More Good News...

All we have today is good news to report to you! Mom is making progress. Something new happens everyday.

Her speech improves by the hour, it seems. Yesterday, she told me the food was "mediocre." A four syllable, not just a run-of-the-mill word, huh? Way to go Mom! She is also speaking more frequently in sentences. Still has some word-finding problems but overall, this Speech Language Pathologist daughter-of-hers is quite pleased with the swift, steady progress!

She walked two (count them: 1 -2) lengths of the parallel bars today. She moved some cones with her right (yes affected) hand and from what I hear, scooted her foot along, too!

Here's the greatest news. My brother says "she's bored!" She emphatically indicated she wants visitors! I talked to her on the phone tonight. Regarding visitors she said, "Maybe not during the day, but at night (evening) -- yes!"

So, at the risk of being over-protective can I give a few instructions if you visit? To make communication easier for Mom and to set her up with success, try these strategies:

• Ask yes/no questions (e.g. Is the food good? Is therapy hard?)
• Ask multiple choice questions (Does Nelson stay all day or just part of the day?)
• Avoid open ended questions (Don't say, "What have you been doing?")
• Use a normal volume (she's NOT hard of hearing!)
• If Mom tries to tell you something and can't make herself understood, be honest "I didn't get all of that" but encourage her to "hold that thought" and perhaps "try later."
• If you understand part of what she said, repeat the part you understood. She might be able to say the rest of it -- maybe not. But at least, she'll know you got part of the message.

Mom's understanding of speech seems pretty good now. She knows what she wants to say, she knows how to say it, but when it comes time to "execute" is sometimes doesn't work. I'll compare it to my husband's golf swing (sorry, Art)...he knows where he wants to hit the ball, how he's supposed to do it, but sometimes it takes a curve he doesn't want! As in golf, it's easier to successfully accomplish small steps than it is large steps. It's easier to work on your grip, then your back swing, then your follow through than it is to practice it all at once. Same with Mom's speech. It's easier to answer yes/no and multiple choice questions than it is to answer a question that requires a paragraph!

Okay, enough of that. Many of you keep asking about Dad. Dad is great! What a man of strength he is! He spends all day with Mom, marveling at her strength and resolve. He's lost a few pounds and reports, "I think I could get used to this reduced diet!" He's done laundry, kept the house in order, and has done a darn-good job of keeping things going. He's handled everything quite impressively. We are so proud of him and respect him so much. He's a man to model yourself after. He is the true example of "giving things to God." It's not just talk...he really does it. Much better than me...I have to work on it much harder.

Well, God is good and it's bedtime at our house! More later, but as usual, thanks for your love, concern and prayers! We love you and appreciate you all!