Big gifts come in small packages...

Hello everyone, sorry I didn't post last night, long evening. Well I got the best Christmas present ever yesterday. I was able to talk to PJ! I had a good 5 minute conversation with him and it was great to hear his voice. My dad put me on speaker phone, and I put the girls and Diane on speakerphone also. The girls were able to tell him they love him and they can't wait to see him. He said, "I think I might be a little late getting you Christmas presents!" Just like PJ, first thing he starts doing is thinking of other people. The girls told him that talking to you is the best Christmas present that they could get. He asked me how I liked his house when I was out there and that he was sorry that I had to use vacation to come out there. I told him that I didn't have to use vacation, and that as far as I am concerned his house is the best one he has had in San Diego that I have seen.

He was a bit tired, but very much coherent. He said that his hands and arms are burnt to bad so he thinks he can get out of the rehab facility quickly. It was so good to hear him.

Dad then called me late last night and told me that they played foosball. They have PJ getting up and moving around via a wheelchair. I couldn't understand if dad meant that he walked with the wheelchair in front of him or what. The Doctors told Dad that they still are giving him methadone, an anxiety medication, blood pressure medication, and one other that I can't remember right now. The meds should stop soon though according to the nursing staff.

This is absolutely the best present that I could have had. I was so excited to hear him, and he sounded great. He did ask when I was coming back out there, and I told him that we are anxious to have him fly home for a while so that everyone here can see him and hug him. He has a way to go before that happens, but it is not as far off as people think. He is starting to remember more about the accident and what happened. He has several therapists. An occupational therapist, a physical therapists and others. They work on his strength and his mind every day. In the afternoon they come in and quiz him on what happened that morning. He still gets wiped out pretty quickly, but he is making such large strides.

Well I hope that everyone has a blessed Christmas. Hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

Chris

Warning...Contents under extreme pressure...

Just got off the phone with Dad, and he has been in the room with PJ. According to Dad, PJ had just finished eating breakfast when he arrived, and then the breakfast came back to visit them both (coincedence that Dad was there when this happened??? I will let you decide). Actually the nurse told Dad that he can't lay back down after he eats, or that is what will happen. So Dad had to leave while he cleaned himself up and took a shower (HOW COOL!).

He is becoming more aware of what has happened and how long he has been out. He is feeling bad and that he has put a burden on the family for having to be out there. Make sure when you read this PJ that there was no burden at all and that is exactly what family is for. No one has felt burdened by being out there, if anything, we all want to be out there at once.

Steve is trying to get a Sprint broadband card for his laptop so that he can get onljne and start getting back into his normal routine. This is exciting times right now, and we are days away instead of weeks.

I also want to let everyone that has read this blog on a daily basis know that our family, especially PJ, is so grateful for the thoughts and prayers that have been sent his way. The outpouring of support and love has been overwhelming, and it is so appreciated! It will not be long before PJ will be able to have as many visitors as he can handle, so hang in there, and we will let you know when that is.

Remember hug your loved ones, and tell them you love them.

Chris

Full Steam Ahead....

Big Guy left an update last night in the comments of the last post and today the PJ Dad is with Peej. I am heading over now to see how his new digs are and I will update when I get home to let everyone know how he's doing.

He was asking Big Guy for his computer last night but there is no internet access for him there. He was still a little confused but the fog is clearing everyday.

More later, Have a great day!!

Lynette

Pack up the Gravy Train...PJ is on the move.

PJ is on the move. He is leaving the ICU and the hospital all together today, and heading to the Rehab facility. They will be transporting him today at 2:30 Pacific time to his new place of residence and the next stop before he gets to return home. After a conversation with Lynette today, she told me that PJ FED HIMSELF TODAY. He is still a bit off becuase of the medication, but he fed himself none the less. All he did was ask for help to open his sherbert and he did the rest himself. He told her today that he feels like his eyes are 30 degrees off. He said that he can see fine, but everything is 30 degrees off. Judging by the way he was trying to get his Sherbert, Lynette told me he may not be far off on that assessment.

He also thinks he is funny (Like that isn't the case when he is not on medication!). Lynette was peeling away the dead skin on his hands the way the nurses told her and he said, "Hey what are you doing?" She asked him if it hurt, and he said "I'll tell you if it hurts, I may smack you by doing it, but I will tell you if you hurt me." He then told Lynette, "Where is the nurse, that was a funny joke and he wasn't even in here to hear it!" Ahh the same old PJ!

She also said that he was much more coherent and agreeable this morning than he has been in the past. He is slowly coming around, and becoming more aware of what is going on. The move should be a good thing for him, if anything it changes his environment which is something that he needs right now. Dad is on his way down there, I told him to call me with updates so that I can update everyone. Everyday is something new and exciting, and we are getting closer to having PJ back the way we all know and love him.

Thanks for the thoughts. Have a blessed holiday and make sure you hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

Chris

Update from Mom (otherwise known as Jackie)

Jackie just emailed me this update....

"I just got off the phone with the doctor and PJ was walking by himself using a walker. He said so far he has taken 15 steps and he is also marching. He ate a couple bites of cake yesterday and they were going to try different food today. He says he is doing great and he will probably being going to the rehab center in a few days. The trach will be coming out very soon because he is breathing on his own. Pj was walking by when I was on the phone with the doctor, I told him to tell him I said Hi and he responded "Merry Christmas". It is another good day for PJ."

I realize we may not be sure on the timeline for him moving to the rehab center, but the news about P.J. moving up to a walker is outstanding. Great job PJ!!!!

They are moving him!

From Erin -

I just talked to Chris and he gave me some good news. They are moving PJ to the rehab facility today. They called Chris and told them they would be moving him today and he will probably be in the rehab facility for two weeks. So PJ is officially out of the ICU.

Merry Christmas to everyone and hug your loved ones,

Erin

Okay so, this afternoon, Peej didn't mention that I said his Dad was coming today....which is good, because he doesn't come until tomorrow. He was pretty much the same this afternoon. They took the one tube out of his nose, the one that keeps his stomach empty. So he has THAT going for him. I did the whole peel the dead skin thing again on his hands and then he let me know that there was another step in the process with the hands...he meant that I was supposed to put the oinment on but I had indeed already done so, he just needed to be reminded, but he was on top of it!

THE BIG NEWS

The are NOT moving him over to the Naval Hospital, they think he is ready to move over to a rehabilitation place. I am not going to say the name of it here, as the visitation to PJ is still very limited and will continue to be, even at the rehab center, until Peej can make is own choices. They anticipate this move as early as tomorrow but more likely on Saturday or even Tuesday. They will provide training to Big Guy, Romel and myself so we can help him when he gets home. Between the numerous friends and family coming out here ~ Pajamas will have more help than he probably even wants!

Master Chief Templeton (one of the other crewmembers hurt in the accident) came to the hospital while Big Guy and I were there, PJ was so glad to see him. EMCM Templeton looked great, he explained to Peej he was out of all hospitals but still going once a week to do rehab for his hands. PJ seems to be trying to put together what happened, he knows, but it seems to be jumbled up in his head right now.

The funny for today.....PJ said, "Lynette, I am going to take a nap and then you come back and I have to tell you all the CRAAAZY stuff that has been happening the last week and a half (now picture arms spread wide) it is eight pages long all the crazy stuff! Girl, wait till you hear it all!".....PJ, PJ, PJ if you only knew.

That is all for today! My husband came home with the ship and we are going out to dinner.

Have a wonderful night and hug your people....

Lynette and Steve

Left, Left, Left, Right, Left

This was a GREAT morning in PJ Land. Physical Therapy came in this morning and though they have been getting him to sit on the edge of the bed and stand (both for very brief periods and with much assistance) today, he came very close to standing up off the bed on his own. He did need some assistance and still has to be told each step of an action but he did it! They had him to it twice but the second time took some convincing, he laid down and said "we can do this later okay". But after some prodding, he did it for the second time and they don't want him to take any steps yet (he is still very weak) they did ask him to march in place....and like a good little military man, he did. Then he was over it and wanted to lay down.

They did some physical therapy on his hands and he wasn't so thrilled with that. In fact, I think is exact response was "how bout we NOT do this right now!"

We are still having to keep him focused and on task but you can tell his mind is starting to put things together. He was asked the date and was at least close this time until we got to the year then he said "2025" when we told him it was 2006, he giggled and said "Well, that was kind of a leap from 2006". Then I asked him what he does on every Christmas Eve and he said "Duh girl, I go to your house". LOL That he does. But to recall that information and apply it to the question was a good sign of his mind coming out of the fog. He also asked if he had any messages and I passed on the ones from the blog. He was glad to get them.

It is so nice to see the progression over the last two days. He had kind of "stalled out" for a week or so when coming off some of the machines and drugs. I think it was just so much work for his body that he was just adjusting. It's nice to have stuff to report.

I didn't stay long this morning, he was very tired after all the activity. He said he needed a nap and then to come back. He is still confused quite a bit but having more and more moments that he seems to be starting to retain information.

Some have asked about phone calls, the staff says no for now and I would have to say, it would probably just confuse him. Though is mind is getting clearer he still is very confused most times. Thinking the lights are candles, wondering why the fan isn't on (Peej, it's not a fan, it's a smoke detector), he thinks the O2 nasal cannula that goes from his nose to behind his ears are glasses and keeps trying to adjust them. The way he is going though it will be no time at all.

That is all for now, I am going up this afternoon and will update then. The PJ Dad is coming in today, so he will have a busy afternoon.

Happy Holidays and Hug your people...

Lynette

Give the boy a menu...

Well, Peej has moved on to berry Jello and thinks it is good. He is drinking through a straw well, we tried the regular drinking thing and that didn't go so well...so for now...a straw it is!

It seems he got a little uncooperative this afternoon but the nurses figured out the temper tantrums parallel a medication they were giving him everyday at noon to stimulate the abdominal tract to contract. Those should subside as they don't think he needs that particular medication anymore. And when I say "temper tantrum" I mean "full on two year old temper tantrum". Yesterday he straightened out his legs, slapped them on the bed, as well as both arms and grunted....just like a toddler. Tonight though he was calm, cooperative to verbal requests and even smiled more. He is still a confused but I can tell he is putting more and more together. He remembers things for more than 30 seconds and even apologized tonight for "fighting with Big Guy and the nurse this afternoon". So that is great progress. He remembered I was there earlier and asked if I picked up my daughters (which I told him I needed to do), so he is starting to put small things together.

The nurse said tonight they were transferring him tomorrow to the Naval Hospital but the charge nurse said that is probably not likely to happen. I will call in the morning before I head up there and if there is any news I will update before I leave. Other than that, I will probably not update the blog until 1 or 2 California time (I have some last minute shopping and my husband is coming home on the ship tomorrow). You know, the ship Peej still thinks he is on most of the time.

Have a great day, hug all your people, and remember what the Season is really about!

Lynette

J-E-L-L-O.....

Just got back from seeing the PJ. What a great sight! He is much calmer and not struggling anymore to take everything out/off. He still did not have his restraints on either. That was nice to see! He seems to be putting a little bit more together (I stress "a little bit") but enough to make sense in that moment.

PJ Land has moved into solid foods. Slowly, but hey, it's not in a tube (he does still have the tube feed going). He took a couple bites of Jello and then said "Hmmmm lemon, good". But then, he said no more because he thought he should go slowly. He drank a cup of apple juice through a straw too! He has to be told each step of what to do until the 'fog' from the meds wears off. They said it could be a while.

There are rumors among the doctors and nurses that PJ might be moving over to the Naval Hospital in as early as two or three days. Not for any other reason than they have a bed and he will need physical therapy to regain his strength. I'll keep ya posted on that!

They showed me how to put the ointment on his hands and peel away the dead skin where the burns are healing, so I did that for a while. I am so not touching the feet though. The Peej Momma did that and it must be the love of a mother!

More later from PJ Land........

Happy shopping & continue the prayers for his recovery to progress with leaps and bounds!

It's a conspiracy.....

So according to Heather, PJ is doing well today. He is off the Ativan completely (again) and is starting to be more vocal (not to be confused with more lucid). They have taken off his gloves and untied his restraints....he was behaving while Heather was there but we will see how that goes today. For the most part he still thinks he is on the ship and though at times he seems to be more aware...he is still very confused and it is hard to understand what he is saying. Each day though, his verbal skills improve and even through it all you can see his sense of humor is still there, however, he is getting aggitated with the whole process but this is normal behavior. He said he thinks "someone is drugging him because he keeps waking up naked"...oh Peej, if you only knew...

He looks great and his hands look better everyday with the dexerity improving constantly.

I am heading up there right now and will update this afternoon with the plan for the next few days. There was some talk of them taking the trach out so we'll see, and once they take that out, he can be moved out of ICU.

Thanks for all the prayers! PJ is so blessed to have such a strong network of people in his ring.

Enjoy your families and Merry Christmas,
Lynette

Meyerpeter vs The Nurses

PJ is doing well. He is doing exactly what they said he was going to do.. become confused, agitated, and a little uncooperative. He has been fighting his restraints for three days, and he finally wore himself out.

Today when I got up there, they had these HUGE padded mitts on him. Both hands had them. They look like white boxing gloves. It is him vs. the nurses...He is trying to pull everything off him. He is really trying to escape, so they finally made it almost impossible to do it. They have not completely taken him off the ativan yet. They are going to hold off for a bit, because he is very restless. When I was there today, he slept the whole time. I got there at 10:00, and he was just starting to sleep, I left and came back a couple of times, and finally stayed at 2:00 pm. I was there until about 5:30, and he slept that whole time. Peacefully. I really think that he wore himself out from fighting, "morphing", and planning his escape. He made the comment last night that he had all night to figure out how to get out of there.

They stood him up today for a few minutes and he did great with that. He has been coughing up a LOT of phlegm. Nothing like wiping snot off my brother's trach...

So that's about all that's going on in PJ land. He is tired today, and sleeping well. I feel sorry for the nurse that has him tomorrow. He will be a handful.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. They are being answered. Now, we just need to convince PJ that he is in the hospital in he needs to stay there.

Talk to you soon,
Heather

Rise N Shine

Hey everyone. PJ is getting more and more alert everyday. Some have asked if he can talk on the phone yet, I don't think so. He is getting agitated with a lot of little things, and he would probably get agitated with that also.

They lowered his ativan, and you can tell. Like I said, he is getting really frustrated with all the "things" they have hooked up to him. He wants all the things taken off and he wants to be untied. He is planning his escape route. He is wanting to sign the papers to get out of there. Some of the things he is saying is funny! Today he asked what the other "sheet" was that was on him... when he found out that it was his gown, his eyes got really big and said, "Boys don't wear gowns".

Other than some of the things that he is saying, there really isn't much changing. I am spending a lot more time up there with him, as he is staying awake longer. So, the posts are going to slow down, but I will post when anything changes. (Trach coming out, eating solid foods, etc...).

He told the nurses today that he didn't trust them. (He didn't think they were nurses) and he wanted to see some ID. He told us that he needed to so to the bank, and to get his uniforms ready for work.

He also is asking/talking about the accident. He wanted to know today if anyone had died and asked if they knew why it happened. He also asked how "the kids" (nieces and nephews) were taking all of this. He asked about the family, (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc) and again how the other guys were doing... He found out that he has been in the hospital for four weeks, and I don't think that he believed that.

Oh yeah, he told me that the kids wanted to talk to him about Christmas. He also said that Kendyl is getting a puppy... Have fun with that Chris!

As you can see, he has a lot to say. There is NEVER a dull moment with him.

That's all for now. I will post again tomorrow when there are changes. Tonight he is going to rest, and Mom and I are going up there first thing in the morning. I will post tomorrow afternoon sometime.

Hugs from San Diego,
Heather, Mom and PJ

Another Day

Just talked to the nurse, Pj is doing ok. No changes, they are jusy slowly waking him up..

Stats are good, he is responding. The only thing really now is getting him awake and off the ativan.

I will post more as I know.
Heather