Day 85 - Don't Mean Maybe

Daniel seems to have found his voice and is exerting his will on video choices again. While it's great to see him being him, it means we're watching either Robin Hood or Robin Hood. I will say today he was a bit more flexible than yesterday, but you get the idea here - we're watching a lot of his favorite video Robin Hood. Did I mention that Daniel tends to like a video and will watch it over and over whereas we tend to choose ones we've watched less often. Guess what Daniel likes?

Daniel took his first walk outside today under his own power. He was so cool with it too. No angry moans or even a sign that he didn't want to do it. "Just taking a walk out and about like I'm normal. Hey when can we go home?"

Allemande Left?

He got up, walked around the 8th floor, took an elevator down, walked outside into the sculpture garden, returned to the 8th floor and we did a few chores in the gym/kitchen. He was less enthusiastic with the chores - putting dishes up HIGH in a cupboard, but we was really awesome in attitude. A few problems with balance, but otherwise pretty solid.

Riding the 'vator like it ain't no thang.

We took to the stairs and went up a full flight and back down and returned to his room for some nice neck stretching.

Stair Climber Plus

The mama supplied the neck stretching that the Daniel really enjoyed today. He was almost in an asleep state for the entire session and the mama does a good job of neck massage!

Somnambulance

Daniel showed what he is made of today. Dawn was doing some stretching of his shoulders and we measured the angle of his stretch. He was getting stretches that exceed anything OTs have been able to achieve while he is under sedation during surgery. We believe we are on the right track with applying lots of lotion, working the scar bands and having him stretch his arms every day in his gunslinger and nights in his wedges. During this OT session we got a knock on the door. It was the Orthopedic Solutions vendor Kyle with his new JSS splints. They will be used to try tweaking his elbows to give an increase in range. He will work up to the point where he wears these for 30 minute stints up to three times per day. For today and the next week Daniel will wear them for 30 minutes.

Jazz Hands!

I took a short break today and walked over to the Fulginiti Pavilion art gallery on campus to see a free exhibit. I was blown away by the MasterWorks collection. Here's a Monet sample. Who would have thought there would be Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Monet and other great works on campus!

Later in the afternoon as ST L. was leaving, volunteers with a tea cart (apparently 2:45 tea is a special event-thing here) came around with fancy teas, cookies and a mousse. The ST indicated that this was something not to pass up, so I took one for the team and had a bunch of yumminess. No gluten free options, so I made sure to eat an extra cookie on Daniel's behalf too.

We're still wondering and waiting for the MOAB to occur now that we are on day 5 since our last one. There was a minor deposit made this morning, but not enough by our standards. Maybe Daniel miraculously sneaked out of bed last night and covered his tracks fastidiously or the nurse didn't record it last night. Both are unlikely possibilities. His day nurse is stumped as am I.

Tonight we'll have chicken breast, beans and a salad. Daniel seems calm and relaxed right now.