Our Weekend

This is Richard's mom & Dave. We arrived Friday and spent the weekend with Richard and Christie. Let's start with Christie's update. When we arrived Friday, we went to visit Christie and was amazed at how she looked. She was more alert and moving her arm and head more than she was before. She would turn her head toward us and her mother Becky. Saturday when we went to visit Richard, he wanted to go visit Christie. We wheeled him to see her. While we were there he bent down to give her a kiss and when he did Christie actually pursed her lips and put her mouth on his cheek and actually KISSED him. This was such an exciting moment for Richard and everyone there. She kisses him whenever he gets close enough to her now. We were also privileged to get kisses from her also. Sunday she slept most of day, possibly because of having so many visitors. Monday she had a doctor's appointment and we didn't get to see her that morning. Later on that afternoon when she returned, we went to see her and discovered that the doctors had removed her trach and also her IV line from her hand. They are also feeding her through her peg tube straight into her stomach instead of a continuous IV feeding. When Richard saw her without her trach he was so excited and sat next to her on the bed and gave her a big hug and kiss. She returned the kiss and was real loud when she did it so there was no mistake about what she had done. Her Great Grandparents were there on Sunday and had a good visit with her.

Richard was in good spirits Friday when we arrived and was excited to see us both. He wanted us to join him for supper so off we went. When we got back he was really tired because he had rigorous therapy on his shoulder. He laid down and we all watched TV with him. Saturday he was still sore and was exhausted. He still wanted to go visit Christie so we wheeled him over to the SMRC building to see her. We were able to visit with Christie on the porch for a while and then it started to rain hard. Richard had to get back to the Dogwood Bldg. so I wrapped him in plastic garbage bags so he wouldn't get too wet and cold and off we went running through the rain and puddles. When we arrived at his bldg. the room assistant was ready with a towel and we dried him off and changed his clothes and got him into bed to warm up. Later on that day we played monopoly with another client and her mother. While we were playing he had a visitor. It was Cecelia and her sister. We all had a good visit and had supper. We left soon afterwards. Sunday Richard had a real bad headache and was not able to shake it. He tried so hard to keep us company but ended up sleeping most of the time. Then his grandparents came and he got up to play cards with them but had to stop after a few hands because of his headache. We put him back to bed. He pretty much stayed there most of the time. When we arrived on Monday he had already had his breakfast but was not feeling good. He was sort of out of it all day until around three o'clock. He still went to his therepies but could not put his all in it. He did however walk for his therapy all the way to the fishing pier and back and then had to go up and down the steps three times. He was really whipped after that but he managed to do it. Then we played a version of volley ball with a beach ball. We played charades at his three o'clock therapy and had a real good time. He is very animated when he wants to be. The reason why he was so tired and sore all weekend is because they have doubled the amount of therapies. We will see him and Christie in the morning for a couple of hours then we will be on our way home. Angie and Philip will be taking over that morning after we leave. Please keep Christie and Richard in your prayers. We would like to thank everyone who have helped all of us and for the many prayers and good wishes sent to them. God bless you all for your kindness.