Matthew's Rehabilitation Week 26

October 6, 2008

Today began the 26th week of Matthew's journey.

October 9th, 2008

Sorry, I haven't posted this week yet. I left on Tuesday for Clayton and came back today. Mom came and visited Matthew for a couple of days. She got to hear him say No to the therapist on Tuesday, will have to catch up with her later on what he did the rest of the time she was here.

Our mobile home has been delivered and is tied down. Move in day is still 30-40 days away though, as Palm Harbor's factory has 21 business days to come and finish the building.

I greatly enjoyed my couple of days with Lexie. It is so hard not seeing her everyday. She is so grown up about it, she knows it's only a little bit longer and we will be home with her.

Well, I will try to get some updates tomorrow and post some more before the end of the week.

October 12, 2008

Here are some pictures of Matthew standing in physical therapy. At times, Gale only had one knee behind him supporting him. He is doing so awesome.

Matthew looks so much more like himself these days. He doesn't have the far away look that he would get some and he doesn't shut off like he used to. He is so much more alert, turning his head more to the right and focusing so much better.

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In therapy, he is helping to transfer from the mat to the wheelchair (this means therapy is done). He doesn't seem to want to help when they are transferring him from the chair to the mat, in fact, he tries to get hold of the mat so that he can push away from it. He is using his right arm to push them away, when they are stretching him. When we first got here he didn't use his right arm at all. He uses it more and more everyday.

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Ma-Ma, Marlichia isn't too proud of this, but he has also used an inappropriate finger gesture as well, several times. Guess we can't expect him to forget the bad things. lol Oh well, that just shows us that the Matthew we know and love is still very much in there.

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I just can not explain enough how much Matthew has improved. When I go home, I get all kinds of questions on how he is doing and I just don't think people understand how much of Matthew is back. Sure he has a long way to go to be back to 100%. People still ask if he recognizes me etc... Matthew has always recognized me and has acknowledged with a recognition most everyone that has come to see him. He answers me with yes and no blinks. He has started giving the peace sign, which if anyone knows him, they know that that is his trademark. I have so many pictures of him giving the peace sign. Katy got him to do the rock on sign the other day. He counts with his fingers (on occasion, when not being stubborn). He uses his hands to push things away such as the bolster they stick behind his back. He gives his looks when he is disatisfied with someone and he can give some really mean ones when they make him really mad.

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Well, I just wanted to explain a little more. Patton and Charlotte came up last weekend and were really amazed at how much more Matthew looks like himself. He's coming back to us slowly but surely and really it's not really that slow considering that according to the last CAT scan, Matthew shouldn't be doing most of the things he is doing. We already have our miracle documented, I just can't wait for everyone to see how BIG this MIRACLE has become and will continue to be a MIRACLE.

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For as God told me through this devotional, "Lean hard upon Me, for I will bring you through to new victories, and restoration shall follow what seems now to be a wind of destruction".

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Thanks again for all the continued support and prayers. We love you all and can't wait to get home. It is still looking like it will be the first or second week of November, but Home for the Holidays.