Family

CALLING

I GOT A CALLING/VOLUNTEER JOB AT CHURCH TODAY! I WORK W/TARA COLLINS ON ACHIEVEMENT DAYS. TARA IS A CLOSE FRIEND WHO HAS LEARNED MY ASL, & R GIRLS, FAITH & JESS, R BEST FRIENDS. R HUSBANDS HOME TEACH EACH OTHER’S FAMILIES TOO!

Sept 6, 2005

I was prepared to appoligize for not writing here, but appearantly Jenny has been active in writing. As for her last entry, I want to clearify that “hitting” her muscle involved tapping the muscle to produce a response. Her daily wife beating occurs after the tapping. I am excited about her new movements on her left side. I feel that the best thing that I did was to keep exercising the left arm as much as the right- and always trying new things. Jenny works so hard in her therapies, so I am glad she has seen new movements.

Jenny gave me a compliment (I think) the other day that I did not know how to take. After a series of completed daily tasks, Jenny told me that of all the men she knows, I would make the best woman. I guess it does not help that I am a whiz at braiding hair, or that I know too much about scrapbooking, or that I plan activities and outfits around menstral periods (not mine- just in case anyone wondered). Yes, I know and do many more things that I wish not to incriminate myself with anymore. Perhaps this is a compliment, but I am feeling a bit demasculated since then. I’m thinking about just making Jenny wear ball caps rather than doing her hair in order to balance things out- but her hair just looks too cute when it is done up right. Oops, there I go again.

DONATE TO HELP US FIGHT STROKE!!

Here’s a little something I was asked to post to this blog, so here goes:

I am Jenny?s sister, Melissa, and am participating in the LA Triathlon on September 11th, 2005 to honor Jenny and her accomplishments as well as to raise money to donate to the American Stroke Association. You can help by clicking on this link to donate to the cause: www.melissacondren.com/donate/

OK, everyone, time to step up to the table and pitch in!

Aug 23, 2005

Today has been an exciting day! Already, Jenny has began to be more vocal in the past week or so. Instead of using her call buzzer, she tends to just say my name (which comes out as “Marrr”). She does the same for Zach and even told me “I don’t know” last week in a voice that I clearly understood. As for today, Jenny was standing on her tilt table and had forgot to take her hand out from under the left strap. It does not hurt her, but it bothers her. As I was talking to her, she lifted her hand out (about 6 inches up and out). Jenny was more surprised, but she said that she wanted it out and it just lifted out. I was not sure what to think of it, but as I was doing her exercises on her left side, her left leg was making very strong and distinct voluntary movements. Her leg has had some movement, but it was very impressive none then less. However, the true excitement occurred as Jenny was doing her exercises on her left arm (where there has been absolutely NO movement since her stroke) and she was consistantly able to volunarily move her arm at the shoulder and the elbow! These were not little, but huge movements. We truley have been blessed by God and we are so grateful and excited.