Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!

So sorry this is the first Blob entry in awhile. We have been quite busy ...as I am sure you all have been also.

We moved Gary to the Veteran's Hospital in Tampa right before Christmas Day. He seems to be doing well there and has basically told me to go home and leave him alone for awhile. (He means that in a good way.... He needs to concentrate on rehab and I have to catch up on stuff at home.)

Anyway, here is some great news: Gary came home for a visit and spent New Year's weekend at home - even though both of us were snoring and drooling well before midnight on New Year's Eve. It was wonderful to see him with the dogs. They all slept in bed with him his first night back!! We found that our home will accomodate his wheelchair without HUGE modifications. That was a relief to both of us. The VA will also help him financially so that is another bit of good news.

Gary is feeling better. He still has the neuropathic pain across his chest which will likely not go away because those nerves have been severely damaged. Most of the other medical complications are improving. New to the list of problems are leg spasms.  Apparently these are common with this type of injury, but they are unpredictable and can be powerful. The result of these are that sometimes he can't get his legs to go where he wants them to and sometimes they go on their own where he doesn't want them to.  (Kind of like me following Gary while dancing 2Step.)

Gary is becoming more independent at many activities. He is continuing to improve at dressing himself, showering and transferring himself in and out of his wheelchair. He wanted to try and get on the lawnmower when he was home, but the hardest part of our home is negotiating the yard and he couldn't get to the lawnmower. We will probably have to make some concrete paths around the entire place eventually.

In Gary's words the home visit was "bittersweet". He was so happy to be home, but it reminded him of what he is no longer able to do. Everywhere there are reminders of his active lifestyle. Consequently I will probably be selling the sailboat, windsurfing equipment and the kiteboarding CRAP...which I can't even look at without some cringing spasms of my own. Along those lines, Gary has asked me to take his dance shoes and boots to a dance this weekend. The dance is a fundraiser that Josh Angel and Sabrina Paxmann are so kindly hosting on Gary's behalf Saturday, January 7. Gary wants me to give his shoes away to anyone who wants them. I think most of them are size 9 - 10. I will be at the dance, but Gary will not.

Anyway, Happy New Year to you all.  Very selfishly I am hoping that 2012 will be a better one than 2011 for my loved ones and me!