Day 244 - September 6

Boy, how the last month has flown by. It is hard to image that it has been almost 30 days since our last update. I guess the old adage "no news is good news" can sometimes apply here, as well.

On August 31, Bill took Stephanie to McAllen for full round of psychometric testing. A "full round" is generally two 4 hour sessions and includes all aspect of cognitive activity. It seemed to go well, though we do not yet have the results. The doctor was going to contact the neuropsychologist in Denver and the one we saw in Austin as well to compare notes before completing her report. The doctor did, however, sound very positive. When her report is complete, we will travel back to her office for the results.

Other than this visit, we will not have another doctor visit for a couple of months.

Stephanie's rehab doctor has approved 40-hours-a-week at work and she is enjoying the ability to get out and do something productive, though most of her income goes toward car insurance and previous debts. She started as the hostess and has recently started training for the cashier position, which will take a little extra studying now because of her decreased short term memory and critical thinking skills. The neurosurgeon is happy that it is primarily a standing job with little if any sitting. He has said that standing and walking is actually therapeutic for spine fusion and healing. (And she hurts much less than if she were sitting all day.)

She continues to be physically healthy but her mental health is now a concern and will be addressed soon. It is important that she receive full-body healing, inside and out, for a successful present and future.

Her siblings, Robert and Megan, are healthy and have returned to school (Robert is in 3rd grade and Megan is in Pre-K). Robert has given up baseball for this year and is trying his hand at tennis. Bill is glad school has resumed since that spurred his return to the school district bus barn in addition to his normal HFD duties. Heather, after many strange circumstances and coincidences (truly God at work), is teaching middle school in Harlingen under the direction of her own 6th grade teacher and is enjoying being back in the classroom. To ice this year's cake, Heather has been diagnosed with a premature bone degeneration in her lower spine and will be going for arthritis-related blood tests soon - but the standing that accompanies teaching has really helped ease the symptoms.

All else is good and slowly returning to normal. It will be another 6-9 months for Stephanie's healing to be complete...but we are treading one day at a time. Nine months on one income with mounting medical expenses has been a challenge, but the Lord has mercifully supplied all our needs at just the moment when we began to worry. He is truly amazing.

And so are you. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and prayers! God Bless.

Bill & Heather Adair