Apologies for it being so long between posts but it has been quite difficult to find time to myself with the computer set up for me to write using my voice recognition. Progress for me has been steady and some wonderful things happening with my body. My legs just want to work even though I can’t feel them! There is a stationary bike here and (when wheeled up and strapped in) my legs are able to pedal and it is very exciting to see my legs move even just a little bit. The movements are not particularly controllable but I’m hoping that improves with time. My arms however appear to be on holidays! My biceps work and my shoulders work a little bit but are very very sore and weak.…

What a great weekend … very busy but fantastic. We got back to the blue house on Friday night and had a lovely family day on Saturday. Mike got to take Ash to her last Fairy Ballet class of the term which was so cute (well Ash was, not Mike). Really nice to do a normal family thing together. Sunday was all about bikes. I headed up to Whittlesea for the SuperSprint Degani Kinglake ride. What a fantastic event. Congratulations to everyone who completed the ride. It was great to see so many people out on their bikes enjoying such a well organised event. On Sunday night Mike’s new FES bike arrived and was installed – very exciting. The bike uses electrical stimulation to contract muscles which then turns the…

This was something that Mike said very early on in the acute spinal unit and it came back to me today when Mike returned from his weights session buzzing. He had managed to leg press 120 lbs with his right leg and 20 lbs with his left leg .... Ok, so the left leg has some catching up to do! He cannot feel his legs and (unless told) has no idea where they are but he is managing some limited controlled movements. They spasm lots (and lots and lots if you have seen them dancing around) which I think he finds both irritating and painful and do not function remotely 'normally' but still ..... if they can be made to be useful in some way that would be great! Oh,…

Monday 15/09 9-10 - Complementary therapy 10:15 - 11:30 - Nursing 12 - 12:30 - OT 1 - 2:30 - PT FES 2:30 - 3:30 - Weights Tuesday 16/09 9 - 10:30 - Nursing 11 - 12 - OT 1:30 - 2:15 - Dr Ward Rounds 2:30 - 3:20 - Nursing Ed 3:30 - 4:15 - PT Wednesday 17/09 9-10 - Complementary therapy 10:15 - 11:30 - Nursing 12 - 1 - OT Wii 1 - 2:30 - PT FES 2:30 - 3:30 - Weights Thursday 18/09 9 - 10:30 - Nursing 11 - 12 - OT 1:00 - 2:00 - PT 2:30 - 4:00 - Hydro Friday 19/09 9-10 - Complementary therapy 10:15 - 11:30 - Nursing 1 - 2:00 - PT FES 1:45 - 2:45 - Weights Later…

The last 24 hours have been all about water - a bathroom mod, hydro and plenty of tears. As our neighbours will know (sorry guys, I promise it was a once off), we now have a disabled access bathroom for Mike to use on weekend leave. A massive thankyou to Stu Rose and Danny Cohen for their marathon effort on Wednesday night to convert a pokey laundry / bathroom area in to a fantastic open space with an interim but big safe shower area and new shower head and rail. The guys worked 7 hours straight (after their normal work day) and did an amazing job..... although I am a bit worried about Stu - he is a plumber and he arrived with all the right equipment and cleaned up…

Firstly, Mike is sick. NO VISITORS PLEASE ,just for a couple of days so he can rest. Mike has been a bit off colour since Saturday - we are still not quite sure what is wrong. In true 'never say never' fashion, Mike headed home to 'the blue house' for the first time in just over 10 weeks to spend fathers day with Ash. A very emotional and tiring day but I think well worth it. Realistically was going to be hard whenever it was done .... as Mike said - 'I left home 10 weeks ago on my bike for a quick ride before a fun weekend and now I am home in a wheelchair'. The good news is that he got around the house really well -- although…

Big day today ... the wonderful Campbell from the integration group mapped out a trip to the park for us all with Ash. He also showed us the way to the train station so we can escape that way if needed (to get to the footy if the swans make it to next week)! We left Talbot just after 3 in beautiful sunshine and headed off for our adventure. Ash was on her bike with her helmet on racing daddy. We headed off along Kew Boulevard and across the river to a wonderful park where Ash and daddy had their first play in 9 weeks. Was a pretty rough ride for Mike in his chair and his shoulders were pretty sore by the time we got back. It is pretty…

Monday 01/09 1 - 2:30 - Physio - FES bike Tuesday 02/09 12 - 1 - OT 1:30 - 2:15 - Drs ward round 3 - 4:30 - PT Wednesday 03/09 12:30 - 1 - SP 1-2 - OT 2-3 - Nursing ED 3-4 - PT Thursday 04/09 1-2 - OT 2-3 - PT 3-4 - Leisure Friday 05/09 2-3 - PT 3 - 5 - Quiet time (as requested by Mike)

Hi All, Firstly a few thankyous are in order ... the lovely Jacquie for organising the food for yesterday; Kate for shopping for the plates, cups and drinks; the companies who kindly donated food (I will have to provide a comprehensive list in the next post); to the Forbes clan for making, cooking and cleaning; Michelle and Daina who arrived with emergency strawberry supplies and all who attending for bringing good cheer and lots of happy thoughts. A huge thankyou to Mike for being ever positive and strong over what was I know a very, very tough day for him. We have been staying out in the flat for the last couple of nights which has been lovely. Mike thinks that we should move out here! Has been really nice…