On January 6th, 2010 Alex suffered a gunshot wound to the head...given 3 HOURS TO LIVE ....this is our story of survival and how God continues to work in and through our lives!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY YESTERDAY!

Wow!  We had a busy busy day yesterday..... we were movers and shakers, lol!  We left the house at 8:30 headed to the base for Alex to get his physical before the Botox procedure he will be having today at 1:30 pm.  It's always a commotion to get on base.... I thought I was good to go with the pass in my car however when I got there I realized it had expired Dec 31, 2010... OF COURSE IT DID!  Aaaaaahhhhh...there are always atleast 10 people standing in line to get on the base... yesterday was no different and I was late for our appointment.  However... when I finally got my turn...the sweet individual behind the glass window gave me a pass good thru January of 2012!  HALLELUJAH! Thank YOU God!  We got to our destination, Alex's vitals... he is 171 and his blood pressure was HIGH yesterday 134 over something.  It's normally 116/80 or something like that.  He kept saying he was dizzy yesterday... all thru the day, even at therapy.  Not sure what's going on but I will surely monitor him a little closer when he says he is dizzy.  I always think he is faking it to be able to sit down at therapy,lol. And yes... he does fake it sometimes and admit it later!  Little joker!  Anywho... we got the physical completed...the whole time he is telling the doctor to hurry up because McDonald's stops serving breakfast at 10:30 and we had like 10-15 minutes to get there!  He was roaming the halls yelling... "let's gooooo.... breakfast is going to be over soon!"  He was speaking loud for the doctor to hear that is!  Yes my 4 year old Alex was in action full force yesterday!  We got out of there and headed straight to Mickey D's.... 10:21 to be exact and we pull up and order breakfast. NOPE... they stopped serving breakfast at 10:00am.  WHAT THE FRENCH TOAST?!  Needless to say, Alex was not so happy but settled for a McChicken, fries and a coke at 10:30am.  From there we went to get our follow up at the ENT.  They wanted to make sure he was healing properly and that his breathing sounded ok.  HE PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS!  All is good in the land where the trach once resided! Again.. Thank you God!  From Dr. Becks office we went to Brooks Inpatient Rehab facility to visit Gabi and see if they could fix his wheelchair since his left arm rest HAD FALLEN OFF!  Medco wanted to charge me $75 an hour to look at it or fix it... ummmm, NO THANK YOU!  It's a year old... it should NOT be falling apart already...those things aren't cheap!  Mr. Tim who is in charge of the wheelchairs at Brooks was MORE THAN HAPPY to fix it for free and it took all of 3 minutes to do what he did!  THANK YOU!  We headed up to Gabi's floor (she is in Alex's old room....God put her there :0) )..... she was in the feeding room having lunch... that beautiful mush puree stuff that Alex first learned to eat again on.  She smiled when she heard Alex's voice and it tickles my stomach to see her looking so good!  Alex teases her and calls her Albert... she just smiles that infectious smile.  Please keep her in your prayers today as Todd and Karen have to make a serious decision in regards to a blockage that Gabi has in her brain.... they may go in and put a balloon to open up the blood vessel but have several options to choose from.  I know that God will lead them to choose the right decision and what is best for Gabi.  You can read her updates on caringbridge at  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gabriellehornsby .  We left Gabi and headed for therapy.  Alex worked HARD yesterday.... sweating like crazy.... dizzy again... she took his heart rate and he was at 173!  He got on the treadmill yesterday and was working on walking backwards.... another thing we all take for granted.... not so easy for Alex. See below:







He worked hard at it and it will eventually get easier the more he works at it.  I'm very proud of how hard he has been working lately....superman speed recovery....dancing at the prom.... surfing in Hawaii... here we come!

We came home, showered and headed to the Extreme Home Makeover that is going on in Middleburg about 45 minutes from our house.  Alex and I wanted to give back to the community since so many have done such awesome things for our family over the past year.  Alex isn't 18 so he isn't allowed to help out but we were treated like royalty at the VIP tent directly across the street from where all the action is going on.  I had printed Alex up some new "personal business cards" as I like to call them.... it's an easier more appropriate way for him to introduce himself.  It has his picture, the website and a Bible verse.  Instead of just going up to someone and saying... "Hi, you know me? I was the boy who was shot in the head in January of last year".  People don't really know how to react to that, lol.  Those of you who follow are familiar with a brain injury by now and can relate... those who don't... well let's just say if I could have a penny for their thoughts at the very moment he introduces himself that way... I would be RICH!  Their faces are priceless!    So we brought his cards and YES he handed them out like they were candy, lol.  He made many many new friends and amazing most of them knew who he was and had been following our story :0)

A special thank you to Amy and Ryan.... Kimberly and Allyson... for making it happen for us.  When we first arrived Mrs. Long (one of the builders wives) there are two builders involved in the makeover.  Well Mrs. Long came up and welcomed us with her hard hat on.  Of course my boys, both Brooks and Alex wanted one... not just ANY hard hat like she had on... they wanted a blue one.  Off she goes... and returns with one BLUE and one ORANGE... how awesome is that!! Precious lady!  Kaitlyn got us all set up at a table and made the mistake of showing Alex where the choc chip cookies were, lol.  He was trying to grab handfuls and hide them like this was his last meal.  Yes folks... Alex the 4 year old was back in action.  He wanted everything!!  Trent's Seafood was there setting everything up for dinner  and Mr. Impatient couldn't wait asking over and over when dinner was going to be ready, lol.  He had catfish, fried shrimp and hush puppies galore and finished off with choc mousse cheescake... fit for a King!  He was in hog heaven!  After dinner we headed to the fence to see if we could get Alex standing at the fence so he could get a glimpse of the real action going on across the street.  There was a truck in his view if sitting so we got him up so he could see it up close and personal.



















I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PICTURE!!  How precious they are!  What an amazing site to see across the street!  We have such an awesome community... I knew it already from the out pour of  love and support we have received thus far.....but to see everyone come together... busting their tails to make sure this is completed in time... simply amazing.  I am so touched by peoples generosity and giving spirit.... THANK YOU GOD.  We got to meet Mr. Long of J.A. Long Design Builders, one of the builders working on the project and I tell you what... He and his wife Linda along with their son Ryan are just awesome people!  Mr Long took to Alex right away, pushing him in his wheelchair as Alex stated he had to "Peeeeee".  It is a dirt/grass environment and not so easy to push all of Alex's 170 pounds around so Mr. Long offered to wheel him across the street to the portalet.  This my friends was a whole new experience for ALL of us!  We got him across the street and pulled up to the portalet, Alex stood up and Mr. Long proceeded to help him along with me INTO the 2 X 2 inch, or so it seemed, lol... space that he was to urinate.  Alex hasn't quite mastered the whole "stand up and pee" ordeal yet... because of obvious balance reasons along with not mastering the whole AIM as you pee technique.  Normally he sits for now so that I know it will make it in the toilet!  So Mr. Long helps me get him in there and closes the door....He ain't going for the whole sit down thing in there of course... so I pull his pants down a little, hold him by his hips so that he can steady his balance and before I knew it.... he was urinating everywhere... he couldn't control that thing to save his life!  He was laughing, I was laughing... pee was going everywhere... OMG.... in a 2X2 inch space.... terrified it was going to get on my shoes as it was getting on his, lol..... terrified that Mr. Long was still outside the portalet and would see the damage that had been done....there was nothing that I could do to contain it!  He finishes, pee is everywhere... I open the door to find sweet Mr. Long waiting on us... OMG!  Mr. Long... I apologize to you whole heartedly... I had NO IDEA what we were getting ourselves into by taking him to the portalet :0)  He helped us out  and down into his wheelchair.... grabbed hold and wheeled him across the dirt road back to our VIP area.  Words can't express what I feel when each of you who meet us...take the time to get to know Alex and carry on a real conversation with him.  It is in that moment that I see God working in and through Alex, no matter what crazy thing that comes out of his mouth..... He is living proof that God works miracles and PEOPLE SEE THAT and GET IT!  Mr. Long plans to attend the Celebration and we are very excited to have them join in OUR special event.

Me and Miss Rhonda... our personal photographer :0)













Miss Rhadisha Drummond, one of Alex's fans

 Miss Linda and John Long



OUR NEW EXPERIENCE WOW!











Mr Long and Ryan

 As we were leaving... a pic of the awesome house and volunteers in the background!
 Meeting some of Alex's fans in the spectator crowd :0)




WHAT AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE last night was and thank you to the builders and many many many volunteers that donated their time and materials to make such a wonderful dream come true for this precious family!  YA'LL ARE AWESOME!

This morning we travel to Wolfson's Childrens Hospital for another Botox injection on his left leg.  He is not a happy camper at this moment as he cannot have anything to EAT until after his procedure which is not until 1:30!  Please say a quick prayer for Alex as he is a little over stimulated this morning with anticipation of the procedure because he always has to be put to sleep with anesthesia for the injections would be too painful with the sensitivity in his left side.  His little brain is going 90 to nothing right now!

Wishing you all a great day.... if you are out at the Extreme Makeover site tonight.... please come and introduce yourself....it's the hi-light of our days to meet a prayer warrior!!


LISA