Jenny continues to do well with the power chair. I had to put her in her non-power chair because the other was caught in a sudden rain storm. It was an interesting experinece because we both realized how much better life was with the power chair. Jenny rides around on super slow speed. It was just this week that she was able to see how fast it could go. She picked Zach up at the bus stop and he drove back on her lap at full speed. She liked it, but is still too unsure to gun it. There are a couple marks on the wall (one by me), but they are easily fixed by a little paint. It is more difficult to use in crowded areas because Jenny is unable to clearly see people dart in and out. Sophia found out that we really were serious about not touching the attendent control as she backed it over her own toes. She is fine, but hopefully wiser.

Jenny is so excited about her new teaching position with me in church. We get to teach Zach’s class and she is glad to be back in Primary. What can a woman who can not move or speak do as a teacher? Well, she already has done it. As we read the first lesson together, as we planned for next week, she kept stopping me to tell me she has made visual aids for various points of the lesson- especially the parts where we are to sing songs. I will actually have visual aids and planning involved in my lessons. I just hope I have time to find or make everything she has planned.

Jenny has been feeding herself meals with her new arm support. It is incredible as she seemed to rapidly improve from meal to meal. I found out that I was not feeding her fast enough (based on how fast she is able to eat). Appearantly, I was not splashing it on her face enough either (also based on her self feeding). She is getting better and not as messy with each meal.

We are planning on two big plane trips back-to-back. We are going on a quick trip to Austin to let Jenny see the property we bought. A few days later, we will be in Florida. This will be her first time on a plane since her stroke, so I hope we work the bugs out by the second trip.

There have been several big events these past few days. Jenny was evaluated for a power wheel chair (which is something she has been waiting for). She was perfect at it. All that Ms PacMan really paid off for Jenny. The chair has features that allow for new freedoms. Jenny is able to tilt herself back (to relieve pressure when needed), the chair is faster than Jessie’s bike, It can elevate up and down, and it will raise and lower her legs. Most of all, I will not leave her in a room to watch the kids play and then come in later to have her left watching a pile of toys that were left by the kids who went elsewhere.

We also went to the Louisville LDS temple last weekend with the ward. It was Jenny’s first time back since just a couple days prior to her stroke, 8 months ago. It was a bit scary for her since we did not know how she would do on a long trip, at a hotel, or at the temple. The hotel and ride were easy as pie. The temple experience was wonderful, due in part to all the supportive ward members who made it possible. Jenny told me she felt a sense of peace that she has not had in a long while and that it was a needed experience. These are just more things that we have experienced and conquered. Our next big challenge is flying, but I think we will do fine with a bit of planning.

Outpatient therapy is working well. Jenny responds best to speech therapy so far. Her therapist has been on vacation this week and Jenny has actually digressed. I was stumped as to why, since the therapy they were doing was essentially the same. It dawned upon me that the only difference was that the usualy therapist and Jenny spend half the time laughing, which activates the vocal chords and allows the therapy to work better.

Occupational therapy is Jenny’s worst therapy. A quarter of the time it is really helpful, but the rest is a waste of time or frustrating to her since they want her to do things that she does not agree with (I am on Jenny’s side most of the time). As for Physical therapy, Jenny takes on a good amount of pain and works hard at everything they tell her to do.

For the past several years, our family has enjoyed the tradition of having weekly family nights. Once a month, we have a night where all we do is take turns sharing our feelings for each other, the gospel, and what ever else that person would like to share. For those familiar, it is like a testimony meeting at church, but much more intimate. The past several months have come with a void in which Jenny has not been able to be involved by sharing her thoughts during this favorite family activity- until now. Last night, Jenny was able to use her ever improving ability to finger spell her thoughts and feelings. We really miss hearing her voice, so it was wonderful to experince the miracle of her communicating her thoughts to us this way.

Jenny has told me on several occassions lately that she tries and tries, but her left side does not respond anymore. It has been 2-3 months since her voluntary movement on her left slowly went away. It was her stronger side and had more voluntary gross motor movements initially. She refuses to give up. We went through our closet this week, as a yearly tradition dictates. I was impressed that she finally got rid of some of her 80’s clothes from high school. When it came to her high heels, I asked if I could get rid of them. Jenny refuses to believe that she will not walk in them again some day. So, we kept them. Because it is Jenny, she probably will.