Celebration

All of you who know us Knudsen's or Matt and Emily are invited to an open house to celebrate the homecoming of Gabriella and Adelina. Drop in at the Schmanke's this Sunday, August 5, from 2 - 5 PM. This is for family, friends, church friends, my HCA co-workers, all who have traveled the adoption journey with us. You know how to get a hold of us to let us know if you can make it. Your presence will bless us.

VIsits are Great!

Dan is feeling so much better. I can't wait for him to be back up in his chair all day instead of, "Now let's do 1 1/2 hours twice a day." (The pressure sore surgery was quite extensive.) He never has a taste for anything, but he at least eats something for each meal.

Watching or listening to the CUBS play is a much anticipated activity, but Dan really enjoys visitors. He especially enjoyed his nieces! Dan has been looking at their photos every day and can tell them apart easily. Their visit was definitely the highlight of his week! He is fascinated by everything they do.

We will be home very soon. Sometimes I get discouraged because other spinal cord patients are 'zipping' around in their wheelchairs before they leave, and Dan will be going home still working on just being upright for an extended amount of time. But, nothing of Dan's process has been "normal"!!!

Let me just say again how much we love you. You take care of us above and beyond the call of duty.

Knudsen Twins are Home

Yep, the twins are officially United States citizens and are now at HOME in IL with Matt [CU' 05] and Emily after a 14+ month adoption process in Guatemala. Bill and I actually get to grandparent in person. Addy and Gabri Knudsen will be visiting Uncle Dan this week and pictures will be posted !!! They are the cutest.

Dan is not back up to his June status physically, but is progressing well, feels much better, and is trying to add 15 minutes each day for being up in his chair, provided that his blood pressure remains stable. His appetite has increased slightly, but best of all, since he feels better, his fun personality is shining through. He's back to teasing and being sarcastic with the therapists and nurses and can't wait to see his twin nieces!!!.

Chipotle Today

I think the new strategy for anyone who visits Dan, is to eat food in front of him. He has been inspired in the past, to eat food that is being shown in TV commercials, etc. [yes we have requested that the food channel be added to the cable line up at RIC].

Take today for example. Dan had only had a few sips of my Jamba Juice for his breakfast. Nothing else.

"Dan, how about a banana?"~ "(head shake), NO"
"Dan, how about a frosted flakes?" ~ "(another head shake), NO"
"Want some Gatorade?" ~ "(head shake), YES"
[half hour later] "Dan, how about McDonald's sausage biscuit?"
~ "(head shake & frown of the face), NO"
"Dan, how about a PB&J sandwich?" ~"(slight look of disgust to me) "NO"
[much later] "Dan how about cheeseburger from McDonald's" ~"NO"

THAT was breakfast.

A CU college dorm mate of Dan's stopped by on his way through Chicago. [Thanks Griffin] We decided to have Chipotle, but Dan was still not hungry and didn't want anything to eat. Shortly after we started eating, Dan asked for a taste of Deb's chicken taco. This is the most exciting thing in a few days. He ate a few bites, and asked for more, so we ran 3 blocks and got 2 more chicken tacos and he ate one of them. YES!

So to all who visit, come with an empty stomach and plan on eating in front of Dan. LOL Maybe this new tactic will work.

Dan has been in his manual wheel some for the past few days, but has NOT been increasing by 15 minutes increments each day. We have yet to leave his room and go around the floor, or go out for a stroll as we did before his surgery. Continue to pray for these things.

Good Day

Dan is having a good day today. What does that mean? He is enjoying conversing with the therapists about baseball. He ate some breakfast. He had a visit from CU friends. He was up in his chair for 45 minutes. We talked with the head respiratory therapist about diaphragm pacers. (electrodes implanted on the diaphragm or phrenic nerve to stimulate the diaphragm to "work", thereby allowing him to breathe without a ventilator. Dan's lungs are in good condition, but the diaphragm is the muscle that causes the lungs to do their job.) Doesn't seem like a lot, but that's a good day.

Dan is narrowing his preference of technology equipment that will enable him to be more independent when we get home. He's pretty sure he has decided on the exact computer "mouse" and speaking program. When we get to our new home we'll focus on the exact environmental controls (lights, TV, etc.) we need.

Thank you to those who are constructing Dan's new room. Drywall is up, electricity needs are in, floor gets done this Saturday. Alan is working on the ramps to allow Dan to be in the first level of our house. Although our first level is only one big room, we'll be able to put a table there for family (all 3 of us) meals, and the TV is in that room.

Thank you to those who have been helping get our house ready to sell. Wow, I'm worn out! There is a lot to do to "stage" a house for selling. I personally think the Lord will provide the exact buyers and the exact new house for us!!

How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You. Psalm 31:19 I love it!

Slow Going

Dan actually ate almost a whole BLT for lunch and a salad for dinner. He slept a lot Sunday, but was so refreshed when he woke up. He watched the CUBS game [GO CUBS] and then the ESPY awards. He also "participated" in the weekend house clean-out by sorting through his clothes. (We brought to RIC a suitcase full of his clothes and he had to decide "keep" or "give away." -- it took me 3 times of bringing clothes to get through all of his ... college kids!!!)

It is slower going than we thought it would be for him to be sitting upright again, but it's coming, although he has only been sitting up in his bed. Now that this pressure sore is taken care of and his staples are soon to be removed, he is finally ready to begin square one of a much-needed 2-or-so month rehab, and REALLY participate, learn and grow. Of course, the insurance company wants him out of there today, so we're not sure how long we will be able to stay at RIC. We're excited for him to get home, but he's missed so much therapy from not feeling well all these months.

Another item of prayer!

garage sale: going, going, almost gone

(only 1/4 of the total "junk" ~ discounts galore)

FYI,

Final garage sale on Sunday 9 am - 2 pm (went to Saturday Eve church :) to help with a final day of selling and then clean up from the sale. We could use help with the boxing up of unsold items for give away Sunday afternoon. If you have 1 or 2 hours available, there will also be a final touch up and cleaning Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the house gets listed. Reply to checkinondan@gmail.com or give us a call.

There are still loads of homeschooling books, kids and educational books, garden tools, college age and adult clothing, adult shoes, still loads of household items, small kitchen items, linens and picture frames, golf clubs, sporting items, old records, a very used Foosball table [more than 1 headless player-LOL], POGS or Milk Caps, electrical & plumbing parts, it goes on.

We were finally able to attend "our own" Elgin church campus of Harvest Bible Chapel tonight. Pastor Stowell's continued his message on "Thinking right about God's capacity!" Our family was mentioned. The upload is at 3 pm Sunday.

Dan's last week was not so good. He had severe stomach pains on and off because of high calcium levels, slept alot, had a restless night, got light headed when trying to sitting up in bed, and just felt lethargic over all. He finally make it in his wheelchair on Friday, but got light headed after only 8 minutes and had to be quickly put back in bed. [He's blacked out when this has happened in the past] A big problem is his lack of appetite. He has eaten only very small amounts. No meat or protein or "Happy Meals". It feels like a repeat of his "no eat April" all over again.

Thanks as always for your prayers. Love you all.