Heroes!

It just seems as if I have been singing in my head lately..."You are my hero!....". Caitlin is my hero with her strength and determination. Michael and Stephanie are my heroes as they quietly do so many little things to make both Caitlin and I feel loved and appreciated. My colleagues at work are heroes in that they keep me on my toes the minute I walk in the door. They remind me of who I have always been at work each day. The hugs and miss yous that they give me are genuinely heartfelt. Caitlin's co-workers are heroes in that they keep on including Caitlin and I in their activities and lives. Our friends, neighbors, and family are such unsung heroes in that they have hung in there for all these months offering love and support in so many varied ways. Each day I can't help myself but get teary eyed at all the kindness that is bestowed on us each day. Yesterday when Caitlin had to get blood drawn the technician at Labcorp asked if she could pray over Caitlin. I said yes and she did pray right there in her lab station. How could you not get emotional over that!
Our days have been filled with outings and appointments, therapy sessions and new discoveries. A huge step forward is that Caitlin can suck liquids through a straw and chew soft foods and swallow. Of course if you know Caitlin and her eating habits you know that noodles and bread have always been her favorites. She has been eating pieces of bagels, croissants, and a variety of noodles. It takes a lot of effort to eat but Caitlin is proudly doing this. It was so great the other day when she let me know she was hungry. It was also eye opening when Michael told me they had stopped for milkshakes and Caitlin drank hers through a straw. I thought he was teasing but he was dead serious. Caitlin just grinned at my disbelief!
Last week we took a ride to our beloved Lake Tahoe. The sky was so blue, the snow glistened on the mountains, and the lake was crystal clear. We took a little stroll along the beach and sat in the car for a picnic. It was great to get away and share an adventure that was just like old times! Going to a restaurant with Michael and Caitlin for lunch last week proved to be a very tender moment for me. It was Caitlin's first time in a restaurant since getting out of the hospital. She reminded us of this and I was so proud of how well we did with the wheelchair and eating our Chinese food. I just will never take anything forgranted again. Oh, I probably will but at least I will have celebrated it the first time it happened again for Caitlin!
Caitlin continues to make strides in her recovery. The technology that has been installed in her iPhone has been helpful. She is able to type a message and then hit "speak " and we can hear her message. This makes life very portable and easier for her communication. We actually put the electric wheelchair on my car lift and drove to rehab today. It is a bit nerve wracking to keep glancing in the rear view mirror and see the wheelchair out the back window. But the most important thing is that we did it! This old dog is definitely learning new tricks!
I have been making Caitlin show off for family and friends when they visit. I am just so proud of how she is able to walk in our house with our help. Yesterday Caitlin stood at the bathroom counter and brushed her hair. I try so hard not be the over protective mother as Caitlin becomes more independent. I will get better at this, but for now I am still hovering a bit! Hovering with pride and delight is a wonderful thing! Being a caretaker is tiring at best but my spirit gets rejuvenated each time I see Caitlin smile, hear her laughter, and get the thumbs up about something. Of course life is also looking quite wonderful right now in that I begin a month's vacation on Friday. It will be so nice not to be juggling all the balls of my life for a bit. I do have to take on the challenge of figuring out how I am going to work more days after April 20th. But for today I am enjoying a beautiful spring like day and sending big hugs to everyone reading this! We love you!

Can't put it into words but...!

Everyday it seems that we have something to celebrate! Today it is how straight Caitlin was able to get her arm! This new picture is for Jeri, Caitlin's OT, who insists that Caitlin let me move her right arm at least once a day. Some days I get the look from Caitlin but she does let me stretch that arm out. Next week we will have a consult about getting Botox injections into Caitlin's right bicep to help reduce the spasticity in it. This is a common treatment that will be worth a try. Compared to how tense Caitlin's arm was a month ago she has made nice progress but still has a ways to go to get movement and use of this arm and hand. I found an interesting website http://www.valeriegreene.com/ which you might want to look at. Valerie Greene had a stroke when she was 31 and now is a public speaker in advocacy of stroke victims. The photo on line of her in the wheelchair reminded Caitlin of herself. Valerie was paralyzed on the left side of her body, unable to speak, and also lost her hearing on her left side. We purchased her books to read more about her. I am inspired by her recovery over time. It is that "recovery over time" that is so critical in maintaining the best perspective possible.
Our days seem best described as a tear and a smile all rolled into one. It gets frustrating for me to create and define this new life of ours, yet my heart is filled with the love of our family and friends who just never seem to give up on us or forget about us whether they are far away or here in Reno. It is always so heartwarming to have so much laughter fill our house as everyone piles into our living room and gets really cozy. Mal and I agree that Extreme Home Makeover needs to come and blow out the back of our house and make a huge gathering area so we can host the parties and Sunday dinners and fit everyone. In the meantime, do come and cozy in with us...Sadie will put her head in your lap and expect behind her ears to be pet endlessly!