Day 38

It's been a while since we've updated, and we have had a lot going on! It's been a big weekend for Jon. Yesterday, he was given a six hour reprieve and we got to go home!! That was awesome. He's set to be discharged on July 1, so they wanted to give him his day pass a few days before he went home. That gave us a chance to look around the house to see what we need to do to make it a bit more "cane-friendly".

Yesterday was kind of a surreal day. I know it was strange for him to ride in the car, something he hasn't done in five months, and strange for him even just to be home - to sit on the couch, dodge the cats, sit on the bed, etc. And we admit it did make us both a bit nervous to leave here. We were leaving our safety zone, and going out into a world that he hasn't seen in nearly six weeks, and one that isn't as "safe" as the rehab center. So that did make us a bit nervous. But he did well. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, but we made it there and back in one piece, so for me, that's an accomplishment!

As we came back yesterday, I got the feeling someone far above me is looking down with a bag of popcorn watching my life and getting quite a kick out of it. Getting back to the room was a comedy of errors! I dropped him off at the door and got him back in his chair. Then I parked and headed back inside with my arms loaded with dinner, laptop, etc. I had Jon's "permission" papers in my purse, but apparently not in there very well. So as I crossed the street, they just blew right out of my purse and the wind took them from there! So I stood in the street watching them get farther and farther - with his name and medical record number on them! Then the oh- so-helpful Waco city bus driver honked at me, like I didn't know all our paperwork was blowing down the street! So I tried to chase them as well as I could, knowing there was a bus load of people watching and I'm assuming getting quite a kick out of it! I was able to chase two down and step on them and get them back, and watched as car after car drove over the last sheet, blowing it farther away. I wasn't quite sure if I was about to laugh or cry, but I think it was somewhere in the middle. All I wanted to do was look up and say "really??? hope you're enjoying it!!!" At that point, luckily the bus driver stopped in the road and picked up my last sheet. So I did get them all back. By the time I got back to help get Jon upstairs I was ready to just crawl under the covers and call it quits for the night!

So everything for us is an adventure, and when we get home Friday, I think we'll go straight home and play it safe.

But Jon continues to really improve and getting him home will be a huge deal for him. I think being in his own environment will only speed his recovery. He has outpatient PT and OT to look forward to - more than likely three days a week. But that will be good. He's making such good progress, we want to keep the momentum going!

Thank you all for hanging in there with us, and please keep the prayers for strength, determination and recovery coming. Jon still has a way to go in his recovery, and going home will be a new challenge for us, somewhat daunting at first, but one we are looking forward to.

And as always, thank you all for your love and support!