We eat out, see movies, shop, “walk” the mall, attend the theater (usually to see musicals, though we have seen other stuff, like a comedian) attend church activities, listen to audio books, attend educational seminars (which I enjoy, since I finally get some educational enlightenment), attend state fairs, rodeos, museums, concerts, play card games, watch YouTube, browse the internet, read the scriptures. We do many of these things as a family (some family activities are silly, like an annual pancake cook-off or “themed” dinners, & some more serious, like “FHE”–time once a week to gather as a family for “Family Home Evening” & we can share our spiritual side).

We also do stuff alone. Like I journal, organize things, scrapbook, and do things on my computer or iPad, indoors, while mk does woodworking, & enjoys many outdoor activities, like he puts on amazing firework shows, hikes, camps, plays tennis, & plays paintball–though our kids are usually involved in these activities!

My double vision has improved. U can write normal, though I won’t complain if u write in a larger size! My iPad blows up font, my computer can speak what’s written, I have a large moniter (so small font looks big) & since my eye muscles seem stronger (probably ffrom daily use of my iPad mini), while I still have double vision, I have “gotten used to it”, & can usually read smaller font—as small as size 11, if my contacts aren’t yucky!

My left hand likes to curl as well, but I straighten my hand (I hold it down & strap it- w/the 2 Velcro strips that are attached to my chair, 1 at the wrist & one at the knuckles) everytime I get in my chair.

Let me explain: years ago, my “paralyzed” (my hand feels stuff, but it can’t move voluntarily) left hand was annoying me, so as a joke, mk strapped it down. but I loved it, so I always do it now! It’s probably bad that I can’t use it’ but ii has it’s pros & cons, & for me, the pros outweigh that 1 con!

Then when I was getting my permobile w/c, the sales guy saw my Velcro strap, & said he could put a permanent one on my new w/c, cuz the w/c company sells these Velcro straps that attach to the chair (though thx goodness my mom sews so well & was able to switch to some heavy duty Velcro, cuz I put a LOT of strain on these little straps!)

Anyway, here’s my pros for using a Velcro strap on my ?paralyzed? hand::
1. It’s such a headache having to constantly guard my left hand everytime I laugh & sneeze (cuz my arm contracts into my body, & falls off the armrest)!
2. It does allow me to use what left side strength I have (think in the left shoulder). With it, I can straighten my arms to lift my butt & move it right, forward, & back. But w/o it, my hand falls off of the armrest, so I don’t have the leverage to lift myself!
3. It also allows me to lean forward (say to scratch my foot) & “catch myself” so I don’t fall out of my chair.

Yes, I speak daily, but how much I speak depends on the day. There are weeks where talking comes easy (especially in my house) & I mostly speak all day long. But there are days where I have to really work hard to get going, so I’ll get lazy & sign 20-50% of the time. I speak louder & best in my home, but no matter where I am, I need to “warm up,” so the 1st few things I say are harder to get out, tend to be quite delayed, & are not as clear. However, if I lay back, or get a bigger breath, I clear up.

My music therapist is trying to strengthen my “normal” speaking voice, so I use it instead of my “forced” voice. So, I have been asked to sign instead of force myself to talk, but to speak as much as possible in my “natural” voice. I don’t know if I do this as well as I should though. I don’t really stop like my therapist wants, cuz I love talking! (My favorite thing to do is if my kids play the “quiet game”, I like to make noise & be the 1st one out, just cuz I can! Lol). But if I say something, & am asked to repeat it, since I tend to force things if I have to repeat things, I sign it, usually, so I don’t strain my voice. When I was briefly in Utah for the 4th of July, my father-in-law (who last saw me in like Feb.) commented how while I speak less in quantity, the quality I’m speaking is amazingly different!

The more I work on strengthening my natural voice, the clearer I get. I now can usually speak in the car (well, I get lazy w/mk, & sign more to him), & I feel confident enough to speak around friends, strangers, & acquaintances, since most understand me (especially if I’m in my home), & if I’m not understood, I’ve become quite confident in my writing abilities! The key to understanding me is to focus on what I mean & the overall statement, rather than figuring out every word as I am saying it, cuz some words are clear, while others are not, so if u focus on those few words u understood, u can usually get the idea!