SO SORRY!! I know it's been a bit since the last update & many of you have been asking how Dad is doing, so let me fill you in! 

All in all he's doing GREAT!! Mom & Dad are still staying with Clint & I for the most part during the week & have started going home on the weekends to check on things at home as well as see Grandma. There has been some delay in starting the fitting of the prosthesis simply due to his extensive incision healing but with both the Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Volgas & the Wound Specialist, Dr. Chase on board it has been making great strides over the last few weeks!! 

He goes to outpatient physical therapy twice a week & his therapist, Barry is AMAZING!! Between the stretches & exercises that Dad is doing at home & Barry has him doing there his range of motion & strength is drastically changing & improving as that flexibility is extremely crucial once he gets his prosthesis. It's amazing how truly determined he is to literally get back on his FEET!! 

The prosthesis process is quite the deal. The way insurance & the Dr.'s determine what type/kind of leg a person gets is based on prior activity level & a kind of strength & balance test that the therapist performs. The legs are on a K1-K4 scale with K1 being for someone typically more sedentary & K4 being for olympic type athletes or military soldiers who are young & in great shape. We had been told long ago by Dr. Volgas that his goal was to get Dad in a mid-upper K3 leg based solely on what we had told him of his activity levels & such prior to the accident. These types of legs are called a C-leg & they actually have a microprocessor in them with a functioning knee & ankle. The ankle will actually even rotate just like normal which will help with walking on uneven terrain like his crop fields. Barry, his therapist, put Dad through this test on only his 2nd therapy visit with him just to kind of see where he was at & could always perform it again. You guys, some of these tests made me question my own balance!! He had to do the basics like transferring from his wheelchair to a chair which he did perfect & then he asked him to sit on the edge of his chair with his walker in front of him as more of a security blanket & without using his hands he had to stand up & catch his balance. He did so well he only tapped his walker!! Next, he had to bend over & pick up a Kleenex box from the floor again not using his hands. Of course he rocked that too. Another one was testing his balance where he just had to stand still with little movement & Barry pushed him in his chest a series of times, in his back & side of his shoulders. When he was done with the test Barry was adding up his score & the point scale is 1-46 & remember they want him in a K3 leg & this was only his SECOND trip to therapy & had only been out of the hospital for less than a week! He scored a 32!! A THIRTY-TWO which is the upper end of the K3!!!! At at 36 he can get in a K4 leg with so much technology is mind blowing!! You can bet he's excited to try the test again & increase it to at least a 36!! Again, setting goals & working so hard to reach them!

This past week Mom & Dad came down to the barn one evening while Clint & I were doing chores for the 1st time since the accident. Of course Dad wheeled right up next to the pens in the barn & the calves were so curious they were trying to lick the wheelchair wheels & Dad was rubbing all over them. It was time to go feed cows & Clint looked at Dad & said, "well you want to hop in the Ranger & go with me to feed cows?" Dad said, "I won't be able to dump any buckets but sure I'll ride along". Mom & I fed the show calves & Dad & Clint went & fed cows. When we finished Mom & I joined them in the Ranger & we went out to check cows with spring babies at their side. We drove out in the middle of them & turned the Ranger off & just sat enjoying the breeze, crickets & watching the cows & babies. Sharing one of our absolute favorite things to do with Mom & Dad was a dream come true & I don't think I quit smiling for hours!! 

So I think I've saved the best news for last.... This past Thursday we had Dad's 2nd follow-up appointment with his Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Volgas & after looking at the incision there is still some healing that needs to happen but he feels that it is healed enough to go ahead & start the prosthesis fitting process!!!!! I wanted to jump across the room & hug Dr. Volgas however I decided it was best to stick with a YAY & a HUGE smile!! So let the fitting process begin hopefully this week!!

Here's to kicking off a great week & hope each of you have one too! Thanks again so much for the thoughts & prayers & please keep them coming because they are totally working!! 74 days since the accident & I can't see what amazing improvements come over the next 74 days!!

<3 Rachel