An Unforgettable February!

February started out as it typically does: very cold! This year, my parents and sister braved the weather to have a small get together for my birthday. Faith thought I needed another party like I had last year, but I told her 51 just wasn't as exciting! She also asked if her Auntie Tesa was going to fly up again.  Faith really does love a good party! 

Accurate! 

Dawn, Faith, and Me

Dad practicing holding his arm for after shoulder surgery

The next day, my parents took me to IHOP, which had recently opened here in Bismarck, but I hadn't had a chance to go yet. It did not disappoint. My pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns and coffee were all perfect! 

I was glad to have gotten this meal in with my parents as two days later, my dad would be going through shoulder replacement surgery. We were all expecting him to be in and out on the same day, which is exactly what happened a couple of years ago when he had knee replacement surgery. 

I, along with my siblings, was shocked to get a text from Mom saying that the doctors needed to keep him in the hospital because his oxygen had plummeted in the recovery room. Thus began a 12-day saga of getting him well enough to go home. Apparently, he had received too much of the nerve block that they typically give for this type of surgery to help manage the pain. This caused his diaphragm to become paralyzed, and his lung to collapse. He was also retaining fluid. 

Faith visiting Grandpa in the hospital. She was very concerned about him! 

Even though they knew the problem, and he was doing all the right things to get his oxygen levels back up, it just wouldn't stay in the 90s, even with supplemental oxygen through a cannula. Another CT scan showed he had blood clots in his lungs, so they immediately began treating him for that. 

It was all very scary for a while. It was wonderful that he had so much support, which included lots of prayers, texts, phone calls, and visits. He also had some really great nurses who were quite entertained by all of his oilfield and hunting stories. 

I made frequent trips to the hospital to see him and even brought Faith up there a couple of times. At this time, the weather was bitterly cold. In fact, Bismarck had broken three records for all-time lows. My mom faithfully went to the hospital each day very early in the morning, which is when it was coldest. Thankfully, her vehicle started every time when she went back home. 

Yep, it was cold outside! 

Finally, he was able to breathe completely on his own and maintain normal oxygen levels, so they were able to discharge him. He has been going to physical therapy for his shoulder and trying to just take it easy, which is difficult for him! 

This month also proved to be memorable for Faith as she was prescribed glasses for nearsightedness. When she was a baby, she was diagnosed with esotropia, for which she had to wear an eye patch for a certain number of hours each day, and wear glasses. Thankfully, the glasses and patching helped to correct the problem, and she no longer needed glasses. 

When she was 8, she was diagnosed with optic atrophy, in which the optic nerves in her eyes don't work as they should and affects her field of vision. But this is the first time she has ever been diagnosed with nearsightedness. She is not crazy about wearing her glasses, but she mainly just needs them to see things far away. 

Faith looks so nice in her new glasses! 

Another thing she also began is hydrotherapy. She used to do this when she was much younger, but the hydrotherapy pool she went to closed down. The place she goes to therapy recently built a new facility and it includes the only hydrotherapy pool in the area. For her to go swimming, they needed to get a lift system so that they could safely get Faith into the pool. 

We were both a little anxious about how it was all going to work, but the staff helped make both of us feel very comfortable. The water is 91 degrees, and the warmth of the water helps to relax her tight muscles. I can't imagine how good that feels for her! 

To maximize the effects of the warm water, the room temperature in the pool room is that same as the water temperature. She doesn't even get cold when she gets out of the water. The first day she went it was 110 degrees colder outside than inside the pool room!  

Faith getting into the pool. 

Faith figuring out her new switches for power mobility. 

Faith also got new proximity switches to work with for power mobility, so we are hoping this is the answer to her having a powerchair someday. She has been working so hard in occupational therapy to become a little more independent. 

Today, we had her meeting at her day program. She has already been there for 3 years, and it is amazing to see the progress she has made in her communication and coping skills. 

One more thing that Faith started up again was adaptive dance classes at Northern Plains Dance. This is the second time she has taken these classes, which run for 5 weeks each session. She is very excited as she will get to take part in a special performance in the spring to showcase what she and her dance partners have been working on. 

Faith is so happy to be back at adaptive dance! 

Besides my dad's hospitalization and Faith's therapies, I did get to do a few fun things for me. One of which was participating in the annual Coffee Crawl. Me and a friend did it last year and decided to do it again this year. 

We hit 12 local coffee houses in less than 5 years. Needless to say, I was quite caffeinated when it was all over. Mocha Momma's won for the 2nd year in a row for having the best drink - a sugar free S'mores latte. I discovered a few new coffee places that I will definitely be going back to! 

3AndME Coffee Shop located inside Gateway to Science. Their cold brew latte was delicious! 

I am also able to participate in our church's women's Bible study in which we are studying the book of Revelation. In the past, I just couldn't make it work to attend due to Faith's therapy schedule. It is such a blessing to get together each week with a wonderful group of ladies. I truly cherish my time with them and love learning more about God's Word. 

It has definitely been a very cold, memorable, and busy month. We have been getting a "false spring" this past week. Winter will return, but thankfully our true spring is just around the corner!