One more week

Hunter has had another great week here on the rehab floor!  He is really benefitting from the 3 hours of intensive therapy daily.  He continues to practice walking every other day in the harness that holds up his body weight, and he now brings his legs forward to step 99% of the time.  Now his focus is on straightening his knees in his stride so he can bear weight on them.  Another big step forward will be for him to be able to get himself from sitting to standing.  He is getting there, but it takes just a little more leg strength than what he's got right now.  Pray for those muscles!  We have just one more week here before we go home next Thursday!  

It's not all work and no play in therapy....Hunter might regret giving me permission to put this on the blog someday.

Hey Edward and Bobbin:)

Hunter graduated to wheels he can move himself:)  We wheeled on down and got a Starbucks drink to break in his chair.

This picture was taken right after he practiced standing in the video above.  It was his first time on his stomach.  He stayed on his elbows, then got up on his knees.  I'm going to have him doing yoga with me before too long!  He was all out of energy and laying face down telling us "I can't breathe.....turn me back over!"  The rest of us in the room got a good laugh.  I told him he was about like a 9 month old learning to crawl.

It's not only big muscles that he has to regain, but also his fine motor skills.  He is all ready to play Mexican train with our boys at home now.  And please take notice of his rat tail he's got going on in the back.  Yes, it's braided.  Hunter is quite fond of it and won't let his mom cut it off just yet.

Hunter is trying his best to gain weight.  The doctor told him "I like to eat like a 12 year old too!"  I believe he regretted his lunch choice a few hours later.

The icy weather threw off our weekend routine of me going home to the kids.  We had to go out and enjoy the beautiful snow!

 Meanwhile back in Abilene, sickness picked everyone off one by one.  Caleb's ear was infected and draining, then Jana went down with strep, then Benton started vomiting.  Many thanks to Dr. Tidmore who got Caleb's ear drained, Ernie who watched the twins most of the weekend, and to my mom for nursing Benton through strep, puke, and pink eye.  After a shot at Saturday clinic, he felt like a new person.  I felt pretty helpless being away when my guys weren't feeling well.  Way to go Team Hanner!  

Ice day essentials from SAM's apparently included an icee.

snow ice cream

Sadness!  Poor Honey and poor Benton and Caleb!  Caleb's antibiotics made him grumpy and he was a little bossy to his brothers.  Mom was correcting him, and Clayton told her "It's okay.  He's my brother and I love him."

We did a little facetimeing

And enjoyed some visitors!  Thanks Vann and Serge for coming to see us!!!

By Monday, all was better!  C&C enjoyed their day with DiDi and Nana,

 Sadie gained almost a pound in the two weeks since she's been home,

 and Benton's back to school and playdates!

Benton gets to spend one night a week all by himself with Nana and G-Daddy.  We got this picture from the dealership that said Benton requested this for his first car.  Dream on buddy!  We were on facetime with Benton and the phone got highjacked by guys at the dealership.  There was a lot of laughing.  Hunter is more than ready to be back to work!

Thanks Bo for the rattlesnake necklace.  He may never take it off:)

As always, we ask for your prayers.  Hunter requests prayers for big gains in his next 5 days of therapy.  He wants to come home as independent as possible.  Yesterday we had a fitting for the chair.  To be honest, it was really tough.  Hunter really wanted to come home walking.  The doctors and therapist are recommending that he come home with a power chair until he gets stronger.  A little perspective tells us that Hunter has made huge gains in the last two months, and there is no reason to think he won't continue to work hard and improve in the months to come.  He could barely lift his hands off the pillow at the beginning of the year.  

We can't wait to be home with our boys.  It's going to be a big adjustment for all of us.  Please pray for our coming transition.  We give all the glory to God for Hunter's healing.  HE has done miracles in Hunter!  We have a lot of hands to shake and hugs to give here at Zale Lipshy for all those who have been a part of Hunter's care.  We are forever changed and grateful for the last six months!  One week from now we will be headed HOME!   

Psalms 34:1-9

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice.  O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.  I sought the LORD and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the LORD encamps around all those who fear him, and rescues them.  O taste and see that the LORD is good;  How blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM!