So, yes, the Griswolds made it home. Where should I begin??

I will start off with how training at PW ended. Jayci's last couple days at PW were great. She continues to get stronger. They told us that they can feel Jayci using her lower abdominal muscles, which they say is really good as most quadriplegics do not get these muscles back. They do not see this very often.

Her final report reads as follows; She has not needed her abdominal binder for almost 2 weeks(3 weeks as of now); Her spasms have increased in intensity and duration. She has developed new spasms in her abdomen and calves; She can now contract her abdominal muscles during crunching motions and trunk exercises. In the lower extremities she can initiate and continue muscle contraction during straight leg and bent knee hip extension. Her right triceps muscles is now initiating more strongly; She has improved sensation in her back and can identify pressure in her hip joint, tingling in her feet, and burning in her legs; She is able to sit unassisted for more than a minute and move her head side to side and use her left arm and re balance herself when she is thrown off balance. She can roll from her side to her back; She is able to support 50% more body weight on her shoulders. Her shoulder pain and irritation is now infrequent.

I don't know. Think this has benefited her???? Her next session is planned to start July 19th for 4 weeks. Until then, we will continue to work her at home. Hopefully we will have some equipment for her soon!?!?!?!?

As for our trip home, well it seemed like it took forever. And of course, it wouldn't be a Griswold vacation without a few mishaps. There were a few detours along the way. Shawn blames Nancy but....well, never mind. That would just take too long. We lost an IPod somewhere, believe it was left in the hotel in Vegas. They don't have it but we can file an investigation with security???? Ya, OK!! Somehow, when we were loading up to leave Vegas on Saturday morning, the van and trailer keys got locked inside the trailer. I'll give you a hint. It wasn't me!! Well I did have a spare set of van keys, there wasn't a spare set for the trailer so we had to call a lock picker guy. Oh ya and apparently Jayci's cell phone contract doesn't have unlimited texting for out of country. She receives a message Friday morning saying her account was suspended due to too much activity. Shawn calls, and the bill is up to $2500. WHAT???? We knew she couldn't use her data plan but had no idea about the texting. Anyways, I had my peeps call their peeps and they have agreed to lower the bill, how much yet, we don't know and they are trying to figure something out for when we go back. Unbelievable. Why does it seem like we always have to learn things the hard way????

We got home Monday around 6:30 and some family was here to help us unload. We had stuff at the front door, the back door, and everywhere in between. Are you kidding me??? We didn't seriously take all this stuff, did we?? Needless to say, I am still unpacking and trying, lordybee I am trying, to get this house organized again. Of course we had to take 2 TVs along because you can never have too many TVs. Well, that's what Shawn says anyways. Shawn goes to hook the TV back up in our bedroom, the one we bought him last year for Father's Day, and guess what? Oh, did I mention the trip was really rough? Yep, you guessed it, when he turned it on, the screen was all squiggles. Wrecked. Our back fence was blown down from a wind storm they had here that also had blown the hot tub lid off and filled the tub with dirt and other stuff. Couldn't believe it, I couldn't even have a tub. BUT.... we are home. We are back with family and friends and of course, my babies, Cass, Tye and Giz. Boy, I missed them!!!

I might get in trouble for sharing this but I will take the chance, in hopes that I can somehow pass along one of the things that I have learned over the past 9 months. And that is what truly is important in this life. After we learned the TV was busted(did I mention I wasn't too happy about that?) we could hear Jayci crying from the bedroom where her and Cass were. When I went in to see what was wrong, Jace says "Well, this is all my fault. If I wasn't paralyzed, I wouldn't have a $2500 phone bill and the TV wouldn't be broken". I felt like a schmuck and it reminded me once again of what really matters. We all know that none of this is Jayci's fault. We may never know why this happened to our Jaybird and in no way does she deserve it but I think we can all learn from her amazing spirit. I just looked at her and said "This is not your fault. Yes, you are paralyzed right now BUT we will figure out the phone bill AND it is just a TV. It is just a TV". So, I guess what I am trying to say, is that we all go through stressful times, rough patches, maybe even days where we wonder if we will make it through. But when those moments happen, ask yourselves this. 'Is it just a TV?'

Time for bed so better run along. God Bless and good night!

Love the Griswolds

PS. They tell me it is official. I am now the shrimp in the family (only in height). When they had Jace harnessed up on the power plate I stood up beside her and yes, she is, what I call a smidge, taller than her mom. Hard to tell exactly how much but she has definately grown. Oh well, I am taller than my mom too!!!