Wednesday December 30, 2009

Today was an awesome visit. Tahna was there trying to get the nurse to come help him with something. When she went to leave again, he shouted (whisper shouted), "Tahna! Tahna! never mind." It was great to hear him say her name.

Dad has Dysphagia which is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing. It is a sensation that suggests difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. He also has Aphasia which is difficulty in speaking or understanding spoken or written language.

He's been doing awesome on the bike in physical therapy. He's been doing standing crunches on his own and walking with help. He's using his right leg more and more

He asked Tahna how long he's been in the hospital, so he still needs reminding of why he's there.

Sunday Dec 27, 2009

I was able to visit Dad today. It was fun just to spend time with him and mom alone. Rob and Marvin got him a flip mino camera and I was teaching him out to use it. He would grab it out of my hands and try to turn it on. We would record stuff and then re-play it back to him. He would smile. He always loved gadgets like that. Then I showed him my itouch and the fun things it would do. He tried to play with that too.

Mom got him an electric razor. When she showed it to him, he grabbed the box out of her hands and tried to open it. We opened it for him and he instantly grabbed it, turned it on and started shaving his face. He was pretty clean-cut already, but apparently it was bothering him. He shaved himself right there in the wheel chair, then he turned it off and would just turn it over and over looking at it and turning it on and off.

When I told him I had to go, he grabbed my hand and kissed it. It was sweet.

Susie

Saturday December 26, 2009

These last couple of days have been very bittersweet. When I asked dad if he remembered Christmas, he said yes. When I asked him if he knew who I was, he didn't say or do anything, but Jordan called in to my mom on her cell phone and he actually carried on a conversation with him; some you could understand, some you could not. President Monson's wife is on his floor, for some reason (we gave them their privacy), but when I asked Dad if he remembered who President Monson was, he said No. Also, Rob called in and he carried on a conversation to him as well.

He asked me where my "brother" was. I said, "you mean Brett, my husband?" He said, "yes". So he recongnized that someone was supposed to be with me who was not there. He also told Tahna he had to go to the "union"; meaning "bathroom". So his words are hit and miss, as well as who he recognizes and who he doesn't.

Still, when all the grandkids came in, he smiled and gave each a hug. He did more baby talk to Kamryn and when I asked if he'd had a chance to watch the video I made for him of the family, he smiled real big and said Yes.

He's doing very will in all his therapies. We'll find out next week if he'll be able to stay at IMC. He keeps pulling his feeding tube out and he hates it when he's buckled in his wheel chair. He tried to undo his buckle and I told him I'd unbuckle him as long as he didn't try to escape. He said, "oh no, I won't" and he never did try :)

Susie

We were able to see dad tonight. I haven't seen him in over a week because my family's been sick, so what a change! He smiled when the kids came in and we were able to show him the slideshow of the grandkids I made him. He smiled a lot. I asked him if he remembered "so-and-so" and he would shake his head yes, but whether or not that was just automatic reaction, I 'm not sure. He smiled at the cute and funny pictures.

Joe said he had to leave and he said, "why?" Joe said because he had to go get the kids and he asked, "where are they?" So he was comprehending a lot, it seemed.

Rob called mom while we were there and she put the phone up to dad. He listened to what Rob was saying then he started "talking" quite a bit. It was just babble, but I believe he knew exactly what he was saying to Rob, it was just coming out very quickly. He stopped then I heard Rob say, "I'll see you tomorrow" and dad said, "OK". It was so good to see!!

We showed him Lily's pierced ears and he made a fun face like, "ooo, pretty!" and then we showed him Tyson's buzz cut and he laughed.

Oh, what a wonderful day to see him, it was so good and fun to see him sitting up. I asked him if he wanted to lay down, he said no. That's good, since he's always wanted to be in his bed.

What a wonderful Christmas present to us all. Hang in there dad!

Susie

December 21, 2009

I was able to visit dad today for just a little bit. Dad did everything that the physical therapist asked him to do. He did awesome today, but still looked sad. The physical therapist asked me to tell her all about dad, that she wanted to know who he was so she could cheer him up a little. I really like her, her name is Rhonda. She was very engaging with dad. He asked me for a drink of water and I asked him if he was in pain, he said no. He was more aware than I've seen him in a while.

Tahna

I was unable to go all last week because of work, so I had not seen him in a week and wow what a difference! He was sitting up in his chair and his face got bright and he said "Hey guys" when we came in. He asked how we were and just said a few things here and there. I gave kisses and hugs when it was time to leave. He also gave some baby talk to Kamryn which she just loved. It was good to see him like this.

Joe

December 20, 2009

We went up to see Pop today and took the kids.

We passed Uncle Mike in the elevators and he said that Pop had just finished his therapy and was tired. We took the kids up and he was visibly happy to see them. They all said "Hi Grandpa" and the twins told him "Merry Christmas" and then ran around his room probably making him crazy. When we left, he motioned for Preston to come over and he gave him a kiss and gave Jack and Kendy a kiss too. It was awesome. He was tired, so we let him sleep. I did ask him if he wanted us to bring up a Christmas tree and he said, "No". It seems, to Tahna's point, that he was trying to figure out where he was and maybe why. He kept staring at the board on the wall by his bed. I think he was trying to read it and wondering why it didn't make sense. That is just my perception.

I also told him that we are glad he didn't leave us and asked if he wanted to leave us and he shook his head "No".

It sure is good to see him brighten up every once in a while. Let's all pray that he can continue to be there and not get moved to long term care. Mom said that they aren't as aggressive with rehab and therapy in those places. We want him to work.

~Brenda and Tony~