Every day is full of wonder as PenDell continues to heal. I don’t use the word recover anymore. That word implies that he will recover his previous expression and ways of being. I don’t think that is where we are headed… we shall see.

He has finished reading two books already, The Four Agreements and The Gift of Forgiveness. He talks to me about the books and what stirs in his thoughts. He is forming complete thoughts and connecting those thoughts to words, and conveying his message clearly.

I mentioned to Ann (Foorman) that his speech therapist had used the cards from the game Taboo as one of her exercises with him, so Ann brought her Taboo over and played with PenDell. He is really good at it!

I am doing some rearranging of rooms and furniture to accommodate our current needs and flow. In order to keep things as streamlined as possible for PenDell during this process, the room that is becoming my office/dressing room/sanctuary space is currently a disaster! It is very dangerous to set anything down because it will definitely be swallowed up into the random chaos that is momentarily controlling this space! And, I am being kind to myself about it… I am accepting that I really can only do what I can do, and then the day ends… and then the next day begin,s and we go forward.

This week, I realized that I am grieving. Grieving the loss of the life we had, the relationship we had, the plans we had… most of all, the loss of PenDell as he was. I am not sad, and I love who we are becoming, but there has also been a loss.

We saw the neurologist that I worked hard to get PenDell in to see. Evan arranged for us to stay in a hotel across the street from the hospital because it was an early morning appointment in South Denver. Then Evan met us for the appointment. It was wonderful to have his support as I am navigating so many new things. We are all very glad that we chose this doctor. He specialises in autoimmune. He spoke to us of ongoing treatment, to which I said that I thought the treatment was only 6 – 12 months! He said that because this condition is rare, they don’t have experience with what the prognosis is, so they recommend ongoing, long-term treatment. Digesting that one…

We are learning. We are learning what the rhythm is to our day. We are learning when we can see friends and for how long. We are learning that more than two friends at a time is too much. We are learning that if we don’t look at PenDell when we are talking, he will likely not be able to follow the conversation… We are learning.

Ann is so generously making time during the week to come and be with PenDell while I run errands, walk Sadie or work. I am still catching up (if that is really even possible)!

I am grateful. PenDell is grateful. Even amidst all that has and is happening, we are experiencing blessings in all ways.

We are receiving our wonder-filled life one moment at a time! So much love to each of you.