DAY 119

Rick was showered and put to bed at 8:30. Supper was a success...the mac and cheese and the chocolate cake were just about wiped out. Desserts around here are a treat...the regular cook doesn't make desserts. I even made some pudding for Peg whose still on a pureed diet...she needs something sweet, too! The cake I made is the one I make every year for Rick's b-day. Except for the year I made him a German chocolate cake, and Cade was certain that Daddy's cake needed to be decorated. I told him you don't decorate German chocolate cake, but when I wasn't looking he went outside, got one of his big trucks, climbed on the counter, and stuck it right in the middle of the cake...we just ate around it!

Hope the TBMBR was a success...it always is, and it was a beautiful day to have it. Talk about having faith...the Butler's have it. Say your prayers and thank God for all you have.

God Bless,
Crystal

DAY 118

We have so many things to be thankful for today. Praise God for a good day. The extra staff member is on duty tonight and things have run much smoother. Unfortunately, Walter had to go to the hospital today...not sure what happened, so without him we really have adequate staffing. Rick has had 2 days in a row that he has not had any accidents...he's made it to the bathroom every time he's needed to go. He had tummy time this morning on the mat, and it REALLY stretches him, and it's painful, but very good for tone management. OT time was spent mainly in the bathroom, but it was good work. I didn't sit in on speech or cognitive time, so I'm not sure how those went. The speech therapist eats lunch with us everyday, and has let him try nectar thick liquids the last 2 days, and he has handled that very good. That would be an upgrade in liquids for him. The funniest thing happened when the PT tech was taking Rick back to his office from the gym. The dining room where I stay is on the way and the tech said that as she was pushing him by he started pointing into the dining room. So, she brought him in there to say hi and he was on his way. Tonight he was watching TV and someone handed him the remote. And yes...he knew what to do with it! The funny thing was he stopped on Scooby Doo. I asked him to do his Scooby Doo impression and he did it...it was quiet, but it was there. His level of initiation just keeps improving. It's a great thing to see him do something without someone telling him to do it. He figured out today what the toilet paper in the bathroom was, and I'll just leave it at that! Rick continues to show that his long term memory is in tact, but has difficulty with his short term memory. As soon as he can talk better we'll be able to better assess exactly what's going on up there.

I'm cooking supper tomorrow night for everyone in the house. Anyone is welcome to cook on the weekends and they don't have to stick to as strict of a diet as they do during the week. They told me to fix Rick's favorite...which is steaks and baked potatoes, so they ordered ribeyes for us! I'm also making homemade mac & cheese & chocolate sheet cake.

Please pray for Rick's continued healing...God is still working his miracle in him. Please also pray for the ag teacher from Vernon, Kyle Myers who was injured in a car accident this week. Kyle is paralyzed and needs prayers to heal him physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please pray for the kids and Jenni that were with him...they're all doing well physically, but need to heal emotionally. I know as prayer warriors we can get this done!

Thanks for everything!

Love,
Crystal

DAY 117

OT came up to the house this morning and dressed Rick. He did really well dressing himself...it takes a while, but he attempts to do everything. He walked in PT this morning and then it was office time. I stepped away and each time I checked on him there was someone with him. At one point I checked on him and he had backed himself out of the office and the aide didn't really know what to do with him since he obviously didn't want to be in the office anymore. He still does extremely well peddling his little wheelchair. One of my main concerns about staffing at the house is being addressed. Starting tomorrow there will be an additional person in the house from 6-9 to ensure that all patients are getting the care they need. A meeting has been set to address the other issues I have with his therapy. Again, I'm not questioning their method or that they know what they are doing, I just don't think their plan is being implemented as well as they might think it is. Rick took a pretty long nap this afternoon and is now in the shower.

I figured out that the cell phone reception out here is about like it is at Tongue River...you know...walk out the front door 5 steps, face south, stand on your right leg and lean to the left and you'll get reception! Anyway, sorry if I miss some calls or if you get a message that my phone is out of service.

We recieved more cards and letters today...thank you, and a big thank you to Jennifer Vickers for taking supper to my sisters house...Cade said "it was wonderful!". Thanks to everyone for all the support you've shown. Just to brag on my kids a bit...Cade made straight A's and Riley made all A's and 2 B's...I'm so proud of them.

Love,
Crystal

DAY 116

I got a chance to talk to the case manager today, and she understands my concerns and they will be addressed. I feel better about things today. I looked at Rick's schedule this morning and realized it was not right, so after I got it fixed, and the rehab techs knew what he was supposed to be doing, I sat in the dining room for awhile. I checked in on him a few times and he was never alone and seemed to be engaged each time. At one time I checked on him and he said, "where were you?" I told him I was just in the dining room and told him I wouldn't leave him, but he had to keep working for a while without me. I said "is that okay?" and he shook his head yes. He worked on sit to stands in PT to work on sort of the midway point of sitting and standing. At about midway to sitting down he tends to flop instead of controlling it. Then this afternoon he was stretched on the mat. In OT he was stretched for about 30 minutes, but that's all the OT he got today. He did the standing frame and both the leg bike and arm bike. He continues to do well with bathroom breaks and only had 2 accidents today. He's also feeding himself about 50% of his meals, and could probably do 100%, but we just don't have time.

We got a visit from Eddie Graham today. He was in the area for work and stopped by. We had a good visit and Eddie said a great prayer before he left. We also received our first batch of mail at Pate...thanks to the folks in Munday that sent a special package of cards for not only Rick, but for the kids and myself as well...how special! And the Vernon Daily Record from Devin and Sandra.

I met a very special guy today named Anthony. I've noticed him before because he always has a smile on his face. He was sitting with us at dinner today, and he asked me about Rick's accident and then shared his story with me. He looks pretty young...I'd say 21. He got in a fight with 3 other guys and was tackled and slammed to the ground. After the fight he drove himself home and went to bed...he woke up 3 months later! This happened a year ago. Part of his injury is that he smiles all the time...he can't keep from it...he smiles even when he doesn't want to. He assures me that Rick is going to be just fine. There are so many special people at Pate...and I don't mean special needs...I mean special.

And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. John 1:5

God Bless,
Crystal

DAY 115

Today was a better day. I am a little frustrated by Rick's schedule, but I have plans of talking to his case manager about it tomorrow. I was told Rick would get 6 hours of therapy a day here, and we've been here a week and there hasn't been any day that he's gotten 6 hours of therapy. As a matter of fact he hasn't gotten any OT in the last 3 days except for retaping his left shoulder today (the femoral head is too far foward and they're trying to put it back with tape)., and I don't really count that as actaul therapy. Today he only got 30 minutes of PT because the therapist had meetings. And once again they expected him to sit at his desk and work on worksheets for 2 hours at one time...he does not like being in that little office and certainly cannot sit in there for a 2 hour stretch. I was able to stay with him most of the day other than about an hour. Dr. Dickson acted like a rehab tech would work one on one with Rick when I'm not there, but so far that hasn't been the case...they can't actually dedicate a tech to him full time. And Rick is just not at the level where you can tell him to do something and walk out of the room and expect him to do it. He was very tired today and is napping now...waiting on his shower. I have had to shower him myself the last 2 nights because the rehab techs are too busy with other patients to get to him before 8:30...I told them yesterday he needs to be in bed by 8:30, but they just can't seem to get to him, so I just do it myself. Right now we have 3 other guys in the house that require a lot of attention, and when there's only 5 techs the house it gets a little short handed. One of the guys is Walter. He is a Vietnam Vet and a retired Dallas police officer. You've heard of "Where's Waldo?" well, around here it's "Where's Walter" because he is always wondering off and has to have someone with him constantly. Then there's Dan. He's about 45, 6'3" and 225. He had a motorcycle wreck in February. He is very violent and last week hit one tech and threw another one down the hall. He is sleeping and in his room most of the time, but when he's awake...look out! The other one that's high maintenance is Fred. He had a car wreck 2 years ago, and although he's nice most of the time...at the drop of a hat he's mad...mad at everybody. There's other folks here and I'll eventually tell y'all all about them as well.

I've always believed that God will fix any mistakes I might make in this journey. Coming to Pate may have been a mistake, and if it is, we have other options and we'll get this fixed. This may just be a bump in the road that is fixed in the next couple of days, and we're good, but if not that's okay too...nothing will stop me from making sure Rick is taken care of. And once again all things are possible with God.

We love and miss everyone.

Love,
Crystal

DAY 114

Okay...I'm going to start with the bad and go to the good. Rick's day was fine, but mine was not so great. This morning Dr. Dickson who is the neurophsych doctor told me it was time for me to step back so Rick will be more independent & be pushed harder by the techs. I was told this would happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be so soon, and I didn't think it would be done so rudely. A little notice would have been nice. Anyway, we stepped out into the hallway, and Dr. Dickson suggested that I just come down and eat lunch with him. And I said, no, I was told it would be a gradual thing, and I'm not just going to bail out, and leave him. And by this time I'm crying pretty hard. And he gives me this spill about it's what's best for Rick and "we've been doing this for years", blah, blah, blah. So I told him I'm not questioning that they don't know what they're doing, I would've just liked a little notice. So, then he says, "We'll do it however you want to do it...do you need some time to think about it?" OMG...I wanted to punch him...but I said, "no, I don't need any time to think about it...I think you know what the answer to your question is". After all he is the neuropsych doc, right? I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out what I wanted. Anyway, I put my big girl pants on and went and sat in the dining room, then got my computer and worked on some CPE. About every hour I went and checked on Rick. So, my posts may not be as detailed about exactly what all he's done in therapy.

Now to the good part. Dr. Konen's office called today and insurance approved the baclofen pump....thank you God...that is what I needed to hear. She will schedule the surgery and call me back, but should be in about 2 weeks. YEA!!! Both his OT and PT here at Pate asked me if Rick had had a baclofen trial on the first day they ever worked with him....and both of them, just like the folks at Baylor said it would be the best thing for him. I've been told there are several patients here at Pate with pumps, but because of confidentialty reasons, they can't tell me which patients they are. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I can't wait to see what Rick will be able to do with the pump.

Well, it's supper time, so we'll go see if it's edible! HA! If not, I'll make a Sonic run! Thanks so much again to everyone for your prayers and support. We'll get Rick back...we will. Praise God for all his good works, and wait for his time.

Love,
Crystal

DAY 113

Rick got up this morning, but then laid back down and took about a 2 hour nap. This house has been absolutely crazy today with visitors...too many people for this house. So, we went down to the rec center again. Norma and Edgar Schoppa were visiting their daughter Lisa and they stopped by to see us. The kids left at 5:00...this weekend they wanted to know if they could transfer to school at Anna and stay here with us. As tempting as that is, I told them that hopefully we wouldn't be here long enough for it to be worth the hassle of transferring. Hopefully we'll hear something from the insurance company about the baclofen pump this week, that would accelerate this whole process.

Let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15

Praise God!

Love,
Crystal