Friday, August 8, 2008

Under New Management

Now that I am home, Wendy has decided that to earn my keep I am responsible for posting my progress on the blog. I can't guarantee that I will be as eloquent and articulate as she is, but at least you are getting the real story now.

Today I had the distinct privilege of going nowhere. I get pretty tired when I go out so I didn't mind just staying home. I did get my exercise around the house. In addition to my trips to the bathroom and the kitchen table, Wendy suggested that we eat dinner outside on the patio. The trip from my bedroom to the patio is a little ridiculous. After getting my super suit on, putting on my sandals and my ankle brace, and getting up into the walker, I walked all the way down the hall to the living room where I transferred to the wheel chair. Once in the wheel chair I wheeled outside and then had Wendy push me up the ramp of doom. After climbing the ramp it was back to the walker to cross the grass over to the patio. Then I needed a comfortable seat to eat dinner in, so I got back in the wheelchair. That seems like way too many transfers just to eat dinner on the patio, but it was nice to be outside.

My reluctant bowel came back to haunt today and Wendy got some first-hand experience with some of the less pleasant aspects of nursing. However, due to her superb care I am clean and clear again and feeling fine. I think we are both hoping that things wake up and normalize down there soon.

On a brighter note, I discovered that my right leg will now support enough of my weight for me to stand without having to hold on to anything. Now that I am wearing my shell more often I put this ability to use right away. I got up and got my own laptop off the dresser and turned on the air conditioning myself. I am getting much more independent in general, although I think it makes Wendy nervous. While she was at the store I got on to our home computer to fix some things and got back into bed before she got home (don't tell her!). I also finally managed to put on a pair of shorts by myself. I don't think Wendy minded that at all.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are both amazing and we love you all!
Mom West

Sara Liechty said...

It sounds like you are having some great improvements. You are both amazing! We love you!

Tom Rod said...

Back to your old tricks I see :-D

Way to go. I think I am just repeating when I say that it sounds like you're having some remarkable improvements. Keep it up!

ang said...

too much info jeremy!!! i hope the picture you painted in my mind isn't true. =o) congrats on learning to dress yourself again...its the step before potty training so hopefully wendy can stop "nursing first hand" and return to being just your superb wonderful wife soon. ;o) i attended a bunch of workshops today and one of the speakers is a man who had a severe injury playing football that left his one side (arm and leg) hanging for about a year before his determination to show his specialists wrong (they said it was impossible to regain control of those muscles) finally paid off. you couldn't even tell he had ever been paralyzed on that side. moral of the story...keep up the hard work! and keep up the positive thoughts. mind over matter. take care little bro!

Anonymous said...

Keep up the great work Jeremy!!!
Wendy also! It is just amazing what the human body is capable of doing with faith, prayer, and determination. You are in our prayers. We love to hear about your progress.
Love, Uncle Howard and Aunt Diane