SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
(Written By Elizabeth Davis)
Merry Christmas!
Andrew had a great day yesterday! He kept busy with all of his therapies except computer therapy. Fatima his speech therapist said she re-evaluated him to see if he had regressed from his time in ICU, but she said he is right where he left off. We had a nice walk out in the courtyard and ate McDonald’s for lunch (the girls) while he had a milkshake.
While Mom and Jen were with him for dinner, Dad, Mya, and I stayed at the apartment and got the cooking and wrapping done. We had a home-cooked meal for Christmas Eve and enjoyed sitting around and just relaxing.
Christmas was a good day. It was nice sitting around the tree and opening gifts like normal. We wish Andrew could have come home to celebrate with us, but we didn’t want to risk anything especially from his last outing. Mya enjoyed her first Christmas and had fun chewing on her books and a travel size Kleenex pack.
Dad went over to see Andrew when we were finished with brunch. He said that Andrew picked out his own clothes and put his hat on backwards by himself (a look we haven’t seen from him since he has been in Rancho). They went for a walk and then he pretty much slept most of the afternoon. He ate his breakfast, but turned down his lunch. He complained (from motioning and nodding yes when Dad asked) his stomach hurt and didn’t want to try eating anything. Mom went over and sat with him and Dad while Andrew slept.
Jen, Mya, and I went over around 4:30 in the afternoon. We brought over some of Andrew’s gifts and one of our own to open (so all eyes weren’t on him all of the time). The sun had already gone down in the courtyard, so we decided to go into the hallway of his facility. They let us take Mya in (that far) and we had a nice table to put the gifts on. Andrew opened several of his gifts with our help. Nothing too exciting – lots of new clothes. But he smiled for pictures and seemed alert. Overall, he seemed tired and restless most of the day. After a family picture, Jennifer and my Dad wheeled him back to his room to wait for his dinner. He ate about half of his dinner and then wanted to just rest and watch TV.
After awhile we switched places and my Mom and I went in to watch TV with him. We left at 8:00 at night. He still said (through asking and him nodding) that he wasn’t feeling very good and was tired. The good news is that he hasn’t gotten sick these past two days. His nurse, Monica, said they might even take out his stomach tube out next week sometime.
We finished the evening opening a box of gifts from the Turner group and gifts from the Sharmas. It was a great Christmas because we were all together. It will be probably be our most memorable. We have a lot to be grateful for and feel truly blessed. Love to you all!
