Hi everyone!  Happy holidays, Merry Christmas.  Jo is doing great!  He is coming back to us day by day, and it is amazing to bear witness to these miracles each and every day!

The last post had quite a few updates on all his progress just a few more to add, but they are amazing!

• Jo can lift his left hand high in the air to grab something.
• Jo loved to run his hands through Mom's hair, he is doing it again!
• Jo's on the road to talking again.  He now does his speech exercises regularly and can make sound on command 80% of the time!
• Jo is now actively passing air beyond his trach into his vocal chords, a huge step in talking!
• He asks to go in the chair with yes/ no signs.  He also has spent time lounging with his sisters and parents on our bed watching movies, he is so happy to be together.  For dad it was the first hug I could steal for a very long time (lots of tears)

The most exciting physical improvement came during his recent speech therapy session.  Since he started therapy , 4 weeks ago, we have been working hard to get Jo to open his mouth on command.  Move his lips and "re-connect" his mouth movements with his brain.  Up until this past week most movements with his mouth were not on command, and even when we asked to do a simple task like open your mouth, even though it was obvious he was trying, he just couldn't do it.  That has changed!

Recently we have been using a candy cane to get Jo to puerse his lips (duck lips).  

• Yesterday he opened his mouth ON COMMAND!
• He stuck his tongue out and licked the candy cane!
  
• Mom got Jo his favorite lollipop and had in the room, just in case he started making this kind of progress.  When he saw it his eyes lit up!  He opened his mouth stuck out his tongue and tasted the pop.  His first real taste of sugar in 8 months!
  
• To top it all of we decided to go from amazing to unbelievable and see if Jo could hold the lollipop and bring it to his own mouth..... 

THIS KID IS AMAZING.  FIRST TIME DIRECT HIT.  HE WAS SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!
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It was so awesome!   

Now you know Jo is a huge walking dead fan.  Let me end with these 2 videos!!!!

Jojobinks, you keep pushing.  We love you so much!  You are coming back day by day!  The world is rooting for you and God is with you!  We love you to the moon and back sweet angel. YOU'VE GOT THIS!
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I am so sorry it's been so long since my last post.  It is hard to find the time to write about Jo's progress, there is so much to be thankful for, he is amazing each day...

• Jo can turn his head left to right rapidly now, and the strength in his neck continues to grow.  He often tracks his therapists around the room, he is amazing.
• Jo has started to respond to physical therapy in new and amazing ways:
  • He can open and close his left hand wide
  • Grasp a nerf gun, pull the trigger, fire the dart. still working on lifting it to aim
  • Squeeze a stressball or anything if you ask him to, and release it on command
  • He can lift his left arm 5-6 inches in the air to reach his toys and grasp them appropriately
  • He can hold a stylus pen in his left hand and touch his tablet to make a fireworks show
  • He can ring a bell
  • He can push the buttons on his toys and activate his singing dog by squeezing his paw
  • He can sit up straight with minimal support for well over 20 minutes!
• Jo loves his speech therapist (she is amazing) and he responds to her with great animation and excitement
  • He has started to activate his lips and tongue (the first step in swallowing on his own)
  • He is now able to indicate "yes" and "no" by looking at 2 signs and using his gaze.
    • He answers questions that suggest great comprehension, memory, and the ability to read
  • We have begun pushing Jo to breath through his mouth to hear his own voice
    • He has heard himself make a noise at least 10 times the past few weeks and he got so excited (we so badly want to hear his voice again)
    • We are moving forward with a new trach attachment that will condition his breathing through his mouth, it should move him closer and closer to talking!
  • Jo also did a trial with a computer communication device that allows him to communicate with his eye gaze.  We have great hope that we may have one for him by the end of the year.

Jo is making amazing progress in his recovery.  Beating the odds with every small improvement.  It can be difficult to watch him struggle to get his body to react, but it is all worth it to see his smile when he finally gets it!

We have so much to be thankful for.  Jo's nurses,  his therapists, his angel and prayer warriors, the amazing generosity of so many people that still continues to roll in.  The See Ya' Later Foundation for the generous donation of a home generator for Jo's backup power in the event of an outage.  All of our friends and coworkers who surround us with love, hugs, and a shoulder to cry on.  Our amazing warm, comfortable, and newly decorated home.  The Washington Brain Alliance for their counsel and case management.  Without the support we have received we are certain we would not have made it.  

Jo has had so many good days we have lost count, but lately he needs our prayers.  He has been very healthy, strong, and joyful a lot of the time but there are also times when we know he is just sad.  He is tired of being in the bed, tired of not being able to do more, tired of pushing so hard.  Sometimes using his "yes" "no" signs reveals he is no pain, doesn't need anything, he just answers "yes" when you ask if he is sad, and it is heartbreaking.  

We continue to be positive and let the Lord do his work.  We know how string Jo is and know that no matter his frustration he will never stop fighting, and we will never stop believing his coming back to us, each day just a little bit closer.  

Jojobinks you are an amazing fighter and so many people love and care for you.  It is amazing to think how far you have come the past few months.  How much progress you've made, how hard you have worked to get there is inspiring to everyone!  We know it isn't easy, we see you pushing very hard.  Give yourself credit for all you've done, you are amazing!  It's ok to be sad sometimes but don't dwell on it, God is with you and with his love you will be safe.  We will be patiently waiting.  We love you to the moon and back sweet angel, YOU'VE GOT THIS!

I have not posted many pictures of Jo during his recovery, but if this doesn't brighten your day and lift you up nothing will!

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