Tuesday, November 30th, 2004~ Tracy still seems to have several bouts of coughing a night. At times, she also has sweats. The contest is still open...We're still trying to solve the coughing puzzle. If there is anyone smart out there that would like to take a crack at solving the coughing puzzle, please email me at drdebanz@aol.com. (Sound like one of the new medical investigation shows?) Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy this morning, after spending more than an hour massaging and stretching Tracy with warm lotion. Tracy really seems to miss her morning session of range of motion and is more relaxed for her subsequent therapies when we take the time to stretch. Tracy does not have Speech Therapy today, so Mom and Jenny could spend more time with Tracy's morning stretch. Around noon, Mom and Dad took Tracy to her appointment with Dr. Rullan, Navy Podiatrist, at National Naval Medical Center to have her leg/feet casts remade. This time they will incorporate extra padding into the cast so that Tracy will not have pressure on her bony prominences. It seems that Dr. Rullan and his staff succeeded in making casts that fit Tracy well. She was able to tolerate an hour and a half this evening in her new casts with minimal redness on her ankles. We will gradually build up her wear schedule until Tracy can tolerate her casts 24/7 with a few breaks. This evening, Katie, Tracy's Occupational Therapist, came over for Tracy's OT session. Katie spent some time stretching Tracy's trunk and upper extremities, and then Mom, Dad and Kate got Tracy seated on the edge of the mat on her donut pillow. Tracy tolerated sitting for at least 20 minutes and did a good job with head control and trying to balance/right herself. She is still having some spasms where she will turn her head to the left and then hyperextend her neck (look at the ceiling). She is doing better to overcome or break the spasm when it is brought to her attention verbally. Tracy has difficulty with proprioception, which prevents her from feeling where her body is in space. With therapy, Tracy should be able to relearn and reintegrate this important sensory motor skill. Tiffany arrived safely in New Orleans and is back at school. She has two weeks left of this semester and then will meet us in Independence where we will all spend Christmas and New Years together. Nana starts her final week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is able to walk without her cane. We are so proud of her. Liz is feeling much better after her laproscopic surgery to remove her gallbladder. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts! Best wishes for a very spiritual and healthy holiday season!

Monday, November 29th, 2004~Tracy coughed again about four different times last night. At times, she also has sweats. The contest is still open...We're still trying to solve the coughing puzzle. If there is anyone smart out there that would like to take a crack at solving the coughing puzzle, please email me at drdebanz@aol.com. Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy this morning, in time for 10:45 AM Speech Therapy. Paige, Tracy's Speech Therapist, Mom, and Jenny positioned Trace in prone (on her tummy) on the wedge. Tracy really enjoys being prone. This is the second time we have gotten her prone after her abdominal surgery. Her incision stayed together and she seemed to relax. Paige worked inside Tracy's mouth, with the Nuk brush and another rubber oral stimulator. Tracy let Paige inside her mouth, which was a first. She tends to bite when Paige tries to get inside her mouth. This is an oral defensive reflex, which can be desensitized with time and practice. Paige also used the baby bristle finger brushes. Tracy tolerated this position for almost 15 minutes. After Speech, Jenny gave Tracy a spa day complete with waxing and facial. Tracy loves to be pampered. Later in the day, Diana, Tracy's Physical Therapist, came over and Dad, Mom, and Diana got Tracy prone, this time on the peanut so she could weight bear through her knees and her shoulders. Diana never used a peanut before, so this was an adventure for her. Tracy tolerated a little more than 15 minutes. We will gradually regain her tolerance to 30 minutes. Tomorrow, Dad and Mom will bring Tracy back to National Naval Medical Center to have her leg/feet casts remade. This time they will incorporate extra padding into the cast so that Tracy will not have pressure on her bony prominences. Tiffany arrived safely in New Orleans and is back at school. She has two weeks left of this semester and then will meet us in Independence where we will all spend Christmas and New Years together. Nana starts her final week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is able to walk without her cane. We are so proud of her. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery over a week ago. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Sunday, November 28th, 2004~ Tracy had another night with some coughing spells. We're still trying to solve the coughing puzzle. If there is anyone smart out there that would like to take a crack at solving the coughing puzzle, please email me at drdebanz@aol.com. Mom and Dad showered and dressed Tracy this morning, after a very lazy start to the day. It looks like we will forego church during flu season. Even though Tracy and Mom got flu shots, we will keep Tracy out of congested places during the season. Mom, Dad and Tracy spent a quiet day inside the apartment. Mom spent at least and hour doing Tracy's facial and oral exercises using several different massagers, baby bristle finger brushes, a tongue stick, and a nuk brush. Tracy relaxed well and tried very hard to stick her tongue out and to lift it to the roof of her mouth to taste the honey Mom placed up there. With more practice, she should be able to move her tongue. Dad and Mom got Tracy prone on the peanut ball. Tracy tolerated this position for almost 15 minutes. Dad was able to get Tracy to weight bear on her knees and also got a good hip stretch. This is her first time prone since her surgery November 12th. Tiffany is heading back to New Orleans this evening and will be back in class Monday morning. She had a nice time in Texas and enjoyed meeting Rick's family. We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana starts her final week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is able to walk without her cane. We are so proud of her. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery over a week ago. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Saturday, November 27th, 2004~Cousin Caroline arrives safely in New Orleans!~ Tracy slept pretty well last night except for a few bouts of coughing. We don't think she is experiencing any reflux. We think the coughing is due to a change in her stomach medications. We decided to split the Zelnorm dose into 3 mgs in the morning and 3 mgs in the evening. We'll see how she does tonight. We think that we may have stopped the stomach medications too fast. Sometimes it takes a month for the stomach to be able to digest and empty after surgery. Cousin Caroline made it back safely to New Orleans. We were so sad to see her go and miss her already. She was a HUGE help and we had a lot of fun during her visit. Mom and Dad bathed and dressed Tracy this morning. Dad got up early with Tracy and ranged and stretched her for an hour. Dad let Mom sleep in. She definitely needed it. Today, we were surprised by a visit from Jenny, Tracy's P.A. (Personal Angel) and her beautiful daughters, Sole and Andrea, and also Andrea's husband, Cory, and their friend Maya. Tracy was really happy to meet them and even tried to talk! She gets so frustrated when she tries to talk. It was really wonderful to meet Jenny's family. They are very beautiful as is Jenny. This evening, Tracy had Physical Therapy with Diana. She spent a long time stretching Tracy's hip flexors and hamstrings while Tracy was in sidelying. Tracy loves this position because she is able to rest her head in Dad's lap, which is very comfortable. Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist, plans to make new splints for Tracy's hands. This is a good sign, and means that Tracy's hands/wrists are getting better. Tiffany is enjoying her visit with Rick's family in Texas. We already miss her! We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana starts her final week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is able to walk without her cane. We ar so proud of her. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery over a week ago. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Friday, November 26th, 2004~Cousin Caroline is visiting!~Tracy was up several times again last night. She was coughing, and we are not sure what is causing her cough. She does not have a cold. We don't think she is experiencing any reflux. We decided to split the Zelnorm dose into 3 mgs in the morning and 3 mgs in the evening. We'll see how she does tonight. We think that we may have stopped the stomach medications too fast. Sometimes it takes a month for the stomach to be able to digest and empty after surgery. Mom and Dad bathed and dressed Tracy and all four of them went for a ride to Historic Mount Vernon. It was a cold winter day, about 50 degrees. It was beautiful walking around George Washington's historic mansion and farm. The estate stands majestically high on a hill overlooking the Potomac River. Now Mom wants to move to Mount Vernon. She saw a for sale sign infront of the Bellapais, which turns out to be another of George and Martha's estates. She found it on the internet for 12.5 million dollars! What a steal. This evening, Tracy has Physical Therapy with Diana. We'll let you know how that goes. Mom and Dad are also cooking a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins this evening. It's never too late to eat turkey again. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has been a HUGE help! Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist, plans to make new splints for Tracy's hands. This is a good sign, and means that Tracy's hands/wrists are getting better. Tiffany is enjoying her visit with Rick's family in Texas. We already miss her! We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana starts her final week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Thursday, Novmber 25th, 2004~Happy Thanksgiving! Cousin Caroline is visiting!~ Tracy was up a little last night. She was coughing again. We don't think she is experiencing any reflux. We decided to split the Zelnorm dose into 3 mgs in the morning and 3 mgs in the evening. We'll see how she does tonight. We think that we may have stopped the stomach medications too fast. Sometimes it takes a month for the stomach to be able to digest and empty after surgery. Mom and Jenny showered and dressed Tracy in time for Physical Therapy at 10:00 AM. Diana worked with Tracy on the mat and stretched her hips in sidelying. Tracy was a little more tight today. Maybe it is due to changes in her stomach medicines. Later in the day, Mom, Dad, Tracy, Caroline, and Jenny got in the van and went to our good friends the Tomaszeski's for Thanksgiving dinner. We all had a great time sharing stories and great food. After dinner, the Admiral took us on a private tour of the National Observatory, which is located on the grounds where they live. It was really exciting. Tracy was very comfortable on a blow-up air bed in the sun room, so she was not sitting in the chair putting pressure on her bedsore. She really rested well and enjoyed the music and warm surroundings. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has been a HUGE help! Kate plans to make new splints for Tracy's hands. This is a good sign, and means that Tracy's hands/wrists are getting better. Tiffany is enjoying her visit with Rick's family in Texas. We already miss her! We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana is in her third week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Wednesday, November 24th, 2004~ Tracy slept well again last night. Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has been a HUGE help! This morning, Mom and Caroline went to get a pedicure while Jenny stayed with Tracy. Jenny is one of God's angels! (We are all so thankful to have so many angels surrounding Tracy.) While they were gone, Jenny did Tracy's facial e-stim exercises. Jenny also trimmed Tracy's hair She now has long layers. It looks really cute. This afternoon, Suzanne, Tracy's nurse visited to do her weekly assessment. She was really pleased with how alert Tracy was. Tracy also took deep breaths on command when Suzanne was listening to her lungs. These are all good signs. Later in the afternoon, Kate, Tracy's OT came to work with Tracy. She and Mom positioned Tracy on the side of the mat and Tracy sat with support for over 20 minutes. While she was in this position, Kate worked on stretching Tracy's trunk. Sometimes, Tracy gets a spasm, and she turns her neck to the left and hyperextends it. When Tracy got a spasm, Kate coached Tracy out of the spasm by telling her to relax her neck, tuck her chin, and turn her head to midline. Tracy was able to overcome the spasm each time with verbal cues. This is also a good sign. Kate plans to make new splints for Tracy's hands. This is a good sign, and means that Tracy's hands/wrists are getting better. Tiffany arrived safely in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she will spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend Rick and his family. We already miss her! We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana is in her third week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004~ Cousin Caroline is visiting! Happy Thanksgiving!~Tracy had another good night's sleep. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has really been a HUGE help. We are so glad that she could come and spend the week with us and Tracy! This morning, Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Paige, Tracy's Speech Therapist, came over to work with Tracy. She spent some time doing oral/facial stimulation and lip stretches. The goal is to get Tracy to feel more comfortable with her so that she can begin working inside her mouth. Paige would like to work with Tracy's tongue, to get Tracy to move her tongue forward and to lift it to the roof of her mouth. These are all things that we do without thinking, but are very important so that Tracy can swallow, eat, talk, etc. Paige is working with Tracy to get her to close her mouth, which also must be relearned due to her apraxia. Tracy relaxed well and seemed to really enjoy the oral/facial stimulation. After her session, Mom, Jenny, and Caroline took Tracy to get her baclofen pump refilled at the neurology clinic. Joy, Tracy's Physician Assistant, kept Tracy's dosage at 1,750 micrograms a day. Later in the day, Kate, Tracy's OT came by to do Occupational Therapy. Kate worked on Tracy's rolling. The goal is to get Tracy to roll on her left and right sides with minimal coaching. She is participating somewhat by adducting her shoulder. We will keep practicing this until she is able to do more and more. Tiffany is on her way to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend Rick and his family. We miss her and can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana is in her third week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing much better. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Monday, November 22nd, 2004~ Tracy slept well again last night. Mom and Jenny showered and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has been a HUGE help! This morning, Paige, Tracy's Speech Therapist, came by to give Tracy Speech Therapy. She worked on Tracy turning her head, left for Yes and right for No! Tracy was trying and was successful several times. Then, Mom and Paige showed Tracy a slide show on her laptop which consisted of 100 pictures from Tracy's travels abroad. Tracy was really trying to focus. Dad set up the program to run so that when Tracy turned her head to the left, her cheek hit a switch which advanced the slide show. Tracy was trying real hard and was successful several times again. Practice, practice, practice! This afternoon, Mom, Dad, and Caroline took Tracy to National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda to get new casts put on her feet. Her right leg has a full length cast from her toes to her thigh. Her left leg is only casted to her calf. The casts are bi-valved, so we can remove them to bathe Tracy. However, the podiatrist said that we much keep them on 24/7 to get the maximum benefit. We will get new casts about every two weeks until her feet are in the desired position. Once we have maxed out the casting, Tracy may need heel cord lengthening surgery. We will take one baby step at a time. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! She leaves for Texas Tuesday to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend Rick. We can't wait to see her for Christmas. Nana begins her third week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Sunday, November 21st, 2004~ Tracy had another great night's sleep last night. I think that she is more comfortable now that the reflux has been resolved. Mom and Dad bathed and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Cousin Caroline is visiting and has been a HUGE help! Mom, Dad, Tracy and Caroline took a ride today to Great Falls National Park. It is in the area where Mom and Dad would love to buy a house some day, if Dad gets another tour here in the DC area (and if we win the lottery!). His orders are up in 2005, so we will see what the future brings. Mom is beginning to see that there are a lot of fun things to do and see in this area. The four of them stopped at the Visitors Center at Great Falls Park and picked up a Golden Access Pass. This pass is free admission into all of the state parks. It is for all people with disabilities, so Tracy once again, is showing us a new place. We all walked down a trail leading us to the overlook to the falls. It is hard to believe that these falls are just a mere 12 miles from the city! We thought we slipped through the Stargate into another dimension! (I guess we are watching too many sci fi movies!) This weekend, Mom and Dad have been practicing head turning to the right and left with Tracy. She tends to keep her head to the left. This is due to her spasm. In order to turn her head to the right, Tracy needs to break this neck spasm. She is getting better at controling her spasm and turning her head. It takes a lot of energy for her to do this. Mom and Dad changed Tracy's dressing today and can already see a difference since they made the adjustments in her dressing. We hope her wound heals soon, so we can get rid of the wound vac. We have had the vac since August, and it will soon became part of the family. Mom has named it Fernando! Emil is coming to give Tracy a massage this evening. She really could use it. Caroline is enjoying her stay with us. She is reading Mom's books on Lance Armstrong and is hooked! We are so glad to have her here with us. She is such a big help and loves Tracy so much. Thank you Cousin Elizabeth for making Tracy the beautiful rosaries. We will put them under her pillow when she goes to sleep at night. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana is finished with her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Saturday, November 20th, 2004~Happy B'Day Uncle Johnny!~ Tracy slept well again Friday night! Mom and Dad bathed and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy does not have therapy today but Mom and Dad got her in her chair and then to the mat in the Therapy Nook. Dad worked on stretching Tracy's right hip which tends to remain flexed for most of the time. Dad was able to get Tracy's hip stretched but it took all his strength. Mom and Dad sat Tracy on the edge of the mat and had her practice turning her head to the right and left. Tracy tends to keep her head to the left. This is due to her spasm. In order to turn her head to the right, Tracy needs to break this neck spasm. She is getting better at controling her spasm and turning her head. It takes a lot of energy for her to do this. Mom and Dad changed Tracy's dressing today and can already see a difference since they made the adjustments in her dressing. We hope her wound heals soon, so we can get rid of the wound vac. We have had the vac since August, and it will soon became part of the family. Mom has named it Fernando! Caroline arrived safely from Independence, Louisiana and will spend the week with us in Crystal City. We are so glad to have her here with us. She is such a big help and loves Tracy so much. Thank you Cousin Elizabeth for making Tracy the beautiful rosaries. We will put them under her pillow when she goes to sleep at night. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana is finished with her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. She is back with her girlfriends playing cards and going to the movies. Liz is home where she is rapidly recovering from her laproscopic surgery on Thursday. Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Friday, November 19th, 2004~Cousin Caroline comes to visit Saturday!~ Tracy had another good night's sleep Thursday night. It has been one week since her Nissen fundoplication, and Dad is gradually weaning Tracy off her stomach medications. Tracy is only taking tylenol now for post-op pain/ discomfort. She has not had any codeine since Tuesday night. Mom and Jenny showered Tracy for the first time since her surgery. She seemed to really enjoy it, especially getting her hair washed. Tracy had all three therapies today. She had Speech Therapy at 10:30 AM with Paige. Tracy was relaxed and a little sleepy for speech. She was sitting upright in her wheelchair and had her eyes open. Her mouth was very relaxed too. She tried to stay awake but seemed a little fatigued from her long day of doctor's appointments yesterday. Paige checked out all of the interesting speech/sensory stimulation materials that Debbie Rand had sent Tracy and was very impressed. Paige tried different types of oral stimulation using ice, apple juice (nectar consistency), gum massagers, etc. Tracy cooperated but was pretty sleepy throughout the session. Paige wants Mom to work on head control and having Tracy look to the left for yes and to the right for no. She is trying to establish some form of communication for Tracy to use. We'll see what we come up with. Later in the day, Tracy had Physical Therapy with Diana. Tracy was still pretty sleepy, so Diana did some passive range of motion on Tracy's extremities. She was easy on Tracy today. Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist, came for therapy around 4 PM. Tracy was more awake for OT. Katie helped Tracy to extend her right and left arm over her head, one at a time. She then told Tracy to bend and straighten her elbow. Tracy was able to initiate some movement in both arms. She was really trying hard to follow Kate's instructions. Kate wants to make a new set of wrist cock up splints for Tracy. This is good news because it means that Tracy's wrists are improving. Tracy's bedsore is really healing well with the wound vac. We visited Dr. Buescher, the plastic surgeon, who was pleased with Tracy's wound healing progress. There is an area though, that needs more attention so Dad will adjust the dressings to make sure that this area is getting suction. Dr. Buescher thought that it would be another 2-3 months before Tracy's wound will close. She plans to close the wound with sutures once it is completely filled in. Liz had her gall bladder removed yesterday by laproscopic surgery at NNMC, Bethesda, and came home today. We miss her a lot and hope she gets better fast. It just is not the same without her. She is the driving force behind Tracy's rehabilitation and Mom really appreciates her dedication. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana is almost finished with her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. We are REALLY looking forward to cousin Caroline coming to visit us for a week this Saturday. Mawmaw left Monday evening and we miss her already. She was a huge help! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Thursday, November 18th, 2004~ Tracy slept well AGAIN Wednesday night. She is not coughing or refluxing any more since her Nissen fundoplication. Mom and Jenny got Tracy bathed and dressed and ready for her day. Jenny spent about an hour ranging and stretching Tracy's arms and legs, massaging them with warm lotion. Tracy does not have any therapy today. She does have several doctor's appointments at NNMC in Bethesda. Mom and Dad took Tracy to her first appointment with Dr. Rullan, a Navy podiatrist. He examined her feet and checked her tone to see if Tracy is ready to begin serial casting of her feet. The goal is to get her feet in midline and then to work on getting Tracy's feet plantar, where she will be able to support her weight and weight bear on a tilt table. The good news is that Dr. Rullan will begin serial casting on Monday, November 22nd! The bad news is that Tracy will have to wear casts on both feet and also her right knee 24/7! Dr. Rullan will recast her every two weeks until he is satisfied with her positioning. Then, our girl will have to wear the final cast or brace to maintain her positioning. Anything to get our girl back in purple Pradas! Tracy loves shoes and has as many as Emelda! Bottom line is that Dr. Rullan was very optimistic about getting Tracy's feet straight. We will have to wait and see whether she will be able to get her heel down with weight bearing or need surgery to lengthen her heel cords. One step at a time! Tracy's bedsore is really healing well with the wound vac. We visited Dr. Buescher, the plastic surgeon, who was pleased with Tracy's wound healing progress. There is an area though, that needs more attention so Dad will adjust the dressings to make sure that this area is getting suction. Dr. Buescher thought that it would be another 2-3 months before Tracy's wound will close. She plans to close the wound with sutures once it is completely filled in. Tracy also saw Dr. Liston, Tracy's general surgeon who did her surgery last Friday. He was very pleased with Tracy's incisions and thought that they were healing well. Liz had her gall bladder removed today by laproscopic surgery at NNMC, Bethesda, and will most likely go home Friday. We miss her a lot and hope she gets better fast. It just is not the same when she is away. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana is almost finished with her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. We are REALLY looking forward to cousin Caroline coming to visit us for a week this Saturday. Mawmaw left Monday evening and we miss her already. She was a huge help! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Wednesday, November 17th, 2004~ 22 months since Tracy's hypoxic brain injury~Tracy had another good night's sleep Tuesday night! She had a very busy day today, nonstop since early morning. At 9:30 AM, Mom and Jenny got Tracy bathed and ready for the day. At 10:00 AM, the maintenance crew was at the door trying to fix our door knob! At 10:30 AM, Tracy's new Speech Therapist, Paige, came to meet Tracy and perform a baseline evaluation. At 12:30 PM, Michelle, the volunteer coordinator from Brain Injury Services came to meet Tracy and discuss her interests with mom so that she can recruit a perfect volunteer match for Tracy. Mom made sure that she let Michelle know that Tracy would really appreciate a good looking athletic guy volunteer who likes rowing, swimming, college football, Dave Matthews and Jimmy Buffett. Mom sure is looking out for our girl's best interest! Later in the day, Diana, Tracy's Physical Therapist, came to work with Tracy. After stretching Tracy's upper extremities, Mom and Diana got Tracy seated at the edge of the mat. Tracy did a really good job with head control, and also overcame her neck spasm with maximum verbal cues and tactile stimulation. Tracy's head turns to the left in spasm and hyperextends when she gets startled or uncomfortable. The therapists are working on coaching Tracy to overcome her spasm and keep her head in the middle. Tracy also vocalized quite a bit during PT and seemed as though she was really trying to talk. During Occupational Therapy, Kate, worked on trunk stretches and rolling. Tracy participated a little more with rolling than she previously did. She really tried to follow Kate's verbal commands and participate in rolling. She is not quite there yet, but was really trying to participate. Tamra, Tracy's case manager from Brain Injury Services, came by to visit Tracy. She is helping to coordinate some of Tracy's activities and services. We really appreciate all that she does for Tracy. Tracy's bedsore is really healing well with the wound vac. It is about the size of a quarter and a centimeter deep. We anticipate another 6 to 8 weeks for it to close. Liz is still not feeling well. We miss her alot and hope she gets better fast. It just is not the same when she is away. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana has started her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. We are REALLY looking forward to cousin Caroline coming to visit us for a week this Saturday. Mawmaw left Monday evening and we miss her already. She was a huge help! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Tuesday, November 16th, 2004~ Tracy had a good night's sleep Monday night! She has not experieced any reflux since her surgery and we are relieved that it is GONE! Tracy also seems relieved and her facial expressions look more like the Tracy we all know and love. She does not seem to be in much pain even with her abdominal incision. It is evident now that Tracy was in a lot more pain than any of us imagined. Mom and Dad have begun weaning Tracy off her stomach medicines. They can already see a difference in her tone. She is so much more relaxed. This morning, Mom and Jenny got Tracy bathed and dressed and shampooed her hair. They decided to forego her shower for a few more days until her incision heals. Tracy's bedsore is really healing well with the wound vac. It is about the size of a quarter and a centimeter deep. We anticipate another 6 to 8 weeks for it to close. Tracy got a two-hour range of motion/stretching session this morning to make up for lost time while she was in the hospital recovering from her surgery. This afternoon, Diana, Tracy's Physical Therapist, came over to do an evaluation on Tracy. She will return tomorrow to do physical therapy with Tracy. Later this afternoon, Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist, came over to do an OT evaluation. She also plans to return tomorrow to work with Tracy. Tracy's Speech Therapist, Page, is scheduled to come tomorrow morning. She will complete her evaluation and then we will be full speed ahead with Tracy's therapy regimen. Gloria came over to visit us today. We always have alot of fun when she visits. We really appreciate her coming over to keep us company. Liz is feeling a little under the weather. She stayed home to recuperate today. We hope she feels better soon. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana has started her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. We are REALLY looking forward to cousin Caroline coming to visit us for a week this Saturday. Mawmaw left yesterday evening and we miss her already. She was a huge help! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Monday, November 15th, 2004~ 22 months since Tracy was hit by the car!~ Tracy came home from the hospital Sunday afternoon and had a very restful night. She seems to be a lot more comfortable and tolerating her feedings WITHOUT REFLUX! It is a miracle! Dr. Liston did a great job with her incisions! Our girl should be able to wear a bikini without any problem. He did subcutaneous stitches (under the skin) and used dermabond (superglue for the skin) on her trach incision. Her abdominal incision goes from her belly button to her ribs, but should heal well. He used subcutaneous stitches and steri strips on top. The stitches will dissolve and the steri strips will fall off in a few days. Mom, Jenny and Mawmaw got Tracy bathed and dressed Monday morning. Tracy got a two-hour range of motion/stretching session this morning to make up for lost time while she was in the hospital recovering from her surgery. Tracy's tone is really improved since her surgery. It is evident now that Tracy was in a lot more pain than any of us imagined. She has not coughed at all and even her facial expressions look more like the Tracy we all know and love! This afternoon, Liz came over and took Mom for a walk. They stopped at a cafe in Crystal City and had latte's. It was a beautiful afternoon with the sun shining. We all appreciate Liz and everything she does for us! Mawmaw and Jenny stayed with Tracy. Later this afternoon, Suzanne, Tracy's home health nurse and case manager came to do an assessment on Tracy. She will visit Tracy each week to make sure that Tracy's therapy is going well. Tuesday, Tracy will start therapy with the new agency. She will be getting Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies. We are looking forward to getting Tracy back on track with therapy. Tiff is feeling better and working hard on her research papers! We can't wait to see her for the holidays. Nana has started her second week of outpatient physical therapy and is doing well. We are REALLY looking forward to cousin Caroline coming to visit us for a week this Saturday. Mawmaw left this evening and we are sad to see her go! She was a huge help! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Sunday, November 14th, 2004~ Tracy is home from the hospital and resting well this evening. She seems to be a lot more comfortable and tolerating her feedings WITHOUT REFLUX! It is a miracle! Dr. Liston did a great job with her incisions! Our girl should be able to wear a bikini without any problem. He did subcutaneous stitches (under the skin) and used dermabond (superglue for the skin) on her trach incision. Her abdominal incision goes from her belly button to her ribs, but should heal well. He used subcutaneous stitches and steri strips on top. The stitches will dissolve and the steri strips will fall off in a few days. Tracy did have a rough night Friday night. She was not willing to cough and take deep breaths because it hurt too much. She needed some extra help from respitatory therapy to clear her lungs. Tracy hates to be suctioned, but the respiratory therapists were very gentle. Her lungs cleared and she was able to take deeper breaths. Thank you to Drs. Liston and Chandler for taking excellent care of our girl. Thank you to the excellent and attentive staff on 5W for taking such good care of Tracy during her stay. It was great to see our good friends Liz, Gloria, her daughter Katherine, and Mary Jeanne' while Tracy was hospitalized. Thank you Gloria for dinner Sunday evening. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts!

Friday, November 12th, 2004~Tracy had surgery this morning at National Naval Medical Center. Tiff is updating the page from Baton Rouge, since Mom and Dad are not near a computer! Mom, Dad and Mamaw brought Tracy to the hospital around 630am. She went into the OR at 830am. Thankfully Dad was able to be with her during the entire operation. Tracy did very well and is now in a private room sleeping soundly. Mom, Dad, and Mamaw continue to be at her side. They have a room at the Navy Lodge near NNMC so they don't have to fight the DC traffic! Liz stopped by and was a huge help! It's always good to see friends! Thank you again for all of your prayers and happy thoughts! Monday, Tracy saw Dr. Liston, general surgeon, who wants to do a special procedure/surgery (Nissen fundoplication) to resolve Tracy's severe gastrointestinal problems which include reflux. This reflux adds to Tracy's discomfort and increased tone, which creates a need for Tracy to take a myriad of stomach medicines and also a high dose of baclofen to decrease her tone. This chronic reflux also puts Tracy at greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and makes her desire to eat less desirable. Dr. Liston also recommended repairing Tracy's old tracheotomy site which did not completely close and revising her scar. Lastly, he would like to put in a new G-tube (feeding tube) since the one she has now has been in since the injury more than 21 months ago. Mamaw arrived yesterday afternoon from Louisiana to help us out with Tracy' surgery. We are so thankful that she was able to make the trip! Tracy was happy to see her. She even tried to talk to her. She will someday soon we hope! Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist came over to work with Tracy yesterday evening. She spent some time stretching Tracy's shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers and then stretched her trunk. Tracy really likes to have her trunk stretched. Then, Kate, Mom and Mamaw got Tracy seated on the edge of the mat and had her sit up with assistance. She still experiences discomfort in this position from her wound. It is getting much better, though, about the size of a quarter and about a centimeter deep. Then, Kate got Tracy on the ball and had her rock from front to back. Kate was working on getting Tracy shoulders back and chest out. This week, Tracy will not have any "official" therapy, however, she does not get the week off. Mom, Liz, and Jenny will work with Tracy in PT, OT, and Speech. If all goes well with her surgery and Tracy is ready, she will start with a new agency next week. We will see how she feels after her surgery Friday and take it from there. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. She has a sore throat and is on antibiotics. We hope she feels better. Nana started outpatient physical therapy this week, and is doing her leg exercises like a good patient. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Thursday, November 11th, 2004~Happy Anniversary Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Mike: 4 Years!~ Tracy had another good night's sleep Wednesday night. Thursday morning, Mom and Jenny ranged and stretched Tracy with warm lotion and then showered and dressed her for the day. They transferred her to the exercise mat where Jenny did her facial stimulation exercises. Jenny uses the Connie Stevens' Time machine. This provides a gentle electrical impulse to the muscles of Tracy's face. Dad was home today so Mom put him to work with a "Honey Do List!" Mamaw arrived around 2:30 PM and Tracy was happy to see her. She even tried to talk to her. She will someday soon we hope! Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist came over to work with Tracy this evening. She spent some time stretching Tracy's shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers and then stretched her trunk. Tracy really likes to have her trunk stretched. Then, Kate, Mom and Mamaw got Tracy seated on the edge of the mat and had her sit up with assistance. She still experiences discomfort in this position from her wound. It is getting much better, though, about the size of a quarter and about a centimeter deep. Then, Kate got Tracy on the ball and had her rock from front to back. Kate was working on getting Tracy shoulders back and chest out. Last Monday, Tracy saw Dr. Liston, general surgeon, who wants to do a special procedure/surgery (Nissen fundoplication) to resolve Tracy's severe gastrointestinal problems which include reflux. This reflux adds to Tracy's discomfort and increased tone, which creates a need for Tracy to take a myriad of stomach medicines and also a high dose of baclofen to decrease her tone. This chronic reflux also puts Tracy at greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and makes her desire to eat less desirable. Dr. Liston also recommended repairing Tracy's old tracheotomy site which did not completely close and revising her scar. Lastly, he would like to put in a new G-tube (feeding tube) since the one she has now has been in since the injury more than 21 months ago. So, Friday, November 12th, Tracy will undergo major surgery to have the three things mentioned above performed. We will keep everyone informed about Tracy's surgery through this page. This week, Tracy will not have any "official" therapy, however, she does not get the week off. Mom, Liz, and Jenny will work with Tracy in PT, OT, and Speech. If all goes well with her surgery and Tracy is ready, she will start with a new agency next week. We will see how she feels after her surgery Friday and take it from there. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. She has a sore throat and is on antibiotics. We hope she feels better. Nana started outpatient physical therapy this week, and is doing her leg exercises like a good patient. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Wednesday, November 10th, 2004~Happy B'Day Aunt and Godmother Kathy Sue!~Tracy slept well again Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, Mom and Jenny ranged and stretched Tracy with warm lotion and then bathed and dressed her for the day. They transferred her to the exercise mat where Jenny gave Tracy a manicure and did her facial stimulation exercises. Jenny ueses the Connie Stevens' Time machine. This provides a gentle electrical impulse to the muscles of Tracy's face. Liz came over and helped Jenny and Mom clean and organize the house. We are getting ready for Mamaw's visit Thursday evening and also for Tracy's trip to the hospital for her surgery on Friday. Liz then worked with Tracy's signature stamp, assisting her in card stamping with her right hand. Liz also stretched Tracy's arms, hands and fingers and traced Tracy's name with Tracy's right index finger. This repetition helps Tracy's brain to reroute and resprout so that one day she will be able to volitionally perform these tasks herself. (Look up plasticity of the brain on the web for more information on this topic.) Then Mom and Liz hooked Tracy up to her CPM machine (continuous passive motion) which also ranges Tracy's hips and knees. This evening, Emil is coming over to give Tracy a massage. Yesterday, Tracy saw Dr. Liston, general surgeon, who wants to do a special procedure/surgery (Nissen fundoplication) to resolve Tracy's severe gastrointestinal problems which include reflux. This reflux adds to Tracy's discomfort and increased tone, which creates a need for Tracy to take a myriad of stomach medicines and also a high dose of baclofen to decrease her tone. This chronic reflux also puts Tracy at greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and makes her desire to eat less desirable. Dr. Liston also recommended repairing Tracy's old tracheotomy site which did not completely close and revising her scar. Lastly, he would like to put in a new G-tube (feeding tube) since the one she has now has been in since the injury more than 21 months ago. So, Friday, November 12th, Tracy will undergo major surgery to have the three things mentioned above performed. We will keep everyone informed about Tracy's surgery through this page. This week, Tracy will not have any "official" therapy, however, she does not get the week off. Mom, Liz, and Jenny will work with Tracy in PT, OT, and Speech. If all goes well with her surgery and Tracy is ready, she will start with a new agency next week. We will see how she feels after her surgery Friday and take it from there. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. Nana started outpatient physical therapy this week, and is doing her leg exercises like a good patient. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Tuesday, November 9th, 2004~ Tracy had another good night's sleep. Tuesday morning, Mom and Jenny showered and dressed Tracy and transferred her to the exercise mat. Jenny stretched and ranged Tracy, massaging warm lotion on her arms and legs. Then Jenny did Tracy's facial exercises using the Connie Stevens' Time machine. This provides a gentle electrical impulse to the muscles of Tracy's face. Gloria came over and helped Mom oganize her addresses into a file for creating mailing labels. Gloria is such a good friend and so multi-talented. Later, Liz came over and worked with Tracy. She stretched her legs on an exercise ball and did some upper body stretching. Then she put the lavender scented play dough from the freezer in Tracy's hands. She tried putting castanets in Tracy's hands but Tracy did not like the sound that they made. Then, Liz read poetry to Tracy and then discussed the poems with Tracy. All this stimulation is just what Tracy needs to reroute her brain. Liz is another multi-talented friend who Mom and Tracy also appreciate immensely! Yesterday, Tracy saw Dr. Liston, general surgeon, who wants to do a special procedure/surgery (Nissen fundoplication) to resolve Tracy's severe gastrointestinal problems which include reflux. This reflux adds to Tracy's discomfort and increased tone, which creates a need for Tracy to take a myriad of stomach medicines and also a high dose of baclofen to decrease her tone. This chronic reflux also puts Tracy at greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and makes her desire to eat less desirable. Dr. Liston also recommended repairing Tracy's old tracheotomy site which did not completely close and revising her scar. Lastly, he would like to put in a new G-tube (feeding tube) since the one she has now has been in since the injury more than 21 months ago. So, Friday, November 12th, Tracy will undergo major surgery to have the three things mentioned above performed. We will keep everyone informed about Tracy's surgery through this page. This week, Tracy will not have any "official" therapy, however, she does not get the week off. Mom, Liz, and Jenny will work with Tracy in PT, OT, and Speech. If all goes well with her surgery and Tracy is ready, she will start with a new agency next week. We will see how she feels after her surgery Friday and take it from there. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. She spent Saturday night in New Orleans with friends from LSU. They hit Bourbon Street and made the rounds. Oh how Mom wishes she was back in college! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy this week. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Monday, November 8th, 2004~ Tracy slept well again Sunday night. Mom and Dad had a good night's sleep too. Bright and early Monday morning, Mom and Dad got Tracy bathed and dressed and off to a 10:00 AM appointment at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. Tracy saw Dr. Liston, general surgeon, who wants to do a special procedure/surgery to resolve Tracy's severe gastrointestinal problems which include reflux. This reflux adds to Tracy's discomfort and increased tone, which creates a need for Tracy to take a myriad of stomach medicines and also a high dose of baclofen to decrease her tone. This chronic reflux also puts Tracy at greater risk of aspiration pneumonia and makes her desire to eat less desirable. Dr. Liston also recommended repairing Tracy's old tracheotomy site which did not completely close and revising her scar. Lastly, he would like to put in a new G-tube (feeding tube) since the one she has now has been in since the injury more than 21 months ago. So, Friday, November 12th, Tracy will undergo major surgery to have the three things mentioned above performed. We will keep everyone informed about Tracy's surgery through this page. This afternoon, Liz came over and worked with Tracy's stamps. Tracy was really trying to focus and follow what Liz was doing. Liz supported Tracy's right hand where she supported the stamp with Tracy's thumb, index and middle fingers, and pushed down on the paper with a count of three. Tracy seemed to follow and also liked the exercise. More on this later. This week, Tracy will not have any "official" therapy, however, she does not get the week off. Mom, Liz, and Jenny will work with Tracy in PT, OT, and Speech. If all goes well with her surgery and Tracy is ready, she will start with a new agency next week. We will see how she feels after her surgery Friday and take it from there. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. She spent Saturday night in New Orleans with friends from LSU. They hit Bourbon Street and made the rounds. Oh how Mom wishes she was back in college! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy this week. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Sunday, November 7th, 2004~ Tracy had another good night's sleep Saturday night. We were not able to put her cast or splints on though, because she was a little tight. Sunday morning, Mom and Dad showered Tracy and got her ready for Mass. After Mass, Mom, Dad and Trace went for a ride to Rock Creek Park. It was another pretty Indian Summer day, with the sun shining. Even though we are at the end of the foliage, Rock Creek Park still looked really pretty. This was the first time that we had been in the park. There are waterfalls and several old mills that are now visitor centers. We will definitely go back amd spend more time when Tracy can ride in her jogger. When we got home, Morgan and her mom came over to visit Tracy. Morgan finished the book, Holes, that she has been reading to Tracy over the past month. It was a really good book and Mom enjoyed it too. She is such a good reader. Dad took a ride on his motorcycle to one of his favorite spots: Great Falls. He enjoys getting out on the bike and letting the wind flow through his hair (both of them!). This evening, Emil came over to give Tracy a mush needed massage. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, came over Friday afternoon to work with Tracy. She was really surprised at how much better Tracy looked. She vocalized really well and was trying to talk to her. Tracy was also very alert. Gloria showed Tracy some of her pictures from the Galapogos Islands. Gloria worked with Tracy for a bit and then created a plan for Mom and Liz to follow. Tiff is still working hard on her research papers. She spent Saturday night in New Orleans with friends from LSU. They hit Bourbon Streetand made the rounds. Oh how Mom wishes she was back in college! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy this week. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Saturday, November 6th, 2004~ Tracy slept well again Friday night. Hallelujah! Saturday morning, Mom and Dad bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Mom had a much needed hair appointment, so Dad and Tracy hung out together. They watched some college football games and Dad spent a lot of time stretching and ranging Tracy on the mat in the Rehab Corner. When Mom returned from Dario's new shop, Capelli, she gave Tracy a facial. Tracy really loves getting facials and relaxed. Then Mom did Tracy's facial exercises using the Time Machine. Her muscles really respond well to the e-stim. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, came over Friday afternoon to work with Tracy. She was really surprised at how much better Tracy looked. She vocalized really well and was trying to talk to her. Tracy was also very alert. Gloria showed Tracy some of her pictures from the Galapogos Islands. Gloria worked with Tracy for a bit and then created a plan for Mom and Liz to follow. Our good friend Donna Brown and Trish came over yesterday to see Tracy. Donna brought Mom and Dad a pretty basket filled with goodies and a gift bag filled with lotions and bath gels for Trace. Do I sense a spa day coming soon? Thank you Donna for the thoughtful gifts. Yesterday, Tracy received a package from Cousin Michelle. It was a Boston Red Sox World Champions T-shirt and baseball cap! Tracy will wear it with pride! Tiff did well on her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy next week. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Friday, November 5th, 2004~TGIF! Tracy slept well Thursday night after her massage by Emil. Today was manic Friday so it seems! Friday morning, Mom and Jenny stretched and bathed Tracy and got her ready for Occupational Therapy at 11:30 AM. Today was Becky's last day as Tracy's OT. We are really going to miss her. She is a knowledgeable and caring therapist. Becky first stretched Tracy's shoulders and trunk in side-lying. Becky commented on how much better Tracy looked today. She was more relaxed while still alert. Then Becky got Tracy in a seated position on the edge of the mat. Tracy held her head up the best Becky had ever seen, even with her wound that aggrivates her periodically. Becky rocked her from side to side and Tracy continued to keep her head up. Jenny did e-stim on Tracy's facial muscles and Tracy responded well. Betty and Gloria came to visit today. Betty brought Tracy two adorable bears, one with glasses from Garmish (Bavarian Germany) and one from London in a Bobby uniform. Gloria showed Tracy some of her watercolor art work. Gloria has a real talent! Gloria (different Gloria), Tracy's Speech Therapist, came over this afternoon to work with Tracy. She was really surprised at how much better Tracy looked. She vocalized really well and was trying to talk to her. Tracy was also very alert. Gloria showed Tracy some of her pictures from the Galapogos Islands. Gloria worked with Tracy for a bit and then created a plan for Mom and Liz to follow. Our good friend Donna Brown and Trish came over today to see Tracy and Donna brought Mom and Dad a pretty basket filled with goodies and a gift bag filled with lotions and bath gels for Trace. Do I sense a spa day coming soon? Tiff did well on her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy next week. She threw out the walker and is using a cane. She is really doing well! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Thursday, November 4th, 2004~ Tracy had another good night's sleep. Thursday morning, Mom and Jenny showered Tracy and got her ready for her day. Today, Tracy has Occupational Therapy with Becky at 10:00 AM so there was no time to massage and range her. Mom and Jenny moved quickly and we had her on the mat and ready on time. Becky stretched and ranged Tracy in side-lying and then had her practice rolling from side to side. Tracy was not into helping Becky much today, but she did relax and let Becky assist in rolling. Our good friend Betty came to visit us from Naples, Italy. It has been a year since we have seen Betty. She brought us some mozzarella di buffola (water buffalo mozzarella cheese). She fixed insalata caprese salad and also rugola and tomato salad for Mom, Jenny, Liz and Gloria. It was really delicious. Liz and Gloria brought some turkey and tuna wraps from Au Bon Pain. We all had a nice lunch and visit. Mom wished Tracy could have some insalata caprese because it is one of her favorite Italian dishes. Mom let Tracy taste a little of the cheese. Tracy really seemed to recognize Betty and tried to talk to her. It was a very good sign. Jenny did e-stim on Tracy's facial muscles and Tracy responded well. Liz showed Tracy some of her pictures and Tracy focused her eyes well and appeared to be looking at them. This is an improvement since she has not been able to focus her eyes very well in the past. Midatlantic sent their wheelchair technician to overhaul Tracy's chair and make the necessary adjustments. This evening, Emil is coming to give Tracy (and maybe Mom) a massage. Mom found a Physical Therapist to work with Tracy. Diana worked with Tracy several times last summer. Mom is really happy! Hopefully she will start this week. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, will begin working with Tracy this week! Mom is ecstatic! Tiff did well on her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy next week. She walked for an hour around Publix yesterday and is getting stronger every day! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2004~ Congratulations President Bush!~Tracy slept well again Tuesday night. Mom and Dad were up until 3 AM, glued to the television screen. They felt like they were up all night Wednesday morning! With the new day, we learned that President Bush had won the election. Although we were elated, we are hopeful that the Bush administration will work doubly hard to unite Congress and the American people. We are also grateful that American moral values prevailed! Enough politics and I am off the soapbox! Wednesday morning, Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy, again after an hour and a half massage with warm lotion and range of motion session. Today, Tracy stayed in her bed while Jenny cleaned out Tracy's dresser drawers and closet. Mom really thinks that she had died and gone to heaven and that Jenny is an angel, make that an archangel! She is the best personal assistant that Tracy and Mom have ever had! Thank you God for all of the wonderful angels caring for Tracy! Liz came over and worked with Jenny and Tracy, while Mom escaped to get a pedicure and manicure. She really needed to escape and the girls had everything under control. Liz worked with Tracy's hands and had her hold some chilled in the freezer eucalyptus scented therapy clay. She also helped Tracy to bang on a drum with her hand, using the clay to help her hold the drum stick. Tracy seemed to enjoy this. Liz is one sharp therapist (and the price is right too!). Liz also fed Tracy some vanilla custard. Tracy didn't get much though, because Kate, Tracy's Occupational Therapist arrived and it was time for Tracy's therapy session. Kate worked with getting Tracy to roll from side to side on the mat. She worked with Tracy's trunk in side-lying to get Tracy to experience the sensation of her muscles contracting and relaxing. The functional goal is to get Tracy to roll with minimal assistance. Then, Tracy could help Mom and Jenny in transferring from the bed to the wheel chair. Mom found a Physical Therapist to work with Tracy. Diana worked with Tracy several times last summer. Mom is really happy! Hopefully she will start this week. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, will begin working with Tracy this week! Mom is ecstatic! Tiff did well on her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy next week. She walked for an hour around Publix yesterday and is getting stronger every day! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004~ Election Day!~Tracy had another good night's sleep Monday night. Tuesday morning, Mom and Jenny bathed and dressed Tracy, after an hour and a half massage with warm lotion and range of motion session. Then Mom and Jenny took Tracy out on the mat in the Therapy Corner. Tracy really enjoyed hanging out on the mat in the living room. It is unseasonably hot, about 75 degrees, and the apartment complex turned off the air conditioning about 6 weeks ago! So, needless to say, we have been hanging out with the windows open and fans going to get even the tiniest breeze! This afternoon, Liz came over and Jenny, Mom and Liz got Tracy seated straddle on the peanut ball. Tracy was not very comfortable in this position and let us all know it. It seems that her wound is more sensitive now that it is getting smaller. Even though we don't want Trace to be in pain, it is a good sign that she can feel pain. That means that her pain receptors are all working and that the new tissue is healthy complete with nerve endings, etc. Next, Jenny did Tracy's e-stim on her facial muscles, using the Time machine by Connie Stevens. This is a little pink machine that delivers a low electrical impulse to Tracy's facial muscles. Connie Stevens promotes it for younger looking skin, Mom likes it because it keeps Tracy's facial muscles in tip-top shape. Mom calls it Tracy's kissing exercises! Muah! This afternoon, Liz fed Tracy some vanilla custard. Tracy ate about 2 ozs and did a good job closing her mouth and swallowing. Good news! Mom found a Physical Therapist to work with Tracy. Diana worked with Tracy several times last summer. Mom is really happy! Hopefully she will start this week. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, will begin working with Tracy this week! Mom is ecstatic! Tiff did well on her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy this week. She walked for an hour around Publix today and is getting stronger every day! We are glad that she is feeling better!

Monday, November 1st, 2004~ Tracy slept well again Sunday night. Monday morning, Mom and Jenny showered and dressed Tracy and got her ready for the day. They spent almost two hours massaging Tracy with warm lotion and doing her range of motion exercises. It was a pretty manic Monday (just like the song says), since Mom was busy managing the apartment maintenace crew! They were busy listening to Mom as she kept them on task, rehabilitating the HVAC convectors and shampooing the carpet! Looks like she is able to get more than Tracy rehabilitated in a day's work! They did a fantastic job and Mom is a lot happier too. This afternoon, Liz came over and she and Jenny worked on some sensory stimulation with Tracy. They used aromatherapy, cinnamon, eucalyptus, tangerine, lemon, and lavender. Tracy liked all of the invigorating scents. Of course, that's our girl! She didn't care for lavender! Too relaxing I guess. After that, Liz held up Feelings flash cards and Tracy was focusing on the pictures. Next, Mom did Tracy's e-stim on her facial muscles and Tracy responded well. She also massaged her face with a mini-massager and massaged her gums with a baby gum massager. After a little rest, Mom, Liz and Jenny got Tracy prone (on her tummy) on the peanut balance ball. In this position, Tracy is able to put weight through her knees on the mat. Tracy relaxed and enjoyed the stretch, tolerating this position for almost 30 minutes! Last evening, Emil came by to give Tracy a massage. Tracy was not in the mood, and never did relax into it. She lets us know by grinding her teeth. We'll try again on Thursday. Dad had a well over-due massage and felt a lot better!Good news! Mom found a Physical Therapist to work with Tracy. Diana worked with Tracy several times last summer. Mom is really happy! Hopefully she will start this week. Gloria, Tracy's Speech Therapist, will begin working with Tracy this week! Mom is ecstatic! Tiff finished her midterms and is now swamped with research papers. She is back from College Station, and burning the midnight oil. Oh how I remember those grad school days! Nana starts outpatient physical therapy this week. She is getting stronger every day and experiencing much less pain. We hope she and Uncle Johnny can visit us soon. Your prayers are working! Thank you! Please remember to get out and vote on this Tuesday, November 2nd, Election Day! Remember Every Vote Counts!