Rehab and Remodel

It's so nice to finally be writing to you all from the Craig Rehab Center! You all have really blessed my parents...the room is filled with so many cards, books, magazines, other cool gifts, even photos and videos, lots of personalized special things. I couldn't even read through all of the cards, I was crying too much, too moved by all of the people who have reached out AND the wonderful, real, sincere things they (you all) had to say! I've already said that this is wonderful in previous updates, but to see it for myself was even more moving! Many of the cards said things like, "let us know how we can help you, what do you need, if you need ANYTHING let us know". Well, there is something and I will get to that in a bit, but first let me just tell about today.

Dad works his butt off in these classes! It is not a joke. The therapists and staff are really great and really encouraging. They have him do the exercises or activities on his own so that he learns how and builds strength. Dad had a time trial today on a wheelchair course with some ramps and turns in it. It was his third time and he shaved two minutes off of the previous time - excellent, but hard work! Then he went around the gym in a wheelie in his wheelchair - another skill to check off. He also mastered opening and getting through patio doors, no not with that automatic button, but on his own! All this was only in the first hour of the day. There was also OT and PT, each therapist is really great and impressed with Dad's improvements. In PT he worked on balance - sitting up on the edge of a raised mat in his brace. Then he and I played catch with weighted balls, he could do much more than the therapist's goal for that activity. Overall, he continues to improve, but this rehab is hard work and can get really frustrating. The positive atmosphere helps, but Dad's support and strong, persistent character also really makes a big difference!!

Mom is doing okay. She spends her days going to most of the classes with Dad, answering the cellphone, and making runs to Safeway when they need things. Some of the classes are for the two of them together and she learns a lot from going to the OT, PT, and other classes as well. Finally, she joined the "Wellness Center" which is a gym here and has started to workout in the mornings which Dad, Ellen, and I agree is good for her. While I am here I will go with her for a little mother-daughter bonding :-)

Tonight we made dinner in the apartment that I am staying in for the first couple of nights at the hospital. Dad got to see some of my photos while Mom and I made dinner. He actually had an appetite so it was nice to all sit together, not in the cafeteria, and have a nice dinner. Tomorrow I move into the suite that he and Mom are in.

The house is really changing FAST! I saw some more photos which I will post on my blog so you can check some of them. The room is closed in, the wiring and plumbing are in, and the drywallers (Uncle Ping and Cousin Buck and company) are driving from Montana as I write this. They are going to hang the drywall, tape, and paint. There is already a ramp in the garage. As this project has been going on countless people have put in countless hours to help either with the construction, meals for the crew, or providing refuge for Arlo or laundry services for Luke :-) MANY, MANY THANKS!!! This outreach is like something out of a Hallmark movie - you all are amazing!

The house project is where people can help in a tangible way. Many of you are already giving sooooooooo much of your skills (construction, cooking, hospitality, etc) towards remodeling the house for Dad to return and that's AWESOME! However, in response to numerous cards asking "what can we do to help you" you could contribute financially to the remodelling of the house. The former study is being turned into a bedroom/bathroom with a roll-in wheelchair accessible shower. Also, a ramp was built in the garage. All of the materials, aside from the bathroom tiles, are coming on account through Klingbeil Lumber and Bill Klingbeil is in charge of the account for the project. Those interested in contributing financially to this can send a check with "Dixon Remodel Project" in the subject line to:
Klingbeil Lumber Co
Attn Bill Klingbeil
1175 W Broadway
Medford, WI 54451

Please continue to keep up the support through your well wishes, emails, calls, prayers, letters/cards, and encouragement. This is not easy, I'm seeing more of the reality of that now that I am here. However, it's MUCH better because of you all and more not even on this list that some of you have informed. Feel free to forward these emails to others who would like to be updated. OR send me their email addresses and I can add them to the list. Thank you so much. A HUGE hug to each of you for every little or big way you have loved and support our family, especially Dad, through this so far!!!

Much love.

progress on Jolly Avenue

Thanks to the outreach of the Medford community, great progress is being made on expanding the study on the back of the house into a bedroom and bathroom that is wheelchair accessible. I can't wait to see it! I can't wait for Dad and Mom to be able to come home to it! I can't wait to see many of you in person when I am home soon :-)

You can see some of those who have helped with the remodel project in the photos: Al, Mike, Doug, Luke, Tom, and Peterson Concrete. Ellen, Dr. and Mrs. Robinson, Judy, and Joyce have also been there quite a
bit to offer assistance to the work crew. Ellen went home for a weekend and to my understanding spent most of it cooking and cleaning! There are many more not capture in the photos who have also helped out with the project so far. THANK YOU ALL who have jumped in to make this project happen so that when Dad and Mom come home Dad will be able to access a new bedroom and bathroom with his wheelchair!

Below are some quotes from Luke's emails.

"Here are some shots from the start of the addition project. Tommy Geiger is really good with a skid steer. Mom lost her hostas and they pulled out the stumps. Looking good so far."

"The forms are poured. We'll lay the block with Tom Geiger tomorrow."

"Mrs. Robinson made some great food for the crew last night."

from dad

Below is the message that Mom typed and Dad sent to me to share with
you all. I thought you might appreciate hearing from Dad himself!

(From 15 July 2007)

It is late Sunday afternoon, I am laying in bed with a sore butt and
Jill is typing this.

Last week I started Wheelchair Class and Get Fit Class in addition to
therapies and Ed. Class. Wheelchair class proves to be quite
strenuous. Mondays and Wednesdays are endurance runs which take
place in the communities surrounding the hospital. Tuesday and
Thursday are devoted to work on skills, Friday is game day i.e.
hockey and basketball. Get Fit class involves weights and work
stations with evaluations. It's a lot of upper body work. Ed. class
includes such topics as airline travel, medications, handling stress,
optimal health and so on. The Monday - Friday is busy so when
Saturday comes around I am quite grateful. Next week, they have me
scheduled for the pool. I am not sure how that will work with my
turtle shell brace. They also have me scheduled for hand cycling.

We have had a steady stream of visitors, besides Barbara, Ping &
Kathi recently Bob & Bonnie Linaberry, Bill & Arshebeth Hrabe, Todd
Harris, The Temme family, all paid a visit this past week. I am
looking foward to Ellen's visit next weekend. And also to Beth
coming here the week after. Luke sent a bunch of pics of the remodel
at home, the generosity of the Medford community is overwhelming,
just thinking about it chokes me up. In fact, the hardest part of
the day still the mail pile and emails and talking to people on the
phone. Even after a month, the continued outpouring of caring and
love is overwhelming. There is no practical way I can express my
appreciation and gratitude on an individual basis. I am truly
appreciative and grateful for all the cards, emalils, gifts, letters,
plants, and flowers.

Sounds like they got a great start on the remodel project this
weekend. I hope the weather is cooperative for the rest of the
project, I think they hope to close it in next weekend.

paul

how to make your own boerewors

1. kill an animal, slaughter a cow or hunt some springbok and blesbok
2. the animal must be skinned, gutted, and washed
3. chop up the carcass and cut off the chunks of meat, smaller chunks for wors, then the other parts for steaks, roasts, etc.
4. weigh out the chunks of meat (24 kilograms), add sheep fat (6 kilograms)
5. leave the science of spicing the meat for wors to the uncle who owns the farm
6. grand the meat/fat together in meat grinder
7. pack ground meat into sausage maker
8. check the derms (intestine) for any holes and put onto the sausage maker
9. turn the handle and out comes the meat into the derms and you have wors
10. neat trim and then coil the wors into huge basins
11. package into salad plate sized coils and label for distributing to the whole family OR just braai it!

How do I know all of this? I certainly did not tour a butchery. I went to Uncle Bucks's farm with Jaco and his parents and we did all of this ourselves. It was the big family hunt in which the processed a cow, four gemsbok (oryx), seven springbok, and a blesbok. After all of that, including making 180 kilograms of wors, I only wanted to eat only vegetables for a while before anymore meat :-)

keepin it real

I had a chance to get some more details
from Mom.

1. Family Meeting:
This was a meeting in which the Craig staff explained Dad's injury and his
progress. Mom and Dad were there with Dr. and Mrs. Robinson as well as
Uncle Michael and Karyn. Luke, Ellen, and Dad's longtime friend Mike Lynch
were listening in on speaker phone. From what I understand it was mostly
just informative, no real expectations or predictions were given.

2. Status of the injury and therapy:
At first the doctors were saying that his injury was "incomplete" which
means that he would qualify for some acupuncture (sp?) and other sensory
tests. However, now they are saying that it is "complete" so he does not
qualify for the acupuncture. Doctors have not said anything about the
status of the swelling in the spine.

From the surgery there is a bit of bruising and tenderness in his left
bicep, so PT is working on strengthening that muscle. Yesterday they put
him in this sling and brace kind of thing that allowed him to stand which is
good for blood circulation in his legs. Usually people cannot "stand" with
it on the first try, but Dad could :-) With more practice he will be able
to "stand up" with the support of this apparatus for longer periods of time.

Honestly, Dad and Mom are preparing for the "worst case scenario" which is
Dad being in a wheelchair the rest of his life. From what I understand, this
is what Craig prepares you for -- even drivers ed for people who cannot use
their legs. Ideas are already being generated in Medford to put in ramps,
additions, and/or remodeling of my parents' house so that Dad can actually
live there.

If any of you who were in on this meeting have more clarity than this to
send in an update, please email me.

3. Fireworks:
Yes, the fireworks story is true. Dad decided yesterday that he wants to go
up to the roof and watch the fireworks for the 4th with Mom and the
Robinsons there. They've also been able to enjoy a picnin kind of feast
that Bill and Archibeth Hrabe brought over from Whole Foods. There is a
grill and patio kind of area at Craig, so they might grill out while the
Robinsons are still there. They still enjoy cribbage and play with Dad's
first roommate at Craig and his wife.

4. On a personal note:
Please continue to pray Dad through to a strong recovery!

Whatever the outcome is with his legs, I know that he is tremendously loved
and supported by you all. Mike and Doug are already thinking of plans to
fix the house so that Dad can get around in a wheelchair. Klingbeil Lumber
even thought that they could get some kind of discount to help with this
process. People have just really come out of everywhere to help out in a
time of real need and that it so wonderful! We don't know exactly what will
happen, but as it unfolds we know that there are amazing people there to
reach out in whatever way they can and THAT is such a blessing to all of us!

On behalf of Dad, Mom, Luke, Ellen, and myself -- we appreciate everything
that each of you has done in prayer, thought, and deed to support Dad and
each of us :-)

Blessings and rehab for Dad

For those of you checking up on my dad, here is some more news for
you. The photo is from last week when Aunt Kathi was there for a
visit. Dad is able to sit up with the back brace. Mom has been an
incredible support through all of this! They are both amazing!

He started PT and OT at Craig Hospital last week and it is going
well. He is working hard and the doctors say that his flexibility
and strength will benefit him greatly in the rehab process. Somedays
he sounds like my same, witty dad on the phone. Other days he sounds
tired depending on how many exercises he had and how difficult they
were.

They have had some visitors. Their good friend Brian came out to
visit around the time of the surgery when Luke and Ellen were there.
Mike Malchow drove the Freestyle out for them, thanks Mike. Aunt
Kathi came down from Colorado. The Robinsons are flying out for a
visit July 2. Bill and Archibeth (Mary) Hrabe live out there and Bill
has been to visit, hopefully they will both come next time. Mom said
that they have been enjoying things like playing cribbage with
visitors, enjoying breakfast together in the cafeteria, and sitting
outside in the afternoons on the patio at the hospital. Rumor has it
that the patients get to go up on the roof on the 4th of July to see
the fireworks. Hopefully they will enjoy that with the Robinsons.
There may be some other visitors in mid July and then I will arrive
July 25 for a week with them -- cannot wait!!!

A special thanks to Debbie, friend of Michael and Karyn, who is
letting more stay at her house - only a five minute drive from the
hospital. I think it's quite nice for mom to be close.

Now here is where it gets a bit more emotional...you all are amazing
and showing God's unconditional love to Dad (and to Mom) in ways that
they cannot even fathom. When I asked Dad how things were going in
rehab he didn't mention the exercises or the physical pain. The only
thing he said is that the most difficult part is dealing with the
outpouring of emotion that comes with opening the mail. He has
received several special, thoughtful presents. The day that I talked
to him he had opened about 20 cards the morning before and had not
received that day's mail. He said he is really touched and never had
any clue how much people cared! This has been truly amazing and an
incredible blessing to both of my parents! Again, thank you for your
prayers, thoughts, cards, emails, presents, and phone calls! This
kind of support seems to really be lifting both Dad and Mom. Thanks
for loving them!

I am still getting some requests for contact information. Here it is:

Mom's email address:
jadixon54@hotmail.com
Mom's cell number:
715-560-0168
Address at the hospital:
Craig Hospital
3425 South Clarkson
Engelwood, CO 80113

Visit to Mooi Plaas

Now this was one unforgettable experience. Megan, Jaco, and I had a
great weekend in the end of May with Heidie & Lappies and Sonja &
Awie and all of there kiddos! This is one cool family that has
reached out to Megan and I since we first visited Mariental in
November 2005 before permanently moving in in January. Awie was
filling in as a relief teacher at Lappies' school and Sonja is
Heidie's sister, so there are many connections. In addition to spend
a day and night in the veld with the Bushmen (see below) we got to
touch Botswana, track a Black Mamba (the scariest, most dangerous
snake here!), drive in the veld in the night looking for animals,
braai, and hang out with two incredible families for a long weekend!

The Bushmen are traditionally nomadic people who live in the Kalahari
(Namibia and Botswana) as hunters and trackers. They have incredible
knowledge of the veld (open field) of the Kalahari and can survive
quite happily for a long time out in the veld.

However, there is little open land not owned by private people or the
government for them to live on, so many groups now live in
'homelands" which are like reservations. They are basically the
lowest when it comes to social rank amongst the different tribes of
people living in the homeland. Kids at school get teased for being a
"bushman" whether they are or not. We learned that many are ashamed
to dress in their traditional dress as other tribes can when going to
town because of ridicule. There are few opportunities for earning an
income on the homeland. In addition, their culture is sort of dying
out.

Awie, a farmer whose farm borders one of these homelands, has gotten
to know one special family of Bushmen. He has established a
relationship with them a created a camp on his farm where they have
built some of their traditional houses. He has worked with them to
establish Bushmen tours in a non-exploiting way for tourists. The
Bushmen come to his farm and stay in their own houses that they have
made. The tourists come to the farm and stay in stick and mud houses
built by Tswanas. The two camps are right next to each other, so the
tourists with Awie walk over and spend the day with the Bushmen
talking (Afrikaans is the common language), learning about their
lives, culture, and how they make things. Awie knows a lot about
their culture and wanted to help them to teach others about it while
also earning some money to help improve their lives in a way that
they are not exploited. He serves as a translator if the visitors do
not speak Afrikaans.

Luckily, the weekend that we (Megan, Jaco, and I) were visiting,
there was a tour scheduled. We were able to join in and were a total
of five visitors for the Bushmen. That is about the maximum size for
the design of the tour. We had a great day with the Bushmen. We
learned that the patriarch is one of the main leaders of the whole
Bushmen community in this homeland. His daughter who was paralyzed
at a young age and in this culture would normally be cast off is now
one of the main leaders and is a traditional healer in their
community. We didn't just meet any Bushmen, but some of the main
leaders! They were kind and enjoyed showing us things like how they
make ostrich egg shell jewelry and how they find water in trees in
the veld. They took us on a walk in the veld and showed Megan how to
track a springbok, don't think that she would survive very long in
the veld. What looks like a bunch of random marks in the sand is
actually a pathway to dinner for the trained eye and knowledge of the
Bushmen. They showed us how to make a traditional trap out of
sticks, string, and grass in hopes of catching a steenbok. The young
men taught us a game that they enjoy which involves throwing sticks
on a pile of sand and seeing which one flies the furthest.

In the evening we were invited to join them at their campfire where
they sang and danced into the night! The next morning, after a good
sleep in a stick and mud house in the veld, we went back to the
Bushmen to thank them for teaching us about their culture and say our
goodbyes. At this time we also had an opportunity to buy crafts that
they made. Megan and I both bought jewelry for ourselves and for
gifts. Jaco got a handmade walking stick like Awie and Oupa Bushman
(patriarch) have.

This was an experience that now of us will forget! We even learned
about a special connection between Oupa Bushman and Jaco's great
uncle who was from a farm only 60 kilometers west of Awie and Sonja.

Many thanks to Heidie and Lappies for arranging this weekend to visit
Mooi Plaas ("Beautiful Farm") and many thanks to Awie and Sonja for
hosting us!!!!!!!!!!!! We had a great time as you can see from some
of the photos!