No News!...is...Good News!

It means that we're just getting back to normal everyday life and nothing earth shattering has happened...we've all had quite enough of that! Gina is enjoying spring break and we're all enjoying the fact that we're all home again! Outpatient therapies are progressing nicely. As a matter of fact, Gina's physical therapist has to keep increasing her goals because Gina's progressing much faster than her therapist thought she would (no surprise to us though...just typical Gina determination!) Keep an eye on this blog for the big 'birthday/welcome home bash' info! I should have all the details posted by the end of next week.

Thinking of all of you,
Mimi

Happy Easter!

Gina's first week of school came and went successfully. She's adjusting to all of her classes nicely. She's taking government, english, keyboarding, drawing, and photography. (and all at a 12th grade level!). We had a few doctor visits this week that went exteremly well...we saw her neuro doc from OSU and after he reviewed her latest CT scan said that everything looked fine and he wouldn't need to see us again (we were told that sometimes these docs like to see their patients for 2-5 years after the TBI).

We also saw her trauma docs and they went ahead and removed her g-tube. (OUCH!!!) But, at least it's over and out! Gina is truely "cordless" now! We met her new outpatient therapists and they had a chance to assess Gina's progress and develope a plan for continuing improvement. This week is spring break for the school district, but for Gina it's still back to work! (after all she's already had a 7 1/2 week break!) ;-)

We're still planning to have a big 18th birthday party for Gina sometime in the next couple of weeks. So.....even though my blogs aren't as regular as they used to be, keep checking this site for the time and place. We hope to see everyone who reads this blog very soon!

Hugs,
Mimi

Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day!

Gina, Paul, and I have all spent the last few days trying to acclimate ourselves to a normal schedule. On Friday, Gina and I went to meet the paramedics and EMT's that responded to Gina's accident & then we went back to OSU so she could officially meet some of the nurses that cared for her. There are so many wonderful people in this world. We've run into a few lately and we feel so blessed to have met the people who obviously care very deeply!

On Saturday, Gina and I went to see "Annie" at the Palace Theater courtesy of Childrens Hospital. It was a good play and we had a wonderful time!
Sunday was filled with relaxation and some friendly board game competition. Needless to say, Gina beat me badly...it's embarrassing because I REALLY was trying to win! ;-).

Yesterday she went back to school and was glad to be there! (she must be crazy!). She came home with a few stories about her day.....like, so and so broke up.....art is cool.....so and so was being stupid....I need to get a book for tomorrow...etc....same old, same old...it's good to be home!!!!!

Hugs,
Mimi

TODAY Is THEE Day!!!!

It's finally almost here and I can hardly believe it!!! Finally off the stinkin' couch and then we're OUTTA here!
We had the big meeting with Gina's School, her doctors, and all her therapists and it was decided that it would be best for Gina to go back to school on Monday!!!!! That's right...this coming Monday, March 17th. She'll have to remember to wear something green...especially at her school!

Special Note for Gina's Classmates: Please, please, pleeease remember to be careful around Gina. I know you'll be very excited to see her, but we all need to be careful around her so no one accidently knocks her over. So...gentle hugs only...no running hugs or hugs where she doesn't know what your about to do. To make her lose her balance and fall could be disasterous if she should accidently bump her head....but, if it should happen, make sure you let the school nurse know immediately....even if Gina seems ok. Spread this word around to everyone so Gina's first day back is a successful and positive one!!!!

Thanks so much,
Mimi

Good News Travels Fast!

The good news of the day is really a good news/bad news story. The bad news is that we won't be going home this Friday, but the good news is that we'll be going home on Thursday instead!!! ;-)

Gina's been busy taking pictures of the different areas of rehab that she spends her time in and writing short blurbs about them. She continues to work on her balancing skills and on multi-tasking. (Can blondes do that?).

After the last two nights back in the hospital we've both realized just how comfortable our own beds really are and we're anxiously counting down the nights left before we can return to them (2). (When Gina read this paragraph she said "mm hmm, true that!).

Tomorrow is the big meeting with Gina's school to discuss and make a plan for her reintegration. It should be exciting and informative.......it's all coming together now!

Hugs,
Mimi

Whew! What a Weekend!!!

We had a blast! We got to go home Friday afternoon instead of Saturday due to the weather. Once we made it home on Friday we snuggled in and relaxed in front of the TV and fireplace. On Saturday we went grocery shopping, then spent the rest of the day making some of our favorite meals and deserts!

On Sunday we went out to Mad River Mountain for a pot luck lunch and race that was held for Gina. Thanks to all at Mad River for making it a fun and memorable day for Gina and I. We appreciate all the hard work and planning that went into the "Carhart Cup". After we got home it was time to get everything packed back up for the hospital. We got back at Childrens at around 8pm on Sunday......we had to.....we needed to get some rest!!! :-D

Today was filled with more testing and assessment for Gina. She did get time to finish the Corvette she was working on...it turned out really nice! She's also been practicing her guitar like crazy and is consistently improving there too! Only 4 days to go!!!!!!!!

Snow, Snow, Snow!!

It's really coming down today and tomorrow....so I think I'll take a couple of "snow days" myself. ;-) Gina spent most of her day testing and I spent most of mine packing...so....there's not much else to tell. We'll have more stories as the weekend progresses. I'll keep you posted!

Hugs,
Mimi

Blog Continues.....for now!

I didn't mean to stop blogging just yet, I just forgot about it last night because we were all having so much fun playing card games and getting rowdy!!! It really was a lot of fun!!! (Especially when we ganged up on Paul!)
Gina took her independent field trip to Easton mall yesterday. I wasn't allowed to go...just Gina and her therapist. She had a great time. They went to Cosi for lunch and to Color My World to paint a pottery item. I don't know exactly what she made yet...it's a surprise!
Today Gina started to jog! She's having to spend much of her day testing in order to get released next Friday, but she says it's not so bad. She also started to build a Corvette in one of her therapies...it's cool!

Hugs,
Mimi

Gina is Going Home!!!!!!

That's right, we found out that Gina will be discharged on the 14th (of this month)....that's only 1 week from Friday!!!!!!!!! All of Gina's hard work and her therapist's has paid off!!!!!! We're also cancelling visiting hours for this weekend. You can still come for a visit if you want, but we won't be here! ;-D. Gina has earned day passes for both Saturday and Sunday and so we're on our way back home! Thanks, so much Children's Hospital! You guys all rock!

Blog ya tomorrow with more exciting news!!!

Mimi

The Finer Points of Life!

Now that Gina has all the gross motor and cognitive skills back, she only has the finer points to work on. And so, in true Gina style, she's diligently doing those tasks. She's now balancing on one foot on uneven surfaces, playing soccer, expanding her problem solving skills, and working on some extremely fine motor skills for her right hand. One of the exercises she did today should be called stickpin torture......and yes, it really is as painful to watch as it sounds!!!!!!! Gina was given a foam block, tweezers, and some straightpins. She then had to pick up a pin with the tweezers and stick the pin into the foam block by using only those tweezers. It was a lot of hard work involving a very high level of concentration on Gina's part and a high level of restraint on my part, but Gina stuck with it and accomplished the task....twice......no problem!!! She also played fetch with Ansley and Ansley made me fetch the ball.......who says dogs aren't smart????? Or did I just say too much about my own IQ level??? It'll be another fun and exciting day tomorrow......I'll keep you posted!

Hugs,
Mimi

Gina wants visitors!

After a nice relaxing Sunday, Gina is ready to have visitors, but there is only a small window of time available in her very busy weekday schedule. If you'd like to come M-F please come no earlier than 6:00p and stay no later than 8:00p. If on Saturday or Sunday, first check the blog to make sure we're still planning on being here for the day, and then feel free to stop by no earlier than 3:00p and stay no later than 8:00p. From 5:00p-6:00p Gina will be eating dinner and all visitors will be asked to leave. We may also need to limit the length of stay and the number of people in the room depending on how Gina is feeling. When you come to Childrens Hospital (Parking costs $2) go to the "T" information desk, let them know who you are and that you're here to see Gina Whitt. They'll call me and I'll come down and get you. I hope that everyone understands that the visiting hours we've established were created in Gina's best interest and that she still gets tired easily.

See ya around,
Mimi

Road Trip!!!

Gina has been doing so well, the doctors gave her a day pass to go wherever she wanted with just Paul and I (no nurses or anything!). She chose to go up to Mad River Mountain to do some visiting for the day! We all had a great time...it was so nice to see our 'family' in their natural environment and to get caught up on all the latest happenings out there! :-). We returned to Childrens happily exhausted! When I asked Gina what her favorite part of the day was, she said "Getting out of the Hospital!". Maybe we'll get to go somewhere again soon!

Mimi

Leap Day Rocks on in Rehab!

And, as usual, Gina continues to leap!!! Literally! She practiced jumping for the first time today and did very well. She also started to read her blog out loud and we heard her full voice while reading in group...it made me cry! :-) She balanced on one foot on the trampoline while hitting a ball with a bat and walked on an inclined treadmill for 8 minutes! And, as if that weren't enough, she had her guitar instructor in and started taking lessons (we like to call it Music Therapy)...even during the lesson Gina showed marked improvement!!! She even learned a trick that even her dad doesn't know. Now she's rockin' on!

Blog ya later,
Mimi