Yeah - a hump day!

Making some progress today!! Dustin had a good morning with a pretty good attitude. He had physical therapy and sat on the side of the bed with help. they are trying to reorient his body and whole body system to a new position. He did well with a little nausea on the side. He had a lot of face and nose itching today probably a side effect of his pain med. I spent a good deal of time itching his face , nose and head. The wound nurses came and treated the 2 sores on his head and they seem to be healing. The orthopedic doctor took off the splint/soft cast off of his dislocated elbow. He was actually checking to the puncture wounds on his elbow to make sure they weren't a source of fever. They were all healed and they ended up leaving off the splint etc as his elbow seemed stable enough without it. Yeah - one more thing gone off of his body!!

His afternoon attitude always starts going downhill a bit and especially after his big day at this point. A little mouthy at this point and we are expecting the speech therapist this afternoon for
his practice swallowing test. We are wondering if he will be cooperative as if looks iffy.

The 2 speech pathologists arrive at 4:15 and make it so he is able to speak. There is a lot of air flow differences and weirdness to him at this point and then they begin to try different consistencies of food. Gretchen and I are praying away for his cooperation. It took a lot of concentration but he was thrilled to talk and seemed like his old self. He got to sample grape juice, grape slushy popsicle and grape pudding (definitely not popular!!). He passed with flying colors so far. He seemed to like the speech pathologist as she was quiet and easily coaxing him to try things. He seemed like he wasn't sure he could do it and wanted to give up but he did it all and even ate a bite of graham cracker before tiring out.

They then "turned him off" so he couldn't talk anymore after his trial test and that did not agree with him. They will be coming every day and working more and more in this direction.

No fever today is gone and hopefully we can move forward of getting off the vent. He has had a good day with the breathing even with all of the "events".

The social worker says the VA is leaning towards Tampa since he is/was a Florida boy and had been to that VA before. We are continuing to pray for favor for Augusta since that is closer to home. We know Nerina (girlfriend) would like him in Tampa as she goes to Univ. of Florida. I guess either way we are glad to get him on the east coast.

Gotta go - they kick us out at 6pm and it is starting to get darker earlier. We are going to try to go to a Biblical museum tomorrow if we get a chance. He will have an occupational therapy visit as well as something the psychiatrist is doing. We talked to him for awhile today and he is the first psychiatrist in the whole world that does not want him on antidepressants. I look each day for encouragement and that and the talking/swallowing thing win the prize for today.

thanks to all

love
mary pat