Bright new day. Dad had 4 hours of therapy today. He participated and did wonderful! We heard some grumbles and growls, but I don't know that they were anything other tired noises. We have this!

Today was a very grumpy day for Dad. Either he is extremely tired from the move, he didn't leave east until 930 last night with a 1030 arrival to west, or he is mad we are making him work again. More than likely it is both. He is in room 79, on the 7th floor, of Mt. Carmel WEST! There are multiple towers, so make sure you are in WEST! If he isn't in the room, you can check the board to see if he is therapy. He really needs some cheering on during this part of the journey. It will be hard work, and has to be scary. I know we can do this, but he has the hardest part. Reminders of his old life and what can still be are needed! Thank you so much for you love and support! We have this!

Dad is moving to Mt. Carmel West this evening. This is stroke boot camp, and we are so excited for this opportunity! This is where we were when the gastric peg dislodged, so we are back on track!javascript:void(0); Thank your for all the prayers and good thoughts!

Happy Easter! Thank you so much for your love and support! We feel them and send them back to you. He has Risen! Love the Augsburgers!

Dad is still at Mt. Carmel East. He should be moving to West on Monday. He is recovering well, with slight bladder issues. Happy Easter! He has Risen! Thank you for your love, thoughts, and prayers! We love each of you and send love and light back! We have this!

Dad is continuing to recover well from the gastric tube placement. Not only has this allowed for better nutrition, but some medicines that could only be taken in pill form. The best news of all though...he was evaluated today for stroke boot camp at Mt. Carmel West. This is huge, as the recovery from stroke comes through rehab. The damage is truly bad to the left side of his brain. It is truly hard to tell what the end picture is, but we need every chance for rehab is a bigger piece back than yesterday! Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! We truly need them tonight, as the decision is still being made on this move. We have this!

Hallelujah! Dad has a new gastric tube placed! All went well. Hopefully this will will stay placed. He is recovering from the surgery now.

Dad was taken to the ER today. The Dr. at Echo Manor didn't like his potassium level, too high, this week. As he was going to the ER tomorrow, they took advantage of the timing and admitted him a day early. He had therapy over the weekend and seems to be doing well with that. Tomorrow they will evaluate him for the gastric tube, and hopefully it will be placed tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your support, love, and prayers! We have this!

Sorry for the long lag in news. Dad has been doing well this week. He has been standing with much help. They are feeling the muscles activate in his right leg, which is absolutely fantastic. He has been working small parts of a puzzle and showing interest in the communication board. On Monday or Tuesday, Dad will be taken to Mt. Carmel East for a gastric feeding tube placement. As you know this is a huge step in Dad's recovery! He hasn't had proper nutrition for quite some time and is often meds that he needs but cannot be administered through a picc line. We are hoping the next step is rehab at West - Stroke bootcamp. With better nutrition and a clearer head, I think that stroke bootcamp is perfectly timed for Dad! Thank you so much for your thoughts, visits, and prayers! We have this!

Over Friday and Saturday, they were able to get Dad out of bed and into a wheel chair. This is a great change of pace. Dad was mobile and able to take advantage of the nice weather on Saturday. He has been cleared of cdiff!!! No more gowns, gloves, or worry! He still is trying to remove the picc line. This is the line we are giving him nutrition through. If you see him fiddling with this, please remind him to stop and get a nurse. We are still looking for a Dr. to do a stomach tube. The last one flaked out on us without seeing Dad. Extremely frustrating to say the least!!! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! We have this!

Dad is doing well. Yesterday, he followed conversations better, as well as made leaps and bounds in rehab. We have found that making statements about this being a trend are dangerous. Each step is tenuous and hard. We will get there, but the journey won't be easy. Your thoughts, visits, and most important prayers are so important to him. We truly appreciate them. I am going to hijack this page for a second, I know my dad won't mind. His grandson, my son Quinn, is raising money for research in childhood cancer. He will be shaving his head this Sunday. If you are interested in donating, here is the link. https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/833324/2016. We truly appreciate it!

We are still using the picc line for nutrition. There hasn't been any issues, so those positive thoughts are helping! When visiting, please remind him how far rehab can take him. All things are possible with opportunities God has put in front of us. He is refusing to participate in the vita stim (electronic stimulation of the swallow muscles). I know this uncomfortable, but will be such a big help in being able to eat and even possibly speak again. He has learned how to work the remote and shave himself with an electric razor. It seems he can follow conversations easier. We are in the process of setting up a communication board. Hopefully this will help with the frustration and anxiety he is surely feeling. Thank you for your continued prayers and good thoughts! They help each of us and we are truly appreciative of them. We have this!

Dad has been pulling his NG tube out all week. We have had quite the saga of getting a new one placed and keeping it in. Right now he has a picc line for nutrition. Unfortunately, he has been trying to stop the food from entering his system. We are not sure what the intention is here, but would appreciate any positive thoughts that could be sent his way. When you visit, please tell him how far he has come and how far he can go. Remind him that he rehabbing well and making huge steps. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. They are truly appreciated!

Dad is continuing to rebound well. He pulled out his NG feeding tube again. The nurse practitioner is hopeful that we will be able to move the installation of a new gastric tube. He has healed well from the removal of the prior tube. This would be a huge step forward for Dad. He had a swallow study done before leaving the hospital in February. The test didn't show that he could swallow with control or strength, so eating isn't a viable option for nutrition at this time. However, it did show that he wasn't silently aspirating or absorbing. this means that we can strengthen and reteach the swallow muscles (27 muscles are used to swallow). Today, the speech pathologist is going to try some yogurt. Dad isn't a big fan of speech pathology. She has been using the vital stimulation therapy. (https://bismarck.sanfordhealth.org/vitalstim/VitalStimFactSheet.pdf) This isn't a comfortable therapy (not painful, but not comfortable either). It has been a really good two weeks. We are seeing improvements. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers! They are working! We have this!