Monday, Oct 25, Day 17-
We had such a great weekend!! Jed is just tearing it up in therapy. He can walk all by himself with no cane and support! This morning he got out of bed this morning and came and kissed me while I was sleeping and said "Good morning sweetie" He's such a cutie. But when the Dr found out that he was walking around on his own he really scolded Jed and told him he needs to use the cane with someone always next to him for the next week or so. The last thing we want is to have him fall and hit his head or break a bone, so we understand. Jed is just really anxious to be all better and back to normal. His balance and focus still need practice. They are teaching him to do things with one hand until he gets his left arm working again. He can completely dress himself from top to shoes all by himself and can button up a dress shirt and tie a tie all one handed! It is not easy what he's going thru, he has his moments where he says- this really sucks. But most of the time he has a positive attitude and is willing to do whatever it takes to get better and stronger. It's a good thing that he's worked out so faithfully for the last 10 years cause that habit and routine is helping him do so well in therapy and it helps that his right side is strong already to do what the left side can't. On Sunday we went to a 30 minute sacrament meeting in the hospital and Jed really loved it. He said thats how all sacrament meetings should be- short and sweet and just a half an hour :) The BYU young ambassadors came to our floor and sang some beautiful hymns that evening. Jed was so touched and was trying so hard to control the crying. I think he used up the whole box of tissues. But I think everyone in the gathering room was crying so no one would have noticed- it was very spiritual. The songs we heard were " I Need Thee Every Hour", "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "I am a Child of God". And to end the night Jed wiggled his toes on his left foot! We were so excited! Now if he could just wiggle those fingers! Today went great- I don't know if I mentioned this before but we get to go home tomorrow! (Tuesday) I can't describe how happy we are to go home. I never knew how much I loved our little apartment until all of this. It really makes you appreciate all the stupid things you took for granted. It feels better than Christmas Eve tonight.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Day 14
Friday, Oct 22, Day 14-
Jed slept so good last night, therefore so did I! He did so good in PT today! He walked with just the cane and nothing else and then he lifted up the cane in the air and kept walking! So he walked on his own for the first time! Since he has that down, he worked on walking side ways and backwards which is still really difficult. His legs still have a long way to go, but we're so glad that he's walking :) We had a pizza party tonight which was really fun. Jed and I have a tradition of always getting Little Caesar's on Friday nights so Little Caesar's it was! I brought Ammon to the hospital tonight and it was fun to have our whole little family there. Ammon has been so good thru all of this and always gives Jed a big love and pats him softly when he goes to him. It's really cute, you can tell that he knows his daddy isn't feeling good. Well I guess thats it for today-goodnight..
Jed slept so good last night, therefore so did I! He did so good in PT today! He walked with just the cane and nothing else and then he lifted up the cane in the air and kept walking! So he walked on his own for the first time! Since he has that down, he worked on walking side ways and backwards which is still really difficult. His legs still have a long way to go, but we're so glad that he's walking :) We had a pizza party tonight which was really fun. Jed and I have a tradition of always getting Little Caesar's on Friday nights so Little Caesar's it was! I brought Ammon to the hospital tonight and it was fun to have our whole little family there. Ammon has been so good thru all of this and always gives Jed a big love and pats him softly when he goes to him. It's really cute, you can tell that he knows his daddy isn't feeling good. Well I guess thats it for today-goodnight..
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Day 15
Thursday, Oct 21, Day 15-
Jed kind of had a rough night again and didn't get very much sleep. I think that's one of the reasons he was down today. He did great in PT and walked without anything supporting his foot and just the cane. He's getting better and better at it, he still has to have someone holding onto the back of him for balance but will probably not need that too soon! He really gets discouraged in OT and sometimes Speech. His arm still is coming slow but she said she can feel his shoulder getting stronger and thats common to be the first muscle to come back. He had her put a dumb bell in his hand to trigger his brain to move something familiar, but no luck. In speech therapy they ask him some problem solving and sequencing and math equations type of things. He gets them right, but has to think about it for a little bit. He gets frustrated because he said he never had to think about those things before, they just came. But they said the brain is still healing and that he's showing great improvement everyday. Since I stayed the night with him, I left after his morning sessions of therapy. I could tell that Jed was really sad and I left feeling really sad myself. I try not to reflect his mood but when he's down, trying not to show it-I'm down. I had the afternoon to spend with Ammon and I took him home and tried to both take a nap. Before I did, I got on my knees and plead with the Lord to please give us comfort. To give us some hope that Jed's arm will do something without stimulation. About 30 minutes later, Jed called me and sounded really happy. I asked how therapy went and he said "great! I did a push up!" I couldn't believe it- I was so excited! It was on his knees of course but it was so huge to me. I really felt like it was an answer to my prayer. Then we got permission to go to out for a couple of hours. I dropped Ammon off at my best friend Brianne's house, who has been helping watch him during all this, (my sweet, dear parents have had him most the time) and met Jed and his mom at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries in Sandy. Jed LOVED it and then we went to my dear old Sonic (I worked there in high school, and yes I skated) and got some milkshakes. Then we went up to my parents and they brought out my sister's new baby and Jed got to hold her for a little bit in the car. Our outing really brightened our day and we had a great rest of the evening together talking about all the things we're going to do when we get home, and when Jed gets better, and how we're going to do so many more things in life. One of the things that we didn't really do before was we hardly ever said family prayers together. We did when we first got married, but I think it only lasted a week! We have had family prayer everynight since we've been here and it has been very special to us. Together we listen as one of us speaks to the Lord and thanks him for our blessings and petitions for his continued help thru this. Jed gives the most incredible prayers. I told him tonight I wish I could write them down, they're so pure and they touch me so deep. He never forgets to express his gratitude for all that we have been blessed with, and never forgets to ask blessings on those who are on this floor or others in need and for all those that have helped us during this time. I'm staying the night with him again and will cross my fingers that we both sleep!
Jed kind of had a rough night again and didn't get very much sleep. I think that's one of the reasons he was down today. He did great in PT and walked without anything supporting his foot and just the cane. He's getting better and better at it, he still has to have someone holding onto the back of him for balance but will probably not need that too soon! He really gets discouraged in OT and sometimes Speech. His arm still is coming slow but she said she can feel his shoulder getting stronger and thats common to be the first muscle to come back. He had her put a dumb bell in his hand to trigger his brain to move something familiar, but no luck. In speech therapy they ask him some problem solving and sequencing and math equations type of things. He gets them right, but has to think about it for a little bit. He gets frustrated because he said he never had to think about those things before, they just came. But they said the brain is still healing and that he's showing great improvement everyday. Since I stayed the night with him, I left after his morning sessions of therapy. I could tell that Jed was really sad and I left feeling really sad myself. I try not to reflect his mood but when he's down, trying not to show it-I'm down. I had the afternoon to spend with Ammon and I took him home and tried to both take a nap. Before I did, I got on my knees and plead with the Lord to please give us comfort. To give us some hope that Jed's arm will do something without stimulation. About 30 minutes later, Jed called me and sounded really happy. I asked how therapy went and he said "great! I did a push up!" I couldn't believe it- I was so excited! It was on his knees of course but it was so huge to me. I really felt like it was an answer to my prayer. Then we got permission to go to out for a couple of hours. I dropped Ammon off at my best friend Brianne's house, who has been helping watch him during all this, (my sweet, dear parents have had him most the time) and met Jed and his mom at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries in Sandy. Jed LOVED it and then we went to my dear old Sonic (I worked there in high school, and yes I skated) and got some milkshakes. Then we went up to my parents and they brought out my sister's new baby and Jed got to hold her for a little bit in the car. Our outing really brightened our day and we had a great rest of the evening together talking about all the things we're going to do when we get home, and when Jed gets better, and how we're going to do so many more things in life. One of the things that we didn't really do before was we hardly ever said family prayers together. We did when we first got married, but I think it only lasted a week! We have had family prayer everynight since we've been here and it has been very special to us. Together we listen as one of us speaks to the Lord and thanks him for our blessings and petitions for his continued help thru this. Jed gives the most incredible prayers. I told him tonight I wish I could write them down, they're so pure and they touch me so deep. He never forgets to express his gratitude for all that we have been blessed with, and never forgets to ask blessings on those who are on this floor or others in need and for all those that have helped us during this time. I'm staying the night with him again and will cross my fingers that we both sleep!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day 14
Wednesday, Oct 20, Day 14-
Wow, it has been a week today that Jed started rehab- and I am amazed at how far he's come. He walked up a whole flight of stairs and down with hardly any help, and his walking is looking better and better. He still uses the cane and the therapist holds his belt, but his balance is looking better and his foot is picking up more. He kind of felt pretty discouraged in OT because his arm isn't moving like his leg is. They can't tell us if it will return or not but Jed and I are trying so hard to hold on to that hope. Hope- is my favorite word I decided. It has so much power and influence that I never knew until now. If I ever start to lose hold of it I can tell, and it feels terrible. What keeps my hope alive when I feel it start to fade- is faith. I have faith that everything happens for a reason and so does Jed- we had a good talk about that tonight during our family scripture study. We have had so many blessings and miracles during this trial and He's not going to abandon us now.. "Hope and faith cannot exist without the other" I never understood that scripture until now. I always thought they were they same thing, but I have learned how different they are. Tonight we also read one of my favorite scriptures in Prov 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. Acknowedge Him in all thy ways, and He shall direct thy paths."
Today was special because it was just Jed and me. We have had so much support that someone else is usually here, which we absolutely love- but it was nice to just have time together alone. We had a little nap together, and then I took Jed down to the cafeteria and we had dinner together and then watched a movie. It was the new Karate Kid, Jed was so cute he cried a lot thru it :) He said it motivated him and is ready for tomorrow! Thanks for kicking Jed out of St. George Bonnie! I think he's to Filmore maybe, he acted so Jed today. Its still really hard for him to focus sometimes, but he really is doing so great and I see it get better everyday. We also had some good news today- that they think that Jed will be able to walk on his own by next week and if so we will go home on Tuesday. Jed wants to go home so bad- and I can't wait till our little family can be together again. Then a Home Care called Rehab Without Walls is going to come to our house and work with Jed almost everyday! It will be more one on one, more hours, and they specialize in brain related rehab. The biggest blessing of it all is that its unusual for insurance to cover this but another tender mercy- ours does. The only thing that would have made this day better is if I had my little Ammon with me :( I haven't seen him since this morning and I'm spending the night with Jed so I can't wait to see him tomorrow....
Wow, it has been a week today that Jed started rehab- and I am amazed at how far he's come. He walked up a whole flight of stairs and down with hardly any help, and his walking is looking better and better. He still uses the cane and the therapist holds his belt, but his balance is looking better and his foot is picking up more. He kind of felt pretty discouraged in OT because his arm isn't moving like his leg is. They can't tell us if it will return or not but Jed and I are trying so hard to hold on to that hope. Hope- is my favorite word I decided. It has so much power and influence that I never knew until now. If I ever start to lose hold of it I can tell, and it feels terrible. What keeps my hope alive when I feel it start to fade- is faith. I have faith that everything happens for a reason and so does Jed- we had a good talk about that tonight during our family scripture study. We have had so many blessings and miracles during this trial and He's not going to abandon us now.. "Hope and faith cannot exist without the other" I never understood that scripture until now. I always thought they were they same thing, but I have learned how different they are. Tonight we also read one of my favorite scriptures in Prov 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. Acknowedge Him in all thy ways, and He shall direct thy paths."
Today was special because it was just Jed and me. We have had so much support that someone else is usually here, which we absolutely love- but it was nice to just have time together alone. We had a little nap together, and then I took Jed down to the cafeteria and we had dinner together and then watched a movie. It was the new Karate Kid, Jed was so cute he cried a lot thru it :) He said it motivated him and is ready for tomorrow! Thanks for kicking Jed out of St. George Bonnie! I think he's to Filmore maybe, he acted so Jed today. Its still really hard for him to focus sometimes, but he really is doing so great and I see it get better everyday. We also had some good news today- that they think that Jed will be able to walk on his own by next week and if so we will go home on Tuesday. Jed wants to go home so bad- and I can't wait till our little family can be together again. Then a Home Care called Rehab Without Walls is going to come to our house and work with Jed almost everyday! It will be more one on one, more hours, and they specialize in brain related rehab. The biggest blessing of it all is that its unusual for insurance to cover this but another tender mercy- ours does. The only thing that would have made this day better is if I had my little Ammon with me :( I haven't seen him since this morning and I'm spending the night with Jed so I can't wait to see him tomorrow....
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 13
Tuesday, Oct 19th, Day 13-
Today was so good. Jed had a good night's sleep and did great in therapy. He walked with assistance to balance with just the cane :) His walking is looking better everyday. He's still struggling to get that foot up with his stride. He can only move his leg when he walks though so its still hard for him to do a lot of things. His Occupational therepay is the tough one. His arm is getting a little better everyday but its very little. They told us the arm is kind of the last thing to come so we're trying to be patient and stay positive. Jed is keeping a great attitude and works hard to try to move it. He says it like staring at your fingernail and telling it to move. I couldn't imagine how strange and difficult that would be. What a trooper he is. His emotional control is getting better- he only cried twice today! And its not out loud, its just kind of silent. One was when the therapist asked him how long we've been married. He can never answer that question without crying. The other was when we found out my sister Toniann had her baby and that it was a healthy baby girl. His hero from the Bureau, Mr. Porter came by and visited him again and Jed loved loved it so much. Thats really nice of him to come by when he's so busy. We were able to take Jed out again today, I have volleyball games that I play in every Tuesdays that Jed always goes to. He missed last weeks of course although he made me go. Not even the best sport in the world was fun without Jed there. I think he thought it would help me feel better if I played but it was kind of just torture being away from him. So he came to my games tonight and I think he really had a good time. I wore my spandex per his request :) Then we went to Cafe Rio after with both our parents, my brother Trevor and his wife Misty, and Jed's brother Jason. It felt like life was normal for a minute as we sat there eating and laughing and having a good time. It was weird that he was going to have to go back to the hospital after :( He looked so cute tonight and he is looking and acting more and more like himself everyday.
Today was so good. Jed had a good night's sleep and did great in therapy. He walked with assistance to balance with just the cane :) His walking is looking better everyday. He's still struggling to get that foot up with his stride. He can only move his leg when he walks though so its still hard for him to do a lot of things. His Occupational therepay is the tough one. His arm is getting a little better everyday but its very little. They told us the arm is kind of the last thing to come so we're trying to be patient and stay positive. Jed is keeping a great attitude and works hard to try to move it. He says it like staring at your fingernail and telling it to move. I couldn't imagine how strange and difficult that would be. What a trooper he is. His emotional control is getting better- he only cried twice today! And its not out loud, its just kind of silent. One was when the therapist asked him how long we've been married. He can never answer that question without crying. The other was when we found out my sister Toniann had her baby and that it was a healthy baby girl. His hero from the Bureau, Mr. Porter came by and visited him again and Jed loved loved it so much. Thats really nice of him to come by when he's so busy. We were able to take Jed out again today, I have volleyball games that I play in every Tuesdays that Jed always goes to. He missed last weeks of course although he made me go. Not even the best sport in the world was fun without Jed there. I think he thought it would help me feel better if I played but it was kind of just torture being away from him. So he came to my games tonight and I think he really had a good time. I wore my spandex per his request :) Then we went to Cafe Rio after with both our parents, my brother Trevor and his wife Misty, and Jed's brother Jason. It felt like life was normal for a minute as we sat there eating and laughing and having a good time. It was weird that he was going to have to go back to the hospital after :( He looked so cute tonight and he is looking and acting more and more like himself everyday.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Day 12
Monday, October 18th, day 12-
I stayed with Jed last night and it was a rough one. I think he only got about 4 hours of sleep. The medication they are giving him makes him have bad dreams and it wakes him up. Plus, he can't turn on his side by himself so he needs help just to turn in bed. He had a good day today though. I think I finally fell asleep at 6 am and at 8:30 Jed said good morning honey! We went to PT and Jed used the cane to walk and needed help balancing from behind. He is advancing everyday with his walking! He had Speech therepy and was being silly. Some of the questions they ask in there are pretty stupid. One of them was a picture of a person chasing a bus. The therapist asked Jed, "do you know why she is chasing the bus?" Jed said, "to tell him that the town is that way" (from Dumb and Dumber) I laughed and I don't know if the girl got it. But thats an example of the silly things he always does. Which is so good for me to see that he's still Jed. He's not totally back yet but he's close. I'd say he's maybe in St. George right now. He also kicked butt in OT and got that shoulder to move a little! He still has such a positive attitude and wants to go home so bad. He asked me today with tears in his eyes if I thought he'd be out of here by our 5 year anniversary, which is November 18th. I told him at the rate he's going and how hard he's working he might be out of here by Halloween! I'm so so proud of him.
I stayed with Jed last night and it was a rough one. I think he only got about 4 hours of sleep. The medication they are giving him makes him have bad dreams and it wakes him up. Plus, he can't turn on his side by himself so he needs help just to turn in bed. He had a good day today though. I think I finally fell asleep at 6 am and at 8:30 Jed said good morning honey! We went to PT and Jed used the cane to walk and needed help balancing from behind. He is advancing everyday with his walking! He had Speech therepy and was being silly. Some of the questions they ask in there are pretty stupid. One of them was a picture of a person chasing a bus. The therapist asked Jed, "do you know why she is chasing the bus?" Jed said, "to tell him that the town is that way" (from Dumb and Dumber) I laughed and I don't know if the girl got it. But thats an example of the silly things he always does. Which is so good for me to see that he's still Jed. He's not totally back yet but he's close. I'd say he's maybe in St. George right now. He also kicked butt in OT and got that shoulder to move a little! He still has such a positive attitude and wants to go home so bad. He asked me today with tears in his eyes if I thought he'd be out of here by our 5 year anniversary, which is November 18th. I told him at the rate he's going and how hard he's working he might be out of here by Halloween! I'm so so proud of him.
Day 11
Sunday, Oct 17, Day 11-
Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I spent the night with Jed and he slept so good thru the night, which doesn't happen very often. In the morning we watched Music and the Spoke Word and 2 older couples came by and gave us the sacrament. One of the ladies, Kathy, told Jed she had suffered a stroke 6 months ago and couldn't feel her left side. She was totally fine now and told Jed to be patient and know that it will come. She told him she felt like that happened to her so she can help other people going thu something similar things and give them hope that they can get better too. and to trust in the Lord. She hugged Jed and they both cried. The other sister that was supposed to sing the hymn only sang the first line of the song before she was too choked up to sing the rest. They passed us the sacrament and it was so special to us. Then Jed had PT and walked with one person on each side without a walker. He was doing so awesome! He told the Phy Ther. that he wanted to get out of here and he said, "Well why don't you? You should go for a drive or something." We were so excited to get Jed out and they helped Jed walk out to the car and I took him for a nice Sunday drive. It felt like we just escaped from prison! It felt so good! We went home and got Rudy. Jed hadn't seen our dog since the surgery so he of course was pretty emotional when Rudy jumped in the car and licked and hugged him. Then we went and got Ammon from nursery and had lunch in the car and then drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon, which is only 5 minutes from our house, and looked at all the beautiful fall colors while listening to Sunday music. Jed was pretty much emotional the whole time but he said he loved it. When we got back to the hospital Jed had OC and this time his brother played ACDC "Back in Black" (kind of a drastic change from earlier) for him while he tried to move his arm on the arm board and it was amazing the difference it made! He was moving his arm so good. She had to stimulate his arm with the massager but he moved some of it all on his own. We had some visitors and then the Guy in Charge at the bureau, Mr. Mctye, came and visited Jed. I could tell it meant so much to him. I can't believe the support that we have had from Jed's work. It is hard to express the gratitude we feel for them. Since Jed just started with them in August, he hasn't acquired enough PTO to cover his absence although he is under the medical leave act. We just recently found out that people at the bureau have donated their own PTO to Jed and he will have enough to cover him until Christmas! Jed and I both cried and said a prayer of thanks when we found this out.
We have been through the hardest, most difficult times of our lives and we have gone thru things that we never would have imagined, BUT... we have never been closer to each other and to our Father in heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. We have learned to never take a moment together for granted. To cherish every hug and kiss. I look forward to the day when Jed can pick me up and hold me in his arms again. But I am grateful he is alive. We have learned that if you put your trust in the Lord and keep that faith, that He will never leave you. We have never had so many trials, yet we have also never had so many MIRACLES. We have seen His hand in our lives and will dedicate the rest of our lives to Him and to helping others. We still have a long road ahead but we know we aren't alone, and that we are being refined as we go thru this trial. Never forget that "God is Always Good."
Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I spent the night with Jed and he slept so good thru the night, which doesn't happen very often. In the morning we watched Music and the Spoke Word and 2 older couples came by and gave us the sacrament. One of the ladies, Kathy, told Jed she had suffered a stroke 6 months ago and couldn't feel her left side. She was totally fine now and told Jed to be patient and know that it will come. She told him she felt like that happened to her so she can help other people going thu something similar things and give them hope that they can get better too. and to trust in the Lord. She hugged Jed and they both cried. The other sister that was supposed to sing the hymn only sang the first line of the song before she was too choked up to sing the rest. They passed us the sacrament and it was so special to us. Then Jed had PT and walked with one person on each side without a walker. He was doing so awesome! He told the Phy Ther. that he wanted to get out of here and he said, "Well why don't you? You should go for a drive or something." We were so excited to get Jed out and they helped Jed walk out to the car and I took him for a nice Sunday drive. It felt like we just escaped from prison! It felt so good! We went home and got Rudy. Jed hadn't seen our dog since the surgery so he of course was pretty emotional when Rudy jumped in the car and licked and hugged him. Then we went and got Ammon from nursery and had lunch in the car and then drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon, which is only 5 minutes from our house, and looked at all the beautiful fall colors while listening to Sunday music. Jed was pretty much emotional the whole time but he said he loved it. When we got back to the hospital Jed had OC and this time his brother played ACDC "Back in Black" (kind of a drastic change from earlier) for him while he tried to move his arm on the arm board and it was amazing the difference it made! He was moving his arm so good. She had to stimulate his arm with the massager but he moved some of it all on his own. We had some visitors and then the Guy in Charge at the bureau, Mr. Mctye, came and visited Jed. I could tell it meant so much to him. I can't believe the support that we have had from Jed's work. It is hard to express the gratitude we feel for them. Since Jed just started with them in August, he hasn't acquired enough PTO to cover his absence although he is under the medical leave act. We just recently found out that people at the bureau have donated their own PTO to Jed and he will have enough to cover him until Christmas! Jed and I both cried and said a prayer of thanks when we found this out.
We have been through the hardest, most difficult times of our lives and we have gone thru things that we never would have imagined, BUT... we have never been closer to each other and to our Father in heaven and Savior Jesus Christ. We have learned to never take a moment together for granted. To cherish every hug and kiss. I look forward to the day when Jed can pick me up and hold me in his arms again. But I am grateful he is alive. We have learned that if you put your trust in the Lord and keep that faith, that He will never leave you. We have never had so many trials, yet we have also never had so many MIRACLES. We have seen His hand in our lives and will dedicate the rest of our lives to Him and to helping others. We still have a long road ahead but we know we aren't alone, and that we are being refined as we go thru this trial. Never forget that "God is Always Good."
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