The week of Thanksgiving Melissa and I had the opportunity to go back to Froedtert and visit the NICU (Neuro ICU) where I stayed for the first 11 days after my accident.  It was so nice to be able to say thank-you to many of those who took care of me during that challenging time.  I also enjoyed being able to walk around versus using the motorized chair while I was there.  After the NICU, I visited the Therapy gym and had the opportunity to thank one of my OTs.  It was harder to recognize people than I thought it would be as my memory from that time is more limited and without masks on everyone looks different.  

We also visited the Froedtert Rehab facility that I stayed at in March.  It was great to see several people from my stay.  It was fun to be an encouragement to everyone after they paused for a few seconds to realize who I was.  Since I could barely move a toe when I left, it was a surprise to most to see how much I have recovered.

Thanksgiving was nine months since my accident.  I have continued to make progress each month, but the rate of change has been slower now.  The main new task that I have undertaken lately is finishing the baseboard trim in the upstairs of our house.  It felt really good that first day (see the attached picture) to put on a tool belt again, use a chop saw and see a finished product.  However, it didn’t feel so great to be down on my knees for a few hours ripping out old trim, measuring and cutting each piece 4-5 times and finally nailing it in.  I seem to remember it being easier to get up and down from my knees before…  Even though it was quite tiring the first day and I could only work for 2-3 hours, after a couple days I was able to work for 6-7 hours on the final day of Thanksgiving break.  I am definitely not looking to change careers anytime soon, but it still rewarding to work on things again with my hands.  

My boys have been very helpful with this as well.  From pulling out trim and peeling back the carpet, to changing over all our cars to winter tires, they have stayed busy!  I am very grateful for their support and help.