Hi all! I will be helping Matt with the blog.  I came here to help Matt not just to care for Shelby but to do whatever I can to make things as easy as they can be under the circumstances.  So if keeping up the flow of information on Shelby's progress will take one thing off his shoulders, I will do it.  Be advised, I am not nearly as eloquent as my son-in-law, nor am I the "offspring of an English teacher" so my spelling and grammar may be incorrect at times. Be patient I am doing the best I can.
Shelby continues to make small progress and gains.  She is vocalizing more.  We do still have to remind her that she can speak to get the sound from her, but when reminded she does her best to speak.  This morning Matt shared that during the night after repositioning Shelby's legs for her when he returned to his bed Shelby said to him in an audible voice, "Thank You".  It may seem like such a small thing but to have her find her voice and speak without being prompted to do so is such an encouragement to us.  Matt had a huge grin on his face while relating this story to me.  We miss her sound so much!
Last week for the 4th time we had to have her G-J tube replaced because the Jejunal line was again not working and instead of emptying into the jejunam it was emptying into the stomach.  It took two days to get into interventional radiology and so we during that time we used the gastric line to administer her medications and to feed her.  Her stomach handled it well with no residual food or meds left in the stomach.  So it looks like her digestive issues may be resolved we hope.  After the new GJ was placed we decided to continue to use the gastric  line for feeding and meds.  For now we are limiting any food she takes by mouth until we are sure that her stomach is handling the tube feed for at least a couple of weeks or so.  Our goal is for her to start taking in more and more food by mouth until she is able to maintain her nutrition without a tube feed supplement.  She may not ever reach that point, but we are going to give it our best try, slowly.  If she were able to discontinue the tube feed she and Matt could once again share a bed because she would not have to sleep while in an inclined position.  That would be huge!
Shelby has been practicing using a motorized wheelchair.  She loves it!!!! She has the biggest smile on her face while she is riding around. If she told me once, she told me 5 times today during the training today, " I iike that" .   I must admit it is going to give me more gray hair. It is like riding in a car with a teenager with a permit again. My heart races when she gets close to walls, doorways, people or any other obstacle that might be in the way.  Due to the short term memory issues, we must remind her often that when she is about to hit something let go of the joy stick and the chair stops.  I need to remember to be patient (not really my strong suit) and give her time to learn this. 
Short term memory continues to be an issue but she has shown improvement in this area also.  At times she remembers things that have happened since the injury.  It is hit and miss but that she remembers at all is great.  And with prompts she remembers more even more information.  As an example, her therapists names some days she remembers them easily and other times we have to provide clues or and she remembers the names.
We will soon exhaust our insurance approved therapies for the year 2009.  Shelby is on a list for a scholarship bed at the Eisenhower Brain Injury Center.  I understand this to be an in patient facility. Shelby is one of 4 persons being considered for the bed for the term starting in November. It is a 90 day program.  It would provide her with daily occupational, physical and speech therapy for 90 days and then we would be in the year 2010 and would have a 60 more outpatient therapies.  So please keep this in your prayers for her.
We are so grateful for all the prayers and support we have received.  We can never say thank you enough to co-workers, friends and family.  Our church families both here and in Merced have been so supportive also.  Shelby and Matt's home church, Huron Hills Baptist Church is currently raising funds to help us purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle.  We are grateful for public transportation we have here, but it can at times be unreliable.
I am sorry this is so long but it has been awhile since we provided any information on Shelby's progress I had a lot to say.  I promise to make the updates shorter from now on.

Thank you again,
Just Sue