Tuesday, October 31st, 2006: Tracy had a good night's sleep last night. This morning, Tania, Mom and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for her morning CPM range of motion. Tracy has progressed to an hour and a half on the CPM twice per day. She really seems to like the range of motion; it relaxes her and helps with joint mobility. Tracy is also taking protein and glucosamine supplements. She is doing a good job wearing her dynasplint for four and a half hours and is working her way up to 6 hours per night. This morning, Tracy had an 11:00 AM appointment with Matt, the Occupational Therapist from Med Tech services. He assessed her arms, shoulders, and hands and adjusted her night resting hand splints. There is an area on Tracy's right splint which is causing pressure which results in a blood blister. Matt padded this area very well with tempurpedic padding. We'll give it a try tonight. This afternoon, Felicia worked with Tracy on her facial exercises to warm her up before her Speech Therapy session at FAU with Marissa and Lisa at 4 PM. It was storming when we left for Boca Raton. Mamaw accompanied Tracy, Mom and Tania. During Speech, Marissa and Lisa worked on the usual switch training, including turning off and on the bledner, light, and radio. Tracy seemed more motivated by the blender. Go figure! She is a true Anzalone. Pass the margaritas, please. This evening, Tracy sat by the door while Mom handed out candy to the trick or treaters. Mamaw and Tania helped out too. It was a lot of fun to see all of the adorable kids dressed up in cute costumes. Tracy always loved Halloween! It was always her favorite holiday! Liz left today. We already miss her and wish she could come back! She was a tremendous help and we hate to see her go. Liz has her masters in Special Ed Management and is sharing a lot of great ideas with Tracy's team. The goal is to reconnect Tracy with her friends and family so that she can have optimal quality of life throughout her healing journey. Tomorrow, Tracy has an 11:00 AM Speech Therapy appointment with Patrick and then a 1:30 PM Physical Therapy session with Courtney. We'll let you know how that goes. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to be fully present in the moment. "When we are fully present, we offer our whole selves to whatever it is that we are doing. Our attention, our integrity, and our energy are all focused in the moment and on the task at hand. This is a powerful experience, and when we are in this state, we feel completely alive and invigorated. This kind of aliveness comes easily when we are absorbed in work or play that we love, but it is available to us in every moment, and we can learn to summon it regardless of what we are doing. Even tasks or jobs we don't enjoy can become infused with the light of being present. The more present we are, the more meaningful our entire lives become." Lesson of the Day: Summoning Your Aliveness: Being Fully Present!
Monday, October 30th, 2006: Tracy slept well last night. This morning, Tania and Felicia bathed Tracy and got her ready for her morning CPM range of motion. Tracy has progressed to an hour and a half on the CPM twice per day. She really seems to like the range of motion; it relaxes her and helps with joint mobility. This morning, Mom sat outside overseeing the moving company who was delivering the rest of the household goods that had been in storage since Italy, 2003. It feels good to get all of our things under one roof and also to finally near closure! The garage is now full once again! Around 12:30 PM, Courtney came to do Physical Therapy with Tracy. Tania and Felicia transferred Tracy to the massage table in the master bathroom where Courtney sat Tracy on the edge of the mat. She used the versaform pillows to help Tracy with trunk stability. She sat up much better and was trying real hard to turn to the left to see Mamaw. She even turned several times and made eye contact with Courtney. Courtney is a tough coach and does not cut Tracy any slack which is just what Tracy needs. She pushes her hard and makes her work! This afternoon, Tracy rested in her chair and visited with Mamaw. It is so nice to have her here in Lighthouse Point visiting with us. We are looking forward to Papaw's arrival Wednesday evening. Liz leaves tomorrow, we are really going to miss her. She has been a tremendous help and we hate to see her go. Liz has her masters in Special Ed Management and is sharing a lot of great ideas with Tracy's team. The goal is to reconnect Tracy with her friends and family so that she can have optimal quality of life throughout her healing journey. Tomorrow, Tracy has an 11:00 AM appointment with Matt, an Occupational Therapist from Med Tech Services. He will evaluate Tracy and make recommendations for OT. Then, Tracy has Speech Therapy at FAU with Marissa and Lisa at 4 PM in Boca Raton. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to weather times of transition on our journey to achieve life's purpose. "Sometimes our lives contract before they expand. We may be working hard on ourselves spiritually, doing good in the world, following our dreams, and wondering why we are still facing constrictions of all kinds-financial, emotional, physical. Perhaps we even feel as if we've lost our spirituality and are stuck in a dark room with no windows. We may be confused and discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. But sometimes this is the way things work. Like a caterpillar that confines itself to a tiny cocoon before it grows wings and flies, we are experiencing the darkness before the dawn." Lesson of the Day: Going Through The Opening: Contracting Before Expanding!
Sunday, October 29th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Mom, Liz and Felicia showered Tracy and got her ready for 10:30 AM Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Lighthouse Point. Tracy held her head up and was awake most of the Mass. She is doing a good job with lip closure too! After Mass, Felicia stayed with Tracy while Mom and Liz went to pick up a few groceries at Publix. While they were shopping, Felicia put Tracy on the CPM machine. She is tolerating an hour and a half on the CPM, twice a day. Her range of motion in her right hip and hamstring has really improved; especially with Physical Therapy, the CPM, and her dynasplint. She is wearing her dynasplint three and a half hours a night. This afternoon, Liz made the most delicious turkey sausage lasagna and fettucine with artichokes and shrimp. Tracy sat right next to her in the kitchen, while she was cooking. Felicia let Tracy smell some of the herbs and spices Liz used in her lasagna recipe; the fresh sweet basil, the pungent olive oil, and the strong garlic. Tracy really was alert and sniffed the basil. Dad and Mamaw arrived safely to Lighthouse Point around 8 PM this evening. They made it just in time for dinner. Nana, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Diane, Mamaw, Liz, Mom, and Dad enjoyed dinner and each others company. Tiffany and Papaw sure were missed! We are looking forward to Papaw's visit this Wednesday! Mom is enjoying Liz's visit. She is such a big help. Liz has her masters in Special Ed Management and is sharing a lot of great ideas with Tracy's team. The goal is to reconnect Tracy with her friends and family so that she can have optimal quality of life throughout her healing journey. Tomorrow, Tracy has Physical Therapy at 12:30 PM with Courtney. Our household goods which have been in storage since Tracy's accident are also going to be delivered in the morning. Mom and Dad are looking forward to getting organized and finally getting all their things under one roof. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to make choices from a place of balance. "Each of the myriad decisions we make every day has the potential to have a deep impact on our lives. Some choices touch us to our very cores, awakening poignant feelings within us. Others seem at first to be simple but prove to be confusingly complex. We make the best decisions when we approach the decision-making process from a balanced emotional and intellectual foundation. When we have achieved equilibrium in our hearts and in our minds, we can clearly see both sides of an issue or alternative. Likewise, we can accept compromise as a natural fact of life. Instead of relying solely on our feelings or our rationality, we utilize both in equal measure, empowering ourselves to come to a life-affirming and balanced conclusion." Lesson of the Day: Consulting Heart And Mind: Making Choices From A Place Of Balance!
Saturday, October 28th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. This morning, Felicia had the day off, so Liz and Mom were in charge. They bathed Tracy and got her ready for her morning Physical Therapy session. They set up Tracy's therapy in the master bathroom, using the massage table, soft lighting, scented candles, and relaxing music. The goal is to change the therapy venue each day so that Tracy has different sensory experiences during her sessions. The master bath was perfect because Tracy was able to see herself in the mirror while she was sitting on the edge of the massage table. She did a great job tolerating almost 20 minutes in a seated position with assistance. We were able to use the versaform pillows to help Tracy with trunk support. After Tracy's PT session, Melanie came to give Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapy session. Tracy was making a lot of good sounds and taking deep breaths during her session. She really seems to relax and enjoy her Cranial Sacral sessions. Melanie gave Mom and Liz massages. It was just what the doctor ordeed. Tracy sat in her chair while Liz made a delicious cold lemon chicken. Tracy seemed to enjoy the delicious lemon and garlic aromas eminating from the kitchen. The open design and warm earth tones of her new house allows Tracy to be a part of everything going on around her. Nana and Aunt Diane came over this afternoon and helped Mom decorate the kitchen. Nana has a great decorating eye! Everyone enjoyed going through all of the Halloween costumes and helped Aunt Diane pick out a gypsy fortune teller costume for her to wear to the Rand Halloween party this week! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. "We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important. It seems to say, ironically, that if you can't take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency, so it's easy to keep putting self-care off-easy, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhausted, and suddenly don't have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That's when we realize we haven't been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it's just plain practical." Lesson of the Day: Daily Self Care : Putting Yourself First!
Friday, October 28th, 2006: Tracy slept well again last night. This morning, Mom had an appointment in Palm Beach at 11:00 AM. Liz and Felicia got Tracy bathed and ready for the day. After Liz and Felicia ranged Tracy, they put her on the CPM machine. Tracy tolerated the CPM machine for and hour and 15 minutes. It is really helping to improve her hip and hamstring range. The goal is to progress Tracy to an hour and a half on the CPM twice a day! This morning Felicia, Liz and Tracy spent some time organizing Tracy's room. They displayed Tracy's entire teddy bear collection and talked about each one with Tracy. We are having so much fun rediscovering Tracy's pretty things and decorating her room with her. For the time being, Tracy is staying in Mom and Dad's room and will move into her own room when she is healed. Tracy did not have an "official" therapy today. Tania and Liz spent some time doing Tracy's Physical Therapy exrcises. Tania is doing such a good job with Tracy's range of motion exercises after Courtney, Tracy's PT assistant demonstrated the various exercises. Felicia worked on Speech Therapy with Tracy, exercising her oral and facial muscles and trying different sensory stim. This afternoon, Tania and Liz took Tracy on a walk in the neighborhood to look at all of the cute Halloween decorations! Tracy seemed to enjoy the walk, and even dozed off a little in the sunshine! Mom spent the day catching up on errands and finding some pretty things for the house. She and Uncle Johnny surprised Nana and had a light dinner with her! Nana was so surprised! Mom is enjoying Liz's visit. She is such a big help. Liz has her masters in Special Ed Management and is sharing a lot of great ideas with Tracy's team. The goal is to reconnect Tracy with her friends and family so that she can have optimal quality of life throughout her healing journey. We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw this week. Dad and Tiffany are enjoying their visit in Independence and all of the SLU Homecoming festivities. We are very proud that Dad had been selected as the Alumni of the Year for Southeastern Louisiana University. Tracy and Mom wish they could be there to share in the various weekend activities. We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to find compassion in daily conflict. "The key to finding the wisdom concealed in conflict is to ask yourself why you clash with a particular person or situation. Your inner self or the universe may be trying to point you to a specific life lesson, so try to keep your ears and eyes open. Once you have explored the internal and external roots of your disagreement, make a conscious effort to release any anger or resentment you feel. As you do so, the energy between you and your adversary with change perceptibly, even if they are still operating from a more limited energy state. Consider that each of you likely has compelling reasons for thinking and feeling as you do, and accept that you have no power to change your adversary's mind. This can help you approach your disagreement rationally, with a steady voice and a willingness to compromise." Lesson of the Day: The Strength Of Compassion: Coming At Conflict With An Open Heart!
Thursday, October 26th, 2006: Tracy was awake some during the night. This morning, when Felicia asked Tracy is she had a good night, Tracy shook her head NO. When Felicia reframed the question to validate, Tracy shook her head NO again. Then Mom asked if Tracy's leg hurt, hip hurt, etc. and when she came to her stomach, Tracy blinked twice for YES! The antibiotics that Tracy is taking could be upsetting her stomach. It is so good to see Tracy responding more consistently to questions. After Tracy's mini shower, Mom and Felicia put Tracy on the CPM for one hour to range her right hip and knee. Tracy really seems to like the CPM and tolerates her sessions well. Around noon, it was time for Tracy's Physical Therapy session with Courtney. She spent some time ranging Tracy's hips and hamstrings while in the chair. Tracy's right range is really improving. The goal is to get Tracy's right hip strong enough to be able to tolerate the tilt table. We will continue to work towards this. Liz made a delicious tortellini salad for lunch and then we had ice cream cake for Tania's birthday. She was so surprised! This afternoon, Mom and Liz brought Tracy to Speech Therapy with Marissa at FAU. Tracy was really sleepy. She snoozed through most of the session. Marissa did such a good job trying different ways to peek Tracy's interest, but Tracy was really zonked. Mom is going to discuss decreasing Tracy's Baclofen dosage at her next pump refill appointment November 16th. If she continues to be sleepy, Mom may bring Tracy in before her next appointment to reduce the dosage. After Speech Therapy, Mom, Liz and Tracy stopped off to do some shopping. They are taking advantage of "girls' night out" while Dad and Tiffany are in Independence for Dad's Alumni of the Year festivities. We are so proud of him and wish we could be there to join in the festivities! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw next week! It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are enjoying Liz's visit! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! Many thanks to Tiffany for the beautiful amber (Tracy's middle name) lady bug (good luck) charm pendant that she gave Mom, Tania and Tracy for being brave warriors during Tracy's multiple surgeries/hospitalizations. She is so thoughtful! We all know the real warrior is TRACY! Thanks to Aunt Candy and family and Cousins, Guy, Dawn and Sophia for the cute Get Well cards. Thanks to the Warings for the adorable Halloween card! Tracy loves Halloween! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to take care of ourselves on a daily basis. "We have all heard the instructions of an airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. This advice is often cited as a metaphor for self-care because it so accurately expresses why it is important. It seems to say, ironically, that if you can't take care of yourself for yourself, do it for others. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency, so it's easy to keep putting self-care off-easy, that is, until we get sick, overwhelmed, or exhausted, and suddenly don't have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That's when we realize we haven't been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent; it's just plain practical." Lesson of the Day: Daily Self Care : Putting Yourself First!
Wednesday, October 26th, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She seems so much more comfortable now that her hip is back in the joint. It hurts Mom and Dad just thinking about all the pain Tracy must have been in with her dislocated hip and her inflamed and necrosed gall bladder! We are so thankful that this is all behind her and that she is ready to move on. Tracy did not seem very comfortable in her dynasplint on her right leg with the resistance set on two and a half for three hours last night. She let Dad know that it was a little too much too soon, so he backed down on the resistance. Her right hamstring is improving every day and is almost straight. Dr. Tidwell seems to think that with the help of the dynasplint and tilt table (weight bearing), Tracy should be able to straighten her leg in time. Please say a prayer! This morning, the phlebotomist came to draw Tracy's Liver Function Tests. Dr. Canning is monitoring her labs to make sure that everything is healing appropriately. Felicia and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Then it was off to Miami for BoTox with Dr. Rubin. Tracy received 900 units of BoTox (48 injections) in her arms, wrists, hands, fingers, neck, and face. He injected in the same sites he did last time. We should see results in about 10 days with a duration of 3 months. This evening, Tracy rested in her bed with the CPM machine ranging her right hip and knee. Tomorrow, Dad and Tiffany leave for Louisiana for SLU Homecoming weekend. Tracy has Physical Therapy at 12:30 PM with Courtney and the visiting nurse will come to check Tracy. She will also have Speech Therapy at FAU at 4 PM. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw next week! It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are so happy to have Liz visiting with us. She arrived yesterday evening, and will be visiting us until the 31st. It's been way too long! She is helping out with Tracy while Dad is in Louisiana October 26th to the 29th! We are all very proud of Dad being selected as the Alumni of the Year for Southeastern Louisiana University. He will be the honoree this weekend at the homecoming festivities! Mom and Tracy really wish they could be there to share in his honor! Tiffany is going to meet Dad in Lousiana and will be his escort for the weekend. Geaux DAD! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to find compassion in daily conflict. "The key to finding the wisdom concealed in conflict is to ask yourself why you clash with a particular person or situation. Your inner self or the universe may be trying to point you to a specific life lesson, so try to keep your ears and eyes open. Once you have explored the internal and external roots of your disagreement, make a conscious effort to release any anger or resentment you feel. As you do so, the energy between you and your adversary with change perceptibly, even if they are still operating from a more limited energy state. Consider that each of you likely has compelling reasons for thinking and feeling as you do, and accept that you have no power to change your adversary's mind. This can help you approach your disagreement rationally, with a steady voice and a willingness to compromise."
Lesson of the Day: The Strength Of Compassion: Coming At Conflict With An Open Heart!
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006: ~ Tracy slept well again last night. This morning, Tania, Mom and Felicia showered Tracy making sure to not get her below the knee casts wet. She has to wear them for three more weeks. Mom went for a run around the neighborhood. The weather was cool and brisk; a beautiful fall day in south florida with low humidity and lots of sunshine. Around 10:45 AM, Tracy had Speech Therapy with Patrick from Med Tech Services. He spent some time working with Tracy's oral motor skills. He used a cold spoon on her lips to provide tactile stimulation with lip closure as his main goal. Tracy did a good job moving her mouth in response to the cold. Patrick would like Tracy to ultimately be able to close her mouth on command with no tactile stimulation. He also used a small mirror so that Tracy would have some visual feedback. Next, Patrick gave Tracy some cream cheese flavored frosting for her to taste. The goal in this exercise is for Tracy to move her tongue so that she is able to swallow and extend her tongue to the roof of her mouth. Patrick spent some time educating Mom, Felicia and Tania and they will continue to reinforce these exercises throughout the week. Around 1 PM, Courtney, Tracy's PT assistant from Med Tech Services came by to work with Tracy. She spent some time ranging Tracy's lower extremities and then Mom, Tania and Felicia transferred Tracy to Tania's massage table so that Tracy could sit on the edge of the table. We were able to get Tracy positioned so that she could dangle her legs and rest them on the wedge. Tracy tolerated around 15 to 20 minutes in this seated position with support. Tracy will continue to practice sitting so that she can strengthen her trunk control. This afternoon, Tracy had Speech Therapy at FAU Communication Disorders Clinic with Marissa and Lisa. The traffic on I-95 was so bad that we were around 35 minutes late for Tracy's session. We found out later that President Bush was in the area and that the interstate was closed for several hours during his visit. During Tracy's abbreviated session, she was very awake and alert. Lisa showed Tracy a picture of Tiffany and Tracy looked at it very intently and then smiled a huge smile! It was priceless, and everyone almost burst into tears! It was truly a bittersweet moment. This evening, Liz arrived from Northern Virginia to spend the week with us while Dad is in Louisiana attending Southeastern Louisiana University Homecoming Weekemd where he will be the guest of honor as the alumni of the year. Tiffany will be accompanying him to all of the festivities. Mom and Tracy sure do wish they could be there too! They will be there in spirit! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how the body clears energy. "Whole-self well-being is, in part, the result of a harmonious flow of energy between our physical and mental selves. When this flow is thrown out of balance for any reason, the body and mind react to one another rather than act cooperatively. Ongoing stress, sadness, anxiety, excitement, and fear can overwhelm the cerebral self, causing traumatic energy to be channeled into the body. The body then responds by taking steps to organically dispel the energy that has burdened it and expressing it by means of physical symptoms such as illness, fatigue, or disease. In some cases, these symptoms can simply be allowed to run their natural course and recovery will come about naturally. In most instances, however, health and wellness can only be restored by a dual course of treatment that acknowledges both the physical manifestations of energy clearing and the underlying emotional causes."
Lesson of the Day: Whole-Self Well-Being : How The Body Clears Energy!
Monday, October 23rd, 2006: Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. She seems so much more comfortable now that her hip is back in the joint. It hurts Mom and Dad just thinking about all the pain Tracy must have been in with her dislocated hip and her inflamed and necrosed gall bladder! We are so thankful that this is all behind her and that she is ready to move on. Tracy tolerated her dynasplint on her right leg with the resistance set on 2 for three hours last night. Her knee is almost straight. Dr. Tidwell seems to think that with the help of the dynasplint and tilt table (weight bearing), Tracy should be able to straighten her leg in time. Please say a prayer! This morning, Mom and Tania bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Tracy can not have a shower for another three more weeks until she gets her casts removed. Tania ranged Tracy's upper extremities and commented on how much better Tracy's tone is in her arms and hands. This Wednesday, Tracy has a 1:30 PM appointment with Dr. Rubin at Jackson Memorial to get BoTox injections in her arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. She may also get another round of injections in her jaw to help prevent spasms and teeth grinding. The BoTox really made a difference last July 14th, but the effects usually wear off in three months. This afternoon, Mom and Tania took Tracy to her 3 PM appointment with Dr. Tidwell at Baptist Medical Arts Building in Miami. He removed Tracy's casts and took out the stitches in her right foot. Her feet are so straight! It is amazing. Lasaro, Dr. Tidwell's ortho tech, put new casts on (purple) which will be removed in another three weeks. He made them so that Tracy can weight bear on the tilt table. Her Physical Therapy Assistant is planning on coming Tuesday around 1 PM. We'll let you know how that goes. Dr. Tidwell also lanced the incision site near Tracy's right hip which was full of serosanguinous fluid. He was able to drain a large amount of fluid. He also prescribed another 10 days of antibiotics as a precautionary measure. Hopefully this area will begin to heal now that the serotoma has been drained. Nothing is ever easy for Tracy, is it? This evening, Dad put the CPM machine on Tracy's right leg again, this time for 1 hour. Tracy seems to enjoy this passive range of motion; it really relaxes her. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! Tiffany sent Mom, Tania and Tracy the cutest amber and silver lady bug charm for being brave warriors throughout Tracy's surgery and hospital stay. We all know that the real warrior is TRACY! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit! She arrives tomorrow evening, and will be visiting us until the 31st. It's been way too long! She will be helping out with Tracy while Dad is in Louisiana October 26th to the 29th! We are all very proud of Dad being selected as the Alumni of the Year for Southeastern Louisiana University. He will be the honoree this weekend at the homecoming festivities! Mom and Tracy really wish they could be there to share in his honor! Tiffany is going to meet Dad in Lousiana and will be his escort for the weekend. Geaux DAD! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to clarify our intentions in making known our wish list both personally and to the universe. "The universe is aware of both the concrete goals we actively pursue and the nebulous dreams we have not yet begun to refine. Neither our struggles nor the daydreams that inspire us are beyond the range of universal perception. Yet to manifest our aspirations, we not only need to know what it is we generally wish to achieve; we also need to clearly articulate these aims to ourselves and the universe. When we create a list of what we want, citing each item in as much detail as possible, our aspirations take on new substance. What was once a mere wish becomes real and achievable when put into words. As you pour the contents of your heart and soul into your list, your well-defined ambitions become a part of you, and the universe responds to your new determination by placing opportunities related to your objectives in your path." Lesson of the Day: Outlining Your Intentions : Making A List Of What You Want!
Sunday, October 22nd, 2006: Happy Birthday Mamaw! ~ Tracy slept well again last night. This morning, Mom and Felicia got Tracy bathed and dressed and ready for 10:00 AM Mass at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church. It had been a long time since the three of us have been able to go to Mass. It felt so good to back in Church. After Mass, Mom, Dad, Felicia and Tracy went to Starbucks for lattes and scones. When we got home, Nana, Anita, and Aunt Diane came over to spend the day with us. Dad grilled Italian sausage on the barbecue and Mom made bake potatoes. Aunt Diane made a carrot cake and a delicious salad. Everything was good! This evening, Dad put Tracy on the CPM for one hour. This machine ranges Tracy's right hip and hamstring. Tracy tolerated it well. Then Dad put her dynasplint on her right leg for her to wear throughout the night. Tomorrow, Tracy has an appointment at 3 PM with Dr. Tidwell at Baptist. He plans to take off her casts and remove the stitches in her feet and ankles. Then he will put on new casts which will stay on for three weeks. Once the new casts are removed, Tracy will wear her AFOs. We will need to make new inserts that will be much straighter, just like her new feet! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how the body clears energy. "Whole-self well-being is, in part, the result of a harmonious flow of energy between our physical and mental selves. When this flow is thrown out of balance for any reason, the body and mind react to one another rather than act cooperatively. Ongoing stress, sadness, anxiety, excitement, and fear can overwhelm the cerebral self, causing traumatic energy to be channeled into the body. The body then responds by taking steps to organically dispel the energy that has burdened it and expressing it by means of physical symptoms such as illness, fatigue, or disease. In some cases, these symptoms can simply be allowed to run their natural course and recovery will come about naturally. In most instances, however, health and wellness can only be restored by a dual course of treatment that acknowledges both the physical manifestations of energy clearing and the underlying emotional causes." Lesson of the Day: Whole-Self Well-Being : How The Body Clears Energy!
Saturday, October 21st, 2006: Tracy had a good night's sleep last night. This morning, Felicia and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. At 10:30 AM, Patrick, Tracy's Speech Therapist, came to meet Tracy and to develop speech goals for Tracy's therapy. He will be coming to work with Tracy on her oral motor skills on Tuesday and Thursday between 10 and 11 AM this week. We are looking forward to his working with Tracy! This afternoon, Melanie came to give Tracy a Cranial Sacral Therapy session. She did a good job working with Melanie to deep breathe and clear a lot of the negative hospital energy to make way for healing. She did a lot of vocalizing, yawning, and ahhing! Tracy sure does like her CST sessions. Next, it was Mom's turn for a massage. Mom was way overdue. Last, it was Dad's turn. Everyone felt so much better after their massage. This evening, Dad started Tracy on the CPM machine: Continuous Passive Motion. Tracy tolerated 30 minutes this evening, and we will increase it to one hour tomorrow evening. She really seemed to relax and enjoy the range of motion, which is so good for her right hip and knee. After her exercise session, Dad and Mom put Tracy in her chair so she could watch LSU play Fresno State. Geaux Tigers! Tomorrow, we plan is to go to 10:30 Mass in Lighthouse Point and then Nana, Anita, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Diane are coming over for the day and dinner. Tracy seems a lot more responsive now that she is not in pain from chronic gall bladder disease and from all of the contractures (hip, knee, and feet). She is so much more comfortable without her hip and knee in a chronic flexed position! Thank you Dr. Tidwell for giving Tracy another miracle; the ability to stand and sit without being twisted and contorted. Thank you Dr. Canning, for taking Tracy's necrosed and gangrenous gall bladder chock full of stones. Who would have expected that! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to dig deep for self-healing. "There are many ways to restore your strength and clear negative energy from your core. To ground yourself and regain your emotional equilibrium, concentrate on the second chakra, picturing it as a funnel of vivid orange light. Reach down toward that light with your awareness and channel your breath into the space it occupies. As you balance the chakra, you will become more adaptive and thus better able to stand strong when faced with rapidly changing conditions. You can channel healing energy into your core by visualizing the area below your belly button as an open space into which you channel white, loving light. Like light and air, sound can be a wonderful tool that helps you find your center. Your voice, when drawn from your core in the form of a deep roar or loud shout, can be the vehicle upon which your anxiety is conveyed into the ether. Take a low stance, much like a football player, root your feet into the earth, and then roar like a lion. Really feel it in your belly. It may sound silly, but chances are you will feel much less anxious and much more grounded into your body." Lesson of the Day: Digging Deep For Healing : Rooting Down!
Friday, October 20th, 2006: Tracy had a good night's sleep last night. This morning, Mom, Tania and Felicia got Tracy bathed and dressed and ready for her 11 AM appointment with Dr. Alberico to get her Baclofen pump refilled. It took him no time to refill it and we were out of the office and on our way in no time. This afternoon, Tracy rested while Mom caught up on chores around the house. This evening, Domenic, the Physical Therapy supervisor came to do an evaluation on Tracy. He is going to develop Tracy's PT program for her therapist, Courtney. The plan is for Tracy to get Physical and Occupational Therapy three times per week, Speech Therapy twice a week. We are excited to get started and will keep you apprised of her progress. This evening, Mom and Dad got caught up on the deluge of mail from the past three weeks. It sure feels good to be caught up! Tomorrow, Patrick, Tracy's Speech Therapist is coming to do an evaluation on Tracy. Mom and Dad will continue moving in and getting organized. There is still so much to be done before Mamaw and Papaw arrive. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to be true leaders, inspiring those around us to develop to their true potential. "True leaders are not just high achievers; they also support the people around them to achieve, and, in certain cases, to become leaders themselves. In other words, true leaders do not create a static group of followers. Rather, they create an environment in which everyone can develop their potential. True leaders don't get so caught up in the forward thrust of their own energy that they forget about others or the larger environment. They set an example with their actions, and they also support others to act. This is why true leadership is so rare." Lesson of the Day: Supporting and Inspiring : True Leadership!
Thursday, October 19th, 2006: Tracy really enjoyed sleeping in her own bed last night! Mom and Dad slept well too, and did not miss the middle of the night visits by the nurses, phlebotomists, and respiratory therapists! It feels so good to be home! This morning, Mom, Tania and Felicia spent the morning giving Tracy a well-deserved spa day! She got her hair washed, a facial, pedicure and manicure. Her nails are a cool iced purple. We left her toes "au natural" so that we can monitor her toes with her bilateral casts. Tracy is also adapting well to her new hip/abductor brace. It fits her well, and she wears it any time she is out of bed and in her chair. She will also need to wear it when we get her standing on the tilt table. After her pampering, Cindy, Tracy's home health nurse, came by to see Tracy. She seemed very pleased with how good Tracy looks, especially after so much surgery! This afternoon, Mom asked Tracy is she felt up to going to her Speech Therapy session at FAU. Tracy blinked her eyes twice for yes, so Mom and Felicia took her to FAU for her 4 PM appointment. Mom gave Tania the afternoon off so she could catch up at home. She did such a good job keeping everything together while we were in Miami! She is truly an angel! During Speech, Tracy was a little sleepy but did a good job responding to Marissa for about 30 or 40 minutes. They decided to end the session 10 minutes early so that Tracy could rest. Tracy is such a trooper and tries really hard during her therapy sessions. This evening, Mom crashed around 9 PM and could not even stay awake for her favorite shows, Greys Anatomy and 6 Degrees. Good thing Dad taped them for her! Tomorrow, Tracy has a 11 AM appointment with Dr. Alberico, neurosurgeon at Northridge Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale. He will refill Tracy's pump on a regular basis now that Dr. Lochner is no longer managing baclofen pumps. Tracy had a 5 PM appointment with Domenic who will supervise Tracy's Physical Therapy program. The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. She will wear her new abductor/hip brace and will also begin passive range of motion with the CPM machine. Mom is so glad that she saved her CPM from several years ago. This is truly PROGRESS! We are finally headed in the right direction. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! Tracy seems a lot more responsive now that she is not in pain from chronic gall bladder disease and from all of the contractures (hip, knee, and feet). She is so much more comfortable without her hip and knee in a chronic flexed position! Thank you Dr. Tidwell for giving Tracy another miracle; the ability to stand and sit without being twisted and contorted. Thank you Dr. Canning, for taking Tracy's necrosed and gangrenous gall bladder chock full of stones. Who would have expected that! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us to use our power to make life decisions. "When your choices are your own, you will be more likely to accept and be satisfied with the outcome of those choices. Your decisions will be a pure reflection of your desires, your creativity, your awareness, and your power. Since you understand that you must live with and take responsibility for your decisions, you will likely exercise great care when coming to conclusions. As you learn to make informed and autonomous choices, you will gain the freedom to consciously direct the flow of your life without interference." Lesson of the Day: Using Your Power : Self Determination!
Check out the Song for Today! Two Step by Dave Matthews Band! Tracy's Gulf Breeze High School senior graduation song and one of her favorite Dave Matthews songs! Melanie, Tracy's cranial sacral massage therapist gave Tracy the cutest baby blue teddy bear to bring with her to the hospital. They named her "Two Step" in honor of Tracy taking "one step, two step" when she is finally able to stand on the tilt table. "Two Step" went through both surgeries and even got a bath by Dad (when Tracy vomited on him in the preop area prior to her gall bladder surgery Friday night. They are both troopers!
Wednesday, October 18th, 2006: We are finally home! Dad stayed with Tracy for her last night in the hospital and they both slept well. This morning, all six doctors/specialtists following Tracy (Ortho, GI, Infectious Disease, General Medicine, Pulmonary, and Surgery) gave Tracy permission to Go Home! Yay! Tracy's bilirubin came down to almost normal and her liver function tests are on a downward trend. Meanwhile, Mom and Tania packed up and checked out of the hotel. Then they came to the hospital and packed up all of Tracy's stuff. It is amazing how much one can accumulate as a patient in a hospital for 16 days! It took most of the morning to get Tracy discharged by all six doctors/specialists following Tracy: Ortho, Infectious Disease, GI, General Medicine, Surgery, and Pulmonary. We finally got the green light and were headed out the door and north on the Florida turnpike around 1:30 PM. Mom and Tania had time for one more grande cafe con leche for the road! MMMMM! It took several hours to get Tracy discharged and we were on our way by 1:30 PM. Mom and Tania had time to have one more cafe con leche and then headed north on the Florida turnpike. Dad loaned them his sunpass so it was boogy time! Tracy had a 3 PM appointment at Northridge Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale with Dr. Anthony Alberico, neurosurgeon, who will be monitoring Tracy's baclofen pump. He evaluated Tracy and then agreed to refill Tracy's pump Friday at 11 AM. It will be so much easier to drive to Ft. Lauderdale instead of Jackson Hospital in Miami for monthly pump refills. We finally got home around 5:30 PM! Tracy was so happy to be in her own bed! She survived 5 hours in her chair with her new abductor/hip brace. It fits her well; she has no pressure marks. She fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. Dad did too! (Mom stayed up late to update the webpage and to unpack everything! Too much cafe con leche, I guess!) Tomorrow, Tracy will be visited by Cindy, the home health nurse, and will get a pedicure, manicure, and facial. Five Stars for Baptist Hospital of Miami: All of the staff at Baptist Hospital have been incredible. They are extremely professional, knowledgeable, caring and compassionate. They have gone above and beyond and Tracy and our family truly appreciate all that they have done to make Tracy's surgery and recovery optimal. From the orthopedic surgeon to the OR circulating nurse to the anesthesiologist and everyone in between, Tracy is surrounded by angels. We are all forever grateful for their Tender Loving Care and expertise. Of course, we could not go directly home, but had to stop in Ft. Lauderdale for an appointment with a new neurosurgeon who will be managing Tracy's baclofen pump. Tracy was seen by Dr. Anthony Alberico at 3 PM and he agreed to refill her pump on Friday at 11 AM. This will save Tracy from having to make a horrendous trip to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami tomorrow! WooHoo! One thing Tracy does not need is a trip back to Miami to get her pump refilled on I-95! Tomorrow, she will be visited by the home health nurse, Cindy, who will be following her for a few weeks. The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. She will wear her new abductor/hip brace and will also begin passive range of motion with the CPM machine. Mom is so glad that she saved her CPM from several years ago. This is truly PROGRESS! We are finally headed in the right direction. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! Tracy seems a lot more responsive now that she is not in pain from chronic gall bladder disease and from all of the contractures (hip, knee, and feet). She is so much more comfortable without her hip and knee in a chronic flexed position! Thank you Dr. Tidwell for giving Tracy another miracle; the ability to stand and sit without being twisted and contorted. Thank you Dr. Canning, for taking Tracy's necrosed and gangrenous gall bladder chock full of stones. Who would have expected that! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long!We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us to see beyond the unknown, overcoming our fears. "The letters of the word "fear" can be used to stand for "False Evidence Appearing Real." Fears of being separated from something or someone we feel we need for our security or happiness comes from a delusion-a distorted way of understanding ourselves and the world around us. When we understand that possessions are only representations of the energy at work in our lives, we can shift our attention to the right and proper place. We can stop fearing loss of money or success because when we understand how it is created, we can always create more. We can stop fearing loss of possessions when we realize that they are not the source of our joy or well-being but only icing on our cakes. And when we understand the energy of love, we need not hold anyone too close for fear of losing them for we know that love does not diminish when it is given or shared but expands beyond boundaries of time or space." Lesson of the Day: Seeing Beyond The Unknown : Fear Of Losing What We Have!
Tuesday, October 17th, 2006: Forty-five months since Tracy's anoxic brain injury! ~ Mom stayed with Tracy last night and she rested well. This morning, the nurse from Special Procedures contacted Tracy's nurse to tell her that they were coming for Tracy alot earlier than originally planned. Dad made a bee line from the Miami airport to be there with Tracy during her ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. They took Tracy to Room 7 and the Anesthesiologist put her to sleep. It took the Gastroenterologist 7 minutes to do the test from start to finish. Her common bile duct, her liver and her pancreas all looked normal. This is all good news. Hopefully, Tracy will have a good night and will be able to be discharged home tomorrow. We will wait for Dr. Tidwell to make rounds to see what he recommends. This afternoon, when Tracy returned to her room, Respiratory Therapy gave her a breathing treatment. Then the Occupational Therapist came by to range Tracy's upper extremities. Tracy was pretty uncomfortable and in no mood to be ranged. She let them know this, and they left her alone. The nurse gave Tracy some codeine for pain and she was able to rest. Dad fed Tracy and she tolerated 2 cans of Jevity 1.2 in her PEG tube. Hopefully, she will be able to tolerate another round of feeding this evening. Mom and Tania went to the hotel to pack up everything in case Tracy is allowed to go home tomorrow.
Monday, October 16th, 2006: TWO WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL ~ Dad stayed with Tracy last night and she just could not go to sleep until 4 in the morning. Overnight her liver enzymes improved and the gastroenterologist recommended to Mom and Dad that we watch Tracy's bilirubin and liver enzymes for another day. Even if they continue to improve, the doctors still recommended that Tracy should have the ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography on Tuesday. At this time the procedure is scheduled for 12:30 on Tuesday. Today was a busy one for Tracy. The orthotist fitted her with her hip abductor brace and it will need to be worn everytime she is out of her bed. The physical therapist helped getting Tracy into her chair and she was able to sit for 3.5 hrs without any trouble. Additionally, the occupational therapist worked with Tracy's arms and she did great. Hopefully with all this activity she will sleep better tonight and Mom and she will be well rested for her ERCP. Dad will be staying at the hotel tonight and will be in the procedure room with Tracy. More to follow tomorrow.
Sunday, October 15th, 2006: SECOND DAY POSTOP SINCE TRACY'S SECOND SURGERY! ~ Mom stayed with Tracy last night and they both slept well. This morning, the surgeon and the gastroenterologist discussed with Mom and Dad that Tracy's bilirubin continues to go up and that her liver enzymes also remain elevated. The doctors explained that there is a good chance that Tracy will need a special procedure called an ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography. This is a fancy name for: the surgeon puts a scope down the esophagus into the stomach, duodenum and into the biliary tree and pancreas. It seems that Tracy's common bile duct may be obstructed due to chronic inflammation, adhesions, a lodged stone, or some other reason. Once they examine the duct, they may take an x-ray (cholangiogram), perform a biopsy and/or put in a stent to open the flow. As with any procedure requiring anesthesia, there are potential complications, including pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreatitis), infection and bleeding. This afternoon, Tracy was up in her chair for three hours. Marissa, Tracy's Speech Therapy masters student from FAU, came to visit Tracy and she and Lisa (Tracy's other masters ST student) brought Tracy Narnia on CD! Tracy will truly enjoy listening to this great fable. It was so good to see Marissa, especially since Nana and the gang were unable to visit us today. Aunt Diane had a little virus and Uncle Johnny had Religious Education classes all day! We missed seeing them. We hope Tracy will be discharged early next week. The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home when she is discharged. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It teaches us how to share our gifts with others. "Your personal power is defined in part by your gifts. To use your talents is to demonstrate to the world that you understand yourself and are truly attuned to your capabilities. Your earthly existence provides you with ample opportunity to explore your purpose, to utilize your skills in a life-affirming way, and to positively touch the lives of others while doing so. Yet you may feel that your gifts are not as valuable or worthy of attention as those of others and thus hide them away. However, every gift lying dormant in your soul has the potential to fill a void in someone else's life. Just as your existence is made richer by the love, support, friendship, aid, and compassion of others, so, too, can you add richness to their lives. Your natural ability to soothe hurt, inspire compassion, bake, dance, knit, organize, or think outside the box can be a boon to someone in need." Lesson of the Day: Living Potential : Sharing Your Gift With Others!
Saturday, October 14th, 2006: ONE DAY POSTOP SINCE TRACY'S SECOND SURGERY! ~ Tracy, Mom and Dad slept all last night in Tracy's room. In fact, they never stirred until 9:00 AM! Everyone needed a good night's sleep. Tania went home for the weekend to Ft. Lauderdale. Her mom is visiting from NYC, so it is a good thing that she will be able to visit with her. Tania has been a real blessing! She is one of Tracy's angels and we are so grateful to have her. Thank you Lynn and Lloyd for doing our laundry and for the wonderful basket of goodies! Chocolate covered strawberries, brie cheese and crackers, and all sorts of yummy things to eat and drink. Lynn is one of the great nurses who works with Dad at American Airlines! He is blessed with a wonderful staff of caring, compassionate, and smart people. We truly appreciate everything! Thank you Cousins Eileen and Chip for the cute Halloween teddy bear and card! Thank you Wilmene for the pretty flowers and balloon! Thank you Kate and David for the gorgeous roses! They are still beautiful after almost two weeks! Thank you Wanda Reynolds for the pretty card. Thanks to everyone for the many prayers, positive thoughts, and well wishes. Our family is truly blessed to have so many wonderful friends and relatives. Your support gives Tracy and us the strength to continue of our journey! This afternoon, Mom went to the hotel next door to update the page while Dad watched football and Tracy caught up on her sleep. She seems relieved to have that gall bladder out and can now move forward on her path to recovery! Mom hopes she will be able to get off all her stomach medicine. Keep your fingers crossed. We hope Tracy will be discharged early next week. The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home when she is discharged. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. How perfect is this one, especially regarding Tracy's gall bladder attack and surgery! It talks about being exactly where one needs to be with the universe. " Every person fulfills their purpose when the time is right. If you have fast-tracked to success, you may become deeply frustrated if you discover you can no longer satisfy your desires as quickly as you might like. Yet the delays that disappoint you may be laying the foundation for future accomplishments that you have not yet conceived. Or the universe may have plans for you that differ from the worldly aspirations you have pursued up until this point. What you deem a postponement of progress may actually represent an auspicious opportunity to prepare for what is yet to come. If, however, you feel as though the universe is pushing you forward at too fast a clip, you may be unwittingly resisting your destiny. Your unease regarding the speed of your progress could be a sign that you need to cultivate awareness within yourself and learn to move with the flow of fate rather than against it. The universe puts nothing in your path that you are incapable of handling, so you can rest assured that you are ready to grow into your new situation." Lesson of the Day: Where You Need To Be : Timing Can Be Everything!
Thursday, October 12th, 2006: Tracy's Ninth Postop Day: Tracy still has a great deal of swelling in her right thigh near her incision site. Dr. Tidwell came by this morning to check Tracy and ordered an ultrasound on Tracy's right thigh. The technician was extremely thorough and did the test at Tracy's bedside. This afternoon, Dr. Tidwell drained 20 ccs of serosanguinous fluid from Tracy's right thigh. Dr. Tidwell sent specimens to the lab for analysis. The fluid was clear and did not indicate an infection. It will take some time for the swelling in her thigh to be reabsorbed. Tracy sat in her chair for more than three hours this afternoon. She seemed relaxed and her heart rate stayed around 100 beats per minute. We are hoping that Tracy will be discharged Friday and will be ready for to receive home therapy by next week. We are hoping that her hip and knee will be strong enough to endure passive range of motion on her CPM (continuous passive motion) machine next week and then begin weight bearing on her tilt table in two weeks. Tracy will have more blood drawn in the morning to check her liver and we will get the results of her tests on the fluid Dr. Tidwell drained from her right thigh.make sure that her liver is healthy. If she continues to improve, we are still hoping to take Tracy home Thursday. This afternoon, Tracy was in her chair for more than three hours. Way to go Tracy! The Occupational Therapist came by to do range of motion with Tracy. She was very pleased with Tracy's range in her hands and wrists.
Wednesday,
Tuesday, October 10th, 2006: ~ ONE WEEK SINCE TRACY'S SURGERY!~ Tracy slept most of last night. Mom stayed by her side in a pull out chair/bed. The chair/bed was actually more comfortable than the bed in the hotel next door. This morning, Tracy's orthopedic surgeon made rounds and was pleased with Tracy's ability to maintain her oxygen saturations without needing oxygen. The pulomonogists and respiratory therapists have done an excellent job keeping Tracy's lungs clear. Tracy's fever has remained steady at around 101.6 (axillary) for the past several days. It does respond well to tylenol and ice packs. Dad thinks that her temperatures are due to all of the trauma Tracy experienced during her extensive surgery. All of her labs have consistently been negative for any signs of infection. This morning after Tracy's bath, the Physical Therapist helped Mom and Tania get Tracy in her chair. Then Mom and Tania washed Tracy's hair with the No Rinse shampoo that the astronauts use on the space shuttle. Tania gave Tracy a facial massage while Mom gave her a facial. Tracy really relaxed and seemed to enjoy her spa day. She tolerated 4 hours in her chai and seemed to be very comfortable. This afternoon, Wilmene and her friend came to visit Tracy. They brought Tracy a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a cute balloon and card. It was so good to see Wilmene. It has been way too long! This evening, Tracy's Ortho Tech came by to measure Tracy for an abductor brace. Our girl will have more pieces and parts to wear by the time we get her home. We can't wait until Tracy is home and is able to receive Physical Therapy in her own surroundings. As soon as her hip is stronger, Tracy will be able to weight bear on her tilt table. Thank you Kate and David for the beautiful multicolored roses! They are the prettiest roses Mom has ever seen! Thank you for all of your prayers and positive energy. Please keep them coming Tracy's way! The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home when she is discharged. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about being exactly where one needs to be with the universe. " Every person fulfills their purpose when the time is right. If you have fast-tracked to success, you may become deeply frustrated if you discover you can no longer satisfy your desires as quickly as you might like. Yet the delays that disappoint you may be laying the foundation for future accomplishments that you have not yet conceived. Or the universe may have plans for you that differ from the worldly aspirations you have pursued up until this point. What you deem a postponement of progress may actually represent an auspicious opportunity to prepare for what is yet to come. If, however, you feel as though the universe is pushing you forward at too fast a clip, you may be unwittingly resisting your destiny. Your unease regarding the speed of your progress could be a sign that you need to cultivate awareness within yourself and learn to move with the flow of fate rather than against it. The universe puts nothing in your path that you are incapable of handling, so you can rest assured that you are ready to grow into your new situation." Lesson of the Day: Where You Need To Be : Timing Can Be Everything!
Tuesday, October 10th, 2006: Tracy's Seventh Postop Day: Tracy had another restful night with Mom in charge. Her heart rate continued to stay down under 120 beats per minute for most of the day. Mom thinks that Tracy's heart rate was elevated mostly because several of the doctors who came to see Tracy were absolutely GORGEOUS! They looked like they belonged on CSI Miami! Whew! The Infectious Disease team told Mom that all of Tracy's lab tests were negative and that they think that her yellow jaundice is due to all of the trauma and hematomas (blood loss into the tissue) from Tracy's surgery. Tracy had her last Toradol IV medication this morning. That is a very strong IV anti-inflammatory drug similar to ibuprofen. The hospital's policy is to limit the drug to every six hours for 48 hours due to potential kidney involvement. It really works to help minimize swelling and pain, so that Tracy can rest. She still has a great deal of swelling in her right thigh near her incision site. It will take some time for the swelling in her thigh to be reabsorbed. The Ortho Tech came by to measure Tracy for a brace which she will need to wear when she is up in her chair and also when she is weight bearing on the tilt table. Our girl has more pieces and parts to put on; she is more wired than the Bionic Woman! We are hoping that Tracy will be discharged Thursday and will be ready for to receive home therapy by next week. We are hoping that her hip and knee will be strong enough to endure passive range of motion on her CPM (continuous passive motion) machine next week and then begin weight bearing on her tilt table in two weeks. Tracy will have more blood drawn in the morning to make sure that her liver is healthy. If she continues to improve, we are still hoping to take Tracy home Thursday. This afternoon, the Physical Therapist helped Mom and Tania put Tracy in her chair and she tolerated four hours! Way to go Tracy! The Occupational Therapist came by to evaluate Tracy and felt that her current wrist splints still are fitting well. Tracy wore her left hand splint all day. We did not make her wear her right splint because she still has the heparin lock for IV access.
Monday, October 9th, 2006: Tracy's Sixth Postop Day: Tracy had a restful night with her heart rate finally getting down into the lower eighties. Mom received a much needed massage from Emil before turning in for the night. She relieved Dad around 8:00 this morning so he could go to work. Tracy and Mom relaxed during the morning with Tracy receiving her breathing treatments and starting on iron to help her make more blood. As the day went on, Tracy became a little yellow and the doctors drew some more blood for test. We will let you know the results as soon as we get them. This afternoon, Tracy's orthopedic surgeon and his cast tech remove her cast. Both feet and ankles looked great with no signs of pressure or infections and most importantly, they were straight enough for some Pradas. Tracy got a new pair of casts with her feet even a little straighter. Reality is Tracy will be in this set of cast for 2 more weeks and then receive a new pair for another three weeks. During this time we hope to start home therapy. Emil and Tania stayed with Tracy while Dad and Mom went for their first dinner together in a week. Mom will stay with Tracy tonight and hopefully Dad will recharge his batteries with a night at the hotel. At this time, if everything continues to improve, we could be home as early as Thursday.
Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th, 2006: Tracy's Fourth and Fifth Postop Days: Sorry for the delay in the updates, we are having connectivity problems at the hotel. Saturday, she continued with increase temperature and heart rate. Thankfully, Tracy is use to hard workouts and her athletic heart is meeting the challenge. The pulmonologist continue to watch her closely and sent Tracy for a Ventilation and Profusion lung scan to make sure she does not have any embolism in her lungs. Additional, she had her legs scanned for clots and thankfully, both test were negative. With these results, she was started on blood thinners to help prevent any clots. With all of this going on, both Mom and Dad stayed with Tracy Saturday night. Sunday morning Tracy blood test showed her blood count low enought to need a blood transfusion. She received two units of packed red blood cells and is already looking a little better. The pain management team started her on a stronger medicine and her heart rate finally went below 100. The rest of the day was very quiet and ended with a dinner brought by Aunt Diane, Tim, Uncle Johnny and Nana. It was great having family sharing a meal in Tracy's room. Following the meal, Emil arrived and was able to give Mom a much needed massage. Dad spent another night with Tracy and is getting use to sleeping on a pullout chair. He says it reminds him of his intership. More to follow.
Friday, October 6th, 2006: Tracy's Third Postop Day: Tracy had another eventful day. Today she sat for 2.5 hours and continued to tolerate it well. Early in the morning, Tracy spiked a temperature of 102 degrees again and her heart rate flucturated as high as 160 beats per minute. The staff did not need to drew blood cultures again, as all of Tracy lab work continue to show no signs of an infection. Tracy received some tylenol and an ice pack to reduce her fever, and we increased her G-tube fluids. Tracy's temperature and heart rate responded well to the regimen and this afternoon her heart rate was back close to only 100 and she is resting peacefully. The nurses changed her dressing to her right hip and inguinal area again today and they continue to look good. The increased swelling to the operative site stayed about the same today and the new bed seems to be helping with Tracy's comfort and swelling. Her lungs continue to stay clear and Tracy continues to receive breathing treatments. Mom is staying with Tracy tonight to give Dad his first good night sleep since Monday night. With her heart rate and temperature staying down this afternoon, we are very hopeful she has finally turned the corner and will continues to improve from here on. Tracy's hemeglobin and hematocrit have stabilized and if it continues this way, she will not need a transfusion. More later...
Thursday, October 5th, 2006: ~ Tracy slept most of last night. She woke up around 4 AM and Dad did a thorough assessment. He found that she had some swelling near her right hip incision. This is common due to dependent positioning of her lower extremities, especially after the amount of trauma she endured during her extensive surgery. Dad elevated her lower extemities and the doctor ordered a different bed which will assist in positioning Tracy and facilitate drainage to minimize postoperative swelling. Mom and Tania relieved Dad about 8:30 AM so he could go to work today. Tracy was awake most of the day and tolerated sitting in her chair for three hours. Mom and Tania continued to monitor her swelling and made sure that her legs were elevated, especially while she was sitting in her chair. This afternoon, Tracy started to spike a fever of 102 and became a little tachycardic. Her heart rate ranged from 130 to 160 beats per minute. The staff contacted the hospital intern and he ordered blood cultires, an EKG, an urinalysis and cultures, and a bolus of IV fluids. Tracy's elevated temperature responded well to the increased fluids, tylenol, and ice packs. They plan to repeat her chest x-ray and wait for her blood culture results. This evening, by the time Dad arrived, Tracy's heart rate and temperature had decreased and she was resting well. Dad is staying with Tracy again tonight. We decided to let Tracy rest and to forego any visitors this evening until her temperature and heart rate stabilizes. Thank you for all of your prayers and positive energy. Please keep them coming Tracy's way! The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home when she is discharged. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/ proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! Thank you Kate and David for the beautiful multicolored roses! They are the prettiest roses Mom has ever seen! We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about finding power in honesty. "When you endeavor to consistently keep your word, however, you protect your reputation and promote yourself as someone who can be trusted to be unfailingly truthful. Though your honesty may not always endear you to others-for there will always be those who fear the truth-you can nonetheless be certain that your integrity is never tarnished by the patina of deceit. Since frankness and sincerity form the basis of all life-enriching relationships, your word is one of your most precious and powerful possessions." Lesson of the Day: Power In Honesty : Staying True To Your Word!
Wednesday, October 4th, 2006: ~ Tracy slept most of last night. She woke up around 3 AM and went back to sleep after the nurse gave her some medicine for pain. Dad stayed with Tracy and slept as well as one can in a hospital chair. This morning, Mom had a severe headache and was feeling nauseous and even had a repeat of last week's dry heaves. It was most likely due to intense stress from yesterday's marathon surgery. She felt better this evening after spending most of today relaxing with Tracy at the hospital. This morning, Tracy's labs all seemed normal. Her hemeglobin was a little low, but that is common after losing blood due to trauma from orthopedic surgery. The doctor feels that this will correct itself within a few days. Tracy had a low grade fever that responded well to Tylenol with Codeine. The doctor said that this is very common in orthopedic surgery due to all of the trauma. The Physical Therapist came to evaluate Tracy and got her in her chair. She was able to tolerate sitting in her chair for two hours today, which is fantastic! Sitting up helps Tracy's lungs to drain, especially after being under anesthesia for 7 hours. The doctor ordered breathing treatments and a chest x-ray to make sure that her lungs stay clear so that she does not develop postoperative pneumonia. She is still getting IVs and has a catheter. Her pain is under control and the ortho tech bivalved her casts to relieve any pressure due to swelling. She will have to keep her casts on for six weeks and then will need to wear AFOs again. Her feet are the straightest they have been since her injury and her hip is aligned. Tomorrow, Dr. Tidwell is planning on changing the dressing on her hip. The other dressings will not be changed until the casts come off, which will most likely be in 6 weeks. The plan is for Tracy to have PT, OT and Speech Therapies at home when she is discharged. We hope to get her standing on the tilt table once her hip has healed enough. This has been Mom's dream for a very long time. Tracy has not been vertical since she was a patient at NRH. The ability for her to weight bear with her feet plantar will really be healthy for maintaining bone density and preventing further osteoporosis. It will also be good for Tracy's vestibular/proprioceptor system! Man was made to stand up and not see the world from a horizontal position! Tracy was up most of the day, although she was pretty groggy from the pain medicine. Uncle Johnny came to visit Tracy this evening. It was so good to see him. Tracy even smiled when Aunt Diane said hello to her on the cell phone. She seems much more comfortable now that her hip is back in the socket. We truly appreciate the many prayers that are coming Tracy's way. Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery and a very successful outcome. We are still hoping for a miracle. Tomorrow, Tracy will sit up in her chair in the morning. The goal is to increase her time in the chair to 3 hours. We are hoping that she will be able to get her IV and foley catheter out as well. Dr. Tidwell plans to change her dressing on her hip. We will also try to resume her tube feedings to 5 cans of Jevity 1.2. She received 4 cans today and tolerated them well, although her tummy was slow to digest, another common postoperative outcome. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about soulful voyages. Mom found these recommendations helpful while staying at the hospital with Tracy during her surgery. "If you find yourself disconcerted by the foreignness of your surroundings when traveling, packing a few reassuring items from your home in your luggage can help you stay balanced. Photographs of loved ones, a favorite tea or snack, soft slippers, or even your own pillow can soothe the rigors associated with travel by plane, car, train, and ship while en route. Holding a crystal, gemstone, talisman, or medicine bag in your hand during particularly stressful periods of travel can help you stay relaxed and alert. Items imbued with healing or calming energy can help you destress once you reach your destination. As you unpack your travel altar, light a stick of sweet-smelling incense, or bask in the glow of a meditation candle, you'll gradually begin to feel more grounded and serene in your new location. During the course of your journey, try not to forget to indulge in those activities that center you and sustain your emotional equilibrium. If you tend to sleep and wake at the same time each day, maintaining that schedule will ensure you stay strong and healthy." Lesson of the Day: Soulful Voyages : Travel Sensitivity!
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006: ~ Tracy endured 8 hours of Orthopedic Surgery today! Dad was able to be with her throughout the entire surgery and in the recovery room. He is staying with her tonight on the Orthopedic Unit. She is in a private room across from the Nurse's Station. Tracy had 11 incisions and Dr. Tidwell did a great job rerouting her tendons, balancing her muscles, and straightening her feet as much as possible. He reattached the head of her right femur to her joint and tightened the capsule. She has bilateral below the knee casts. The doctor will most likely bivalve her casts tomorrow so that he can monitor her incisions and watch for any swelling. She is expected to stay in the hospital for about one week. Tracy was awake all night long. She seemed very anxious about today's surgery. She grinded her teeth a little during the night and was even crying! Mom and Dad were up all night too. This morning, Tania, Dad and Mom got Tracy dressed and in her chair by 5:30 AM and they drove next door to Baptist's Surgery Center for a 6 AM check in. The nurse called Tracy to the Preop area around 6:30 AM and they began getting her prepped for surgery. The nurse, Anne Marie, did a thorough intake evaluation and then started Tracy's IV. She also drew some blood for a type and crossmatch just in case Tracy would need a blood transfusion during surgery. Tracy relaxed on the gurny while the anesthesiologist talked to Mom and Dad. He was not only an anesthesiologist but also an internist and a pulmonologist. They finally took Tracy back to the Operating Room around 8:15 AM. Dad was able to go in the OR with Tracy and was by her side throughout the entire operation, recovery, and her first night on the Orthopedic unit. The surgery was very long. Dr. Tidwell repaired Tracy's right hip first. He found some arthritic changes in Tracy's hip, from it being dislocated and flexed for so long. After about two hours, he worked on her right hamstring, adductor, and both feet. Her feet were more involved than Dr. Tidwell initially thought, and this took an additional five hours! It was then time to cast Tracy legs and feet. Of course, they used UM Cane green casting material. Tracy was finally transferred from Recovery to Room 3129 around 8 PM. She is in a private room across from the nurse's station. Dad stayed with her all night. We expect her to stay in the hospital for about a week, depending on her recovery. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about cloud meditation. "When people use the phrase "head in the clouds," they usually refer to a mental state that appears to be drifting rather than concentrating. For this reason, putting our heads in the clouds can be a wonderful meditation tool. Whether puffy and white or tinted with the colors of dawn and dusk or shades of gray, those vaporous sky dwellers can remind us of so many things about life and about ourselves." Lesson of the Day:Head In The Clouds : Cloud Meditation!
Monday, October 2nd, 2006: ~ Tracy had another good night's sleep last night. Mom and Dad were up several times during the night. They are both anxious about Tracy's surgery Tuesday morning. This morning, Tania and Mom bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Mom spent most of the morning packing up all of the stuff they will need for Tracy's hospital stay in Miami. She and Tania left around 1 PM for Baptist Hospital in Miami for Tracy's preop appointment at 2 PM. They got a late start. Lucky for them, Dad was able to get there on time and let them know that the crew would be arriving around 20 minutes late. When we arrived, it was hurry up and wait. Preregistration went smoothly and they had Tracy's medical record ready with all of her preop labs completed and posted. Mom brought extra copies just in case. The intake nurse, Denise, was extremely thorough and spent about two and a half hours with Mom, Dad and Tracy. They discussed all of Tracy's needs and documented everything from her medical history to her medications. Then it was time to talk to anesthesia. Dad went into great detail regarding Tracy's anesthesia history and the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist was very attentive. They even did an EKG! Everything looked good and ready to go! Tracy is a first case at 7:30 AM and we are supposed to be there at 6 AM! Looks like it will be an early evening. We are staying at the Radisson Hotel on North Kendall, South Miami. Tracy is spending the night with us until we check in at 6 AM tomorrow morning. Dad is planning on going in to surgery with her and Dr. Tidwell. He will stay with her at the hospital tomorrow evening. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about checking in with your heart each morning before you start your day! "Every day we experience a magical twilight between our dreams and waking state. During this brief period of time, our minds still remember that all things are possible. We can smoothly transition into our physical world without losing a sense of hope when we check in with our heart center first, before we even get out of bed. Our heart center is the link between body and spirit, instinct and inspiration. It doesn't take long to hold a thought of loving gratitude for the heart that beats within us. In a mere moment we can review all that we want to accomplish in the light of love. When we get into the habit of beginning our day from the heart, all of our activities glow with the infusion of conscious intent and all interactions are done with compassion." Lesson of the Day:Linking Center : Checking In With Your Heart!
Sunday, October 1st, 2006: Tracy had another restful sleep. This morning, Mom and Dad bathed Tracy and got her ready for the day. Today, Felicia was sick with a cold. We hope she feels better soon! Dad and Mom got Tracy in her chair and took her outside to the dock. It was a beautiful day, and Tracy really seemed to enjoy the sunshine. She even got about three shades darker in about twenty minutes! Our girl tans like toast. This afternoon, everyone came over to have a cook out to wish Tracy good luck on her surgery and also to wish cousin Chip good luck on his new company venture: LaMarca Construction Company! We are all very excited for him and Eileen. Aunt Diane read to Tracy while she relaxed in her chair, while Mom and Dad cooked dinner. Tracy really loves being read to. Everyone hung out and visited, watching some football in between. Tracy really loves having everyone around her. It is such a stimulating environment for her to recover. Tomorrow, Mom and Tania will pack for the trip to Miami for Tracy's surgery. Tracy has an appointment at 2 PM at Baptist for her preop/anesthesia consult. Mom, Dad, Tania, and Tracy will spend the night in the Radisson Hotel next to Baptist Hospital. Tuesday morning, Tracy is scheduled to have her surgery. Mom will have her laptop and will keep everyone posted on Tracy's surgery outcome. We miss Tiffany and Rick! They were such a huge help with our initial move and we look forward to seeing them over Thanksgiving! We are really looking forward to seeing Mamaw and Papaw in November. It has been since early summer since we were all together. We are looking forward to Liz's visit October 24th to 31st. It's been way too long! We are all very hopeful that 2006 will bring great improvements and many miracles to Tracy and our family. Many thanks to all of you who continue to pray for Tracy's recovery! Please keep those prayers and powerful wishes coming Tracy's way! Take a look at today's daily OM. It talks about getting through hard times! "If the only choice is to get through it, a hard day can be a great teacher. It will eventually end and we can look back on it, taking pride in the stamina, courage, and ingenuity it took to hold our ground. We may also look back and see how we could have done things differently. This knowledge will be valuable when we face hard days in the future. Trust your gut as you're deciding whether to work through it, and know that sometimes a timely retreat is the best way to ensure a positive outcome. Getting space can remind us that external circumstances are not the whole picture. Once we catch our breath and re-center ourselves, we will be able to determine our next move. With a little perspective, we may even find the inner resources to change our attitude about what's happening. We may begin to see that what we saw as hardships are actually opportunities. As our attitude changes for the better, our actions and the circumstances will follow suit." Lesson of the Day:Working Through : Hard Days!