My sincerest apologies for taking so long to update this site.  All I can say is that every time I attempted to sit down and write/type up an update, Liam overcame another hurdle or accomplished another amazing milestone.  Since my last writing, so many, many wonderful things have happened.  I'm not even sure I can cover them all here, but I will try.  First, Liam managed to overcome obstacles quickly to get his trache out.  This, then, resulted in him being able to be moved up to the pediatric rehab unit where he thrived in PT/OT/and ST therapies twice daily (except for Sundays where he got a "rest day.")  In the beginning, Liam wasn't able to hold his head up, barely able to move his right arm and leg, wasn't able to move his left arm and leg, and wasn't able to speak at all.  Today he holds his head up, eats and feeds himself (for the most part), moves his right arm and leg (and stands, pivots, etc.), is now starting to move his left leg even, and speaks-albeit he is a little hard to understand sometimes, but he is getting better and better everday.  Prior to his being to speak, he learned sign language (I showed him a youtube video and he just picked it up) and the nurses had a "cheat sheet" up in the room so they would know how to communicate with him.  Recently, he had cognitive testing done and only had some slight lagging in a couple of areas.  His short-term memory is his biggest issue, but is something that we will continue to work on and use different things to assist him with such (like writing things down, using a calendar, etc.).  He gets fatigued and overwhelmed easily, so we try to let him rest as often as possible.  In speaking with the psychologist here, it seems that it's common as well for patients with brain injuries to regress mentally age-wise, which appears to be the case with Liam at times.  So, although he may be turning 15, he, at times, seems to act much younger.  And, with that, come other issues that we're dealing with and working on overcoming also.  I have a feeling that a majority of those issues will just take time and patience.

We are now in the last week of our time in rehab.  Tomorrow (October 2) is supposed to be Liam's last day in rehab.  He will be discharged and then sent to surgery, where he'll have his "bone flap"/skull replaced.  After that, he'll recover for a few days and then we'll get to go home!  Our hope was to be home by his birthday (October 6th); however, since that's a Sunday, most likely it'll be the day after.  We are all excited and nervous about returning home.  Three months is a very long time to spend in a hospital.  But we know that returning home is going to be very different.  The great part is that the hospital staff have all been great at helping us get prepared for life "beyond the hospital."  They've already ordered special items for home, put together a "school reentry" plan/packet, tracked down outpatient therapies, etc.  

Liam will still have quite a ways to go in recovery once he leaves the hospital but going home is definitely a very big, and positive, step.  I want to say a very big "thank you" to all of you who have been so supportive (despite my lack in communication on here) and for all your prayers.  Keep praying please as we continue on the road to rehab at home.  I will try to keep you up to date even as we leave the hospital setting.  "Thumbs up" from Liam!