Camping Once Again

We took the family up to Prosser Lake in Truckee, California last weekend. My parents, both brother, my brother in law and his kids and some good friends of ours went with us. We spent two night and three days enjoying the nature around us as well as alot of ATV riding (not Mike of course, but he wanted to) and fishing.

It's always nice to get away from all the commotion and get back to what important...family! Mike had the opportunity to cook in the dutch ovens, he loves to do this...sometimes it drives me crazy but I know he loves it.

While we were camping, well before we could even get unpacked both our van and the Wiscombes had a flat tire and then a few hours later we both had dead batteries. We all took this in good humor and Mike had actually packed everything we would both need to fix the problems. He's a little more in tune to listening to the spirit and following the promptings that he gets. We don't take anything for granted any more...we recognize every prayer and are grateful for all the blessings we have been given. We knew we were blessed to make it home on the spare tire (a 100 mile drive), but realized it on Monday morning when we went to Sam's Club to get a new set of tires to replace the one bad one. We asked to keep the old/good tire but were told by the mechanic that it wouldn't be any good...when he removed it he found 2 nails still in the tire and a third one had gone thru the side wall but hadn't punctured the tire. I told Mike we really made it home on a prayer this time. I thought we were blessed not to have any problems with the spare...I'm glad I didn't know about the nails in the other tire until after the trip.

Mike's brother Roger and his family will be coming up next weekend (Labor Day weekend). We will be Ordaining Tommy to the office of Deacon and Mike is happy to be able to do this with his brother by his side. With all that his family has done for us this summer it means even more that they can join us in this event. Tommy is really looking forward to this big day.

Still Enjoying His Workouts

Mike is still working out weekly. Sometimes we don't always make it the gym but he's getting more active around the house.

We saw his Physical Medicine doctor this week and she has extended his work release forms until February. She said we will review his status in late November and go from there.

He's looking forward to seeing the Orthopedic Surgeon on Friday as well as seeing the Audiologist, which will give him hearing test. This will be the first one since the accident and we are curious to see the level of hearing loss due to all the breaks around the ear. We know there is some level gone...the TV is always on high...maybe that's to drown out the kids...but it would be nice to know.

Mike Took His First Jog!

Mike is doing well. He has continued to strengthen his lower body with physical therapy and last Thursday his PT "Bob" said it was time to try jogging on the treadmill. Bob said this is the one piece of equipment in the gym he gets his patients on last because it takes more than just strength and coordination to use. I have to admit I was a little bit nervous about it...there's a little more for me to worry about than Bob does, and Mike and Bob could tell when Mike got on the treadmill by the look on my face.

Mike began with a fast pace walk for about 5 minutes and than began a fast jog...it lasted for about 1 minute and then Mike brought it down to a slower jog for another 2 minutes. This wiped him out. He finished his trek on the treadmill with walking for the remainder of the time (about 12 more minutes). I was so proud of him. He said it felt really good but was hoping to make it longer than a 3 minute jog. Bob and I reassured him that this is HUGE progress considering where his was just less than 3 months ago.

Mike usually has to take a nap after his therapy sessions. We are still going 3 times a week plus the visit with Bob. He's managed to get his weight up to 182 now. He says it's all going to his gut...I told him that's the last place it leaves and first place it returns...for everyone. He has a great sense of humor about this all and continues to crack jokes.

Mike has taken the opportunity to look at photo's from his accident and has a hard time seeing himself in the pictures. He says he doesn't like looking at them. He has yet to read the blog or even the journal that I kept during all this. He says in time he will. I know this will be his final hurdle. It's him realizing what the kids and I went through, and I know it is, and will be hard for him to see the reality in it all. I know he will read it all when he's ready. We have had a lot of good conversations about what he calls his "dreams". These are times that people or I would be with him and he has no conscious memory of. He remembers them as dreams and they are very choppy. He'll describe a "dream" to me and then I tell him if it really happened or where it was. Even these are hard to listen to for him. I can't imagine what it would be like to have no or little memory for 3 weeks of my life.

The kids are continuing to enjoy having dad home all the time. Especially Stevie. He's really become attached to daddy's lap. And that's a good thing.

Mike's Enjoying His Work Outs!

Mike has been able to work out in the gym at Kaiser 3 times a week. His physical therapist (PT)set him up on an exercise routine that will help increase his endurance and stamina as well as strengthen his legs. I take him to the PT Gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and then he also works with the therapist on Thursdays. He does really well in the gym and is getting stronger each day. His physical therapist (Bob) wants to be an aid in getting him physically ready and back into the best shape he can be in to take the Fire Academy Physical Ability Test.

Mike's attitude, appearance and color has changed so much since he came home from the hospital...all in a good way. His hair is growing back around his scare and Mike told me this morning, "I never thought I would have a comb over." (Mike changed the direction of his part to cover the scare on his head.) He still continues to make me laugh...seeing the positive in everything.

Mike has yet to begin on his physical therapy for his wrist and elbow. It seems like no one wants to give the okay to allow ANY weight on the injuries. So he is still unable to use it or do anything with it. He reminds me and the therapist each time it comes up "I know it will take a little time but I'll get it back." He's very determined and optimistic.

This week we went swimming a few times and Mike actually got in the pool with the kids. He even initiated a splash fight by spraying me with a water gun just after I told the kids and their friends to be careful about not splashing dad. I then told all the kids and their friends it's open season on Mike, don't hold back. I think this was the first time he became fully engaged with the kids and their friends since the accident. It was like the old Mike was back. He had everyone smileing and laughing. This day at the pool and the water fight may seem like a small thing in comparison to everything in the world but it gives our children a huge sense of confidence that dad is doing well and on his way to returning to the dad they had before the accident. We thank our Father in Heaven each day for all of his improvements and for the blessing of his recovery.