December 5-8

Day 299-302
Yeah, it's only been 4 days since my last blog post, but I have a few things to share. the weather is interesting, and so far I haven't had to get out the tractor to move snow around, but the next time it snows, we'll have to clear it. We're doing well with the ramp, it is easy to clean and I bought a snow pushing shovel, so I just scoot it through the railings.
The botox worked really fast this time, and we are going to keep going for massage and cranial sacral therapy. Glenn likes it and it may be helping with his swallowing. I say that because Glenn has been eating pudding, fruit cups, cheezies and the odd Pringle (he missed the junk food!) Last night I had pizza, and Glenn asked if I could put some in the blender. I didn't think that would work, then I remembered my food chopper. I took a small piece out of the center (that's the best!) and chopped it up. Glenn used a fork and managed to eat it all without too much bother. Half way through he stopped, looked at me, picked up his feeding tube and said he thought he would be able to get rid of that. He teared up and cried a bit at the thought. I guess he was sure he would have to be tube fed the rest of his life. Tears of joy are coming a bit more regularly these days as we clear the obstacles in front of us. His right leg is working a bit better, and he is making more effort than ever to become independent. We had a busy week, and yesterday did a few things around the house that needed doing. We had company last night, and Glenn really enjoyed visiting with his friend. He is getting easier to understand, and that helps people when they come. They are understanding more of what he says too, which I hope means they will come to visit more often. Glenn is enjoying some "alone" time this morning, Jackie and Johnny are coming to stay with him. He said he hasn't had any alone time in a long time, and feels easy enough to be alone for a while. I'm getting more confident that he is OK alone too, so we have come a long way in 3 months.
Glenn's other comment that caught my attention was a thought about doing a job. I don't know what he has in mind, but it is another indicator of his need to get on with things. That is so good, and so like Glenn that I almost cried. I don't know if the therapies are doing this, or if it is just time, but he is looking ahead at a productive future, and I think he had sort of written himself off. It is so encouraging to watch him take more interest, and exert even more effort into getting well. He agreed to more massage therapy, which surprised me, so I think he must have felt some benefit from it. At this point I'm happy with anything that helps.
'Til next time,
Louise