Kerry 2/5/09

Just a quickie...

As of today, Kerry is able to drink any fluids she wants (before she could only drink thickened liquids), and she can use a straw. Can you imagine not having water in your mouth for more than 40 days!?!! She is also allowed to have "mechanical food," which means soft whole food in smaller pieces. Of course, someone still needs to feed her since both of her arms are injured. She doesn't have much of an appetite yet, however-- so she definitely needs encouragement to eat to get off that tube!!

Nighttime has been tough. Sometimes nightmares and anxiety, and sometimes frustration at not being able to call out (her vocal valve is removed at night). They are playing around with medication at night a bit, which is helping, but it is still so frightening for her.

And regarding medication, today she went from 7am to 4pm WITHOUT ANY PAIN MEDS. When she woke up from an afternoon nap, she said she felt no pain upon waking for the first time that she could recall. Tomorrow may be a different story, though-- Kerry will be bearing weight on her feet in the morning, something she hasn't done since the accident. John had to bring in her sneakers and some sweat pants for her "workout." Everyone cross their fingers and hope it goes well!

I forgot to write down a message from Kerry to transcribe onto the computer this evening, but I do have a couple of funny things Kerry said today:

1. Kerry asked me to tidy up her room because, quote, "it is starting to look like Sanford and Son in here."
2. In the evening, Kerry's countenance looked pale and exhausted (as it usually does after her long days), when suddenly she looked flushed. When we told her that her face turned beet red, she replied, "It's because HE is in here." Sure enough, Dan (her wonderful night nurse)had just entered the room. Dan is very handsome and so sweet to Kerry. Lynn and I find ourselves talking a lot about him on the way back from the hospital, and we think Kerry's physical therapy might progress more quickly if she had to squeeze Dan's biceps instead of the little red ball they give her.

Oops, I guess this wasn't a quick note... too late now!
Love,
Jen