Day 691 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Grayson was far more "with it" today than yesterday! He was calm and able to follow instructions. He was able to answer questions and communicate his desires, although most of these now revolve around food, TV and reading time! All in all this was a far better day than yesterday.

This evening we all went out to our favorite sushi place for dinner. Sitting at the sushi bar and eating some of the most beautiful food in the world is a great way to start the weekend!

Pax!

Brant

Day 690 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Grayson was a bit fuzzy all day. He had difficulty concentrating on anything. He couldn't stay seated watching TV or eating any of his meals. When he would leap up he couldn't respond where he was going or what he needed to do. He would look around a bit dazed then could be coaxed into sitting down to finish his food or whatever he was doing. According to Regina, it was a very difficult day.

As Dr Parker would say, the Neurological Highway is not an easy road to understand, and there certainly is no map. Sometimes we just hang on for the ride and look for all of the good things we can find.

Pax!

Brant

Day 689 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today was a rare cool and rainy day in Southern California. Grayson was content to stay indoors and read his comic books and watch TV when Regina wasn't working on his home therapies.

Regina has been really trying to get Grayson to speak more. Today she got him to start speaking a little louder than normal. She is trying to get him to be able to shout again for his own safety. Most of the time he you really have to strain to hear him. Today he called me from upstairs and I heard him! While not a shout, it was definitely a much louder voice and a step in the right direction.

A joyful noise!

Pax!

Brant

Day 688 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

It was a good, albeit long, day. Grayson went to bed and never budged. I'm about to follow – I'm too pooped to write tonight!

Pax!

Brant

Day 687 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

A new week, a new month and the last quarter of the work year started today. Oh my goodness – do all of those objectives and goals need to be accomplished so quickly? 2011 is rapidly disappearing!

Grayson was great today. After work we went for a walk (3500 steps, but who is counting!) before putting dinner on the grill. The outing and exercise always does Grayson good. Tonight we had a relaxed night and watched Grayson's favorite pre-injury TV show, House, before heading off to bed.

Downtime is good!

Pax!

Brant

Day 686 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Today was a good day – church, out to lunch, an afternoon of errands – all good!

Grayson was in a good place today. He was pretty alert and pleasant as always. After a good service at church we went to lunch at a local favorite – Recess Eatery. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time on a very pleasant Sunday in Southern California!

The rest of the afternoon Grayson and I spent running errands – the sort of stuff that life is made of – gasoline, groceries and the like. It is great to have Grayson out, and he does well in the community. As always, he remains my cart driver at the grocery store. It is good therapy for him as he follows me and has to steer the cart through he gauntlet of other shoppers and obstacles. It requires that he remain alert to changing conditions and not to get too lost in the moment. And if he does, most people realize that he requires some special understanding and they give him a big smile if he needs some time to get the cart unstuck. Today I was struck by how many people gave him space with a smile as he made his rounds in the store.

Grayson teaches everyone around him every day that patience, understanding and most of all a big smile are the keys to success and moving forward.

Pax!

Brant

Day 685 – Grayson’s Journey

Dear family and friends

Everyone (almost) is now in bed after our day at the Coliseum. Today USC hosted Arizona and Grayson, Regina and I attended the game! We had a ball and to top things off USC had the good sense to win. Grayson was surprisingly comfortable with the noise and was well behaved and calm for most of the game.

On our way home after the game we went to dinner at one of our favorite and somewhat eclectic haunts in South Pasadena – the Firefly Bistro. We had an enjoyable and relaxing time dining outside in the pleasant evening air. Grayson started to get a bit antsy by the end of our long evening, but all in all he did quite well today with all of the excitement of the game and all of the sitting at dinner.

Today was a day of great fun!

Pax!

Brant