Feb. 14, 2010: Happy Valentines Day!
I'm ever so grateful to still get to hold my valentine!
Here we sit with 8 months behind us. We've come so far! We returned the wheelchair and slider board the beginning of February. Travis eats everything he wants with no problems, only refusing foods that any sane person wearing braces avoids. Thursday, he will have all of the bars and wires removed from his teeth--no more tinsel teeth! We happily hope this will be the last step in the long line of surgeries and procedures.
In my opinion, Travis looks great and gets stronger continually.
He sets goals for himself and sticks to them. He's figured out that if he walks the hallway at work 8.47 times, he walks a mile. He is trying to do laps without using a crutch or walking stick. He also walks along the road at home. The first time he went for a walk, he called me on the cell phone a quarter mile away and asked me if I knew where he was! He always carries his cell phone "just in case." He fell for the first time 2 days ago, tripped over a rug at home. I wasn't sure if I should fuss or let him collect his wits. I chose the latter and knelt beside him after a few minutes. He asked me what took me so long? I'm learning too! He landed on his hand. I realize now that a fall for him could be really hurtful because he can't catch himself like he used to do. He fell pretty hard. I offered to throw out the rug. He stubbornly refused.
Travis seems to thrive at the office. He studies lots and attends classes. He enjoys being with his peers and the students. He constantly works at getting better and ends every single day sweaty and tired. Even on Saturdays he's up by 7 a.m. I roll over wishing for a little more shut eye, but he's got something on the agenda for me. I should start calling him my drill sergeant! This Saturday, I took him fishing again and to the hardware store. We are learning about left foot accelerators for our vehicles, so he will have that freedom again hopefully soon. He's been shooting clay pigeons with me and the girls, practicing up for turkey season. Last but not least, he finished making a muzzle loader that he started two years ago. I know all about patches, lubes, round balls, and browning barrels now! I've enjoyed this funny, funny blessing of spending more time with him because he needs me to. He also has been doing some curious things like fixing dinner. Tonight, he pushed me out of the kitchen and said, "I'm doing this by myself." I was happy to eat a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner that I didn't cook one bit! I love this new, crazy, different life just as much as the old one--maybe even a little more. It’s a gift I cherish.
