LIFE WITH THE MORGANS

Saturday 2/11

2012-02-11T11:04:00.001-06:00

Bear Bryant....Ummm I mean Jack Rhodes hopes everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!

Dad had some beautiful flowers dropped off last Sunday without a card. We were curious as to who they were from cause they were sooo pretty. We finally found out last night. Thanks go out to Ernest Flippo and the Methodist Church. He is on the committee that delivers flowers left in the church to shut ins, nursing home residents, etc. He said he saw these and knew where they needed to go and had Dads name added to the list. Definitely brightened his day, and his room, getting these! =) We have cards hanging in his room and he wanted me to read them to him yesterday. (He can read but they are taped on the wall, so he can't get to them to well) He enjoyed hearing them all and he still remembers all of your nicknames! (Squatty body.... Ms Ann we both got a good laugh!) There are so many sweet people out there that love my daddy and we are thankful for each one of you! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.... Stay warm!!!!!

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Thursday 2/9

2012-02-09T09:13:00.000-06:00

Everything is about the same around here. Dad has good days and bad days. He is having some stomach/feeding issues, but we are hopeful they will get it all figured out soon. He has lost 10 lbs since he has been in Heber. He has great upper body strength and they are working with him on moving himself from the bed to his chair. He makes his way up and down the halls some. When I went to see him Saturday morning, he was sitting up front at the nurses station keeping them in line!! =) Mom went Saturday night and he was sitting in the lobby soaking everything in! (There were 2 cops up there due to a resident disturbance or something like that and he was watching all the action!)

I'm sorry I don't update this blog as much as I should. Sometimes I start to write and then stop cause I'm afraid all I will do is be negative. We still have our up and down days. It's gotten really hard for us....especially Mom. We were hoping things would be different by now and it's hard not to become angry that things aren't going the way we want them to. I found some video's on my phone of Dad playing with Gracie over a year ago. It's good to hear his voice, but then it makes it hard at the same time. Dad is in good spirits the majority of the time and that does our hearts good. He enjoys seeing all the familiar faces of people that stop by and hearing of people that ask about him. I told him the other day he sure is a well liked man, and was telling him a few of the things people had said to me over the past few days. He looked at me and said, "Bullsh*t!" I laughed sooo hard. (then told him I didn't like those kind of words and he said well Bull then! lol)

I can't say Thank you enough, for all of the prayers. It means soo much to all of us. I will try to do better with keeping everyone updated.

Sunday 1/22

2012-01-22T10:06:00.001-06:00

Not much to report. Dad still has problems with talking and we can't understand him the majority of the time. However, when we are able to understand him, he cracks some jokes! Yesterday Mom, Josh, Gracie and I were with him and Josh got up to do something and he told him he liked his pants. Let me inform you that these were a pair of Josh's work pants that had stains on them! Lol! He had us all laughing!!!! Gracie was humming a tune while we were there and Dad started moving his hands and head dancing around! She kept showing him videos on my phone that she had made for her "Pop". He took his "Bear Bryant" hat off and looked at G, then pointed to himself and said, "I'm Pop!"
They are still working on standing, sitting and swallowing. We are hopeful he will be doing all of these soon!!! I told him his goal is to be doing all of the following by May, cause he has a new baby girl coming in June and I'm gonna put him to work!!!!!!! =)
We found out last Wednesday we will be adding another girl to our family in June!!!! Josh will officially be outnumbered in the Morgan household!!!!
Today marks 9 months since Dad had his bleed. I can't believe it's been that long. I think we were all hopeful we would have him back by now, but we are thankful for his continued baby steps.
Thank you all for continuing to check in on us!!!!

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Saturday 1/7

2012-01-07T17:25:00.000-06:00

Dad is about the same. He has periods where he is pretty alert, then there are periods were he isn't and is very confused. This makes it so hard on us. I took Gracie to see him Thursday night. She is still a little unsure, but we sat in the chair and visited with him for about 15 minutes. He stared at her the entire time! =) I asked him who she was and he said, "My sweet Gracie!" She put her "lips" on while we were there and he got the biggest kick out of it! When we got ready to leave he blew her a kiss and we said our "I love yous". As we were walking in the hallway, he said, "Be careful." I couldn't hold back tears hearing him say that.... what he'd always say as we'd leave to go anywhere.
Last night Mom went to watch the game with him. I got a message on my facebook from a girl who's father is on the same hall as dad and she said, " I wish you could have just heard your Dad screaming touchdown!!" I was half asleep, (cause this preggo momma was WORN out) but it brought the biggest smile to my face! She said she and the nurses started laughing cause they knew it had to be him and they went to his room and he and mom were both cheering!!! I hate to say he didn't last much longer after that. Mom said he fell asleep. =( She was upset, cause she knows how much he loves football, especially the Razorbacks. Can I say it for the 58443745894382943th time.... we are ready to have him back!!! It has been a looooong 8 1/2 months.

We know there are many of you that are not from Heber who read this blog to stay up to date with Dad and his progress. I thought I would post the statement that we ran in the Heber Springs paper Friday. This has definitely been very bittersweet for us.

A message from Jack, Dicey, Brett, Anna Kathryn (Morgan), and Caroline Rhodes:

We must not let this New Year begin without trying to express to you what is in our hearts. Many, if not all of you, know of Jack’s serious medical condition as a result of his brain bleed in April of 2011. It became
extremely unlikely that a return to the agency would be possible. As a result, we made the very difficult decision to sell the agency to Arkansas Valley Insurance. The man who owns Arkansas Valley is a good, ethical insurance man and we feel comfortable with the way his agency will care for the Jack Rhodes Insurance customers. Additionally, the same office staff will stay on and continue to give you the good service you have come to expect. We would not have considered selling the agency had we not had this confidence. Taking good care of your insurance needs has been the top priority of Jack Rhodes Insurance.

The past eight months have been totally consumed with supporting Jack and we have not been able to stay in close contact with as many of you as we would have liked. We must tell you what a joy it has been for us to
be in Heber Springs all these many years. It is our home. We love Heber and we love you. You have been so good to us in these difficult times. We regret we have not been able to respond like we would have liked. Now that Jack is back in Heber Springs, life may slow down for us and we will be able to express many of these thoughts to you personally.

Thank you for your many acts of kindness. The cards, letters, phone calls, prayers and other expressions of caring have been overwhelming to us.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-26T20:10:00.001-06:00

We received the best Christmas gift, ever!!!! Dad got to come home for a few hours Christmas morning. The nursing home staff brought him in their van and they overshot the house, and he told them they had passed his house, to turn around! Lol We had a wonderful visit and he enjoyed his time here!! Here are a few pictures.... Caroline has more on her camera.

He opened his gifts and asked for coffee several times. Broke our hearts we couldn't give him any. He kept saying this looked just like his house! =) He kept his eyes on Gracie the majority of the time.

She pushed her baby around for Pop to see!
She warmed up and showed him some of her dancing skills. I'm not sure where this child has gotten her moves, but she gets down! Lol
As he was leaving, he told us he wanted to do this again. We agreed and told him this was the first of many trips home. Hopefully we will have him home for good soon.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

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Christmas card

2011-12-23T11:37:00.001-06:00

There are so many of you I'd love to send a Christmas card to and I figured this might be the easiest way!!!!! The Rhodes and Morgan families wish you all warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year. We are thankful for each and everyone of you and all of your prayers. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

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Tues 12/21

2011-12-20T21:39:00.001-06:00

This has been a rough, emotional past few days for us. Like I've said before, we go though periods like this. Mom said the other day.... It's sad and overwhelming right now. There are sooo many people that love and care for my Dad and knowing this really helps us get through these tough times. We just take it day by day.... Well really hour by hour.
Dad still has good alert periods and not so alert periods during the day. He does best in the mornings. Caroline has been spending a lot of time with him these past few days and they have had some good convos. She brought a Delta magazine to read to him and she started and he told her he had already read that one! Lol!!!! She was reading him a story and mispronounced a word and he quickly corrected her!! He is doing well with his therapies and continues to work for them. He is enjoying all his visitors and the sweet cards! I really can't say how much it means to us how many of y'all have stayed loyal to my Daddy. Mom, Caroline and I went to dinner tonight and stopped to tell Dad goodnight on the way home. He was very confused and said he wanted to go home. Mom is still up there with him now. So hard for all of us....... :/

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Friday 12/16

2011-12-16T21:56:00.001-06:00

I've wrote a post last night and fell asleep while writing it. I went to open it up this morning to finish it and it was gone! UGH! Sooooo.... Let's try this again.
Dad is doing good. We are glad to have him so close... It's definitely made things easier for us these past few weeks. We are able to come and go throughout the day, which has been nice. Dad has enjoyed seeing some familiar faces as well. Thanks to all of you that have stopped by to see him. Since we are in and out so much during the day, we put a lil book out for visitors to sign. We like asking Dad about his visitors during the day.
Dad is finally off isolation and he is enjoying being able to wheel himself around!!!! Caroline went to see him the other day and panicked when he wasn't in his room or in therapy. She started walking towards the nurses station and there he was! He had heard some music and wheeled himself down the hall to see what was going on!! =) He is taking baby steps as far as progress/improvement goes, but we have to remind ourselves to be patient.... And baby steps is better than nothing.
These past few weeks have been soo crazy and hectic for us. I'm sorry I don't update as much as I used to. There just isn't enough time in the day these days it seems like!!!! I am going to try to make at least one post a week.... I want to keep those of you interested in Dad's improvement informed of the latest!
I can't believe Christmas is a week away! Definitely hard to get into it this year. I was looking through pictures the other night and it's hard to believe how much has changed since last Christmas. Never would have imagined.........

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Remember to tell your loved ones just how much you love them..... You never know what tomorrow will bring.

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Headed to Heber!!!!!

2011-12-07T19:32:00.001-06:00

Well......Dad is back in Heber Springs!!!!!!! Mom, Dad and I left Baptist hospital around 11:30 his morning. A few tears were shed as we loaded the car and told the nurses bye. Dad has had so many wonderful nurses throughout these past 8 months. We've told them all as we've left, that we will be back and let Dad walk in to see everyone. I can't wait till that day comes.

Anyways.... I brought a James Taylor DVD and Mom rode in the back with Dad. He just kept looking out the window at first, with a big smile on his face! When we came upon the Arkansas River bridge, I asked him where we were.... He said, "Arkansas River." =) By Conway he was singing along to some JT songs! Definitely brought some tears to my eyes. He was truly so happy the entire ride. Around Greenbrier he told us he'd been through some rough times. We told him yes he had, but he had been a fighter and pulled through everything and we were soo proud of him. Mom fell asleep on the ride home ( so typical of mom.... Always falling asleep in the car and we always get a laugh out of it!). Dad and I were cracking up when she dozed off.... I even snapped a picture, but she would probably kick me out of the house if I posted it! =) When we got to Heber we drove by the house and he was soo happy to see it (and the ole miss flag out front!) and then we drove by his office. All the girls came out to see him... He was soo happy to see them and kept telling us he wanted to get out of the car! He was ready to go to work! Lol
We got him settled in his room at Seven Springs and of course he was exhausted!!!!! Mom is with him now and she said he's been asleep for awhile.... I'm figuring he is out for the night!!!! =)
Dad is in room 503. We are ok with him having visitors, we just ask that visits be kept short and sweet. He tires very easily and we don't want to overstimulate him right now. I know he will enjoy seeing familiar faces. Just some FYI.... He isn't talking as much as he had been, so it's kinda hard to understand and hear him at times. He is more alert in the morning opposed to the afternoon/evening. His short term memory isn't great right now, but he remembers things pre April 22nd. He isn't standing or walking yet, but is able to sit on his own now.
We thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!!!!

Jack Rhodes Room 503
Seven Springs Health and Rehabilitation
1040 Weddingford rd
Heber Springs, Ar 72543

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Tuesday 12/6

2011-12-06T08:39:00.001-06:00

I abandoned the blog again.... So sorry!!!!! Gracie and I headed to Memphis last Wednesday to spend a long weekend with her Daddy. While we were there, I managed to get sick... Boooo!
We did enjoy some family time, though. We got back Sunday and now Gracie is sick. We are heading to the Dr this afternoon. Hopefully he will give her some good meds.... We were up and down all night.... Screaming, coughing and sneezing.... Not too much fun for either one of us! =(
Mom and I are bringing Dad back to Heber tomorrow. I'm anxious to see how he responds to seeing the outdoors and being in the car. It's been 8 months since he's been out of a hospital. We are hopeful he will enjoy driving by familiar places. Since I've been sick and G is now sick, I haven't seen him since last Tuesday, so I'm anxious to see him.
Friday night Mom was on the phone with one of Dads High School friends, Pete. Mom set the phone down and Dad picked it up and said, "Hi, Pete! I had a stroke...they tell me to keep working hard, keep on working hard." Mom was soo shocked, cause she didn't coach him on what to say, he did it on his own. The therapists must be telling him this and I'm glad it stuck with him!!!! One thing we are thankful for, is he is happy. He never gets frustrated when he can't do something and we've never seen him depressed. He is leaving all those feelings up to us! =)
Once we get Dad all moved in, I'll get his mailing address out to those of you that would like it.
I will update again once we have Dad settled in his new room! =)

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Tuesday 11/29

2011-11-29T12:17:00.001-06:00

Dad will be at Baptist one more week. Next week he will return to Heber. It is very bittersweet for us. We are glad he will be closer to home, but sad we are leaving Baptist. I wish that he was able to return home, but he's just not strong enough for that yet. He will be going to Seven Springs Nursing Home. We were very impressed by their Rehab department and are very hopeful he will continue to improve. This has been a long, emotional 8 months. We've been strong for so long, I think the emotions are starting to catch up with us. These past couple of weeks have been hard on us. Thanks to all of our wonderful, sweet friends for all of your sweet texts, msgs, cards, etc and checking in on us....we are very lucky to have all of you!
I can't end without wishing my wonderful parents a Happy 42nd Wedding Anniversary!!!!!!! Our sweet friends, The Duckworth's, brought us an "anniversary" dinner last night.... Complete with desert! Lol!! It was definitely a needed treat for us!
Dad had his morning therapy this am and is resting in his room until afternoon therapy. He is pretty tired today. Hopefully a lil cat nap will do him some good!
Found this picture a few weeks ago....... =)

Sure do miss my Daddy.
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Sunday 11/27

2011-11-27T20:58:00.001-06:00

Not much to report. There is still a chance Dad will get to stay at Baptist Rehab. We will find out Tuesday. We are hopeful he will be able to stay a couple more weeks in LR. If not, he will be coming back to Heber and going to Seven Springs. We were very impressed with their therapy department.
I will be with Dad on Tuesday for report card day. Will report more then.

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2011-11-22T12:09:00.001-06:00

Not the report card Tuesday I was hoping for..... Dad is being discharged next Wednesday. Mom, Caroline and I have to figure out the next step. This is very hard for us.....please keep us in your thoughts.

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Tuesday 11/22

2011-11-22T07:22:00.001-06:00

I wrote a long entry, went to post it and it disappeared.... booooo! Sooo... this is going to be short and sweet!! =)
Gracie made this video for her Pop last week. I think he watched it about a dozen times on Thursday, then several times again on Friday!! One of his Therapist watched it and then later that afternoon another one came over and said she wanted to see the video everyone was talking about! lol!! I'll have to admit.... it is pretty cute!!!

Caroline and I are on our way to LR to see Dad this morning in this icky weather. Rain, rain go AWAY!
It's report card day.. I'm anxious to hear how everything is going. Hope everyone has a great day!!!! =)

Special visit.....

2011-11-20T21:35:00.001-06:00

Dad had a visit from the Longshot Investment group on Saturday. These guys and their wives have been the best of friends since their Hendrix days. Honestly, I feel like Dad has 5 other brothers..... Each and every one of these guys and their families have been wonderful to all of us throughout Dads illness. I am soooooo sad I only have one picture to share. We all met at Copelands to eat Saturday for lunch ( yummmmmo), then headed to the hospital to see Dad. They hadn't gotten him out of bed when we first got there, but of course after I took this pic, they got him up in his wheelchair and we all hung out in the "dining room" on his floor. The first thing Dad said was, "The trees are soo pretty!" He was soooooo happy to see everyone. I can't express how much this meant to Mom, Caroline and myself for all of you guys to schedule this get together.

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Guess who?!?

2011-11-16T19:11:00.001-06:00

Anybody know whose legs these are?!?!

I have to say I died when I found this picture today... In Dads desk of ALL places!!!!! Lol

Nice bow tie, huh?!?

Hahaha!!!!!!!!!
I sent these pics to Mom and she showed them to Dad.... His response was.... Hard to believe!!!! Lol
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Tues 11/15

2011-11-15T18:39:00.001-06:00

Dad got another good report card!!! He gets to stay another week for sure! Yayyyy!!!!! Aunt Tricia was with him today. She said they put him on a bicycle type machine today and he did really well! Here is the pic she sent.....

She asked him if he was ready to go back to Heber... Of course he said YES!!!!!
Mom and I watched the special on Gabby Giffords last night. It sure did touch close to home. We are hopeful Dad will have the same progress she has had.
I will check in later this week/weekend!!!!!
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2011-11-12T11:03:00.001-06:00

Dad has been doing really well in his therapies. He got another good report on his weekly report card. We are hopeful he will continue and be able to stay where he is for awhile. We were told 2-3 wks, Which would be the week of Thanksgiving, but we are working on him being able to stay.
Mom was with him on Thursday and Friday this week. She called me while they were waiting on his therapy to start and she said hold on a sec..... Then I heard Dad say, "I love you, Anna Kathryn!!" Mom said he did the same to Caroline and he had her in tears!!!!!! I'm glad we are steps closer to having our daddy back. It has just been way too too long.
Gracie wanted to share a picture with all of our blogger friends!!!!

Surprise!!!!!
If you follow me on Facebook, I'm sure you've already heard our exciting (shocking) news!! Our family will be growing come June. Dad has known this for awhile and I keep reminding him he has to be in the hospital with ME in June, so he better be working his booty off!!! When I first told him he gave me a thumbs up..... Then he clapped..... Then when I started telling him to get to work and work hard hard hard, so he can be with me when i have the newest grandchild, he rolled his eyes at me!!! =)
Also, I would like to ask a favor.... I can't go into specifics, but one of my very dear high school's family members is having surgery on Wednesday. Could you please say a prayer for their family?? I know how scared they all are.... I remember how scared I was when Dad had each of his procedures. I would appreciate it, and so would they, so very much!
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Saturday 11/5

2011-11-05T10:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday!!!! Goooo Hogs!!!!!!!

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Wednesday 11/2

2011-11-02T16:16:00.001-05:00

*5:25 pm
They are removing the trach RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Mom called me a bit ago and put the phone up to Dad and he said Happy Birthday several times. I told him I loved him so much and he said I love you honey! Awesome, Awesome day!

Dad has done AWESOME today.... best Birthday present ever.... Well besides my IPAD Mom surprised me with last night!!!! Mom got to watch him
In all his therapies today and said they are probably going to remove the trach tomorrow.....what what?!?!
Caroline is coming in this weekend and I'm glad she will get to see how well he is doing. We are going to try to take Gracie up to the unit on Saturday. She can't go in his room, but we figured we'd wheel him out into the lobby area. I can't wait to see his face when he sees her! They are both going to love it! Gracie will take my phone and swipe through all the pictures and show everyone all the pictures of Pop. =) I can't believe it's been 6 months since she's seen him.
Happy Wednesday everyone!

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Tuesday 11/1

2011-11-01T13:36:00.001-05:00

Dad received his first "Report Card" today. I'm sooo excited to be able to share that he has done very well and progressed during his first week in Rehab. Therefore, he will be able to stay for 2-3 more weeks!!! This is awesome!!!!!!! The case worker told Mom this is a really big thing and doesn't happen very often. He is standing for 15 minutes at a time with the help of a machine ( pics were in previous post). They are bringing in an ENT to work on the swallowing and removal of the trach. Hopefully that will be the next step!!!!! Aunt Tricia is with him today and just texted that she is watching therapy from afar. Mom will be there tomorrow and they told her she could watch during this therapies as well. They normally ask that Friends and Family not be present during the therapy times, so I'm glad Mom will get to see his progress. The case worker came in yesterday and
also asked that we limit visiting times to just "drop in visits". Right now Dad really needs to rest between his therapies. He has a break daily.... The times vary from 10-1:30. During those times they say Dad needs to rest. Please don't let this keep any of you from stopping by. I know Dad enjoys seeing all of his friends and family, but they just suggest short visits with little stimulation, so he is still able to rest.
Im sooo glad I was able to share a happy post today!!!!! God is good!!!!!!!

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Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T10:27:00.001-05:00

Here is Dads "Trick or Treat" face!!!!!

Dad had a great day!! Here are more pics.....

And here is Minnie Mouse! She racked up tonight!!! We didn't get many pics though......

She wore her cute glasses for 2.5 seconds!

Not complete without stickers.....

Posing with Uncle B's cool pumpkin!

Here we go!!!!!

Trick or Treating at the Irwin's!!!!!

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Saturday 10/29

2011-10-29T22:59:00.001-05:00

Dad has been doing pretty good with Rehab. They are working him more during the day and he is handling it well. Mom said they gave him a "buzz cut" today. She sent a picture and I think he looks soo good. He is wearing normal clothes now...ano more hospital gowns! He is on a cuff less trach.... This is one step closer to having it removed!!!!! We are starting to take some bigs steps forward and we are all soo excited!!!!! I will be with Dad on Monday and will update more after seeing him!

Ladies and Gentlemen.... The new "buzz cut!"
And I can't close without adding a picture of my lil sweetie.

She picked out her pumpkin at the "unkin patch"...... Love this girl to pieces!!!!!

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Wonderful Wednesday

2011-10-26T11:28:00.001-05:00

Are you ready??!!!!!! No, I'm not starting the Hotty Toddy chant!!!!
Jack Rhodes is moving to Rehab today!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooooohoooooo. Hell yes, damn right!!!!! Lol =)
Those of you that know my Daddy know how much he loves Ole Miss.... Had to add a little humor in there!!
I'm on my way to Memphis, but I will update more later!!!!!!

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Tuesday 10/25

2011-10-25T21:58:00.001-05:00

Dad had a really good day. Worked really hard in his therapies. We found out he will probably get to go to rehab. He will for sure get to stay for 7-10 days, but if he really progresses, he could stay for up to 3 weeks. Then we have to figure out where he will go next. Once he is much stronger, he will be able to go back to rehab for more intense therapy.
I was so proud of how well he worked today. Here are a few pictures.

He sat in his wheelchair for about 3 hours this morning.

They brought the contraption in again. This helps stand him up. It puts lots of pressure on his body and he was standing straight up several times! =)
The therapist kept asking him of he needed to sit down and he'd shake his head no!!

However, we've learned that as soon as we have good, the bad has got to follow. Mon was there tonight and his pulse ox was low. Respiratory told her not to be surprised if he's back on oxygen tomorrow. Hopefully not, though............
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