Molasses in January (end of month nine)

It seems like progress is slower moving than molasses in January, as we limp into February and the end of another month is upon us. 

It seems there is a lot of background work to this physio, before actual results are seen. Janet, the Monday girl, has got him on the treadmill and bike and it seems his quad is getting stronger, we had a problem with dizziness, so when we went to the doctor on the 12th, he took him off the blood pressure medication, which seem to have helped.

Nicole, the other therapist brought in an electronic stimulator to put on every day on the leg to stimulate the muscles. She also is trying to get him to stand for 2 minutes 5 times a day, but he does not seem to want to do it that way. There's no changing his stubbornness so I don't even try. She has got good progress with him walking almost unaided with the hemi and she has got his arm bending and doing more. She feels another 3 months will make a big difference to his walking. let's hope she is right.

Speech therapy is interesting as I find one therapist more effective than the other. We only have six sessions left, I can hardly wait to stop going there as I find it tiresome. However, he is making progress and there has been lots of new words and phrases. Everyone who has come in contact with him has noticed the difference, although he still cannot say my name, a huge annoyance.

There has been lots of social activities, we ended up with three birthday parties, one with his family which he got to see his mother again. He was happy about that. His brother promised to make him a shower stall out of my downstairs closet, I'm sure he will enjoy that. He still sleeps a lot and the trips are taxing on his system. I am also totally exhausted and discouraged that there is not much more progress, I can't believe it's been nine months of this. I am not any more stable or accepting, trying to use the chat group as support, have not got to the gym nearly as much as I need, I am gaining weight and feeling sluggish and depressed. I am anxious to have better weather, I feel trapped during these therapies as it is a day eater and energy drainer. I have yet to find my joy.

So I am hoping, going into month ten, some changes like better speech, switching to having Janet his full time therapist and more mobility will be in order as we move into longer days.