Monday, April 13, 2009

Jiggity Jig

Well, Home again, home again. This time, I brought my husband with me.

It was another long day in the hospital. Andy saw physical, occupational and speech therapists today.

He passed the physical therapy with flying colors. He walked 4 laps around the floor and did all of his arm, leg and strength movements just fine, thank you very much.

His occupational therapist was wonderful. She had him sweating he was working so hard. She had him do exercises with a band for strength and control in his right arm, as well as play-doh-type stuff for his fine motor skills in his hand. He also grabbed pen and put it to paper to write his name and a few sentences and draw some pretty pictures. He did well, but she recommends some ongoing therapy to help with the fine tuning of his motor skills. We did come home with the band and the play-doh stuff to use in homework assignments.

The speech therapist was the most difficult for Andy. He is speaking fine, it is the process behind the actual talking that is jumbled. He is having some difficulty with problem solving skills. The Dr. says he is not worried about it, most of it is due to swelling in the surgery site and will continue to improve. He is also scheduled for some followup therapy with a speech therapist.

We are scheduled to go get his staples out in about 10 days from today. If he is doing this well in 3 days, I cannot wait to see what 10 days from now holds...KEEP PRAYING!!

I am not sure what the next few days are going to look like. He doesn't need much care, but I still find myself hovering over him and pestering him with questions. I need to find the perfect balance between caregiver/wife/friend....it is a difficult line to find.

He has showered dressed and eaten dinner. He looks tired, but is reclining on the sofa watching baseball. Ahhh, his love for sports has not changed.

Praise to God for all the answered prayers of this week. So many specific ones were answered. From the success of the surgery, removal of the tumor, to Andy's movement improving...such wonderful news and the mercy of God.

Keep praying for Andy's attitude and perseverance through this trying time. He is going to have to do some hard work the next couple of weeks. Pray for continued improvement in his gross and fine motor skills on his right side...strength in his arm, as well as movement of hand and fingers so it is easier to write and grab and eventually type. Pray for his speech. That his mind will find new pathways, or repair the old ones, for the thoughts to come out properly. That his problem solving skills would improve and he would notice the improvement.

God is good, folks. Let us always remember this. even in times of trouble, He is in control and reigning from on High. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Praise to God....welcome home!!!

Anonymous said...

Yay!!! Awesome news. Glad you got your hubby home.. =)

katherine said...

Outstanding! ~ MK

Justin said...

Welcome home big boy. More than happy to help when and if you need me.
Justin

Bethany said...

So glad you're ALL home. Doug got the news from Larry and Wanda tonight. Praise God for answered pray. We will continue to pray.

Jennifer said...

I am really very amazed!! A few days ago when I read that Andy was going into the hospital for brain surgery I could have never imagined that he would be home and doing this well, this fast! You are so right to be praising God right now! I know that it is still difficult, but I'm just so happy for you both! I went back and read a ton of your posts, so I guess you could say you're a blog I've been stalking a lot lately! :) I feel like I've gotten to know you... and it has been a joy. Keep on pushing through Cari! Good days are ahead!

Love,
Jennifer

Amy Garthwaite said...

Praise the Lord!!!! We will continue to pray for the specifics, but that is such a great report!!

Emily said...

Praise the Lord!

MElsey said...

Oh Cari, I am so thrilled for you guys! It IS difficult to find your place as a wife/caregiver/friend. I will pray for you as you navigate your changing roles. I love you and I am here for you...for ANYTHING you need!

Anonymous said...

praying... praise god for good news!

Anonymous said...

Hi, you dont know me, but I saw that people were praying for your husband through another blog I read. It is really weird, but my best friends husband had seizure the day before your husband, and was also diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is also pregnant just like you. I found it to be so ironic that yall were going through the same thing at the exact same time.

So, I have been praying for you guys along with my friend. I am very happy that his surgery went well, you have no idea. I didnt want you to think it was weird that I was writing, I just wanted you to know that yall have been in my prayers. Thanks for posting the update :)

Lacy said...

Glad to hear Andy is home and so independent!!! Everyday will get better I know! I am touched by your faith and positive outlook. Take cre and we are still praying in Texas.

Kate said...

Glad to hear he's home. Praying for his continued recovery!

Cristi Jo said...

We will continue to pray for you guys as time goes on. Any time you want Maura to come over and help with Play-Dough therapy, she would be more than happy to help!
love you

kelli and joe said...

That's fantastic news!!! We'll keep praying that the therapy goes well and Andy's recovery continues to be speedy.

Meredith said...

Thank you Lord! I bet you are so excited to have Andy home.

D said...

Great to hear, keep it up Drew.

Keith said...

Awesome news!!! And Lynn and I will keep you both in our prayers.
Keith @ the VIC

Julie : ) said...

yayness! that is such fabulous news! We are so thankful!

Anonymous said...

Carrie and Andy..this is Kim (from Julie's small group). She shared the blog with us and we have been praying for you all. I am so glad to hear that Andy is home and able to recover from there. Will continue to pray for both of your strength in Him and ability to rest both physically and spiritually.

Deb said...

God answers prayer!!!

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to hear about the great recovery...keep up that positive attitude! You have everyone on your side!

Krista said...

YAHOO!!! He's home! Such great news! I'm sure it is difficult to find the balance of caretaker/wife/friend, so I will for sure be prayin' for ya! I know that Andy is so appreciative of you! Keep up the great work, and we'll keep praying! So great to hear how well he's doing just days after such a major surgery. What an awesome God we serve!
Blessings & Prayers from Seattle,
~Krista Lynn

Judy said...

WooHoo! Love the title of this post! Rejoicing with you at God's goodness. Praying for patience and I'm going to specifically pray about all the speech stuff. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be!
My husband is an athletic guy. Always into sports. Enjoys working out, etc. He became a bone marrow donor last fall. He went into the surgery perfectly fine and came out with some severe nerve damage in his leg. It has been very frustrating for him (frustrating would be an understatement). His neurologist told him it would probably take 2 yrs to heal and lots of physical therapy. The pain, the medication(he was on some major stuff) and the prognosis became very depressing for him. It was frustrating for me to see him like that and I struggled to know what I could do. But through lots of encouragement, patience, and great hard work he has made amazing progress in just 6 months. He's off all meds except over the counter stuff! Proof that Jesus our healer! Just encourage Andy and push him to do those exercises even when he's tired. You are his greatest cheerleader! I'm praying for you too! It's hard to see your healthy, strong husband go through something like this but I know that God is doing a great work in you too through all of this!

Anonymous said...

Welcome Home! We are praising God and thankful. Will continue to pray. So thankful you did not have your seizure while driving. (Rick thought of that!)

Jim Hillebrand said...

Some fool said that real men don't cry. It wasn't a cry but I got rather teary when I read the update.
Love you brother, JH

Coles said...

As I was reading 1 Peter 1:3-9 this morning I thought of you and how you have both walked WITH the Lord this past year. We are blessed to call you friends and brother/sister in Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-9 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We also know an excellent Occupational Therapist who is very skilled with Play-doh. He is available most days and already LOVES the patient. Let us know if his services will be needed :-)

Love ya both!

........ said...

Congratulations on so much improvement! I just found your blog and have been catching up through past posts and wanted you to know that you have one more person praying for your family. I just had a question. If it's not too difficult, I was wondering what happened to your baby girl. I know she died from a seizure but couldn't find any post about a seizure disorder or anything. I guess I just wondered if she had been sick previously or if it happened suddenly for no apparent reason. If you don't want to talk about it just tell me to mind my own business! :) She is so beautiful and I am so happy for you with the coming of your baby boy. I can't wait to see how his room turns out! Anyway, I will be praying for your hubby's quick and complete recovery...

T Sharee said...

So glad to hear all this wonderful progress! I will continue to pray for all 3 of you. When are you due?

Anonymous said...

We are so glad to hear that Andy is home. Praise God! (which makes me want to break out in song) Your whole family is in our prayers. God has blessed you in so many ways. Can't wait to see what he does next.