November 14th, Sunday

I can't believe how exhausted I am! I don't really feel like I'm doing anymore than usual but man this is really hitting me too. Thankfully the kids are on a puzzle mission right now so I can take a breather and give you an update on Kevin.

We arrived this morning around 8:30 to alarms sounding in Kevin's room and Kevin doing some knee tucks with a big smile on his face! He didn't seem to be bothered by the alarms he was setting off with his calisthenics! Apparently it was from either his bed alarm or his oxygen thing. I was just happy to see him doing something and to see that smile.

The kids are still a little afraid but again warmed up quickly. Alaina and Aidan couldn't get that darn cafeteria/vending machine area off their minds and so we had planned to eat breakfast there. I was armed with lots of dollar bills and we had hoped Kevin could join us for his first official walk but he was told no. He's not allowed to leave his bed let alone his room without assistance and can't leave the floor he is on. So we had to eat alone.

Aidan was hell bent on getting something out of the spinning vending machine even though there weren't any breakfast items. He decided on a large ham and cheese sandwich and an apple juice. After spinning the machine around several times he put the money in and slid the door open and was just so excited about the whole thing! The juice door stuck so we lost a few bucks. Alaina was more interested in the cafeteria and was as usual requesting chips. The two of them either want the exact same thing and fight over or want the opposite! The included where we ate the food (cafeteria or Kevin's room), who pushed the up/down button and who pushed the floor button, etc. They never stop competing. I'm in constant negotiations with them!

When we went back to Kevin's room he was ready to go for a walk. Kevin's favorite nurse showed up and said there was a kid's playroom at the end of the hall that we could go to with Kevin. She suggested the wheelchair but Kevin wanted to walk. The kids and I went ahead so he could take his time and he successfully walked a full hall's length and then sat in the wheelchair while the kids played. It was nice to be out of the room for a change. One the way back Kevin decided to take it easy so Aidan and Alaina pushed him while I guided and the nurse took care of the IV machines. Kevin made the comment, "Oh, I'm all the way at the end of the hall." It's weird that he hasn't been out of his room yet in the four days that he's been here and that I'm always rehearsing "2234, 2nd from the end of the hallway on the left with a red square (not everyone has a red square and I'm not sure what it means). What different perspectives we have!

Kevin told me that his left leg is really weak and tight and that it is difficult for him to move it. He still is in pain but is managing it better and the pain meds are decreasing. We'll see how the walk impacts him for the rest of the day. We talked again with nurse about the pain clinic plan and how all that would work. We are thinking he might get discharged tomorrow and then hopefully get right in to the pain clinic but we are not sure.

Now we are home and Kevin's parents are bringing soup for lunch and Dick will probably watch the Vikings game with Kevin. Barb's going to watch the kids for a bit so I can get groceries and then my friends and neighbors, Krissy and Jake, are going to have Alaina and Aidan over for dinner tonight so I can see Kevin again. Thanks again to everyone and their support, help, thoughts, and advice. I, we, couldn't get through this without all of you!
Sara