JENNY’S NEWS

I FIGURED SINCE MARK HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME, THE LEAST I COULD DO WAS FLY OUT HIS BEST FRIEND FROM INDY! OTHER REASONS: THE ONLY PEOPLE HE HANGS OUT W/HERE WILL BE GONE THIS WEEKEND, WE HAVE A FAM. REUNION IN DEC. SO I WANTED TO AVOID THAT, I ALREADY HAD HIS B-DAY GIFTS, & I HOPED THE HOUSE(WHICH IS ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE) DONE SO HE COULD HELP MOVE/LIFT & X-MAS SEEMED TO LATE! I SHOCKED HIM YESTERDAY SINCE HIS B-DAY IS SAT. HE NEEDS ‘GUY TIME’ & I ADMIT, SINCE I CAN’T TALK, SURPRISING HIM WAS EASIER! MARK HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOW OFF STUFF (LIKE R ALMOST DONE HOUSE-WHICH I’D HOPED WOULD BE DONE, & MY COMP. TABLE).

IT HAS BEEN SAID MY RT. ARM SEEMS STRONGER & MY “JUMPINESS” THAT THE KIDS LOVE & TRY TO GET ME TO DO, HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED! I AM SURE IT IS ALSO WEIRD FOR HIM TO HEAR ME SAY “MARRR.” NEXT TIME IS HIS WIFE, MY BEST FRIEND, COMES! WEBCAM & IM R NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

I am so proud of Jenny, and her progress. We are slowly returning to the level of physical therapy that we once did, prior to our moving. I think the results are begining to show. I have to also admit that we are still being blessed with miracles. We have worked her whole body for some time, but it is mostly us doing the movements. I bought a reclining exercise bike so she would get more fluid range of motion on her legs. I always dreamed of the possibility of her doing the bike by herself. It is a huge feat- keeping in mind that she could not move her left side until just the past month or so. Her left leg has become stronger than the right in some movements. Yesterday was incredible. I asked her to try the bike (like I always do), but I only expected the typical extension of her right leg and her getting stuck in the down stroke. For some reason, she gave several revolutions. It surprise me. She was shocked and almost fell of the bike from her initial response. We tried it a few more times with the same great response. If I made some modifications to her bike, so she could stay in the same position, I think she could go a little longer. Anyhow, things are good for us now and it is great to see big progress. I will still take the little steps, but the big ones do not hurt either.

TODAY I ACTUALLY DID SEVERAL ROTATIONS ON MY RECLING BIKE ALONE & MARK VIDEOTAPED IT! I WAS SO SURPRISED & HAPPY I LAUGHED & CRIED! I ATTRIBUTE IT TO MY TRYING TO RAISE 1 LEG AT A TIME IN THE SHOWER & MARK PLACING MY LEGS JUST RT. SO I COULD DO IT.

I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE, A FEW TIMES, TO USE MY RT. HAND TO PLACE MY LT. HAND ON MY ARMREST.

I ALSO SWEAR I CAN TAKE A BIGGER BREATH IN, BUT NOT OUT, NOW-I SWEAR I CAN MAKE MY STOMACH MUSCLES EXPAND OUT VERY SLIGHTLY.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE CHANGES BECAUSE IT IS SOOO HARD EMOTIONALLY TO STAY THE SAME!