Tues, 27th

Shopping for Ian today. He needs to have some clothes that fit him for his trip to the Olive Garden on the 29th. We are all so looking forward to it. I am sure it is a mixed bag for Ian. He is really excited to go, and I know he wants to see his friends. Ian's friends have always meant so much to him. I got him new pants and bought him a BMT from Subway. The look on his face wasy absolutely delightful. He handled the sandwich very well. That young man is so impressive. He wanted it so much and had such a hard time with the getting the point across that he wanted it, we went through a lot of negative yess's and positive no's and questions and aggitation and pain before the right question was asked and we gave him the sandwich in bed with the badtable and sitting upright in bed. But he did it and very obviously enjoyed it and he was a contented boy after that.

Mon, 26th April

I brought the lasagne Ian wanted but he is in need of something, he ate the lasagne but there is something missing, obviously something he is need of, perhaps it is a need to use the bathroom. There are certain things that happen with consistency, and one of them is the type of aggitation that you see when the bathroom is needed. Ian knows but doesn't or isn't able to exactly relate is probably a more correct version of what is actually going on.

Sun

well Ian told me he wanted california roll so I stopped on my way and got him a rainbow roll. I must say he absolutely loved it. He seemed very happy with it and can certainly eat well when he has the desire. I believe he has had the desire a few times as he has gained a bit of weight since going to the mountain. I have to buy new clothes cause none of his old clothes fit him.
Jahleh was there with him when I arrived, they must have had a good time together since hwas in such a good mood. Jahleh told me it was so nice to be able to carry on a full conversation with Ian. I think the timing is good, she needs his strength as her life has not been all that easy as of late.
Before giving Ian the rainbow roll I made him move that R leg for me. He does it very well and it is work, one can tell. And lift that right leg he can, leaps, bounds, great strides.

Tues - Ian stands

Tues., Ian stands up with PT Judy. no no tilt table, just Ian and his Physical Therapist and of course Ben and Dad and Aaron were there to see and cheer him on. Judy tells me she was quite surprised at just how strong his left leg really is, she says she was just stabalizing him cause of the right sided weakness but that he was actually standing on his own.
Aaron says he looks like he was in a lot of pain and I am sure it must hurt like hell.
When I asked Ian he said it hurt a lot but that it was a good feeling.
God is so good and just keeps giving us those miracles.

Mon eye appt

all goes well and Ian will not be loosing an eye. Ian is a relieved and happy boy
no more of "this is crap" which is the statement of the day for Mon before the appt.

Thurs, speech intonation therapy

Thurs., I had the privilege of watching your speech therapy session. I was amazed and joyful and so full of pride. I was in back of the curtain when James came into the room; and I heard you say to him, "hey, can we play that board game". You have come so far, you have purposeful forethought, so I watched you and James work with the keyboard working on phrases which you put to music so that the words come to mind with a certain melody. It works and you have to know how cool it is. Your voice really is your tool. It helps you get the words out so you can get your needs out, or have you just learnt how to play the game. At any rate it is evident that the right side of your brain has taken over the left brain functions.
And then at supper it was so cool to hear you, "I have a craving" what Ian, "Lasagne".
Seems like not that long ago it was good to just hear you talk, and answer questions, then hold a short conversation of back and forth banter, but now you actually initiate thought and your wishes for prensent and future things.
I know you will be an inspiration to many, you already are and have no idea of the impact you have on others.
We love you so!!!!

right leg

your dad called me to tell me you moved your right leg today and he asked you to do it again and you did it, intentional movement, that is so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and to think when I saw you last, which was Thurs you kept telling me that "this is not going to work". You have been saying that a lot lately, like for the last two weeks, I think it is just cause you are scared and then we remind you of all you have done and ask those questions, could you do this 2 months ago and then you realize you can do a lot that you could not do 2 months ago or 3 months ago. Still it must be very scary.
But you moved your right leg. Purposeful movement, wow. Superman in action, where is that damn criptonite.

a great day

Today was such a good day. I got a dragon roll on the way up to see Ian, he loves them and I was sure he had not had one in quite a while and now that he eats regular food time to enjoy some of the good things in life.
so he ate the dragon roll like crazy, and then we had crab rangoons and I have to say Ian seemed to really enjoy lunch. After lunch we went for a little walk outside and then we worked on some word phrases with music intonations. It was fun and Ian really seemed to enjoy the time. He was so upbeat today. I explained the music intonation theory as it relates to the right brain taking over the left brain function. Ian does so much better when he understands and I think he really does on those days when he gets past the day to day existance.
He had acupuncture and it really seemed to relax him, he went to sleep and then when he woke we talked for a while, and did some range of motion with his right arm and leg.
He rolled over, grabbed the bed rail to stabilize himeself, then took my arm, drew it over himself and then put his arm around me, purposfully. It was such a nice way to end our day, a purposeful hug.
Ian has a new roommate, he is Spanish and his family was in, big family. I told Ian he is likely to learn Spanish by default. We'll see
and Ian is coming home for an outing on the 29th. It should be a good day for him. The van is all set you go Superman!!!

Wends

some days are just days. When I got to the Mountain, Ben was with him. They were watching a movie. Ian was not having a great day, he had a hard time expressing his need. Things progressed and he did end up being changed, I am sure he was hotter that a raped ape in Costa Rica in July as he was in flannel pants and a waffle shirt. Shorts and a tee shirt were much more appropriate. I can not get over what people are thinking sometime.
Ian did a lot of reaching for the back of his head and said his head hurts. Not sure what that is all about but it does need to be addressed. He is so volitale and labile in his thoughts. Ian, I am praying will soon take his frustration and anger and feeling bad and use it to fight - soon.
It has been 6 months now and sometimes that seems like such a long time, but really it is not, so much more work to be done and really I so want him to just come home. We can take him to therapy here and having people around him that care on a more frequent basis will be good. I love my boy, and I want him to want to work, cause he has to.

frustration

I have to say all in all today was a very frustrating day for me. I called Dr Renna with regard to taking all the stitches out of Ians' eye. He doesn't feel that is wise cause if the eye isn't functioning then we would have to go to a specialist to deal with the issue of a glass eye. I said then at least we would know and we could proceed from there. Instead of agreeing with me as I hoped he would do he cancelled Wed's appt and referred me to a specialist who will evaluate Ian on the 17th. So I guess from here I deal with the specialist, Then I had to tell Mark who was harder to deal with than Ian. He kept telling me the same thing over and over like 6 times, I asked him if I could give him Renna's number and then he could tell him how he felt. I know he care and he has an opinion, but I get it after the first time. Sometimes it is very hard, none of us have gone thru this and brain injury is such a HUGE thing.
Other than that Ian had a tired day today, it is to be expected. Healing takes so much energy from the body. He talks so well, but when he gets stressed the tone just takes over. Still perseverating on "I never said anything bad" I do so wish I knew what he was referring to so I be of some help to him. I asked Ian today what is the thing he wants to regain first and he said to be able to use both hands. Even now he is so eloquent, he is a great guy and somehow thru all this he will be a greater guy.

Easter

Ian seemed pretty happy to see the family when we arrived.
He had tears and "wow, I had never seen anything like this. And then he realized Aaron was there too and his eyes got big and wide. It was cool. Of course I know he get so lonely sometimes cause he has too much time to think - how much he can not do, cause he knows. He has a hell of a road to hoe but I know he can do it, and I know Ben will help him. I can only imagine the kind of love those two have for each other. The other night Ben and I were talking and he told me there is no one on this earth he loves more or could ever love than Ian. Ben and Ian have always had a very special bond, the twin thing.
Ian keeps talking more and better. It is so amazing how the mind can retrain itself.
We went tod the treehouse, its is such a cool thing. They have a ramp up to a huge treehouse, it is very cool!We also brougt Easter Dinner - Nana sent it over for Ian and I must admit he thorouly enjoyed it. All in all a good day, left him and Ben watching Cadddyshack.

Ian says he never said anything was bad, you can make your own opinion of what that statement is refering to. When I asked him he said it was about before the accident,
Ian is talking so well, I am so amazed by how far he has come, this is not a common thing to have to go through and the superman is one tough cookie.
We went to the treehouse at Crotched Mtn today. What a cool place. I think it is the nicest treehouse I have ever seen. They say it is the only one of its kind in the state and I can believe it. I think we will be making more trips there, and I am just so glad it is summer, 4 walls inside a building can be so confining especially when you feel confined within your own body.

intro

Ian suffered a traumatic brain injury last Sept, yes Sept 11, pretty ominus. Initially they told us he wouldn't make it, but he did. Many prayers went up for Ian and praise the Lord He answered them. Ian is with us and is in the biggest fight of his life, cause h e is in fact fighting for his life.
He now lives in a rehab facility and gets very frustrated cause his body will not do what he mind is capable of comprehending. Ian is a very smart young man and what he told me last about this whole ordeal was that "this is not fun"./ He perseverates on things and until he can find a way to make some happiness out of the life he now has there will not be fun. Life is different now and that means for all of us who love and care for Ian.
Ian truly has come a long way, he can talk, quite eliquantly now and in a normal tone. His command of the English language is amazing. We have decided to take him out of the facility for some time at the end of the month and perhaps every couple of weeks for outings for the day.
A change of pace should help his psyche.