Aug 28-Sept 19

Well, here we are in September. I have misplaced the year, as easily as I misplace my phone. After all the hubbub of August, September is a welcome quiet to our storm. School started- as much as "school" can start, anyway. Austin & Katie kidnapped Jake and absconded to Utah with him for a week and a half. That means Scott was on 6am duty the whole time. Scott misses his sleep, but is ever willing to step in when and wherever needed.  The house has been blessedly quiet with only 6 people here. I've been worried a bit about virtual school schedules and our other schedules, and how they would flow together. It's been pretty easy. The first week was a lot of making sure K was able to get into her zoom classes, but otherwise we've had a lot of free time around here. 

Shannon has switched to therapy only 2x/week, which is great! That gives her another day to do what SHE wants to do. Mostly it's because our insurance company doesn't like to pay for things. So we are spreading the therapies out farther. 

We had a situation a couple of weeks ago that brought to my attention that we should have someone in our neighborhood trained in how to transfer Shannon, should the need arise. Three lovely friends came over to see how to get Shannon from one place to another. It went really well! She started in one spot, and ended up in another. Mission: Accomplished. 

In other news: Shannon strength is really blowing us away. She basically can transfer herself between most places, just having us there to make sure she lands properly and doesn't fall. In PT, she's been doing the stim bike. They've been putting contacts on her abs and back to engage her core muscles. It's helping with her balance. She has not previously been able to lift both hands above her shoulders at the same time, but is doing pretty well with it now. 

Shannon and Scott have been going on their weekly adventures to local places, and of course watching loads of movies. They went to the theaters to see Shrek! 

They also had a "gingerbread house" night. They each chose the items the other person had to use. Shannon played dirty! She gave Scott spray cheese instead of frosting. He went along with it though, and was doing great until it dried. Shannon, on the other hand- had a pretty little detailed mansion, but FAILED to use the hot dogs, pepperoni and chocolate milk Scott bought for her to use. 

There was a local Hot Air Balloon Festival we were able to see from the backyard. Super Fun!

One of Shannon's therapists went all alarmist and we ended up here: 

I know what you're thinking: Better safe than sorry. TRUE. HOWEVER. If we go to the ER every. single. time. Shannon's blood pressure drops, we will never leave. So we have a little bit better handle now on how to keep everyone calm. No need to panic. Unless it's time to panic. Then- please proceed to panic. Meanwhile, Shannon was almost tossed on the floor by an incompetent nurse who didn’t know how to transfer someone in a wheelchair, the ER doc sat and chatted with her about her life history and family dynamics- favorite shows, etc. She also enjoyed a very expensive hydration station. 

There isn't a lot exciting that happens in our day to day lives currently. Mostly we are just managing the chaos when it comes, and enjoying the quiet in between. We hit the OFFICIAL SIX MONTH MARK since Shannon's injuries. This is when they told us that her spinal cord will start to switch from just trying to heal, to possibly recovering feeling and use. There have been enough little encouraging changes that have kept us on the path of HOPE. I know that Shannon will walk again- through Faith (trust and Pixie dust), Hope, Hard Work, and Enduring. She keeps pushing hard, we keep standing beside her. 

Please pray for Shannon's spinal cord to begin working again, for her lower body to respond and begin the process of regaining strength and use. Pray for her mind to continue to become sharp and for her to have the faith and hope she needs to continue on this long road. 

Thank you for sticking with us, for loving us and especially loving Shannon!! 

The important thing is that we stick together!

Buzz Lightyear- Disney's Toy Story