Look who's bowling!!

We usually participate in the Kids Bowl Free program during the summer. We weren't sure Joy would be up to , or able to bowl this summer. We tried it out, and it was fun!!! She used the bumpers, her walker, and a ramp! Yay Joy!!!

Weekend fun at home!

We had visits from Grandpa Tom and Glad, Megan, Missi, Briley, Charleston and Janet! Joy went with us to church and got in and out of the car without any assistance!!!! Then she walked into church with her walker, and didn't use the chair until coffee hour. She's doing great! (Pin-care is still no fun, guess it will never be a painless process.) Glad to have the CPM, she's doing good at getting her 4 hours of knee bending in a day. I look foward to Joy starting PT Wednesday.

Going Home!!

Last morning at CIRU! Joy had some breakfast, and we packed our remaining items into a wagon. She played on the activity room computer one last time while we went over our discharge papers. Then off to the Medical Office Building across the driveway for her OT evaluation. More paperwork, more tests, and it was determined Joy will NOT need follow-up OT, they can cover her needs in PT alone. YAY! Then Paul took Joy off to the American Girl store to celebrate (She convinced him to buy her another doll!!!!!)I drove the other car home. The cats were so excited about Joy coming home, one of them puked all over her nice clean bed. Thanks cat! I unpacked and put up pictures and crafts from room 363 to make the transition easier. Once they got home, the CPM machine was delivered, and we strapped her in for a test drive. She's supposed to use it for 4 hours a day, with hour breaks in between. Sure makes a huge difference in her mobility to be rid of the knee pain and stiffness! Using her good leg for support, Joy can now get in and out of bed alone!! Amazing! The rest of the day was very quiet, me and Paul took turns napping. Joy enjoyed her big screen Wii, and playing with her kitties, and new doll. First PT appt. not till Wed. the first. Hope we can keep her moving till then! Good to be home!

Rehab Day 14

Last full day!! Mostly evaluations in PT/OT this morning. Tests and measurements before Joy goes home. Then at 10 all the girls met up to head to the spa!! We headed downstairs in a caravan of wheelchairs and loaded on to the van. Except for Joy, who got in the family car. I informed the rehab staff of my fear of the interstate, so we all planned to take the "scenic" route. Once everyone was loaded in, it took an hour before our sack lunches showed-up! Some snafoo caused our order to be delayed, and it felt like forever sitting there with Joy laying in the back seat!! Luckily, she had a new American Girl book to read! Once we finally left, it took about an hour of twists and turns and construction delays to get to the Kidz Spa. The first thing I did once Joy was settled at the manicure stand was cut her raggedy nails. (Paul saw on the website they were licensed to paint only) I snipped one too close, and Joy wailed and cried. Which got me crying. (I need a spa day after our spa day!!)
Joy calmed down, I took a moment, and by the end of the afternoon, Joy was braided and sparkly and painted and happy! For the drive home I said I was ready to "bite the bullet" and drive on 285, if it would be quicker and easier for everyone. I did some deep breathing, followed the van very closely, and we made it!! Joy was a half-hour late to afternoon PT, but they took her when she got there. More evaluations....hot/cold test, etc. Then one last session with the teacher, and a dinner break (mommy nap!). We HAD to go to the ZONE for a big craft party at 6. Joy did every craft table, but spent the most time designing gowns from patterned paper. The ladies were so impressed with her artistic/fashion skills! Joy also got complimented all day on her talent show song!! (And , of course, her fancy new spa look!!) It was a good last day! Paul arrived after driving thru the storm, and I took a huge load of stuff and medical equipment home. Remade Joy's bed, tried to unpack, and get ready for the return home tomorrow!! Hope I get some sleep. So much to do......so tired! So proud of Joy!!!

Spa girl!

Here's Joy after the day trip to the Kidz Spa in Smyrna!! Blue nails, pink braids, and make-up!

Rehab Day 13

I thought we were starting the day with a nap, but the nurse reminded me Joy had a bladder test this morning. I thought it was an ultrasound, turned out to be a "wet-test". They filled Joy's empty bladder with contrast via catheter, made her wait as long as possible, then just pee all over the x-ray table! Strangest thing ever, but we all watched her grey blob of a full bladder slowly shrink live on the screen.The Dr.s said it was the best they'd ever seen. Perfect! Joy just shouldn't hold her pee all day, a bad habit!
Then Joy's activity group got to meet outside by the pretty fountain. Lovely day! Then some OT practice using the shower bench....a dry run until we can convince Joy to get wet again.....previously painful pinsites make Joy wince at the thought of getting wet.
Then some learning with the teacher using computer games, then finger-painting with tinted shaving cream while standing-up! Lunch, then a peer group craft activity. Joy cut out magazine pictures to decorate a box all about herself. There were cats, dogs, cookies, fashion, and curly hair....
Joy got to play some Wii during the next session while we discussed her upcoming discharge!
Then it was almost time for the talent show, but Joy was determined to go down some stairs. The regular stairwell was too steep amd long, so we found a different stairwell with groups of three stairs and a landing. Joy was up easily, but needed a lot of convincing to come down. She made it on a crutch and a handrail and a few tears.....then off to sing in the talent show!!! So cute to see Joy up there with her CIRU girls singing and smiling! Glad they allowed pictures! Got video too, hope to get it on YouTube soon. Pastor Nathan, Grandpa Tom and Joy's friend Stephanie all came to the show! Joy had quite the cheering section!! We snuck out before the last act so Joy could visit with Steph for a while. They played in the activity room and our room as I caught glimpses of Oprah's final show. Love you Oprah!!!
After dinner, down to the Zone for some cookie decorating and Wii! Paul met us there so I could get to choir practice! I heard the rest of the evening went pretty well. Daddy did pin care! One more full day, with a field trip to the Spa.....if I can get us there!

Rehab Day 12

Pretty uneventful morning, walking in PT, knee bends, and knee lifts while standing. Then some fun bowling with plastic pins in the hallway! Had to work around a wheelchair, and a couple hospital beds, but in the end, she was getting strikes!! Then Joy had a school session. She emerged grumpy, wouldn't tell me what happened. After school, another stair attempt. This time Joy was supposed to do the hard part (down) first, then easily ascend....but she freaked, and refused. Plan "B", go to the 1st floor gym (where Joy took her first fixator steps) and use their 4 practice steps. Again, up easily, and stuck. She finally threw down her crutch, took both handrails, and made her way down. Not perfect, but done! Then lunch and a break before the next PT. Joy has many different therapists helping her out. This next session she had a new lady, and had trouble communicating her preferances and screamed and cried instead. Not a productive half hour. Then the girls practiced their songs for the talent show tomorrow!! Gonna be cute! Then Joy got to pet the therapy pooch while I talked with the OT about going home. (We leave Friday morning!!) The dog was named Sundae, and licked Joy all over!! Then more walking laps in PT, and a peer group activity "Princess Party!" (meeting beauty queens in The Zone and making crowns!!) Then dinner, and lots of sensitive pin-site pain out of nowhere.....then Charleston and Janet came by! The girls played in the activity room and then we went down to a concert. The girls decided to play "Spot-it" instead. It was fun to have visitors! Then daddy arrived, and I got to have a break at home. Two more days and we're home.....scary.
Two funny things happened between therapy and dining.....we were lowering the bed and BAM! a loud noise. Somehow, the headboard got caught in a rubber wall stopper, and broke a bit off the headboard! Maintenance came up and replaced the headpiece. Odd! Also, while trying to buy a bag of Baked Lays in the vending machine, the chips got STUCK! Had to purchase the next bag, and Joy ate both!