She's movin' on "UP"!!!

Got a fantastic call from my mom (Joan) yesterday. She was excited to tell me that Billie has climbed the stairs in her house! Apparently while mama was away and Aunt Terrie was visiting Billie made many improvements and advances. She is now able to get around using her hemi-walker and limits her use of the wheelchair. Billie is still having speech and physical therapy sessions and part of last Thursday's session was for Billie to climb the stairs that lead up to her second story bedroom. Billie apparently uses the handrail and goes up each step from the side using her stronger left foot first then putting her right foot up next. (I'm not clear on if she is lifting it with her leg muscles or using her hand to help that leg up.... I'll be sure to ask next time. Just so excited about this news I forgot to ask that question!!) She made it to the top of the stairs Thursday and came back down as well. At Tuesday's session she not only climbed the stairs but she also went into her bedroom and walked down the length of the room to her bed and took a little rest on it for the first time since February 13th!!! After that she walked back out of the room and back down the stairs. Mama said she was a bit disappointed because she did not get a chance to get her camera and get a picture of Billie on the stairs. Oh, but Billie did not want to disappoint!! She went back up the stairs for mama to get a photo!!! Hopefully she will share it with us.
So, rejoice and scream and shout!!! Billie is working hard and her efforts are truly paying off!!!
Thea, Billie's physical therapist did tell us that her recovery would take place from the bottom to the top so it's quite encouraging to see her come so far with her leg. She is using her leg brace every day and that helps to stabilize the right foot so she can put more weight on the leg and foot. She is doing more household chores unassisted like unloading the dishwasher and putting everything away herself. She does laundry folding and putting away... the washer and dryer are downstairs and those are much more narrow stairs so we'll probably have a while before we hear she is going down there. (Count that as a blessing Billie Jo!!! *wink*wink*) Billie does exercises daily as well such as standing in front of her kitchen sink and doing leg raises. She kicks her right leg forward 20X, sideways 20X and backward 20X several times a day.
Wow, big changes!!! You keep it up Billie!!! I am so excited for you! All that hard work is really paying off and you should be proud of your accomplishments!!!
All my love, hugs and kisses to you big Sifter!!

Keepin' on Goin'

I, Billie Jo's daughter, am officially a high school graduate. Four more years of school, and I will be off into the world.

I don't even want to imagine my parents being alone once I go to college. But that's three months away.

My mom has been doing very well. She's walking a whole lot more with her walker (kinda like a cane with 4 legs) and her high tech leg brace. We try to keep her in the walking mode during the day and let her relax at night in the wheel chair. Both of her therapists are very pleased with mom, and she's a joy to work with. Mom has her hopes set high onto getting even better, and she works on it. She told me she wanted to be back to normal by the summer, but I made sure to tell her that these things can never be timed. She may be back and ready to go in a few months, or it may take years, if she ever comes back fully at all. I know in my heart my mother will come back one day, its just hard to predict when. We stay optimistic and just work hard.

Mom has been able to come to the last of my high school chindigs. She was at my senior prom for a short while, and my father walked me down my senior walk. She also attended my honor and graduate of distinction ceremonies, as well as my final graduation. She got really upset because she couldn't get me a graduation gift, but I am in no way sour. I know our family situation, and her being there for me is great enough. My mother was the type to go out all for every occasion, and yes I miss that, but life changes, and I'm just happy she's here. I told her not to worry about a gift for me, for I knew I wasn't going to get much from anybody. Times are tough nowadays.

But man oh man how life goes on. I love my mother and father.

Now all we need is a vacation!

Happy 18th Anniversary Billie!!!!

I should have posted this yesterday but time got away from me...

18 years ago, June 1, 1991, Billie and Lonnie were wed. They have every reason to celebrate. Their love and commitment to one another gets stronger every day.

Happy Anniversary Billie and Lonnie!!!

Hope you have many, many more!!!