Unfortunately

We went back to Holiday Park and let Ada practiced her walk again. She was doing good walking around the car. With the blink of an eye, she fell. Karec and I could not catch her on time, she let go of her hand and try to stand on her own. I can feel , somehow, that she scared or hurt. We came home and saw that she had a scratch on her elbow. Put bandage on it. She looks tired and took a long nap.
Not until late evening, after changed her into pajama, I noticed that her left shoulder was swollen. We took her to ER right away. From the x-ray we can see that she had fracture her shoulder. She fell on her bottom and I can see her curl up her head and her right arm. Gymnasts always knows how to curl up their body when they fall, but she has no control of her left arm, it must hit the floor pretty hard.
I know that she can feel the pain, but can neither express it, nor tell us. I can feel her pain.
The doctor did not think she need a surgery, just put her arm in the sling and let it heal.
May be we won't be walking anytime soon and it will be difficult to transfer her since we always hold her up under both arms. Two step forward, one step backward. Yesterday I just mentioned to my husband that I wish she was in Therapy now so, may be, we can prevent this accident.
The doctor suggest that we follow up with OrthoIndy. I have to think about that.

Ada's big step

We took her to IMA so she can get more open space to walk. The parking lot that we used to park was blocked so we had to park near the greenhouse. There were so many cars and that created a problem. Ada likes to open the door and she doesn't care if it is our car or someone else. She walked right to the other car and tried to open the door. It was a struggled for me and Karec to get her away. So today we went to Holiday Park. I picked a spot with less car and she started by walking around our car (Ada's car, actually) and tried to open every doors. Watch it here. This is part I. It must be too long, I had problem putting it through youtube.
She walks around the car, leaning against it, took a few steps on her own. She is trying so hard to go around and keep her balance, and we are trying so hard not to help her. Watch it here.
We haven't heard anything from RHI, may be mom's therapy is the best for her. I am sure the more she practices, the more confidence she will get.
At the end of this walk, I unlocked the car and let her open the door, she turned side way, bent her knee and sat herself on to the passenger seat. With a big smile on her face, I had tears in my eyes.

Mind of her own

We still waiting to hear back about therapy for Ada at RHI. It seems like if you don't make enough or significant progress, the insurance will be hesitated to approve for more therapy, but she really needs it.

After a week of intense walking, she decided not to walk as much. Just got up from one chair and sat down on another chair. On the sunny day we took her outside. She walks right to the car and try to open the door, then walk to the other side and try to open the door again. It is not easy telling her where to go, she just goes where she wants to go and drag me and Karec along.

She does pay more attention to the food. She looks at it before she eats. Sometime I mix different kinds of cereal together with Cheerio, she will picks those out and drop them on the floor. And she eats better with Karec. I put Cheerio in the Rubbermaid container with the small lid that flip open. Ada will grab that and flick open the lid and pours Cheerio into the bowl.

I guess she is in a lazy mode this week, takes a nap in the afternoon and sleeps through the nite.

Abby came by and noticed that Ada did not scratch her head as much as she used to do.

With her hand jester, she is able to tell us what she wants. She would point to the bowl if she wants more food, or hit the side of the bed when she gets sleepy. Around 10:00 pm, she will hit the side of her leg to tell us that she wants to go to the bathroom. Overall, she is very happy that we are able to recognize what she is trying to tell us. And we are happy that she is happy. :)

Good night, Ada

We are still struggled with her sleeping. Most of the time, if I open her tube and let the access air out, she will go back to sleep. Some night that she sleeps well, I can't sleep. She starts taking a nap in the afternoon so I nap with her. We snuggle in bed together. It is nice because she let me hug her again and we play and laugh together under the blanket.

She continues to walk around the house 10-20 laps each day. Me and her nurse have to take turn because she will get up from the chair, walk around, come back to her room, sit on the chair and want to get up again. Ada will hang on to our neck while she walk. Once in a while we let her walk almost by herself by just holding her right arm, and she seems to like it. Now we let her walk to the car instead of taking her out on wheelchair, and she walks back into the house.

Still waiting for the call from RHI. We just got letter from medicaid, they are processing the request and needs more information.

I also be able to sneak in baby food into her meal, just to make sure she gets friut, veggie and meat. Basically, she just eats yogurt and Cheerio. Until she can chew better. I tried V8 soup too and she doesn't care for it much even though it tastes much better than those baby food. And yes, I taste everything she eats.

Botox

Ada received her Botox shots yesterday on her calf muscle and forearm. We gave her a shot of Valium before we get there and she looks a bit drowsy. She was schedule for sedation and the fun began. It took 4 of us to hold her down so the nurse can insert IV line into her wrist. 2 shots of sedation and she still wide awake and trying to get up. 2 more shots and I walked out of there when Dr. Dave' started to poke her leg with a big needles. I went back, they were done but Ada still didn't sleep a wink.
We should see the result in a couple of days.

Evaluation at RHI

We took Ada back to RHI Rehab hospital for evaluation in hoping that she will qualify for some therapy since she does not get any for quite a while. She does get Mom Therapy at home and mom is running out of idea.

On Wednesday, we met with PT and OT and on Thursday with Speech Therapist. Ada did really good and very cooperative the first day. She lifted her knees and legs up for the therapist and also walking around with and without her walker. We set the goal for her that we want to see her stand up straight on both feed and help with transfer. PT noticed that she won't put much weight on her left foot so may be some Botox will help relax her leg muscle. OT definitely can help with her left shoulder and arm. We can tell that she has some pain when we try to move her arm around. The next day is not as easy. When the speech therapist started asking her some question. Question! I was really discouraged. Ada cannot communicate well enough but she is able to tell me that she wants something. After that we let her walk around the hall, she turned into the office and wanted to go into a room. We were struggled to get her back to the hallway. People get panic and asked if we need help or a wheelchair. Many just stopped and were amazed that Ada can walk. Now we have to wait for a few weeks to get approved.

Ada continues to smile and laugh all day. She is in a good mood lately. At night if she can't sleep, I just open her feeding tube and let the air out, she will go back to sleep.

She also walked to another neighbor's house today. Linda was home this time and let Ada in.

My friend, Yui, came from North Carolina to visit us. We went to the Museum because, as a fellow Architect, I know she would love it there. Yui took time to examine each painting and read all the description while Ada was waiting. Once in a while Ada will pull Yui's shirt or pants to tell her that it is time to move on. We had fun. I also drove Yui to Champaign to visit her old friends at U of Illinois and we had the best pizza there. Yui and Ardis finally met today when we had lunch together at Thai restaurant.

Keep fingers cross for the good results, and hope we can go back to therapy soon.

Just what I want to hear

We went to see Dr. Lipson today. Ardis went with us so we both can ask all kind of questions for Ada. Dr. Lipson is the Brain Injury Medical Director at RHI. Last year when Ada was admit there, Dr. Lipson did not have any high hope for Ada but later grew to love Ada just like the rest of the therapist and the nurses at RHI. She was very pleased to see that Ada was smiling and shake hand with her. Dr. Lipson asked all kind of question about Ada like how she communicate, how good she can walk and what else she can do. Then Dr. Lipson asked Ada a question. She asked Ada to look at mom and see if mom's shirt is black and white or red and yellow and asked her to put one finger up for yes, two for no. Ada was listening but cannot put that together. So we have to teach her to communicate for yes and no and ask her simple question. Dr. Lipson told us that Ada's case is complicated and she didn't think Ada will talk! Ah-ha. Now that's might be what I want to hear.
We will take Ada back to RHI so they can do some evaluation with PT, OT and SPT, set a goal and ask the insurance if they will pay for it. For the time being, we will teach her to use her fingers so, just in case she won't talk, she still can communicate. Keep my fingers cross, I know she will.
Next week she will get her Botox shot on her left arm at RHI. It is getting stiff and she won't let me exercises her left arm anymore.
For the sleepless night, I think we figure that one out. has to do with acid reflux and what she eats before bedtime.

Sleeping through the night

Oh yes, she has been sleeping through the night for 3 nights now. Keep my finger cross, I hope this even will go on. Not sure what I've done, we usually keep things the same everyday. May be the new medicine starts to kick in. Dr. Dave' give her prescription for her agitation. It was the medicine to protect and cure the flu, and also for patient with Parkinson Decease. At first, I was reluctant to give it to her but after doing some more research on-line, I gave it a try. She also pretty happy and laugh a lot.
How much yogurt is too much? Ada seems to like it a lot. I am able to give her sweet potato and ice cream again. She did not want that for a while. She also is able to chew more crunchy cereal. I give her Kashi - Honey Almond Flax, which is good so I can cut down on sugary cereal.
I love it when Katherine and Abby and Rachel came by, Ada would give them a big smile and laughs while they were talking and tell her what is going on in their lives.
Yui is coming to visit us from North Carolina next weekend. I am excited. Hope Ada will slept through while Yui and I stay up all night talking.
Dad will be back Friday, she will be happy to see him too.

Grocery Shopping

We went to Rachel's house yesterday and we took Ada to Kroger. Rachel was surprised to find out that all the handicap parking space were all full, so we have to park somewhere else. Ada was sitting nicely while I push her through the store and Rachel was filling up the cart. Ada seems happy and content and help out with transferring in and out of the car. We had fun.
Katherine came over to say hello and played with Ada. I think Ada loves to spend sometime with someone else beside me. She probably missed her daddy too. The house was so quiet.
I end up sleeping with Ada at night so I don't have to get up and walk to her bed. So when she starts waking up I just throw the blanket back at her and tell her to go back to sleep. It seems to work and we both fall back to sleep. Insomnia is normal for TBI patient among other things like headache, agitation and depression. It is easier just to put her on drug but I want to see if she can be without it.

Spasticity clinic at RHI

We took Ada to see Dr. Dave' at RHI. I was concerned about her left arm because she holds it up at the right angle most of the time and won't let me stretch or exercises it. She can relax and stretch her arms down to about 10-15 degree. She showed off by walking with me down the hall but gave all the therapists hard time when they want to stretch her arms and legs for evaluation.
She was pretty mad till young Dr. Dave' walked in and Ada smiled at him. Her beautiful smile had brighten the room and everyone started laughing. Abby said "once a flirt, always a flirt". Thanks Abby for going with us.
She will need another Botox shot at her arm, other than that she is fine and the baclofen is at the right dose. A few nurses had stopped by and say hello to Ada.
As for me, it is wonderful to be able to walk around the house in pajama. Since the accident, I had been staying at the hospital, then nursing home, then sister-in-law and her family moved in. I was always fully dress for everyone's sake. Noy and her family just bough a house and had moved out, Terry is in Thailand visiting his mom, Archie's at IU - Bloomington and Arthy sleeps all day, I can move freely around the house in my PJ. Also cooking for 2 people is so much easier so I ask Ada's nurse to join us for dinner.
I will set up the room up stair for my studio, so when I really feel like working, I can go up there while the nurse is taking care of Ada. Massive cleaning is underway.