" We call him "Stump Jumper"

02-01-2009
1410 hours.


Can you believe what you are seeing. Silly dog swam all the way out to that stump and climbed on top of it got a drink, spun around 360 degrees and jumped off.

The amazing thing is that he did this feat the day before and we did not have a camera, but him being the "Awesome Dawg", he went out and did it the very next day, same thing, water about 4 feet deep, stump out of the ground about 10-12 inches, Silly dawg scratched his way to the top. Hence the name "Stump Jumper"


Well after some careful thought yesterday I decide to come home a day early and prepare some material that the therapists are wanting. I will return on Wednesday to be with Dar and all her therapists with "ammo" in hand.


They wanted me to put together an audio tape of simple questions and tasks that Dar can start working on. They have learned that Dar works even harder than she is, when I am around. I put together a tape of about 20 things they can focus on. Maverick even got involved, talking to mommy when he heard his name mentioned.


Therapy also wanted a photo album of different pictures with titles on the back that they could use to begin to see how much Dar might be seeing. I put together about 18 phots of different things we have done and people we have been with.


I would imagine that tomorrow Dar will have her second "dye" test, if all goes well and we successfully pass three test we might be looking at putting the "button" on the trach maybe Wednesday. I do not know how long between tests that they wait. If it were to be Monday and Tuesday and Dar passes all three then I need to be ready to take her Bi-Pap and oxygen machine to the hospital. For those of you that may not know Dar also suffers from chronic sleep apniea, (forgets to breath), so she is supplemented with 30 per cent oxygen at night. So, if Dar is basically sleeping and they put the button on the trach, then you can see that she will be with her breathing machine all the time until she wakes up further. Creates a new set of conditions, some that quite frankly scare the crap out of me.


I am looking forward to working with Dar's therapy team, I saw her physical therapist, Mike, a couple of times Friday. He was encouraged with Dar's progress although he would like to see more voluntary movements and some following of commands. He stopped by again before he left and got to see Dar move her head several times, and "he" even got her to stick her tongue out when asked.


Latosha and family continue to be great, Carol and Tosha went for a litle stroll yesterday and as I said Carol braided Dar's hair. Tosha has even gone so far as to make sure the curtain divider between the girls is open when mom or dad leave so she can keep an eye on Dar. As I said, "Angels On Earth".

Stewart stayed home yesterday and went to a long overdue neighborhood bar-b-que, I told him he better bring me back some chicken, Dar heard me say it and started laughing, must have thought it was her chicken.

In addition to all the medical chores I have had today I paid the bills, gave Mav a bath, changed the sheets, two loads of wash, two loads to dry and fold, maybe I will get a moment to just relax and watch a little of the Super Bowl. We'll see.


Once again folks thank you for all you have done and all of your support, it is going to be a busy week, down and back on Wednesday back down on Saturday and Sunday,


As always, love to you all

Dar/Danny/Mav