Church

Sept 7, 2004

I am excited about Jenny’s hard work and steady progress lately. We had both sets of parents (and Mike & Leora) with us this weekend, which was good for Jenny- and the kids loved working two sets of grandparents. The kids have started doing arm wrestling with Jenny because they win every now and then. This means that Jenny has gained enough strength in that movement to hold back the kids. Her right arm is ever improving and there is a little strength that I have noticed to increase the past couple weeks. Jenny is now working with a speech therapist and Jenny is still without much voice improvements- even since the trache removal. On occassion, Jenny has voiced “uh, huh” as she has nodded. Last Saturday, she even said the word, “no” when she was telling me “no” with her head. The trouble with working on speech is that she wants that the most and she gets so frustrated that she cries and can not speak if she wanted to.

Jenny had a wonderful experience at church as she joined both the Jr and Sr Primary children as they prepared for their music program. At the end, they gave her a quilt with blocks consisting of pictures from each of the children to Jenny. It was an emotional, but great day for her.

Aug 29, 2004

Sunday is a favorite day for Jenny since I do not make her do much when it comes to therapies. I did give her the assignment to wave to anyone who said hello to her at church- which she did. Her waves started out pretty good with her lifting her forearm and do the “elbow-elbow, wrist-wrist” move. It was slow, and a bit delayed, but beautiful none the less. She has really started working the larger muscle movements on her own. I often see her doing repetative movements as she is in her chair or in bed. Jenny has been a bit more depressed this past week, but I have also seen her work harder than ever before.

Aug 8, 2004

Jenny is on a streak of having really great days lately. Last night, her sister kidnapped her and they were out late buying the mall out. Today was Jenny’s birthday and she was in good spirits all day. She was dressed in a new birthday outfit for church and looked beatuiful. We had a birthday celebration and opened gifts with her. The kids have been overly affectionate with her to the point that we have to limit their love giving now, or watch to see that they do not get too aggressive with her. Going to church (one of the more emotional places for Jenny) was uncertain since Jenny’s vocal chords were fully accessible. She cried good and long during the opening hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much”. It is a favorite song that has lots of meaning for her. The rest of the time Jenny had laughing spells, but was generally reverent and able to limit the outbursts. I have to admit that it would be nice to laugh or cry when you want and get away with it.

Aug 3, 2004

Jenny had her trache taken out yesterday and she is so very happy. Our family had a great party for her where everyone but her had to wear a trache of some design and Jenny would be the only one without a trache. Jenny got a kick out of our traches. Dustin had a speaker mounted to his that played “Celebrate good times…”, Melissa had the only trache that looked like a real one (but was rigged to spray water for paybacks of all the times Jenny sprayed us). I had a long tube that wrapped around my body. Jessie had an elephant head. Zach had a pez dispenser strapped to his neck that looked like it had a trache with the little pez coming out of the neck. Jordan, our neice, had lip gloss that was strapped to her neck for easy access. Finally, Sophia had a pacifier (her weakness) on which she tried to suck, but it was strapped to tight to her neck, so all she could do was put the tip of her tongue on it. We later had a ceremonial trache burning and various party activities related to trache removal.

Jenny is doing well and has good breathing and clearing of secretions. She tells me it is much easier to breath without the trache. She swallows/eats better. Daily activites are less painful because it does not bump her trache. Her head turns more because it does not irritate her. I could go on, but the bottom line is that Jenny is getting better and overcoming. We wait to see what this will do in relation to regaining speech. If anything, Jenny has to pass air by her vocal chords at all times now and she has more time to practise.

Out of the blue, Zach has began to cuddle with his mom again. He does not say anything, but will lay down next to her in the mornings and place her arm over his body. Jenny has missed this so much. Zach was her biggest cuddler. It just seems that life is good right now despite the large obstacles we have to face (especially those Jenny has to face). I have really noticed how much growth Jenny has made these past couple of weeks. I have always admired her, but she has definately began the process of becoming the extraordinary person Heavenly Father has seen that she can be.

July 8, 2004

Therapies today introduced more difficult movements to Jenny’s routine. I have really been working on her neck control and strength lately, which seems to be paying off. I am excited to see more deliberate movements that appear to have more control. I really think Jenny is doing well. Jenny is feeling better baout her situation. We read through various verses of scripture relating to trials and tribulation, and she was comforted by the examples of those in the scriptures who have overcome and grown to be better people. I think she appreciated most the references to being helped and supported by her Heavenly Father during these times. Jenny has always been faithful and strong in her religious convictions throughout this ordeal.

On a side note, she apparently has raised he bar concerning when she will give me sympathy. At one time I had to give birth to a child, but she has demonstrated she is tougher than me on a whole new level.