Dancing the the rain with a big stick and the world on your side.

Suitcases might not be a bag with a zipper, handle and wheels.  Today, Alex's suitcase was a rolling  bed side table and a hospital bed as he moved from a semi-private (and really small) room to a private room (Room 300) with his very own bathroom and room to actually move around.  Yes, we sang 'movin' on up' while moving...

Speak Softly and carry a big stick
Rehab is in full force and Alex got a massive walking stick to move around with instead of the walker.   We are told this is kinda big deal (hee hee hee) as it means progress!!!  After a morning of evaluations (again) and block puzzles that I know I couldn't solve.  No, really, you probably couldn't either as they involve looking at a picture and using the preset shapes to copy the picture.  This made my head hurt just watching let alone typing it again.  Anyway - he, of course, did very well at this as he has an oddly logical brain (despite the fact that he is my kid).  His OT tech is going to graduate him to a video game this week.  Of course he is because teenage boys need that, right?  Uh huh, sure they do Mr. not much older than my son OT guy.  Of course, if it works, I am all for it but still I feel like bribes are happening.

After lunch, Alex got to experience PT - the real deal.  Of course, Jesuit men never go through journeys alone, even in the examines they are aware that many others are meditating with them so while the journey may be on their own literally, they are not alone.  Alex had a few supporters with him for this first hour.  To his surprise, coaches from his sports and more showed up to surprise him and take him down to therapy.  No really, they planned it, left school and rearranged schedules to surprise Alex.  I know I am a broken record but the support we have received from friends, family and our Jesuit community - Jesuit family - has been amazing.  There aren't words and clearly Alex & I are really good at using words.  I am not ashamed to say I let the nurse turn off the lights and close the blinds and I slept for best 45 minutes since last Sunday as I knew Alex was at PT with a group who loved him and not going through a minute alone.  And those guys?  Well, they can heckle and support with the best of them and that was good enough for me.  In Alex's words - "It motivated me and was awesome.  I got to show them I was doing great and trying really hard and would be back in no time."    The PT team on the 2nd floor - the gym - was shocked and moved by the show of support.  According to our Saturday PT who was down there, as soon as we saw the Jesuit shirts we knew this kid had more support and couldn't help but succeed.  Just awesome.

from left to right - Coach Jones, Coach Weeks, Coach Hickman, Coach Hill, Coach Ackels, Coach Gavin & Coach Alexander.  And our lucky charm in the middle of course, with his big stick.

Dancing in the rain - it's a Reilly thing
For the first time, I didn't give Alex a choice about going outside.  After laughing with Grandma & Pop Pop about the bed alarm being put on again - yes, despite the note on his board and order for no alarm in his chart it was put on again and we (well, not Alex) found this to be hilarious - trying to help with the count back from 100 test and doing it wrong - I decided it was time for Alex to go outside.  This was the first time since last Monday (roughly 6:08pm).  I wheeled him out to the patio and we sat and talked.  Then the emotions came out of Alex.  He didn't cry, he ranted.  He is pissed that he is in rehab; pissed that he is hurt and can't walk; pissed that he wasn't there to celebrate with his team for their district clinch and Coach Jones' 300th win; pissed that he missed cheering for the Tall One's state rugby championship.  Alex is pissed he has to use a wheelchair or a big stick.  He is angry and he finally got it all out and you know what?  I am proud of him for that too.  Since last Monday, I know he has been tired and frustrated.  I know he has been disappointed.  He kept it all to himself and it all came out at once and that is a GREAT show of emotion.  That kind of honesty with himself and me will give him the strength to go on during those bad times, and we all have bad times.  It was at the end of the rant that light rain drops came down and I decided (he thinks I am crazy anyway) that it was time for us to dance in the rain so we did.  We wheeled him around in circles and back and forth in the light rain and danced together.  It needed to happen - sometimes you just dance it out.  I will think back on that moment with peace the rest of my life and hope someday he does too.  Once back inside Alex decided that I need cognitive testing of my own as clearly, I am crazy and you know what?  I am good with that.

Whataburger - it's a southern thing
The Tall One came down after the dinner tray was delivered bringing the golden meal to Alex as the food?  Well, it's just bad here.  No way to get around that - just awful.  Bill & I left so the boys could do their thing only to come back with the Tall One camped out in the bed going through the benefits of this adventure with Alex.  The top three?

1. Handicapped placard - Ideal parking for Alex & the Tall One is a big deal
2. Extra time for school - it occurred to the boys that oh yeah, school still exists but Alex doesn't have to stress about it...
3. Junk food - girls get flowers in the hospital, boys get Tiff's treats and candy.

Massage leg things - the pads they put on your legs to enhance circulation made the list for a minute until the Tall One tried them on his own, then those got taken off the list and it was decided Alex also needs a massage chair.

It's the fun

• Alex "Um, that's not counting back by 7 - that is in fact wrong.  And they are testing me for brain issues?"  Pop Pop is our math guy but even the math guy can make a mistake, or two.
• Bill "What does this button do?  Or this button?  I have gloves on so I am allowed to touch all the buttons"  Bill likes the buttons on the bed (and putting on the gloves by the door) so much so that he pushes them, a lot.  Good news is that Alex seems to be gaining .1 pounds an hour per the bed scale...
• Erin "Let's dance it out" Alex "No." Erin "Um, I am the one pushing you so I win."  Alex "Aren't you supposed to be nice to me? Oh wait, if y'all stop teasing me I will know I am going to die."  As a family, we tease, it is how we show we love and if we stop?  Oh hell, just head to the light folks.
• Coaches "Time for the heckling man!  Don't think we are going to let you slide on this PT session!"  Best medicine ever.
• Grandma "They put the bed alarm on again? BWHAHAHAHAHA"  We all seemed to find this hilarious.  Well, not Alex, he was rather irritated but that just made it funnier for us...