Safely Returned

Has it really been since Dec. 21st since I wrote? Terrible. However I have a very good excuse. It was difficult for me to get online. The connection was poor while we were on holidays and when we arrived in Cape Town in the New Year, we were so busy.
But we arrived safe and sound on Wednesday January 13th. The "sound" part is not exactly accurate after 21 hours of flying. Thank goodness for the one day stop over in Amsterdam. We may have arrived back in Canada minus two children!! Jacki and the kids met us at the airport because Grandma was late. Matt had a meeting with Dr. Mclean and it was longer than they expected. But the kids were so happy to see each other and we spent the time waiting at the new play center in the Calgary airport. It was awesome, the best in all the airports we have seen. If anyone is flying, make sure you check it out. There were adults in there too!! But it didn't compare to when Grandma came to pick us up. Shaunie couldn't quit hugging her and Jonmarie didn't quit talking the whole way back to red Deer.
Matt, dad, Cecilia and Airene, and Grandma came for supper last night and the girls were so excited to show everyone the presents they had brought from Africa and John was just as excited to show the videos/pictures. Matt is looking so good. His acne has really cleared up and he is still as handsome as ever. They had been busy over the holiday season, making a trip to Calgary to spend with Jacki, Gary and the kids and Nolan. They also made a trip to Weekes, but we were so busy talking about his latest appts that I forgot to ask how it went! Will update on that later.
Monday they went to Edmonton to meet with the rehab nurse. She showed Matt how to self-catheterize himself. It lets him be more self sufficient and now he can travel by himself more, such as to the mall or the college and be able to use the washroom without having someone to help him all the time. Prior to this, someone always had to be near by in case he needed to go to the washroom. He still has some trouble and needs help with setting up, but with more practice he should be able to be completely self sufficient. Hooray! He will have further appts with her re: other things, however that is not in the near future.
The meeting with Dr. McLean was on Wednesday and went over well. She discussed the MRI and it has not changed since the previous one last year. So she will send it to Dr. Guthrie to see what he has to say. He spasms have improved a bit since decreasing the Accutane dose, however they are still bothersome so she increased his anti-spasm meds. Matt strength and movement are slowly coming back so we think the Accutane was inhibiting that as well. His standing exercises have improved, however they are still not to where they were a year ago. But it will get there, now that he has more room in his new house to do exercises. I forgot to mention they have moved into the new house in town and it is great! Matt is able to get into the washroom and do self catheters in privacy. They are going to order a special bath chair so he can use the shower. That will rally save on the trips to Innisfail for baths. Matt is also excited to be able to phone for take away when Mom is not at home and again can be on his own more. I am very excited about the possibilities and thank God that He has been so wonderful to our family. Thank you to all who still continue to read the blog after 2 1/2 years and have followed Matt's journey through some very difficult times and still see him as the same lovable, funny guy he was prior to the accident. I will sure miss going downstairs and seeing him sitting there watching TV. And it is already difficult without mom, because now I have to take Jonmarie to school in the morning. I think that Jonmarie will be spending some nights at Grandmas and and also go home with her after school. So it will all work out, it will just take some juggling.
Happy belated Christmas and Happy New Year to all.