April 25, 2013 Swimming Therapy

We are making progress! Last week we scheduled some time for Bryce to do pool therapy. This was so amazing for me to watch Bryce get into the pool and walk around like nothing was wrong. (No crutches, cane, walker, limp or painful winces on his face!) He did several laps walking forward, backward, and stepping sideways. He then did some cycling motion while wearing a floatation belt. He also paddled with his legs to the end of the pool and back using a kick board. In the pool, he feels weightless and he is able to move around without much of a restriction. The most difficult exercise is lifting one leg behind him with the knee bent and keeping his balance. It would have been easier if the man next to him wasn't creating waves with his kick board as he swooshed it in the water with his hands in a back and forth motion. (Apparently this was one of his exercises) Yesterday, we took him to the pool again and he was given the same exercises and they added one more to his list and he was able to cut 10 minutes off his total time. That was a good thing- but it is nice to keep him in the pool for as long as he can stand it. The first time we went he spent 55 minutes. We noticed that the majority of pool therapy patients are older (65 and up) and they like to talk to Bryce and ask him why he is there. Almost every time, they reply, "Oh! You are too young to be having hip surgery." I agree.

The pool is set up in three sections- two of them are only 4 ft deep and the other section is 6 ft deep. Bryce does his walking in the 4 ft deep lanes and then when he does his upright cycling motion- he uses the 6 ft deep lane. We (the therapists, Bryce and I) have decided that being in the pool is his best therapy for right now. He is able to do so much more in the pool than on land and he is able to spend more time upright and walking.

Bryce also did some walking today without a cane or crutch or walker. He is doing very well. He has a slight limp and it's difficult to do a 180* turn, but he is getting stronger and better. He is also the our new mail delivery boy. Every day, he walks out to the mailbox and picks up our mail and walks back. It takes him a while to do it, but he is making progress.

Today was also another milestone for our family. After much prayer, fasting and preparation, Tom went before a Board of 5 Professors at the University of Utah. ( If I don't explain this properly, forgive me. ) Tom had finished his course work last December along with his project for his PhD. He then had to go before a Board and propose that he be considered as a candidate for his Doctorate. Today, he did this and was approved and will be finishing his Dissertation this year. (Because he is a part time student, it took them a while to get him on the schedule for this.) We are shooting for August for him to be finished, but he technically has until December. He has some other commitments that are taking up any extra time he has available- thus the reason we are shooting for August. It will be wonderful to have his schooling finished!

Last Monday for Family Home Evening, we watched three videos on lds.org by Elder Bednar on "Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation". I wanted to talk to the kids about prayer and about receiving answers to their prayers. We talked about the importance of praying and I told them that we should pray often. Shortly after I finished saying "often", Gracie said, "No! We shouldn't pray often." Her voice came across somewhat forceful. Everyone turned and looked at her with curiosity. She then continued, "We should pray ALWAYS." I agree that praying always will definitely bring light to any situation. We are grateful for the light we are receiving every day. We are reaching our goals and as we continue to do this, we are setting new goals.