Catch up time!

As always, we had a wonderful weekend! Ben arrived on Friday just before lunch, and after taking his things to the Vancouver office, Mom, Ben and I headed out for my cousin's daughter's wedding, just south of Seattle.  On Friday evening we were able to connect with a couple that we met on our cruise 1 1/2 years ago - great to see them again over a phenomenal dinner (yes, I ate in a restaurant!).  The wedding on Saturday was just lovely - God-honoring, elegant and yet informal at the same time.  I admit, by the end of the day I was pooped, but I'm so glad we went! We also were part of the worship service the families of the bride and groom held on Sunday in the hotel where we stayed. What an amazing time of fellowship, sharing and singing.  It's such a blessing to know that the extended families of the couple can worship together in such harmony, just a small foretaste of what will be in glory!!

And then it was back to rehab - another team/family meeting on Monday, and more good news. They will be setting me up to self-medicate (in other words, I won't be given meds by the nurses, rather the pharmacy will give me the meds directly, and then I am responsible to administer them at the appropriate time - more like it will be at home). They will also be weaning me off of the neuropathic pain meds, and decreasing the dosages for the mood-stabilizing ones as well.  Hopefully that will all work well, and I won't change into a crazed idiot! (Read - PMS, Perimenopause, Mood swings, etc!) The date for my discharge is still July 2, with the possibility of staying until the 14th if they feel they need the extra time for further improvement. I'm okay with 2 more weeks - what's another couple weeks after 5 months!! In the meantime, physio and occupational therapy are doing all they can to help me learn what I will need to know in order to function somewhat normally once I get home.  I made an omelette the other day - spinach, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes (thanks for the idea, Jason!), and it turned out great!! Today, I tried playing badminton with my physiotherapist - just a little tough with the double vision! Which, by the way, seems to be getting better! I haven't been wearing the patch over my eye as often, and the muscles seem to be getting back to normal  - at least things don't look as far apart as they used to, for which I am very thankful!  We also had an appointment with and ENT last Thursday, and got to see my vocal chords.  They are in fine shape, no scarring or nodules, so I can start working on rebuilding my range and decreasing the nasality in my voice.  My speech therapist has requested that I have an appointment with a voice specialist, which would be really cool!  It might take awhile to get in to see her, as there is only one in BC, but being so close by, they have put me on a cancellation list for the chance to get in sooner. I still maintain that if I don't get my voice back to the way it was, I have lost very little.  But if there is a chance to improve what I can, I am glad to be able to do whatever is needed!  As always, I praise God for each little victory, and know that He is still in control!

Ben is down here in Vancouver working for the next 2 weeks, so I'm looking forward to spending at least a few evenings with him.  His foot still swells quite easily, and he needs to keep it up as much as possible.  Aaron has been taken off work completely for the next 2 weeks, and has been sent to do physio every day, for which I am very glad! I've said all along that he needed to go, and finally the doctor thinks so too! So we are all still slowly recuperating and progressing along, and giving thanks for each new day and the strength to get through it!

You are all such a blessing to us, and to know that so many are still upholding us in prayer is daily a humbling experience.  To know that we are right where God wants us to be keeps us at His feet in gratitude, and I never want to forget how gracious and merciful He is, has been, and will be. May you also experience His greatness in some new way today as you keep your faces turned to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as it is through Him alone that we can live this life with courage and face this fight with success!

Judy