Jeremy is working on rolling over with very little help from his Physical Therapist. We weren't there when he did this so were trying to find out how to get him to do this at home. Rolling over would be a huge step in Jeremy's independence.

Happy Thanksgiving. We truely have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

At home he is lifting 8 lb weights now. We started with a dowel, then we added a 1.5 lb wrist band to the dowel. Then we went from a 3lb to a 5 lb to an 8 lb weight. His left arm is still stronger than his right. But he is able to lift the 3 lb and sometimes the 5 lb from his bed up to his headboard.

November 9

Stephen and I just talked to Debi. She and Jeremy went to see Dr. McMartin, a rehabilitation doctor and Jeremy's primary care physician, today. Apparently, he had received some glowing reports from the therapy team about Jeremy's progress, which is often rare for someone in Jeremy's condition. They were very impressed by the way Jeremy engages in a conversation. However, if he doesn't feel like he's directly a part of it, he will disengage. Dr. McMartin seemed to think that medication at this point wasn't necessary which is also pretty cool.

Jeremy is able to help more and more with his own care. He is now able to take off his shirt by himself, and he surprised Debi today by bending down all the way to undo the Velcro on his shoes. Little does he know, that now that she knows he can do it, she's going to keep making him do it. :) In the past, it has been difficult to get him to do help with things like this, but now he seems to be taking the initiative to do it. He seems to understand that doing these things will make him better.

We are very excited to be able to go see Jeremy for a long weekend over Thanksgiving. It's been a long time since we were down and we'll be sure to post some new pictures! Thank you for all of your prayers for Jeremy, and thank you to all of those who are still so faithfully checking this blog, we will continue to do our best to keep you updated!

-Courtni

October 14

This is a picture of Jeremy in pool therapy. I had a 2 minute video but it was too hard to download. This is Jeremy's second day at pool therapy and he was much more relaxed than the first day. At first he wanted to bend at the waist. He is learning that he needs to stand up straight. He wants to watch his feet. They are trying to teach him to just look forward. He walked accross the pool 3 times on this day. I wish you could see the smile on his face! He smiled for most of the hour. He loved it.

In physical therapy yesterday the therapist was working with him on leaning forward to get that initial push with his legs to get him to stand (He will stand with assistance from someone else holding on to him). Anyway the therapist was trying to teach him to lean forward and puch with his legs to stand. AND HE DID IT!

This group of therapist are very incouraged by his progress right now. Keep praying that Jeremy continues to make progress! Jeremy himself is praying that prayer every night!

Thank you for your prayers and support!
Debi

October 4

Jeremy finally got his own wheelchair! It has all the bells and whistles that the loaner had and there are still a few issues we need to resolve. They will be by today to (hopefully) resolve some of those issues. He is so tall that when they put the leg extensions on the foot pieces sit on the floor. Jeremy has to remember (and he does remember) to tilt it back slightly so he doesn't scrape the floor when he drives it.

He has also started with a new therapy group. This one is an outpatient program associated with St Als hospital. S.T.A.R.S (St. Al Rehab Services). He goes 2 days a week and does the regular Physical, Occupational and Speech therapies. Then on Friday he goes to pool therapy. Last Friday was his first time at pool therapy and with a floating device and some assistance he WALKED across the pool. He was pretty proud of himself. They are all 1 hour long sessions and at the end of the hour in the pool he was exhausted but it was worth it!!!!! We can hardly wait to see what this week brings.

Thank you for your continued prayers!
Debi

September 2

Stephen, Kristen and I went to visit Jeremy last weekend for my birthday. Jeremy had asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I asked him to stand for me for five minutes. Debi and Stephen stood Jer up next to the counter in the kitchen and Jeremy leaned on it. Stephen steadied Jer from side to side, and it was so great to see him working hard and doing so well. You could tell he was starting to hurt by about 4 minutes, but he muscled through and did it.

We also went out to dinner and breakfast. I think that taking Jeremy out to breakfast is a little easier than dinner. By dinnertime, he was getting pretty tired.

It was so great to see Jeremy. He's off all of his medications now and seems to be doing great with his daytime caregivers. He still needs some extra work on the speech therapy; he was very hard to understand this trip. He will be starting some new therapies in the next couple weeks, water therapy and LiteGait therapy. Super cool programs and we're hoping that it will give him a little more strength and flexibility without as much pain.

Kristen is staying the week in Boise to spend some time working with Jeremy. She took Jeremy to the zoo yesterday and it sounds like it was pretty fun! It is so good for Jeremy to get out of the house and do something new as often as possible. Every new experience gives him something different to challenge and teach him.

Thank you to those of you that are still checking this blog. Sorry it's been so long. We'll try to continue to keep everyone posted on Jeremy's progress as we go.

August 12

Hi everyone! Sorry it's so long between each post! Changes seem to come a lot slower now than they used to. We'll try to update at the very least, once a month.

Stephen and I just got off Skype with Jeremy! Such a cool technology to be able to see each other from 250 miles away just like we were in the same room. Jeremy will be starting a program called STARS soon. It is an outpatient therapy program. He may get the chance to try out some different therapies, including swim therapy. Also, he'll probably do light-gait therapy in which Jeremy will use a harnessed treadmill that allows him to "moonwalk", doing the motion of walking without the weight. This therapy program will give Jer some new, exciting things to try; hopefully, encouraging him to work a little harder at therapy. Right now, it's painful and not fun, not sure I blame him too much for not wanting to try a little harder.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Jeremy and all the rest of us are very thankful. Please feel free to write or call or come visit, just let us know! :)

August 4

Sorry to all who have asked about updates on Jeremy. We have not updated in a while - life just gets busy. We appreciate the fact that so many have been checking, and have been disappointed by no update. SORRY!!!

Jeremy is doing well. His new van, (Thanks to the Young's of Walla Walla, WA.) Mini as they called it, has been great. We've had Jeremy out to eat and to Doc appt.'s and it is so much easier then the car!!!!! Jeremy continues to improve - slowly. Still working on his speech - still not back to where he was before his last Hospital stay - but hopeful that will improve. He's really starting to move around alot more - his legs and arms both. We're working on him turning on his side while in bed and with our help yet does a good job of balancing there on his own. We're always amazed at his attitude and cheerfulness through everything. Still has his outbursts but comes back with a smile - Jeremy's smile - gotta love it. Care givers are great with him. Debi and I are back to work - but when we get home it's all about Jeremy for the evening and through the night. One reason for the lack of updates.

In the process of building him some equipment to help him exercise more - and working on something to help him experience the feeling of walking again - (A frame and harness). Always trying to think of the next thing that might help him break that barrier.

We will try to update at least once a week now, more if we're able. We know that so many are keeping Jeremy and us in their prayers and we are truly thankful. Know that those are returned back to you from us as well.

He had visitors from his workplace come to see him this last weekend - and although he did not remember you he really enjoyed the visit and talked about the fact that someone from work came to see him. Thank you
Greg & Debi & Jeremy

July 22

Sorry that it has been so long since we posted last. It has been a busy couple weeks. Jeremy is back home again, and Greg and Debi are really impressed by Jer's caregivers. They are really putting in some extra effort to cook, walk and hang out with Jeremy. We're so happy that Jeremy's caregivers are making the extra effort.

Stephen and I took a trip last weekend to Boise to deliver Jeremy's new wheelchair accessible van! What a blessing! It is so much easier to get Jeremy in and out of the vehicle, and we took a few joyrides, out on errands and to the river for a bit. We went out Sunday morning to iHop and Kohls. It was great to see Jeremy. He seems to be sitting up taller each time we see him. It seems as though the surgeries have set him back a bit in his ability to make himself understood and he was very tired all weekend. I'm sure that will get better again with time.

Thanks everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers!

July 9

Jeremy was released from the hospital on July 7. YES!!!!! The insurance company decided that the original discharge date of July 8 was too long so they discharged him a day early. We were OK with that since we kind of like being at home!!!!!

Jeremy had a doctor apt this afternoon with the doctor who did the surgery. I thought it was funny that they wanted to see him 2 days after he left the hospital but they did!. They x-rayed his hand and were pleased with the progress. It seems to be healing well. They are a little concerned about his shoulder. He still wants to hold it tight to his side. We haven't found a way to convince him to relax that shoulder. The doctor decided to increase the amount of baclofen he is getting to try and cut out the last of the "tone". He said it may make him relaxed or appear "weak". But he can build up his strength from there. If the tone or spasm is all gone its easier to build up strength from there. We all agree that Jeremy still has some "tone" still.

Thank you for your continued prayers!!!!!!

July 5

Jeremy is still rehabilitating at St Al's. They are working on his right shoulder trying to get as much stretch out of it as possible. His hand is still a little swollen so its hard to get it to move without assistance. He does his best. It hurts so Jeremy is not excited about it!

Jeremy is still set to be discharged on July 8. We are all anxious to be home again!

We think we have found a wheelchair van for Jeremy. We will let you know how it goes. The person with the van is leaving on a 1 month trip on the 7th of July and the banks aren't in a rush to give you any type of loan now days (quickly). We may have to find another way to pay for it. Pray that things will go according to God time and plan!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

June 27

Jeremy is still at the hospital and I guess he will be there for awhile. (At this time the discharge date is set for July 9) Rehabilitating from shoulder surgery is harder than originally thought. And I remind myself that 3 hours of therapy per day is never a bad thing no matter how much we would like to be at home!!!!!

Weekends are slow as far a therapy and getting information. Jeremy is doing well as far as I can tell. There wasn't anyone around that knew how to put on his JAZ splint on over the weekend, so it only got put on once each day(should be 3 times a day for 30 min. each time). So on Sunday I asked Jeremy to stretch his arm out to his side as far as he could and keep it there while he rested. He did great at that so I didn't fee as bad about not having the brace on. The nurse is going to suggest that they do some sort of training of the nurses on how to put the brace on so they will be able to help more. Although I don't know how that will work when he seems to have a different nurse each day. I'm back to my "consistency in nursing" complaint.

We have a lead on a wheelchair van so please keep that in your prayers. God has been good and he promised to "supply all needs".

Thank you for all your prayers!!

June 24

Today Jeremy got a temporary wheelchair that he will use until his permanent wheelchair, which they took measurements for this week, is custom-made and delivered. Jeremy also got his brace for his shoulder yesterday. Jeremy will be at St. Al's Rehabilitation facility for a little while longer.

June 20

Jeremy spent another weekend in the hospital. We have no idea at this point when he will get to come. The therapists are slowly coming around to check in with Jeremy. (Weekends are slow). Most of them are the same ones he had when he was at St Al's before. They remember Jeremy and love working with him. There were several days after the surgery when he didn't get the therapy on his arm that he needed so he has lost a little ground there. (The order from the doctor didn't get in the chart I guess). We are all having to work a little harder to get that arm stretched out again. We are a little frustrated by that but all we can do now is work harder. It is pretty painful for Jeremy and we have to remind him constantly that it will be better and of the goal he had to move that arm and hand. The nurse brought him a ice bag last night and he threw it across the room. I guess that means he doesn't want it. He is tired and not sleeping well at night. He's a little grumpy at times:)

He isn't eating very much right now. Not really hungry I guess!

It is weird being in a hospital setting again. When Jeremy was at the skilled nursing home we could take him home for the day. In hospitals you can't do that. Jeremy is anxious to be back home and we hope that will motivate him to work through the pain. His poor hand is so swollen, it looks like the Pillsbury dough boy, only black and blue.

We were talking to the speech therapist yesterday about different ways to get Jeremy to speak more clearly. She was thinking out loud about phone apps or computer programs that would give Jeremy feedback on his own speech. If anyone is aware of anything like that please let us know.

Please continue to pray for Jeremy. He is having a rough week! Pray for all of us too! Jeremy is a little grumpy! Oh I guess I already said that!

June 17

Jeremy is being moved to the rehab unit, room 3451 at St. Al's. His doctor said that the medications are causing him to be too impaired to go home. Hopefully the pain will subside so that they can reduce his meds and he can head back home. Debi said that when the representative from the rehab unit came up for her signature on some paperwork, she mentioned that all of the nurses were excited to have Jeremy back. Sounds like he has established quite the fan club! :) We know how wonderful Jeremy is but it's definitely nice to see how much other people love him too!

I was just thinking... I don't know how much longer Jer will be at St. Al's but it'd be fun to send him cheer cards again like we did those many months ago! Here's the link! (Remember, he's in room 3451)
http://saintalphonsus.netreturns.biz/CheerCards/

June 16

Jeremy is still in the hospital - still waiting for the rehab doctor to come and check him out for a few days in the rehab unit. He is still in a lot of pain from the surgery and so the pain medication is making him pretty groggy (spacey)! They are giving him pain medication pretty much every 4 hours. We pray that it will get better soon!!

They are ordering him a JAS (Joint Access System) splint to help with his shoulder. He will have to wear that for about 15 minutes 3 or 4 times a day.

Thank you for your prayer!

June 14

Jeremy's surgery went well today however he is spending the night at the hospital. They wanted to keep him overnight and then do some OT in the morning after numbing his shoulder again. His hand is in a cast and his shoulder is very well padded. They had to put a plate in the wrist area to stabilize it. Then they did the tendon releases so he can move his fingers and shoulder more freely.

Thank you for your prayers and HELP responses!

Out of surgery

Jeremy is out of surgery and it sounds like everything went smoothly. The doctors went ahead and preformed the procedure on Jer's shoulder as well as his right hand to lengthen the tendons and give him greater mobility. He will stay the night in the hospital tonight and be back home tomorrow!

June 13

Please remember Jeremy in your prayers tomorrow. He will be having surgery on his wrist and possible his shoulder. They plan to do the same type of thing they did on his ankles. Straighten his wrist and extend the tendons so he can better use his hand. (we hope & pray!!!)

Thank you for your prayers.

June 11

Sorry for the delay in updates. Trying to get a routine down with Jeremy and us and the new caregiver. Everything is going really well - Jeremy's progress is sometimes slower then we'd like, but all in time. Lots of things to deal with, where to start. Equipment appeals to work on, wheelchair van to find, new therapists to get used too, new caregiver, Jeremy's upcoming surgery,.........etc. Just a few things to work on - oh yeah and sleep. Weekend coming maybe able to sleep in a few extra minutes before Jeremy rings his bell. Yeah he has a bell - and knows how to use it..... ha ha. Still working with him on bathroom control (best way to put it) He's getting better - that will be a big piece once we get to that point. May make sleepping at night a little easier. Living for the weekends takes on new meaning!! God continues to bless - everyday!! We never lose site of that fact. Jeremy is a joy to have home!!!

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers,
Greg