Joy Unspeakable (7/5/06)

(Cari)Hey there everyone! It is with great excitement that I write this evening.....

Josh has had an awesome day - praise the Lord! When I walked in this morning Josh's eyes were wide open and he was looking around the room. I started talking to him and asking him questions and Josh began to nod and shake his head appropriately to my questions. I was getting so excited. I asked him if he knew who I was and he at first mouthed, "Heather" (she is our favorite nurse who took care of him last night and she also has blonde hair), but after I corrected him he mouthed, "Cari." I asked him if he knew what tomorrow, July 6th, was - I said, "mom and dad's...." and he clearly mouthed "wedding anniversary" - which is correct. They will have been married 32 years tomorrow - what a wonderful anniversary present! I then began talking to him about all of the sporting news that he has missed while sleeping and he listened intently, nodding when appropriate. I told him that USA lost in the World Cup and he made a funny frowning face. I told him that J.J. Reddick (his favorite basketball player) was drafted to the Orlando Magic and I told him that it wasn't too far so maybe one day we could go to a game and he just smiled real big. I told him of all the people that have written and called and he seemed to know exactly what I was talking about. His friends Katie and Jonathan sent Josh a World Cup soccer t-shirt which I had hanging in his room and I pointed to it and asked Josh if he could see it and he mouthed "Fifa" which is what the saying on the shirt read. It stands for the name of the tournament, "Fifa World Cup." He had to have read this because I never mentioned this to him. This communicating went on for about 2 hours. He then took a little nap and woke back up in time to watch France beat Portugal in the World Cup semi final
. He was sitting in an upright position in the bed and actually watched a good bit of the game. He would wave to the doctors as they were standing in his doorway. Everyone was excited for his progress. He kept looking out of his door into all the commotion in the nurses station like he was taking it all in. I could tell there were several times he was getting frustrated if I could not figure out what he was trying to say, but that will get better with time. Sometimes Josh is weak when he mouths words and it is difficult to tell what he is trying to say, but there are other times when there is no mistaking it. It was such an incredible feeling seeing Josh do so much today - I only wish that mom and dad were here to see it, but tomorrow they will because they are traveling back in the afternoon. \n \nThere are sooooooooooo many new things to tell you all. I clearly could read his lips that he had "to go to the bathroom." I explained the situation to him and he seemed to understand. Apparently last night he told Heather that he was "thirsty". Today I was explaining all of his tubes to him and when I got to the feeding tube he looked at me and clearly mouthed "I want to eat!". I think he understood why he could not yet once I explained it to him. He also did something different - I thought he was reaching up to pull out his trach tube/oxygen and I was telling him not to; but he just reached up and began feeling it then he moved to feeling his face as if to see if it was still there. I asked him if he wanted to look in a mirror and he shook his head no. I told him that he only has a scratch on the left side of his nose. Still, looking in a mirror may take a little time. One of the funnies that we had recurring today was that whenever I asked him in front of his doctors and nurses what he thought of UNC he just stuck his tongue out!!! They all laughed and said they would let is slide since he is in the hospital, but once he was better they would have to debate that!! Josh did all of the old commands as well: wiggled toes (but this time on his right side too!), thumbs up, squeeze hands, blink, gave "yes an no" in sign language, etc. By the end of the night I think that Josh just wore himself out. He was getting a little agitated but nothing like it has been in the past. He was sweating a good bit, so I am hoping that once he got a bath and some clean sheets he would drift off to sleep for the evening. He needs to rest up so he can show mom and dad all his new stuff tomorrow! I know that some of these things that Josh does seems so insignificant and trivial, but right now it is monumental. Keep praying that it only gets better from here. He was sitting in an upright position in the bed and actually watched a good bit of the game. He would wave to the doctors as they were standing in his doorway. Everyone was excited for his progress. He kept looking out of his door into all the commotion in the nurses station like he was taking it all in. I could tell there were several times he was getting frustrated if I could not figure out what he was trying to say, but that will get better with time. Sometimes Josh is weak when he mouths words and it is difficult to tell what he is trying to say, but there are other times when there is no mistaking it. It was such an incredible feeling seeing Josh do so much today - I only wish that mom and dad were here to see it, but tomorrow they will because they are traveling back in the afternoon.

There are sooooooooooo many new things to tell you all. I clearly could read his lips that he had "to go to the bathroom." I explained the situation to him and he seemed to understand. Apparently last night he told Heather that he was "thirsty". Today I was explaining all of his tubes to him and when I got to the feeding tube he looked at me and clearly mouthed "I want to eat!". I think he understood why he could not yet once I explained it to him. He also did something different - I thought he was reaching up to pull out his trach tube/oxygen and I was telling him not to; but he just reached up and began feeling it then he moved to feeling his face as if to see if it was still there. I asked him if he wanted to look in a mirror and he shook his head no. I told him that he only has a scratch on the left side of his nose. Still, looking in a mirror may take a little time. One of the funnies that we had recurring today was that whenever I asked him in front of his doctors and nurses what he thought of UNC he just stuck his tongue out!!! They all laughed and said they would let is slide since he is in the hospital, but once he was better they would have to debate that!! Josh did all of the old commands as well: wiggled toes (but this time on his right side too!), thumbs up, squeeze hands, blink, gave "yes an no" in sign language, etc. By the end of the night I think that Josh just wore himself out. He was getting a little agitated but nothing like it has been in the past. He was sweating a good bit, so I am hoping that once he got a bath and some clean sheets he would drift off to sleep for the evening. He needs to rest up so he can show mom and dad all his new stuff tomorrow! I know that some of these things that Josh does seems so insignificant and trivial, but right now it is monumental. Keep praying that it only gets better from here.

Other good news, Josh had been off of the ventilator since 9am this morning. He has done very well. Sometimes when he coughs alot he loses his breath and it takes him a minute to catch it again, but then he settles down. I was very encouraged that he was able to stay off even while he was awake and communicating alot today. These are very good improvements. \n \nI look forward to telling you all nothing but great things from here on out. I know there may still be some bumps in road, but God is good and I am thankful for all that He has allowed Josh to accomplish so far. Thank you all for your love and continued prayers. We truly love you all and now Josh is joining in on that - he nodded when I ask him if he did! Have a wonderful day.