April 2007 - Posts
Michael went swimming today! Michael’s nurse and Physical Therapist worked together to get him into a pool. He’ll be able to go to this Aquatics session on a regular basis and it sounds really good for him. The pool has a good setup to keep him safe – I have been pretty nervous not knowing how he would do or what would happen if there was a slip and he went underwater. The pool has a chair lift to get him in the water, then support to keep him above the water. I’m told they also have weights for his legs, this way he’ll be able to walk in the water - AWESOME!! In the water he will need much less control and strength to support and move himself. Aside from all of this, I know Michael and how much he loves being in the water, he has always been a fish at heart.
A big thanks to everyone involved in this process, I know there was a lot of effort and time involved in making this happen. Thank you!
I’ve been asked to write more so, I guess I will. Some times I feel like I just want to, like I need to just be quiet.
Michael has been tight again, a lot, I’m not sure why. The baclofen pump is working but he is tense, something is bothering him. I’m frustrated with not knowing what to do – a very familiar feeling. I know most parents feel that way. I rest in Prov 3:5-7 but I know that doesn’t mean that “things” will turn out as I want them to, I must daily give it up to God. I’m sure you can relate. There are lots of times when we just can’t do anything, or we have no clue what to do, in these times trusting God is a little easier, since we can’t do anything. This doesn’t remove any responsibility that I have, it just pulls him on it and when he is in on it then he is the one leading.
I've been spending a lot of time building Displays for Michael's computer, it reminds me of earlier computer days. The displays are menus, pages made up of pictures and text to select from. Each selection either launches a program, plays a sound or takes him to another display. I've made a page for a simple yes and no, with thumbs-up and thumbs-down, an "I feel" page, this one is of pictures of faces with emotional looks - happy, sad, disappointed, excited, etc. There are others, there are games, there are menus that play songs and show picture slide shows - it's really cool for him.
Michael received the computer we’ve been waiting on – The Mercury – with time this will go a long way to help him communicate. The system is pc based, with touch screen, the software includes thousands of symbols to use in building communication screens. We can use text, icon/pictures that come with the system or pictures of our own. The system will read the text that is displayed or play a pre-selected sound file. So, I have one screen that has YES / NO and More, when he touches More it takes him to a screen that has some phrases, then I added a “I feel…” screen for him in the same area. Then there are screens for games and email and a calendar. This is just what I’ve set up to this point, there are countless possibilities! It’s my hope that he’ll be able to jump right in with the Yes / No part and games, pictures, music (mp3 files), then as he gets more comfortable I hope he’ll be able to use it to say what he wants when he wants – we just have to take it really slow. So, it all looks great – a huge thanks to the Dream Factory for their help. Thank you! The Dream Factory is an awesome organization.
So, as usual the good news is mixed with the bad. Michael has some kind of skin thing going on, a rash and it’s making him very uncomfortable and tense, which makes it a lot harder for him to get going on the computer – The Mercury.
Thanks for checking in…
Inside-out
Here is a post from Christine...
Michael’s family and friends will be participating in the Amy Thompson Run to Daylight event. This is the main fundraiser for the 
Brain Injury Association of Greater Kansas City.
If you would like to make a donation, please take one of these flyers. Donation information is on the back. Thank you for your support of the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City
To make a donation to the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City (BIAKS):
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Make check payable and mail to:
Brain Injury Association or B I A
P.O. Box 413072
Kansas City, MO 64141-3072
Please mark your check for “Mike’s Mom” so the donation is credited to my fund-raising goal.
Make a donation online (secure)
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On the right side, click on “Make a donation”
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Click on the “Sponsor Participant Online” link
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Enter the following information:
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First name – Christine
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Last name – Foutts
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State – MO
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Click on Search; then on my name
When my page comes up, click on “make donation” and follow instructions.
If you prefer, you may give your donation directly to me and I will make sure it is mailed in and credited to my goal.
Thank you for your support. 
If you haven't heard about it, let me tell you about this.. There is a house in Lee's Summit, a big 1.8 million dollar house, that is available to tour. The proceeds from these tours goes to support the Dream Factory. If you have the time, go out and take the tour of this house - in appreciation of their help for Michael. The house is out by Lake Jacomo - it's on Prarie Lea lake from what I undertsand. The address is 2355 Lake Breeze Point, it should be a fun tour anyway. Take Colbern east to Blackwell, go south on Blackwell to Woodland Shores, to west on Woodland Shores to Lake Breeze Point. If you haven't been out there in awhile you'll be amazed at how much has changed around Prarie Lea. I remember a 'Senior Skip Day' picnic there almost 30 years ago, Prarie Lea is a quite different but in some ways still the same.
It's not a big thing but it is a way that we can say thank you to them. Here's a link on the house and the tour.
http://www.kcdream.org/html/news/?contentID=1200
We got home Saturday, he’s still has some issues with the pneumonia but he’s handling it all well. The Baclofen pump is making a difference, helping him a lot. He does have some adjusting to do with changing back to food / formula he gets at home.
I don’t have a time frame the communication device yet, but we’re very anxious to get started with it.
That’s it for now…