sit down and express what they think and what the progress has been do far (yippee).

We anticipate coming home after this week, will be there for about 3 weeks. He seems a bit bummed when I tell him we'll only see him weekends but I'm hoping he'll be able to get out of the room by then so he can hang with some other patients (or shoot pool, or something) or maybe they will keep him so busy he'll get tuckered out and won't have so much down time.

Any who, he said as soon as he figures out what he wants to eat, he'll let you know (Aunt Carol) and thanks for the card and words of encouragement.

Appreciated the talk he had with everyone (and seemed like he had a good one with Gibson, thanks). He is SO very much missing his job. I didn't realize how much that child loved his job. He said that was one of the truly awesome things was to be able to say 'you love your job and miss it'.........and I think he's actually "job sick" (like home sick except he wants to be back at work--amazing).

We love you all and continue to recognize the prayers and encouragement are what have gotten us this far. I am blessed and amazed at how long yet short this journey has seemed so far. When I look at Justin now compared to July 3, 2009---people have to believe that miracles still exist in this world.

Thanks to all of you!!! Also, he still says he's walking out of here!!!