Hi Everyone!
Eric is having a good evening watching episodes of Top Gear on DVD. He had a pretty tiring day today. The occupational therapist worked his neck and core muscles this morning, then this afternoon, the physical therapist sat him up on the side of the bed. He stayed up for about 10 min (1 min of which he had no extra support!!). He really is getting much stronger, although I'm sure it's not as fast as he wants it to be. :) His voice is MUCH stronger than a couple days ago, he's able to brush his teeth, and his finger control is much better than before, too.
Also, the doctor said this morning that he's aiming to get his trach out by the end of the weekend! He's had it capped all day today and doing great. I think tomorrow they will try taking his oxygen supply away as well! He really just needs to work on his throat muscles to swallow better. He's allowed to eat ice chips and drink small sips of water (yesterday, he wasn't allowed to drink the water, so this is new, too). Now he wants to put the grape juice in the freezer and eat it when it's frozen. It's the simple things.
Love,
Melissa
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Trach Capped!
Hi Everyone!
Here's a quick update before all the excitement of the day begins. Eric had a good day yesterday. We saw the Occupational Therapist for the first time. He was really nice and asked Eric a lot of questions to understand what he really wants to accomplish. Then later on in the day, they capped his trach tube! This means that he is completely breathing through his mouth and nose. They'll keep the cap on for several days, then take the trach out completely! This will be wonderful!!! Eric is also working on strengthening his throat muscles in order to swallow. He says that he keeps dreaming of lemonade, grape juice, and baked potatoes. :) He just really really really wants to drink some juice.
Love,
Melissa
PS Please send cards to our home address, now that we are close to home:
2510 Rainbow Drive
Lafayette, IN 47904
Here's a quick update before all the excitement of the day begins. Eric had a good day yesterday. We saw the Occupational Therapist for the first time. He was really nice and asked Eric a lot of questions to understand what he really wants to accomplish. Then later on in the day, they capped his trach tube! This means that he is completely breathing through his mouth and nose. They'll keep the cap on for several days, then take the trach out completely! This will be wonderful!!! Eric is also working on strengthening his throat muscles in order to swallow. He says that he keeps dreaming of lemonade, grape juice, and baked potatoes. :) He just really really really wants to drink some juice.
Love,
Melissa
PS Please send cards to our home address, now that we are close to home:
2510 Rainbow Drive
Lafayette, IN 47904
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Seton Specialty Hospital
Hi Everyone!
Eric had a good trip back to Lafayette yesterday. He kept talking about how good it was to smell some fresh air while they moved him from IU to the ambulance. I got to sit with him in the ambulance, which was really nice. Eric was able to sit up and see the snow out the back window along the way. The snow around here didn't start till late last night, so we missed any complications from that. Which is wonderful, considering I couldn't get out of the neighborhood this morning. The beauty of living a mile from the hospital was that I was able to walk here. :) It was actually kind of nice, since it wasn't too cold and the snow was pretty.
Before we left IU yesterday, Eric had us reading the blog posts to him. We started at the beginning and got to about the end of January before we had to leave. He took the news really well, and said that he hadn't realized how sick he was. He really enjoyed hearing from everyone and understands a bit more why everyone is so excited to see him. :)
Now we are trying to settle in to the new routine and staff. I guess there is always the adjustment period: we're getting used to new protocols, and the staff is trying to catch up on everything that has happened to him in the last two months. We're really hoping to make a plan with all of the rehab people to set goals for us. It helps knowing what needs to happen before we can get to the milestones we want.
Stay warm out there, and be safe in the snow!
Love,
Melissa and Eric
Eric had a good trip back to Lafayette yesterday. He kept talking about how good it was to smell some fresh air while they moved him from IU to the ambulance. I got to sit with him in the ambulance, which was really nice. Eric was able to sit up and see the snow out the back window along the way. The snow around here didn't start till late last night, so we missed any complications from that. Which is wonderful, considering I couldn't get out of the neighborhood this morning. The beauty of living a mile from the hospital was that I was able to walk here. :) It was actually kind of nice, since it wasn't too cold and the snow was pretty.
Before we left IU yesterday, Eric had us reading the blog posts to him. We started at the beginning and got to about the end of January before we had to leave. He took the news really well, and said that he hadn't realized how sick he was. He really enjoyed hearing from everyone and understands a bit more why everyone is so excited to see him. :)
Now we are trying to settle in to the new routine and staff. I guess there is always the adjustment period: we're getting used to new protocols, and the staff is trying to catch up on everything that has happened to him in the last two months. We're really hoping to make a plan with all of the rehab people to set goals for us. It helps knowing what needs to happen before we can get to the milestones we want.
Stay warm out there, and be safe in the snow!
Love,
Melissa and Eric
Monday, February 8, 2010
Moving to Lafayette!
Eric's making the move to Lafayette this afternoon! He'll be going to Seton, which is located in St. Elizabeth Hospital off of Union. There, he will get a lot more attention for rehab and getting stronger. I'm really excited to be close to home again. My mom already drove up to the house yestserday with our dog, so I'll get to see him, too!! I need to finish packing everything up (you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff in the hospital rooms when you stay there for 2 months). I'll be sure to write a post this evening on how everything went!
Love,
Melissa
Love,
Melissa
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Super Bowl Sunday
Eric is planning to watch the Super Bowl with his dad and brother, Adam, this evening. This entire city is over the top in favor of the Colts. Eric really likes the Colts also, but has a lot of interest in Drew Brees due to his Purdue years. So he had his nurse add "Go Saints" to his trach collar (a clear plastic item that directs moist, oxygenated air into his trach). It has stirred up some controversy this afternoon. He also has his Drew Brees jersey over one of the chairs!
Eric's health is improving steadily. He is able to use his hands much better today, and the voice is coming back. So much easier to communicate when he can talk! He is off all IV medications, and is only hooked to a feeding tube. What freedom! He sat up for 1/2 hour again today, and seemed stronger as he did it.
Hope you all enjoy the game tonight! (For those of you that aren't football fans, enjoy the evening anyway.)
Kathy
Eric's health is improving steadily. He is able to use his hands much better today, and the voice is coming back. So much easier to communicate when he can talk! He is off all IV medications, and is only hooked to a feeding tube. What freedom! He sat up for 1/2 hour again today, and seemed stronger as he did it.
Hope you all enjoy the game tonight! (For those of you that aren't football fans, enjoy the evening anyway.)
Kathy
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