Craig: Week 3

Tuesday

Today was a busy day for Josh. Lots of therapy and classes. In wheel chair class they learned how to repair and change tires on their wheel chairs. Josh's repair was the only one that actually worked, and it was a slashed tire. Haha. He's used to changing tires. I made him do mine sometimes ;).

It snowed again today. I thought it was spring? More to come tomorrow. But it'll clear up by Thursday. Good thing because Max n Sandy are flying here with my kids then and if its snowing, Max will turn that plane right around! Haha. He don't do snow.

 

Wednesday

Today was a bummer day. First thing this morning they came in and pumped his veins full of dye so he could do a bone scan. They are worried he might have this thing called Heterotopic Ossification because he has some of the symtoms of it. HO is the abnormal growth of bone in the muscle, tendons or other soft tissue. And when it develops, new bone grows 3 times the normal rate resulting in jagged painful joints. And since it occurs below his level of injury and can't feel it, he could go into Autonomic Dysreflexia. AD is a whole other issue we had to get educated about. Very scary:(. We have not heard back from the results yet.

He also had to have his bladder scoped to make sure he hadn't developed any stones since it is very common with SCI patients. So that's always fun! But his bladder looked good! So because of all the tests and scopes, he had to miss fit class, so that bummed him out.

Well, Josh got upgraded to a less-restricting brace! He didn't know how he felt about that though. It felt weird to have so much more freedom. But he got over that real quick. :) He got to do physical therapy on his stomach. Joe had him do different strength exercises he couldn't do if he had that huge brace on. He worked him pretty hard!

Josh also got a different chair to try out for a couple of days. It's so hard to tell how they feel with a brace on though. :/. After lunch he did the FES bike and OT with Mackenzie. She will be helping us figure out our home mods and which chairs he would need to make his morning routines a little easier. After that Josh did not feel good. Probably from the dye they put in him this morning. So that ended his day.

Haha! So true!

We are so excited to see our kids tomorrow!!!

Thursday

Our sweet little angels made it today! It has been 16 days since I have seen them, but It feels like over a month. I was so happy to see them, I was bawling. Jaxyn was looking at me like what is the matter?! Haha. Well, they got to see their dad in action today. He got to show off his wheelie skills. They thought that was pretty neat! Then he learned how to go through fast closing doors. That was a peice of cake for him though. We hung outside for a bit since it was beautiful. But it didn't take long and the kids were bored. Shocker. Thank goodness my apartment has toys you can check out for the kids. Jaxyn was in heaven! New toys!

The bone scan came back negative for HO! Thank goodness! But, he is not out of the woods. It just confirms the symptoms he is having now are not related to Ho.

Well after dinner I took my boys to my cousin, Emily Bundy's salon to get their hair cut! It was so bad, you couldnt see their ears! Haha! She was so sweet to cut their hair after hours. Plus it was really nice to hang out and talk to her.

Gavyn passed out on the way to Emily's salon.

So we made sure we were really quiet.

Meanwhile, Maddy stayed with Josh and just hung out;)

Then we went back to the apartment and the kids got ready for bed while I got Josh ready for bed :) I hope the kids don't get too bored tomorrow...

Friday

Not much excitement for today. We sat down with our P.T. and O.T. and went over our home modifications. They were really impressed at how wheelchair accessible or house is. I must have been inspired when I was making up the house plans. Josh is going to try out a few transfers next week with the measurements we have now to see how much modifying we really need to do. It may not be as much as I had thought:). We will know for sure next week. Our good friends are ready with a bunch of volunteers to jump in and modify whatever needs to be done. What a huge load off of our shoulders! We are so blessed!

We didn't do much today with the kids. The highlight of their day was going to get groceries at Walmart! I need to do something with them tomorrow. Probably just go to a movie or the aquarium they have here. Josh isn't quite comfortable going out n about just yet. They said he could have a car pass, because his car transfers are really good, but we just aren't ready. Too many 'what ifs' I need answered still. We will have to fly them back out in a month, right before we go home, and go to the zoo or something. I feel bad, but they came to see both of us, not just me. So we will just stick around and hang out. :). I don't know how it's going to work out when they leave though. Jaxyn won't leave my side for a minute! He keeps saying he wants to go home with me, dad, Gavyn and Madalynn. :'). It is so cute and funny, but makes me really sad. I wish he could stay, but he will be soooooo bored and I wouldn't be able to learn all that I need to, which is still a lot! I hope this doesn't scar any of my kids. It's just a couple of months....

 

The kids fighting over giving me snuggles. It turned into more of a doggie pile.

 

Saturday

Today we took the kids to the park. This was Josh's first time leaving the hospital grounds. He did very well on his car transfers. Plus it was a beautiful day, so he got some very much needed vitamin D. After lunch I took the kids to the movie while josh took a nap. We went to see The Croods. It was very funny and the kids enjoyed it too.... Or maybe they were just glad to go do something?

Maddy showing her dad the new trailer for Dispicable Me 2.

So today is the WORCS Side X Side race at Sand Hollow in Utah. It's really a bummer not being there. Tomorrow will even more of a bummer:/ Anyways, they are doing this silent auction there for Josh today. All sorts of people in the industry came together and donated so generously. They even made up these sweet T-shirts and limited edition hats to sell to go towards Josh's foundation. Everyone has been so supportive and generous that words cannot even express how grateful we are. Like I've said before, we are SO feeling loved!!! :')

Sunday

I got to go to church for the first time in a month! Me and Sandy took the kids to the nearest LDS chapel. The people there were so nice, introducing theirselves and asking why we were visiting and when they found out wanted to help in any way possible. Total strangers and already offering to do what ever we needed. We were able to arrange for some priesthood leaders to bring Josh the sacrament today and every week until he can get to church himself. It's so good to know that wherever you are, the church is there for you.

After church we got Josh out of bed and he came and hung out with us in the apartment. Jaxyn helped his dad get there. So sweet :')

This is how we spend time with our kids???

Later that day we took the kids to a huge park to feed the ducks and geese. It was a beautiful day! We took a loaf of bread and let's just say all the ducks, fish and squirrels were all stuffed! Haha

The kids with their piece of bread in hand.

 

We even found a turtle!

My cousin Keith and his wife Kristy swung by and hung out with us at the park too! They live in Green River, but came to Denver to get a truck. So perfect timing:). Then later that evening, Josh's cousin Christel brang us some delicious lasagna. It was so nice to have a home cooked meal and visit with her. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

 

Monday

I am so bummed my kids left this morning. :'(. But before they took off, Jaxyn puked in the car! Thankfully they were just loaded up and hadn't left yet, because as soon as he puked, my older kids made the fastest exit ever! Haha! He told us he had a headache in his tummy. Well, they made it home without any more excitement.

Josh had a full day today! This is what his week looks like right now...

They also put in mat class, which he just LOVES, at 10 today.

They worked on him dressing himself. Hopefully that gets easier. It should without his brace and foley. Then they kicked his but in fit class. They bumped him up to the big dogs today!

That is a 10 lb ball. Not a basketball....

 

Cranking it on his intervals.

His balance has improved so much from last week! He couldn't even put both his arms straight out in front of him without falling to the side. Now he can! Yay! He is transferring so much better and faster. He just learned how to take his wheelchair apart to put it in the car when he is driving by himself. That is a pain in the butt! I'd make sure I had somebody with me or stay home! But, like everything else he's done, it'll get easier.

 

Transferring onto a much higher platform than before. :)

So we have been here at Craig for 3 weeks now. So far they have lived up to all the hype everyone has put out there. We feel so blessed to have the oppertunity to be here. I know this is the place that will get Josh back to normal, even if its a 'new normal'.

 

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