God Restores

Don't want to hit anyone overhead with the metaphor, but I got to speak at our church last Sunday as the cleanup guy in our "Grasping God's Story Together" series. This final episode of the story (yet to happen but already written), is 'God Restores'. (Follow this link to a page where you can listen to the message.)

The metaphor part, at least for me, was that not only was Pat able to be there -- as she said in an earlier post, going to church on Sunday morning's is physically demanding on her -- but that it hasn't completely wiped her out until the middle of this week. That would have been standard operational procedure before now. But, though tired from it all, she's still been pretty active and it's now Tuesday morning. Slowly but surely (and that last word is the important part) God is continuing his work of restoring Pat's health. Sweet.

Okay, now back to work...

sorry for the late post...

It is refreshing to say, we have been busy! Not in a bad way, Kevin just working away on CrossWorld projects, making something very technical called a "widget" for Urbana Conference and a video, too.

Pat working on exercising and using her brain...in a correct manner. Everything is PT (physical therapy - or occupational therapy) Buying groceries is PT, typing correctly is OT, emptying the dishwasher, cooking, cleaning, laundry...all OT. Walking, using the exercise bike (while watching judge TV) stretching, using the yoga ball for balance...all PT. Actually even at this point, everything is relearning for Pat's brain, and it is tired (her brain that is) some days. It is getting better slowly and she is able to do more, slowly. Slow is frustrating for her...she dreams big.

Kevin is teaching at Westwind Church tomorrow. Pat is praying she will get to go, church is a whole bunch of PT exercises all wrapped into one, and it still takes a lot out of her.

Pray for Kevin as he finishes his lesson, He is also struggling with a coldish/fluish something or other... Thanks.

Thanks for all your support and prayers! We wouldn't be where we are if we didn't have them!

It's All Coming Back to Me Now...

I always hesitate to use the word 'normal' when describing, well, anything at all to do with the lives of Kevin and Pat. But this week, things are closer to normal, as I remember it, as they've been for some time. This week, quiet is the new normal.

Actually, what feels normal right this moment is me, sitting hear in my office at the computer. Pat's sitting at the dining room table with the laptop, singing softly along with Basia on the headphones. But the this-is-how-it-should-be part is that we're working on a project together, she on the visuals and me on the words. Word-Man and Visual-Woman once again together battling the forces of...er, non-videoness. Sorry, guess I lost steam on the metaphor along the way, but you see where this is all heading.

Anyway, we're working together on a CrossWorld video to be used at the upcoming Urbana conference between Christmas and New Years. Won't let any cats out of the bag just yet, but you'll be getting tastes of various things we're doing for this over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

And a shout-out to Sally for the pumpkin bread. With a bow, no less!

Where Are They Now?

I see them often on junk-news-as-mind-candy sites that I have to admit are a guilty pleasure of mine, those Where Are They Now? articles that tell the current state of someone we haven't seen in the news or media for awhile. Today I'm thinking more along the lines of Where Isn't Pat Now?

She isn't in bed. She isn't in physical therapy. She isn't in the pit of despair (well, never really was but that's fodder for the book). For that matter, she isn't even at home as I type this, she's out having lunch with a dear friend.

Oh yes, she still has to be careful and not push the pedal to the metal with her activities, and she'll likely be that way for some time. But honestly, that's just good advice for us all. In the end, the things she's to do to continue "rehabbing" herself are pretty much what we all should do: take care of herself, get enough rest and exercise, that sort of thing. Oh, and she's not to even mimic the movement problems she had before as that is a signal to her brain it's okay to do that kind of thing again. So, we're all agreed not to ask her, right?

But, Our Girl has had her brain "rebooted" (so to speak) and is through with any further treatments. She's doing well. Yesterday our friend Katie pointed out that the whole thing reminds her of this passage in Romans: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I'm fairly wrenching the passage out of context, but the metaphor is a good one indeed.

And where are YOU now? If you're one of the many who helped us on this journey over the last few months, you're in our hearts that's for sure. We thank God for you, and for his putting us in front of medical people who knew what to do to help Pat. That was my prayer for quite some time.

Friday's Button: (Only one!)

Pat chose only one button for therapy today:

• Just a little whimsical in the brainpan

And why only one button? Because she won't get the chance to wear her afternoon button because Olga has released her! Sweet. There really wasn't anything left to work on, and as much fun as the three of us have together, it would be nice to actually let Olga work with patients this afternoon. There are always 'checkers' in the waiting rooms, people hanging out just in case there's a cancellation and they can get in. We know, that's how we got here in the first place. So, we choose to share the wealth and let someone else have Olga at 2:20 today.

And that means...we're outta here! Our Girl is taking a nap while I pack us up and then we're heading out. This week has been far beyond our expectations, and the answer to the prayers of many over a long time. We're humbled and thankful at what God has done.

Obvious Shout Outs: Lynsdey and Olga! You cats are the best!

Thursday's Buttons: Brain Problems

You've probably already seen these in the tabloids because of the unrelenting paparazzi surrounding Our Girl's journey to "rehab", but just in case you missed it, today's buttons were:

• I'm an idiot savant. The 'savant' is silent.
• I can't brain today. I have the dumb.

Some of the commenters on this week's posts have implied that we're making this whole therapy thing sound fun. Soon everyone who's anyone will be heading off for "PT" and all the fashion channels will proclaim "physical therapy is the new black". When that happens, just remember you all had a part in it. (We're not taking the fall for that one alone!)

Seriously, it's been 'fun' because the results exceeded our expectations. One of the more interesting aspects of the day today was that Pat peeled apples and baked an apple crisp during occupational therapy. In the afternoon it was tossed over the fence into the tiny room that the 100 or so therapists share as office space, where it was quickly devoured. Don't they ever feed these people?

Pat was pretty pooped today, and it was a reminder for us (via Lyndsey and Olga) that we can't just toss Pat into the deep end of the pool when we get home. To keep this jumpstart on her recovery going -- and we will! -- we need to protect it and help it along. So, things may not be completely back to normal for awhile, but they'll be more "normal" than they've been for some time. And yes, there's an argument to be made things were never all that normal with the Mayers in the first place. (We often make that argument.)

Two more sessions tomorrow and then we head home. Join us in thanking God for this life-changing week. And thanks for all the comments and emails. We love 'em!

Wednesday's Buttons: Brain Work

Here they are. If any of you guessed today's buttons correctly, please keep your own scores and we'll tabulate them at the end of the week.

Button #1: Brain loading (45%). Please wait.
[complete with progress bar]

Button #2: Quiet please, I'm forming neuro pathways.
[a big hit with Lyndsey AND Olga]

It's been another big day, perhaps told by simply listing some of the highlights:

• When Lyndsey (physical therapist) came to the lobby to get Pat, Pat pushed Lyndsey in the wheelchair all the way to the 'gym' [Pat's idea, of course]
• Pat didn't use a wheelchair at all when we visited the Mayo for her afternoon sessions, even walking the two blocks back to where the car was parked
• Both Olga and Lyndsey commented independently on the lack of hand tremors and vocal problems Pat was exhibiting
• Olga described Pat's progress as "phenomenal"

Okay, so here's the REAL difference in the way Kevin's brain works and the way Pat's brain works. Rehab is in the same place everyday, four times a day and up until this afternoon Pat had to repeatedly ask where it was. But when we finished for the day and Pat wanted go back to a store in a mall we were at only once several weeks ago, she knew exactly how to get there. Kevin's response, on the other end of that spectrum, was, "We went to a mall? When was that?" He still has only the vaguest recollection of the event.

And THAT is why we're a great team! Thanks for your prayers and support. This week is a great blessing. God is good.

PS We LOVE the comments y'all are making on these posts. Thanks for the laughs and warm fuzzies!