October 2nd, 2011

Just a quick post to update everyone and to post some pictures.  Joy is moving ahead with her  therapy at Scripps Encinitas Rehab Center.  She's had four one-hour sessions of physical therapy and two one-hour sessions of occupational therapy.  She's showing some dexterity. For example, she can unscrew and screw back on the cap on a tube of toothpaste.   She's walking longer distances with better balance every day.  Below a photo of her with her therapist Rachel putting a case on a pillow.

Rachel has been teaching Joy how to get in and out of bed more easily (and safely).  She also walks Joy and they look at a series of paintings on a wall that are to Joy's right in order to expand her field of vision on that side.

Joy's angioplasty procedure to coil her slowly-growing aneurysm is scheduled for early in the morning on Tuesday, Oct. 25.  The hope is that she will be able to return home that afternoon once she comes out from under anesthesia and recovers sufficiently.  Then we hope she will quickly be able to resume her therapy sessions. We are in this for the long haul. 

We went for a walk this morning out to the street.  Here are a couple of pictures:

Our brother-in-law Paul recently asked, "Did Heidi come with that ball installed?"

left to right:  Beauty and the Beast 

 As you can see (or at least those of you who've seen me in the past two years), I've added some facial hair and some pounds.  Time for that diet again.  Joy's healthy cooking is sorely missed. 

Now here's a treat: a couple of pictures of one of our more regal neighbors in Pala.  We see him twice a week on the way to rehab in Encinitas.  He's over five feet tall, at least seven feet long and probably weighs between 1500 and 1800 pounds: 

Glad he's not a carnivore

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, calls and cards.  I'll try and post a few new pictures every week. 

Doug