DAY 260

Rick got up at normal time this morning, did one hour of therapy, and then went back to bed for a 3 hour nap. He ate lunch, did 2 hours of therapy, and then back to bed for a 2 hour nap. He ate supper, is in the shower right now and will be back in bed by 7:00. I knew he would be wiped out, but this is crazy! This new medicine, keppra, is partly to blame...hopefully he'll adjust and be back on track by the end of the week.

As for me, I'm hungry and tired, and can't think of another thing to write tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow's post will be much more exciting!

Love,
Crystal

BACK TO TLC

Rick was released from Trustpoint @ 4:30 this afternoon. We made it back to TLC and were very happy to get there. They we all very happy to see Rick back, too and he tipped his cap to them as we made our way to his room. He ate supper, showered and fell asleep within 10 seconds of his head hitting the pillow. Tomorrow we'll have to go slow with therapy, and maybe for the next few days, but I know he will bounce back.

The kids had a good weekend...they got to do normal kid stuff...played little dribblers, went to a b-day party, and spent the night with friends. So, even though they didn't get to see us, it was all good.

Guthrie's church celebrated their 100th year today...I do wish we could have been there. And yes Ann, I remember Easter last year and Cade wanting to make sure that Brittany felt welcome there by sharing his eggs! Hopefully, we'll make it to the summer celebration.

Love you all and thanks for your prayers.

Crystal

DAY 258

I do not like being in the hospital...it is not a fun place to be. Rick has held down everything he's eaten yesterday and today and no more diarrhea. He's had 3 bags of fluids and should be well hydrated. Dr. Wolcott will release him either tomorrow afternoon, or first thing Monday morning back to TLC...and I cannot wait to get there. Rick got out of bed and sat in his chair for a few hours this morning, then napped and laid in bed the rest of the day. He is extremely wiped out from the bug plus we started him on the anti-seizure medicine called Kepra this morning. It is supposed to be the least sedating anti-seizure medicine there is, so hopefully his system will adjust to it quickly and we can continue to make progress. Hard to believe, but I had really forgotten what the hospital setting is like. At TLC Rick is never in his room. His day starts at 7:00 for breakfast and he's in therapy all day. No TV in his room at TLC either, and all meals eaten in the dining room. And he's much better attended to there...here, he's just a number, 206, at TLC he's Rick.

Dean Gfeller came by to see Rick today, but he wasn't really up for much visiting, and I understand. Rick just now fell asleep in the middle of watching the PBR, so that will tell you how tired he is!

We continue to take one day at a time, and trust in our Lords plans.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3.

Dear Lord, thank you for all the healing you've done in Rick and for all the healing yet to come. We praise you and thank you for your mercy that we do not deserve. Please continue to fill Rick with your holy spirit and give him the strength he needs to overcome this so that all the glory can be yours. In Jesus name we pray...Amen.

Love,
Crystal

DAY 256 & 257

The stomach bug has done a number on Rick. We were not been able to get the diarrhea and vomitting stopped yesterday, and around 2:45 he had another seizure. It was a lot like the last time...lasted about 45 seconds, resolved on it's on, and took Rick about 30 minutes to become responsive again. Dr. Wolcott decided to admit him to Trustpoint to push fluids and get the stomach stuff under control. Rick is really wiped out. So far today, he hasn't had any diarrhea or vomitting, and he's done a lot of sleeping. We will probably be here through the weekend. Another EEG was performed yesterday, and indicates that there is "something metabolic going on in the frontal lobes". I haven't really had a chance to talk to Dr. W about the EEG and what exactly that means, but he definetly wants to start Rick on anti-seizure medicine, and is researching which medicine to put him on. The last one we tried, tegratol, was very, very sedating to Rick, so he is looking for something other than that. We got to see a lot of our old friend here at Trustpoint, unfortunatley Rick is not on the rehab floor like before, but he is in acute care.

The other bummer is that we won't get to see the kids this weekend. This bug is the last thing they need, and I don't really think Rick is up for much visiting anyway.

Please keep praying for Rick. I'm not sure why God keeps allowing these hurdles to be put in our path, but we will do whatever it takes to get around them. And, as hard as it is, remember to praise Him even during these hard times.

Love,
Crystal

DAY 255

Awwww...darn...Rick has the stomach bug! So, not such a great day. He was doing good until about 10 am and then it started. It's been going around and I was just hoping he wouldn't get it, but no such luck. He says he doesn't feel bad, and even ate throughout the day, but was having trouble going to sleep tonight. I went to the last Lady Raiders game with Laura and Lyssa, and when I got back to TLC at 9:30 to check on him, he was still awake. The Lady Raider game was good....they played Baylor and there was a bench clearing brawl after the 6'7" Baylor girl slugged a Tech girl...it was pretty exciting. Tech lost, but came back from 20 down to get within 5. I stayed with Rick until 10:30 and told the night shift that if he doesn't sleep tonight to make sure he's not woken up in the morning. Tomorrow we have an appointment to get his baclofen pump refilled @ 11:00. I'm hoping we can still make it, but if not we can reschedule...his pump alarm isn't scheduled to go off until 3/9.

Good night,
Crystal

DAY 254

So, I get here this morning to find Rick motorin' down the hall to the kitchen. He is on a mission. He has tried to tell 4 different people what he wants. They've figured out its something out of the fridge, but noone can understand him. So, they say, "you go get it, and we'll follow you." So, I get here and I ask him what he's after and he says, "hot sauce". The techs just laugh...they were understanding hot, but not the sauce part. He was weighed this morning and is up to 166! Dr. Wolcott is again very pleased with last weeks progress report he received this morning during rounds. He wants to bump the baclofen pump back up to where it was before the seizure, so we'll go slow...started by going up 15 micrograms today. Rick had 2 PT sessions today. This morning he walked with the walker and had good steps...still a little scissoring with the left leg, but way better with getting his heel down. This afternoon he got to do some target practice. They built a 5 ft tall sling shot out of PVC pipe and therabands. Then, they drew some animals on a big whiteboard...coyote, birds, buck, doe, rabbit, squirrel, etc. Rick's job was to stand up and keep his balance while shooting the animals. He did such a great job...you should have seen him squatting down and taking aim. David (PT) had to keep a hand on him, but it didn't look like he had to help support too much. If there were 10 animals on the board, it only took him 12 shots to hit them all...and he enjoyed it! He also enjoyed eating chocolate cake while standing in the standing frame...said it made standing frame not so bad.

I'm thankful to make it through another day, and know that we're closer and closer to Rick's complete healing...I told God from the very beginning, "I do not accept this for Rick". He will not only live, but live life to the full...Amen. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:6

Love,
Crystal

DAY 253

Overall another great day to put down in the history books. He looked a little tired this morning when I got here, but made it until 2:00 before he tried to quit us. Laura baked him a chocolate cake and brought it to him at 1:00. He held both hands out to hug her, then reached for the pan. I said, "Rick, what do you tell her?" And he looked up at her and said, "I love you" and smiled. We just laughed and laughed...so that's what it takes to get an "I love you" out of Rick...ya just got to bring him chocolate cake. At 2:00 he decided he didn't want to work anymore. So, I had to give him a little kick in the pants to get him going again. Basically from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Rick is going nonstop. Most of the time he gets a one hour break during the day, but other than that, he is in therapy every hour on the hour. So, I can understand that he needs a break, but I still push him to get the most out of this. Maybe he didn't sleep well last night because he got in bed at 7:30 and was asleep within 10 minutes.

Y'all keep letting your little light shine, and I will do the same!

Love y'all!
Crystal