Wow! Time sure has been flying! Sandy (mom) asked me if I would send out another caring bridge update...so I am. :-)  I tried to get her to type it herself, but she told me typing with one hand would take her way too long. She's not wrong. lol

It feels like lots and nothing have both happened since the last update in Feb. Mom has been continuing to do therapy at home (on their own...not in-home therapy). Dad had spent a lot of time researching (does this surprise anyone...) FitMi Rehab, a computer therapy program designed for stroke rehab that you can do at home with guided exercise for leg, arms, hands, feet, ect. Mom and Dad have been doing this a couple times a week along with all of mom's stretches as well as her daily 30 min (most often cane free). Mom has always been an active person, but she has never been one to exercise (unless you count her almost nightly walks with Julie....and I think those were more for the social aspect 🤣). So, getting in all these exercise in a day has taken some adjustment between Mom & Dad. They are constantly learning what works for them and how to live life and not only "go through the motions." 

Mom has been having increase movement in her left fingers. The last update, she could squeeze a hand 1x. Now, she is able to squeeze dad's hand 10-20x. Opening her hand back up is still very challenging; however, this shows us all the stretching & exercises are paying off. Those nerves are rebuilding and making new connections. The brain is amazing!!! Her left leg is also improving in bending at the knee...not a whole lot, but slightly. 

Mom is also enjoying visiting with people more. Not that she hasn't always enjoyed it, now it feels less "covid scary" and less anxiety producing for them. Both Mom & Dad are fully vaccinated (this is not a political post, so please kindly keep your opinions about the vaccination to yourself 😀) and are wanting/willing to have people over or get invited out! The pool is open, so if you want to come float....give them a jingle. Not only is it great for their social brains (well, lets be honest....this is waaay more Sandy than Bob), the therapeutic interactions that holding a conversation gives mom more practice at using her higher functioning cognition. 

We are noticing that Mom's long term memory is still very sharp. She does get lost in recent (up to 1-2 years back) dates or memories; however, we have been noticing that she is getting a little better at putting different pieces of a story or memory together. A good example of this is we have planned an Alaskan Cruise for NEXT summer....Mom keeps wanting to go buy new clothes for the cruise or things for the kids to do on the plane thinking it's this year. A couple months ago, this would have been a 15min convo with her having to look at a calendar to remind her  the cruise is summer 2022 and now we can pause and she'll say, "oh next summer. I'm just excited." It could be repetition of the reminder and we have noticed this with other things as well. 

With spring came many soccer games. They had 3 grandkids playing soccer, TJ (holly's), Levi & Logan (Audrey's). With Holly living downstate they were  still able to make it to a few of TJs soccer game and are also planning on getting to his baseball games as well. They made it to all of Levi & Logan's games.....8am or  9am every saturday......in the cold. Mom defiantly has a sport heart. She had her camera and was excited to take pictures of the kids playing. For mother's day we all got her a new camera that she can use 1 handed that is both water proof & shock resistance so if she drops it in the pool or on the ground it will be okay. 

For Easter Mom had planned crafts with the kids. The funny thing was, she made her own bunny bag right along with them! Of course, we had to go to the dollar store (her favorite store) 2 or 3x to make sure we had all the supplies. 

My boys (Levi & Logan) started working on clocks at school and one day Logan thought it would be a good idea to have Grandma check their work. He remembered all the clocks she had to do at the hospital. So, we brought over their worksheets and the teacher in her came alive. :-)

Val & Rex were also here for 10 days. Mom & Dad got a full workout in every day keeping up with Rex-he'll be 2 the end of June...and he is BUSY! They had a great time having him here (and so did we.....Val, we love you too, lol).

Mom & Dad also have a zoo membership, so if anyone one else has them.....date day at the zoo??!?

Oh, this Sunday (as in yesterday) they made it to church for the first time since March 2021. Mom said it felt great to be there to sing, worship and be back in community. 

I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple things that should go in this update, but here are the most important...prayers:

Please pray for:

-continued improvement for mom (specifically her left hand, cognition and endurance)

-cognitive improvement

-Endurance & healthy mental health for both mom & dad. 

-Each of us (kids) with our own healing process as mom's stroke is about 2 years out. It goes without saying that each of us has/is grieving, praising, adapting, processing in our own way. It is and will continue to be a process for us in the way we emotional heal.

With Stubborn Joy, Relentless Strength & Unwavering Faith,

The Tetro's

Pictures

-TJ Soccer game, Levi & Logan's soccer game, day at the zoo, grandma correcting the boys worksheet and craft day.