Kjerstin made tremendous progress today! She wrote on her dry erase board. She wrote the letters "KJ" and she wrote "Y" when she was asked if she could see Mom & Dad!! She has been raising her arm to give a "high five" and she gave Jerimiah a "thumbs up" when he was talking to her on Skype today. WOW!! We are so excited!! Can't wait to see her tomorrow! I can't wait to see how much she has improved in 6 days!!!
Thank you to those who sent meals and to the person that mowed my yard today. Thank you all for everything. Please come to Kjerstin's fundraiser Saturday in Derby from 11am - 2pm. Shirts will be available to purchase and so will bracelets.
Please continue to pray!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Mom's The Word
Kjerstin said "Mom" today. Mom says that is hard to understand but she says it. Kind of like when a baby first starts talking. Today she absorbed all her food. They reweighed her & she is up to 120 lbs. Her nutritionist was very excited! Mom has figured out that when there is a new or loud sound, Kjerstin does better if Mom explains it to her. Mom has also noticed that if she tells Kjerstin what they are doing during therapy and why they are doing it, Kjerstin tries harder. Today they got her in a standing position. Since Kjerstin can't completely hold her head up yet, mom helped hold her head. They used a therapy device to help support Kjerstin's weight with the help of the therapist. They did this for 1min. 45 sec. the first time and 1 min. 30 sec. the second time. Mom made sure they got a picture of it. Today's Xray showed that Kjerstin's broken wrist is healed, so they took the brace off. Her pelvis is healing well, but they still aren't letting her bear any weight on the left side. They have started having her wear glasses to help with her vision problems. One side is covered at a time and they switch sides every four hours. However, Kjerstin took them off and threw them across the room! Imagine that! Mom says they are pretty ugly looking glasses. Bright Pink & really big! We gotta get a picture of that.....I'm thinking next years yearbook?!! Anyway, the nurse put them back on and when she came back in the room, they were crooked because Kjerstin moved them out of her way! At least she didn't throw them this time. The nurse thought that it was great that Kjerstin was able to do this.
I told Mom that I was bringing her and Dad some food and she was very excited. She says that she has her email all figured out and she wants me to make her a facebook page and show her how to use facebook. Watch out world!! Mom is loving the laptop and navigating the internet. I think its a good release for her and she can do it in Kjerstin's room.
I am excited to see her this weekend and see her progress. Please continue to pray. Thank you for all you have done. We couldn't have made it this far without the love and support from all of our friends and family.
I told Mom that I was bringing her and Dad some food and she was very excited. She says that she has her email all figured out and she wants me to make her a facebook page and show her how to use facebook. Watch out world!! Mom is loving the laptop and navigating the internet. I think its a good release for her and she can do it in Kjerstin's room.
I am excited to see her this weekend and see her progress. Please continue to pray. Thank you for all you have done. We couldn't have made it this far without the love and support from all of our friends and family.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Today Kjerstin started absorbing all of her food. Kjerstin not absorbing her food has been an issue off and on for several days. However, today was the first day she absorbed all of it prior to her next feeding. Kjerstin originally weighed 140 and now she is down to 116! This is why we are so excited about her absorbing all her food.
She is trying to talk more and more. On the phone today, we told her we missed her & she made all sorts of noises back to us. She sounds like Chewbacca off of Star Wars! They said we will be able to understand her a lot better when they take her trach out.
Her culture came back negative today, so she is over her pneumonia! YAAAAA!! Now she just has to get all of those secretions coughed out of her lungs!
Mom passed her second test regarding suctioning Kjerstin's lungs. Since she did this, Mom & Dad can now take Kjerstin for a walk in her wheelchair without a nurse or therapist. Mom was very excited.
I know these may sound like small things, but in our world they are HUGE! Remember, this is the girl that they first said would never live and then said would probably never wake up. Now we are praying and working towards sitting up alone and then walking. Go Kjerstin! The will is there and the therpaists say Kjerstin's will to get better will make all the difference. I tried to warn them, but I don't think they get it. She is stubborn and fiercely independent. Kjerstin will do what she is told she can't do. She will show them. She has always been that way. I have no idea where she got it!!
A room at one of the facilities opened up today, so Mom & Dad moved from the hotel to it today. They now have a bed, fridge and washer in dryer in their one-room facility. they are pretty excited. It is $35 cheaper a night than what the hotel was charging. Since they have this now, I can take food to them this weekend. So, if anyone would like to send food to them, they would be absolutely delighted. Please let me know. I would like to have it by Thursday night, as I am driving up there on Friday.
Please don't forget the scrapbooking event and the fundraiser on Saturday. Also, we have a ton of bracelets left that we need to sell. Please contact me or a family member to get yours. We are praying for an AWESOME turnout on Saturday. Don't forget that Mom & KJ will be on Skype at 11:15 at the fundraiser.
As always, please continue to pray. Miracles are happening before our very eyes!
She is trying to talk more and more. On the phone today, we told her we missed her & she made all sorts of noises back to us. She sounds like Chewbacca off of Star Wars! They said we will be able to understand her a lot better when they take her trach out.
Her culture came back negative today, so she is over her pneumonia! YAAAAA!! Now she just has to get all of those secretions coughed out of her lungs!
Mom passed her second test regarding suctioning Kjerstin's lungs. Since she did this, Mom & Dad can now take Kjerstin for a walk in her wheelchair without a nurse or therapist. Mom was very excited.
I know these may sound like small things, but in our world they are HUGE! Remember, this is the girl that they first said would never live and then said would probably never wake up. Now we are praying and working towards sitting up alone and then walking. Go Kjerstin! The will is there and the therpaists say Kjerstin's will to get better will make all the difference. I tried to warn them, but I don't think they get it. She is stubborn and fiercely independent. Kjerstin will do what she is told she can't do. She will show them. She has always been that way. I have no idea where she got it!!
A room at one of the facilities opened up today, so Mom & Dad moved from the hotel to it today. They now have a bed, fridge and washer in dryer in their one-room facility. they are pretty excited. It is $35 cheaper a night than what the hotel was charging. Since they have this now, I can take food to them this weekend. So, if anyone would like to send food to them, they would be absolutely delighted. Please let me know. I would like to have it by Thursday night, as I am driving up there on Friday.
Please don't forget the scrapbooking event and the fundraiser on Saturday. Also, we have a ton of bracelets left that we need to sell. Please contact me or a family member to get yours. We are praying for an AWESOME turnout on Saturday. Don't forget that Mom & KJ will be on Skype at 11:15 at the fundraiser.
As always, please continue to pray. Miracles are happening before our very eyes!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Every Day is A New Degree of Improvement
Kjerstin had a great day!! Today she picked up green and blue balls and handed them back to the therapist. She tried to say, "Yes", but it wasn't very clear. The fact that her lips are moving to form words is Amazing! They quit having her wear the boot on her foot and told us she would have to have a cast, but today they said her flexibility improved so much that she doesn't need it. Another Miracle!! She is blinking her eyes once for "no" and almost twice for "yes". Mom and Dad can tell the difference now. She is able to hold her head better and turn it. She sat in her wheelchair for 3 1/2 hours!! Her goal for this week was 30 minutes. The doctors had their team meeting today, and will continue to every Monday. They had to set new goals for Kjerstin because she had already reached them! YAAAAA!!! Go Kjerstin!! We knew she would exceed their expectations. She always has! That defiant personality that made Mom & Dad crazy is now delighting them. Isn't it funny how God uses everything for the better?!
We had requests to place a link to Kjerstin's fund on the blog site and fundraising blog site, so that you can donate via Paypal. Jerimiah did this tonight, so it is now available.
Please continue to pray.
We had requests to place a link to Kjerstin's fund on the blog site and fundraising blog site, so that you can donate via Paypal. Jerimiah did this tonight, so it is now available.
Please continue to pray.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Scrapbooking
Friday's event has been moved to the Jeff Lange Building in Derby from 6p-12a. A Creative Memories Consultant will be there with supplies/paper, etc. and part of the proceeds will be donated to Kjerstin's fund. Please come and help get an album ready for Kjerstin. Some snacks are being provided by the Dollar General Store in Mulvane. Please email me if you will be attending, so I have an idea of how many tables, chairs, etc we need at wtiday@gmail.com.
The scrapbooking event for Friday, July 30 will be 6p-12a at the Mulvane Senior Center.
Hope to see you there!
The scrapbooking event for Friday, July 30 will be 6p-12a at the Mulvane Senior Center.
Hope to see you there!
So Sorry about the missing udates for 2 days. We were in Nebraska trying to get things situated and we were all sharing a hotel room. We drove back in time to go to the fundraiser and didn't make it home until after the fundraiser. We are all exhausted.
Kjerstin is progressing slowly. Mom says that every day is a new degree of better. The therapists say this is the hardest time for friends and family because the recovery process is so slow. The last two days Kjerstin has got to go outside in her wheelchair. She has a special wheelchair she sits in so that she can take a shower. She really likes that! She is making noises and trying to talk still, but no words. She has a very intense therapy schedule. Each day Mom is given a printed schedule of all the therapy. It's usually something every hour or so. Kjerstin is watching TV quite a bit. We did find out that she has double vision in one eye. They will do therapy to get that fixed. The doctor said today that they plan to take out the trach in a week. That is very exciting! Kjerstin is still coughing up phlegm, but the good news is that she is doing it on her own through the trach and Mom didn't have to suction out her lungs!! Small things, but MAJOR improvements in Kjerstin's world.
Mom & Kjerstin will be online to visit with everyone at 11:15 am at the Fundraiser on Saturday. Please come to the fundraiser and visit with them and help support Kjerstin's rehabilitation. It is from 11am-2pm in the south part of the parking lot of Caribbean Sun Tanning Salon in Derby.
Mom has an email account now. It is lindanellwebb@gmail.com. Mom has a laptop and internet connection in Kjerstin's room. Mom says Thank you Thank You Thank you to everyone. Thank you to Donna for the laptop. Mom is so excited that she can keep in touch and we can all Skype. She says thank you for the cards and donations and prayers. She also wanted me to tell Stacy thank you for the very sweet, touching letter. She read it to all of us. She tells all the doctors, nurses, and therapists, how wonderful everyone "back home" is. She is trying to do thank yous but says please forgive her for being behind, as it's hard to do with Kjerstin's schedule and she hasn't been sleeping through the night, so Mom has to nap, bathe, eat or get out of the hospital a little during the day when Kjerstin naps.
Dad says thank you to all of the guys at work that donated their time to him.
Stephanie and Jerimiah said Thank you to all their friends and their family, especially Becky, Audra & Ali for cleaning for them! Poor Steph was quite a trooper. Not only did she have Brynlee, the baby, with her all week at the hospital, but Saturday morning she woke up with her eye swollen shut. Since we were out of town, she is having to wait until Monday to go to the doctor, but she also has to work. So, say an extra prayer for her.
Shirts should be in at the end of the week and bracelets are in. Amy had to go on vacation, so please contact me if you need a bracelet at wtiday@gmail.com or 316-209-8972.
Mom is sleeping on a vinyl couch in Kjerstin's room and Dad is at a hotel, since there are no rooms open at the facility. They are on the waiting list though. We are having to move them around hotels because the Special Olympics is in Lincoln this week. We moved them to a different hotel on Saturday before we left and we will move them to another one again this Friday, but at least they have a bed.
Please continue to pray. Mom says this every time I talk to her.
Kjerstin is progressing slowly. Mom says that every day is a new degree of better. The therapists say this is the hardest time for friends and family because the recovery process is so slow. The last two days Kjerstin has got to go outside in her wheelchair. She has a special wheelchair she sits in so that she can take a shower. She really likes that! She is making noises and trying to talk still, but no words. She has a very intense therapy schedule. Each day Mom is given a printed schedule of all the therapy. It's usually something every hour or so. Kjerstin is watching TV quite a bit. We did find out that she has double vision in one eye. They will do therapy to get that fixed. The doctor said today that they plan to take out the trach in a week. That is very exciting! Kjerstin is still coughing up phlegm, but the good news is that she is doing it on her own through the trach and Mom didn't have to suction out her lungs!! Small things, but MAJOR improvements in Kjerstin's world.
Mom & Kjerstin will be online to visit with everyone at 11:15 am at the Fundraiser on Saturday. Please come to the fundraiser and visit with them and help support Kjerstin's rehabilitation. It is from 11am-2pm in the south part of the parking lot of Caribbean Sun Tanning Salon in Derby.
Mom has an email account now. It is lindanellwebb@gmail.com. Mom has a laptop and internet connection in Kjerstin's room. Mom says Thank you Thank You Thank you to everyone. Thank you to Donna for the laptop. Mom is so excited that she can keep in touch and we can all Skype. She says thank you for the cards and donations and prayers. She also wanted me to tell Stacy thank you for the very sweet, touching letter. She read it to all of us. She tells all the doctors, nurses, and therapists, how wonderful everyone "back home" is. She is trying to do thank yous but says please forgive her for being behind, as it's hard to do with Kjerstin's schedule and she hasn't been sleeping through the night, so Mom has to nap, bathe, eat or get out of the hospital a little during the day when Kjerstin naps.
Dad says thank you to all of the guys at work that donated their time to him.
Stephanie and Jerimiah said Thank you to all their friends and their family, especially Becky, Audra & Ali for cleaning for them! Poor Steph was quite a trooper. Not only did she have Brynlee, the baby, with her all week at the hospital, but Saturday morning she woke up with her eye swollen shut. Since we were out of town, she is having to wait until Monday to go to the doctor, but she also has to work. So, say an extra prayer for her.
Shirts should be in at the end of the week and bracelets are in. Amy had to go on vacation, so please contact me if you need a bracelet at wtiday@gmail.com or 316-209-8972.
Mom is sleeping on a vinyl couch in Kjerstin's room and Dad is at a hotel, since there are no rooms open at the facility. They are on the waiting list though. We are having to move them around hotels because the Special Olympics is in Lincoln this week. We moved them to a different hotel on Saturday before we left and we will move them to another one again this Friday, but at least they have a bed.
Please continue to pray. Mom says this every time I talk to her.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Scrapbooking
Please come and help scrapbook my sister's pictures. We are trying to get some albums together for them to use for therapy and to help Kjerstin remember who she is. They said you never know what will spark a memory. We will be meeting at the Mulvane Senior Center on July 23 & 30 from 6pm to 12 Am. Drinks and snacks are allowed. I will bring all my paper, stickers and tools. Please bring your tools so we can be more efficient. Please let me know if you are attending so that I can get enough chairs & tables. Thanks so much.
Wendy
wtiday@gmail.com
Wendy
wtiday@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)