Outings

On Sunday we had a family outing to go to the movie theater to see Shrek III . It was 6 blocks away, a 20-minute walk with his power chair, bumpy at times on rough sidewalks and ramps. It was the first time Dan was in another indoor setting with his ventilator. There are a few things that must accompany Dan on such outings: ventilator, extra battery, "Ambu bag", trach kit, deep suction tube, portable suction machine, wash cloths, water, and other personal care items. We fit these into 2 backpacks. No
alarms went off or other mishaps, so we claimed success.
PS-- the movie was funny like the other 2.


After the movie we went to a park and talked - a lot about how the wedding will be for Dan - and just enjoyed the beautiful lake-front setting. We then went back to RIC for pizza. (Chicago deep dish pizza !!!) To prepare for getting to the wedding, we decided to plan an event for each of the next 2 weeks where Dan would have to be in a vehicle.



Since we woke up to such a gorgeous day, we quickly planned to take advantage of the day by making arrangements to go to Lincoln Park Zoo, about 2 miles away. We called for a handicap -accessible taxi where Dan barely fit, but after taking the leg rests off his chair, we made it in. (We now know we'll need to get a drop-floor type vehicle.) Dan said it was pretty neat to be in a car once again. The zoo was packed because of Memorial Day, but the weather, sights and sounds AND the soft pretzel were worth it!! It amazes us that Dan is so willing to be in public when he knows people stare, and we are getting okay with that too. His sweet countenance continues to be a blessing.

So we already met our goal of getting out this week. Hmmm -- where to go next??

PS Continue to pray for sleepless nights. We don't know how he operates on 4-5 hours of sleep.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US

29 YEARS . . . AND 46 MORE TO GO !!!

[on our 75 year marriage contract (long story)]

We are sooooo blessed.

4 children Matt, Jen, Mike & Dan,
a daughter-in-law Em, a soon to be son-in-law Jeff,
2 cute grandchildren Gabri & Addy
(okay I acknowledge the 2 cats Chip & Slinky)
Parents that encouraged and supported us
18 loving brothers, sisters, and spouses who love to get together.
24 Very fun nieces and nephews, and a cute great niece.
Friends that "stick closer than a brother".
and this new world wide body of Christians that continues to encourage and love us.

We don't believe that this is the biggest challenge in our marriage, but it's near the top of the list.
Thank you for walking this road with us.

"For all your continued prayers, love and support,
We love all of you so much!"

II Chronicles 20:21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord, his faithful love endures forever!”

Memorial Day Parades & the weekend fun

Some us who live out here in the Fox Valley area, started attending the Memorial Day Parade in Geneva, IL a few years ago.

Since this holiday falls closely to the end of the college year, certain people not to be mentioned, but of that college age group, are still sleeping in late. So last year we asked, suggested, pleaded, cajoled, threatened [threatening parents, OH MY!] for Mike and Dan to do their patriotic duty go to the parade with us. Usually there is a good group of us K's, USUALLY.



For whatever reason, last year, the ONLY year that Bill, Deb, Mike & Dan showed up, no one else did, not even Shelby the dog. So this is fair warning to the local relatives, and you know who I mean. Monday 10:00 AM in front of the old Geneva courthouse. Look for Jen & Jeff, and don't forget the Ole Glory.

. BE THERE. [or support your local Memorial Day Event]






It is good to honor those who have defended our freedoms.
This year we include Dan's cousin, Ranger PFC D. Bennett who is currently serving in Iraq, as I type. Many servicemen and their families have been linked to checkinondan

May we also keep them all in our prayers daily.


Sunday morning, Bill & Deb are going to the a bicycling ride called "Bike the Drive". It is an annual event that falls on a busy weekend for us, and thought we should take advantage of the close proximity. Dan and relief sitter Matt might watch from our 5th floor lounge at the RIC .

We will try for another outing on Sunday afternoon with Dan and the family. We are taking the whole entourage to see Shrek III at the AMC theatre a 6 city blocks away from the RIC. We have scouted out the best sidewalks to take down there, are taking a back up lithium battery for his vent, and some of his required equipment for travel. Should be interesting. Stay tuned.

Mom Being Vulnerable

I woke up this morning with a strong sense that I need to share my heart with you, our faithful supporters and prayer warriors.

Bill and I looked at a few models of ranch homes last week. I walked in one and "knew" that Dan needed this type of house. It was all open -- living, family, dining all spacious for Dan. (Other ranch houses we look at tend to have smaller rooms and narrow halls.) I dismissed my feeling as just being the fact that I probably wanted a new house, and because of financial concerns anyway.

We got back to RIC to see Dan and share with him about house hunting. He said to me, "Just make sure it's open so I can get my chair around." I almost started crying because of his sweet spirit of acceptance of his situation. There was no demanding in his face, just a realization of fact. I know that other quadriplegics live in not brand new ranch homes just fine, but it has recently hit us that unless the Lord frees Dan from being vent-dependent, he will not be free to go anywhere by himself. He won't be able to use public transportation alone. He will be home a lot. He loves change of scenery. As I mentioned a few days ago, we walk around the RIC hall just because he gets bored in his room. I long to make his environment as friendly and useful for him as possible. Since Dan's accident we have already learned how unimportant houses and material things are, and yet I so want Dan to be comfortable. I treasure your prayers for us in this decision-making process.

Thank you for listening to a Mom's honest heart. Bill is looking at a few homes and lots this week. We know that the Lord will direct our steps to just the right place for us. Dan will be released from RIC way before we have a new house ready, but we will make temporary changes in our current home until we get in the new house.

Please continue to pray for us as we embrace, not just hold on to at a distance, but embrace, our divinely assigned portion. I thought the burden would get lighter, but it's actually getting heavier, especially as we think about being home soon, without all the respiratory therapists nearby. God is faithful and He will never give us more than we can bear!

Thank you again for all the help fixing up our present house. It is absolutely beautiful. (Oh, that reminds me -- so many people have talked to us about Extreme Home Makeover. New sounds wonderful, but so many friends and family have put too much into our house to undo their hard work. I know that the Lord will bless the work of their hands. But thank you!)

Visitors and Outings

Dan had 2 visitors and an outing on Monday and Tuesday.

Cedarville University's Pastor Bob Rohm, Vice President of Christian Ministries and Brian Nester, Director of Missions, were able to pay a visit to Dan this week. Pastor Bob runs the daily chapels and is known well by all students. Brian was the one who had to leave "THAT" phone call to us on Friday night, March 9th.

They took Debbie and me out for lunch to the Grand Lux Cafe on Michigan Ave. and all of us for dinner at the NMH dining room. (Of all the places to eat in Chicago, and we go to a hospital dining room!!) But Dan desired to go to the hospital to visit the ones who had cared for him for 2 weeks, so we drove his power chair the 2 blocks. We saw the corner suite, as we called it, but Dan did not really remember much of the place from his 2-week stay.

Tuesday Dan's Physical Therapist wanted Dan to "drive" to Treasure Island Foods, a grocery store 2 blocks away. Driving a wheel chair with the "sip and puff" method on city sidewalks is a challenge. It's nothing like the smooth floors of the RIC. The building's older handicap incline ramp with narrow rails barely accommodated the power chair, and the 3' x 4 ' airlock doorway, one door closing before the other one opens, was too much to handle physically. It buzzed me and I was on my own two feet. It didn't help that Dan had an excruciating headache that day. But, we won't give up!

Well, I'm off to look at a few houses today. We're trusting the Lord for provision in this area.

Back to Dan

Dan really had a good week. For his dining pleasure, he's had Big Mac's, Chinese food, Popeye's chicken and mashed potatoes, and Jamba Juice! He eats some RIC food, but he doesn't usually have a taste for it. When he consistently eats 600 calories by mouth, one of his 4 tube feedings can be eliminated, hopefully making him more hungry and gain weight.

He completed all of his goals for speech therapy by eating and speaking, so he will no longer have speech. He is able to speak and read on the exhale but also some on the inhale by somehow controlling his vocal cords. That is great for a vent patient. The therapist wants to know how Dan does that so she could instruct other patients! Most vent patients have to pause when they're reading or speaking continuously, waiting for the exhale.

Dan drove his wheelchair himself this week with the "puff & sip" air tube [same as the one over his bed for calling the nurse]. One hard puff is forward, a soft puff to turn right. a hard sip for backward and soft sip to turn left. We walk, Dan rides around our floor and other [17 floors here] rectangle shaped floors multiple times a day. -- 10 times around is one mile. (Mom enjoys the exercise!)

Today the original 6 members of this family, Bill, Deb, Matt, Jen, Mike, & Dan were finally together for lunch at the RIC for a family time. Em joined some of it via phone. We discussed our "new life" since the accident, Dan's rehabilitation and progress, his and our future, selling and buying another home, the wedding, ... "family stuff".

A big concern to Dan is how to communicate when people ask him, "How are you doing?" We know that you all care, and he's aware that sometimes people just don't know what to say, but it's too general of a question. Dan needs so much positive reinforcement about his future, and that he can still enjoy life despite his physical condition.

You may need to view him from a distance to get over the initial shock of his condition, [we've all had to do this from time to time], then approach and give him your greetings. Maybe read up on Quadriplegia and the latest technology, and a sincere smile with the same love you've always given him always works. Something like, "It's good to see you", and tell him what's going on with you, and ask him specific questions about his rehab or current sports events [Go Cubs Go]. Look past his disabilities to see him.

Please pray:
Dan has a headache every day, not migraine, but severe.
His pressure sore is much better, but has a long way to heal.
Nights are still rough, like 3-1.

I read II Chronicles 20 again a few times this week. Read verses 3 - 12, 17. What a focus!

Wow!

I woke up this morning to the sound of voices and a bobcat moving gravel in our driveway. I wish all of you could be here this very minute to see all of these people working on our yard just to get our house ready to sell. We are moved beyond words. And we thank each of you for your continued prayer for us. Wow!