Answering his own phone

360/715-6427

One month

Dad has a discharge date. He'll be back home this time next month.

Today the kids and I accompanied him to therapy. We watched and cheered as he moved himself, with only a little help, from lying down to sitting up. You try that using ONLY your arms and chest, no abs, and no legs for leverage. He is making fabulous progress.

It's going to be okay . . .

The last three times I have visited Dad it has seemed like a normal visit, not a lot different than dropping by the house for a chat. He is transitioning from a patient to a person, if that makes any sense. I didn't need to DO anything for him, just share my kids and the news of the day and hear his news.

He happily ate the Burger Me! burger we took him. He is 180 pounds at six and a half feet tall, so he needs fatty high protein foods.

He is happy. He is well. He is strong.

ring ring

Tonight my phone rang and it was my Dad. This is the first time since Dec 13 that Dad has picked up the phone and called me. We exchanged news of the day, just like old times. I cannot possible articulate what this meant to me. It was as if he is moving back into his old spot in our lives.

All Settled In

Dad is so happy to be back at St Joe's Rehab. The staff there are just the cat's pajamas.

The guesstimate is that he is four weeks from moving home. I get all teary just thinking about it.

Moving Day!!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! Dad is moving to St Joe's Rehab Center - South Campus. We are all so excited. This is the beginning of the last bit before home.

He can receive email there if you use the St Joe's form. Put South Campus Rehab in the spot for room number.

Dad will be very busy during the day, so the staff asks that visitors wait until after 6:00. He should have a phone in his room and as soon as I know the number, I'll share it.

oops

. . . so sorry about the rather grouchy posting yesterday. If you read yesterday's post on my other blog you'll probably forgive me.

emails

Thank you for all your recent emails. Especially from you NE folks (You know whom I mean).

Just so you all know, neither Mom nor Dad is checking the old holmesdb@*****.com email address. I just spent TWO hours cleaning out the 756 emails that had accumulated in it. I would much rather spend this time playing with my kids. So, if Don and Barb are on your email list for your ministry or small group or whatever, please take them off the list for awhile.

Personal notes, on the other hand, are always welcome at notesforDon@gmail.com.

Farewell to Turtle

Today is the three month marker of Dad's accident and is the first turtle-free day. He is so pleased to be without it. He can now sit straight up without the brace.

It was warm and balmy here today so Dad got to sit outside with the sun on his face for about an hour. He is in good spirits and looks much like his old self, just thinner and more horizontal.

a wee delay

St Joe's is in the middle of a big remodel so they won't have a room for Dad until the middle of next week.

a letter from Dad

From Don:

__________________________________________________________________

Dear Faithful and Wonderful Friends Far and Wide,

Too many people have contacted me by various ways for me to be able to write a personal note. Please understand that your cards, phone calls, and emails have been a great encouragement. I won’t deny that lying on my back for three months has been difficult.

I’m delighted to report that next Wednesday on March 14^th I am scheduled to be relocated to St Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center, if they have a vacancy. I’ve been told that rehab will take between two and four weeks. There I will learn how to dress myself and how to move from bed to wheelchair to car and to take care of myself. I have been in very little pain and my mind is clear and I am very optimistic about the future.

I hope to spend some time raising funds for International Justice Mission.

I do not understand how people who know not Christ endure the hardships in life.

Best wishes and God’s Blessing to all and with tears in my eyes thinking of all of you.

Don

P.S. My wife and family and Emma-dog have been bricks. They have been here everyday.

Counting down the days . . .

. . . to the big move.

On Wednesday, Mom and Dad took the bus over to St Joe's Rehab Center for a tour. As soon as Dad's turtleshell comes off -- sometime next week -- he is ready to transfer. St Joe's is the last stop before home.

email

Dad's email address is still notesforDon@gmail.com and he still loves to get email. (hint-hint)

Turtles we love, and one we are weary of

My favorite kind of turtles are the ones with pecans and caramel and chocolate. Certainly not the plastic kind with Velcro straps that my Dad will be wearing for another two weeks.

Yes, please come visit

Dad is doing rather nicely these days and welcomes your visits in the late afternoons and early evenings on weekdays and about anytime on weekends. He is very much looking forward to transferring to St Joe's in about two weeks.