Jenny is now finally tube free! Initially, they were going to sedate Jenny and put a scope down her throat to see what type of feeding tube was placed there. Prior to our first attempt on Monday, we had prayed for a successful removal without complications and felt good about it. Since they could not insert an IV, her initial tube removal date was postponed. It was confusing to have felt good about there not being any complications, but then have complications that prevented the removal. However, it appears that things worked out better off. Since they did not want to stick her 100 times looking for an IV, they contacted the hospital who inserted the tube and asked what type it was, so all they had to do at that point was skillfully pull it out in a proceedure that took a couple minutes. It makes a person wonder why they did not make the call to begin with if it could have been this nonevasive to begin with. I now realize that our prayer to avoid complications was most likely answered in the form of eliminating unnecessary proceedures that would have been performed the first time we went in.

Jenny is doing better each day still- just tiny bits at a time though. She is back to her old love of journaling again. She just does it on the computer now. Her entries are short, blunt, and filled with strong emotions. It appears to be really therapeutic for her. Jenny was able to vote this week and do a bunch more things that she has not done in a while. Outpatient therapy is wonderful for her. Her speach therapist is too much like Jenny (even the same anti-bean eating beliefs). Jenny is rapidly making improvments with her tongue, mouth, and voice through newer and inventive therapies. I really can see her speeking some day, even though she has not made any recognizable words or sounds yet.

Jenny is in her new room with her roll-in shower. It is wonderful and there is a bigger bed so I can take over more of the caregiving at night. I was initially worried that taking care of her from 7 am to 11 pm, plus get up every couple hours at night to reposition her would be too much, but as I have taken a few more nights from the night nursing aide, it does not seem to be all that taxing. I still have a nurse who relieves me 1-2 days per week so I can do a few errands or work things. I will most likely still have a nurse come in a couple night just to make sure I sleep enough. My biggest worry is what would happen if I become ill for even a short period. Jenny is still reluctant to have others do much for her besides myself (and the nurse on occassion).