Day 366 - June 1, 2009

It really is amazing all of the changes in Kevin since we went back to PA for a vacation. It was almost like watching him remember who he was. Our first drive back to Brady was spent with Kevin pointing and exclaiming about the things he was seeing. When we first got there, he was determined to walk into the grocery store (our first stop) and I just loved watching his face when he would see someone he knew. He walked all around that store, from the front to the very back - including all the coolers - and he was just so darn excited to be there.

I really do think that Kev felt more like himself than he has since he was wounded. I think that he did forget huge chunks of his life and he needed a trip home to remind him. Just seeing him goof around with his friends and try to do an ollie and playing with my nephew Michael and Ronnie's little brother made me almost feel like Kevin was normal - and I'm sure he even felt more normal too.

I will tell you that our ride back to Florida was totally different than our ride to PA too. On the way we listened to the radio maybe 15 minutes in 18 hours and Kevin only watched half a movie. It was utterly silent - just like most of our days were.

On the way back to Florida - we listened to the radio about 3 hours and Kevin was just singing and dancing along to Lady Marmalade and Back in Black and all the other oldies that he chose to listen to. Sometimes he would turn on a hip hop song and he would turn his hat around and do his gangsta moves. It was just such a fun trip and we really did laugh a lot.

Another great thing that happened is that Kev now goes into the Men's Room by himself and I have to say - THANK GOODNESS!! I so hated having to go in there to help him - it was just so embarrassing. (Matter of fact, tonight at Wal-mart, Kevin told me he had to go to the bathroom and then he took off to the front of the store to take care of business. He came back a while later like nothing was out of the ordinary.)

I am also so excited to tell you that we did not get Kevin's wheelchair out of the car the whole two days of our drive home. Not once. He walked everywhere and I was so utterly proud of him.

(I should insert that the reason our trip took so long is because each bathroom stop takes at least 20 - 30 minutes. He is still slow at walking and doing everything he needs to do in the bathroom. I am getting really good at lurking outside (so better than inside) the men's room, lol)

Due to all his progresses, I am hoping that by July he can handle a commercial flight. I know that he can medically, it's just that those flights are so unpredictable (delays, etc) and also so loud. I am very sure we would have to do first class to keep the noise level down, but my other concern is how tiny the bathrooms are. I'm not sure he could do what he needs to do in such tight quarters. It's just not easy for him to bend his legs and move certain ways yet. Oh well, I guess we'll see. Truthfully - I don't think either one of us minded the drive. That Chrysler 300 was sure a smooth ride, lol.

So now we're home and he was in a great mood all day. We had my parents come for dinner and Kevin carried on with them the whole time. I had him do laundry too while me and my folks unpacked all the master suite stuff.

I sure hope all of these changes continue...I really like this happier Kevin...