We have so much to be thankful for this year. Our family and friends support has been wonderful and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. These last two and half weeks have been really busy but fruitful in so many ways. Mel was discharged by occupational therapy and only has to do three more sessions of physical therapy which is fantastic progress! We finally found a wonderful speech therapist who actually makes house calls!!! After evaluating Mel, he said the exercises we were doing were too simple for him and gave us more difficult ones to challenge him. He’s also having Mel call him every other day and leave him a 30-second voice message so he can determine his progression on a regular basis. We’re very happy he’s back on track with someone who understands what he needs.

After much deliberation, I decided to take Mel out and let him drive the car—first, we did a school parking lot and then I let him drive me to take the trash to the dump which is all on back roads. He did great. He’s chomping at the bit to get his freedom back (who wouldn’t?). We haven’t had any luck finding anyone to evaluate him for driving although his physical therapist tested his peripheral vision and had him do some obstacle course walking with his vision partially covered and he did fine and I gave him the same test the doctor in Chicago gave him (that he originally failed) and he passed that, so I made an ‘executive’ decision to let him try it. The next step is, of course, is driving in traffic. We’ll try to ease into that over the next week or so and see how he does. He’s highly motivated so if I can just get him to keep both hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road, I think he’ll do fine. Keep us in your prayers—LOL! 

The house is coming together slowly but surely and we’re enjoying the lovely fall weather we’re having (sorry, don’t mean to rub it in Alaska friends!). We had horrible weather for the first ten days so we really appreciate seeing the sun again. 

And, for the first time in over thirty years, Mel and I will be spending Thanksgiving together at the hunting camp where I’ll finally get to try some of this scrumptious Southern cooking (all cooked by the guys, thank you!) that I’ve been hearing about for three decades. Have a wonderful day wherever you are and whoever you are blessed to be with. Love you all!