Happy Valentine's

 For the first time since Mike has been at Appomattox Health & Rehab, I decided to take him lunch. I stopped at a small coffee/sandwich shop in Farmville, picked up a Philly cheese steak sandwich with a side of pasta salad for him and a strawberry pecan salad with chicken for me.

When I arrived, he was dozing in his chair. As soon as I spoke to him, he started omming and rocking back and forth. We made our way down to the dining room which was packed today with families visiting their loved ones. Valentine decorations hung from the ceiling and every table was adorned with festive red & white balloons. His omming and rocking continued throughout lunch, but he ate all of his food, plus half of mine which is normal.

After lunch we took a walk outside to the deck and he quieted and allowed me to clip his fingernails and even file them. We didn't stay long as it was a bit chilly. Back in his room, he needed to be changed and then seemed to want to lie down on the bed. This has not been something he has wanted to do since coming to AH&R, but we decided to try it. I read a couple of Psalms to him and then some in Romans. The omming came and went.

It was almost time for me to leave, so I handed the Bible to Mike and  he started reading to himself, plus wasn't in constant motion. Praise God! I think other than a very few minutes when he first came to AH&R, it is the first time he has actually been still and read since July.

It was such a beautiful blessing to look back, as I left, and see  a quiet, relaxed, reading Mike. That was how I liked to leave him when he was at The Harbor. Either napping in bed, or quietly reading.

He is now completely off of Depakote and the Seroquel has been reduced. Buspar was started on Monday. That is something Mike took for generalized anxiety before his accident and so we are trying it. Overall I didn't see much change today, but the few moments before I left, were a huge change. I have no idea how long it lasted, but it was the best Valentine's gift to see him relaxed and reading again. I hope we'll see more of that.

The nurse and the CNA said he was a bit calmer and more cooperative lately. A woman in the dining room said that Mike played volleyball with them earlier this week and then she and Mike tossed the ball back and forth for 45 minutes. She also said he had called out some of the numbers or letters during Bingo. Probably just repeating what he heard, but at least he was listening. It's so nice that some of the other residents have taken a liking to him and try to interact with him, wanting to see him improve. It really was great to have good news.

I hope you have each enjoyed a day of celebrating those you love. Remember that God's love is the greatest love.

John 15:12-14

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 

You are my friends if you do what I command you.