KIMMIE GOES HOME FROM REHAB TODAY!!!

I spoke with my sister yesterday - she called to tell me Happy Birthday!  :)   She says that they celebrated there and made a cake for both my birthday and to celebrate Kimmie's homecoming. What a great day!!  I was here celebrating and eating cake with my Mom (Kimmie's grandmother) and my own children when Mary called. She said that Kimmie had had a busy and fun-filled 24 hours before that! She got to leave the rehab center 2 days ago and was out and about town for almost 9 hours!! She and her fiance went to visit some friends and then they all went out to dinner. Kimmie walked using her walker and had a great time :):):)
Kimmie is now eating SOLID FOOD! :)

I spoke with Kimmie a few days ago and she tells me that now she is able to raise her right (weak) arm over her head and can even hold a brush to brush her own hair with that hand!  She says her right leg is OK when she walks, but she's still not able to balance completely...as she says "my hips wobble and I fall over". She said that she's alright as long as someone walks on either side of her in case she starts to fall. She doesn't drag her right leg, though. I asked her about that because I know what a pain that can be. She's strong and can walk for long periods now without tiring as quickly.

Her speech is getting better, although more therapy is going to be needed there, for sure. Her voice is strong and sure. That's a good thing. Her speech and grammar are as good as ever...and Mary reports that Kimmie's spelling hasn't suffered at all. Her vocabulary is intact, as far as we can tell. All of these things are small miracles in and of themselves! She can now hold a pen to write a bit, but still with very weak, loose control. I have confidence that she will get that back in time, though. Practice makes perfect (or close enough!!). Most things she'd need to "write", she will be able to type anyhow...like letters, lesson plans, etc...and I need to remind her that with the way most doctors write...or should I say "scribble", she is probably doing better than most of them already!! *grins*

Kimmie now gets in and out of bed on her own, goes to the restroom just fine on her own, dresses herself each day, etc...all of the daily activities. I can't wait to talk to her tonight and see how things are going since she went home today! She is going to be staying, at least for awhile, with her fiance's parents (my sister will also be staying there as her primary caregiver). Kimmie and her fiance were in the process of looking for a new home and had all of their stuff in storage anyhow when all of this happened. She had just signed on for the teaching job in a new town and they were getting ready to move. It seemed to bother Kimmie when she was here before the accident that she was, in effect, "homeless" at the moment. Her fiance is now talking about going ahead with the home search, so hopefully one day soon they will be able to have their own place again. I know that that will make Kimmie happy. :)  Mary will be staying with her as long as she is needed...wherever she is needed.

The main problem we seem to be having now is with short-term memory...remembering things from 1 day to weeks ago...she doesn't have any problems with long-term memory and is even beginning to remember a few things from her visit here before the accident (such as going to her brother's graduation and going shopping here for a bathing suit). That's something she had no recollection of until just a few days ago. She still doesn't remember anything about the accident or about her time in the ICU here. Perhaps that is a good thing and although I'd like to know she remembered me being there with her in ICU, I am glad that she has blocked out the painful stuff. I know that it helped her AT THE TIME...and that's all I need to know :):):)  I don't care if she remembers it now. She knew I was there at the time...I am as sure of it as anything. As for the short-term memory problem, I suppose she will just have to institute a system of reminder notes, to-do lists, etc... she's definitely not the only one who has trouble remembering what they did yesterday or last week or what they need to do tomorrow! :) As for it affecting her work, she'll just have to keep strict notes and follow her lesson plans to a tee.  She was always an organized person (as opposed to my sister, Mary! *laughs*), so I'm sure she'll figure it out.

Well, that's it for now...Mary has promised me pics SOON...maybe I should just ask Kimmie to send them...it would get done sooner!! :) As you can tell, I am in a great mood..and so very happy that Kimmie is now home and well on her way to recovery. Thanks again to all of you who have written e-mails of support and advice and prayers. Please keep coming back for updates and pics!  I've given Kimmie the address for her website and hopefully she will get to see it in the next day or two.  I told her about it and how it has already helped others and she told me "thank you" and that she was happy that it helped someone. Her future father-in-law just bought a brand new computer system for Kimmie to use while she stays at his home. He says she is going to have to teach them how to use it! (she was good with them and was getting ready to teach a summer course to other teachers on how to use the computer in the classroom). I think it will be good for her to get back on them as soon as possible. Maybe she will even add something of her own to this site one day...I hope so.  :)

Please continue praying for Kimmie's complete recovery...the Drs said it would take a miracle...our miracle is happening!!