Thursday, May 7

Hi, everyone. This is Julie. Dee Dee is having computer problems, and the computer room at the Ronald McDonald house was already locked, so she asked me to post tonight. Clay had a pretty good day. The speech therapist, OT, and PT all worked with him today. He walked ALL the way around the ICU today!!! This is a REALLY big circle, and is the farthest he has walked so far! He tried to go fast to get it over with quickly. Upon returning to his room, the nurse jokingly said, "Ok, Clay, hop back in bed". And guess what? He did! He hiked his knee up and pulled himself up on the bed. The nurse and PT were amazed! The PT helped him reposition in the bed. After all this activity, he slept most of the afternoon. He didn't have any Hydrocodone today, but still vomited twice. He wasn't interested in eating today. He even turned down chocolate ice cream. Dee Dee asked him if it hurts when he swallows, and he nodded yes. He was awake and sitting in his chair at the 2:00 visit, and he and Dee Dee played with silly putty and balls. He was very excited about the silly putty because they don't usually get to play with it at home! Clay is scheduled to have surgery on the back of his head tomorrow. His is supposed to be the second case in the morning. At the last visit tonight, he was awake and sad and didn't want them to leave. Dee Dee asked me to again thank everyone for their support, love, and especially prayers. Good night and God bless!

Wednesday, May 6

Hello to all. We were told that Clay will have his next surgery Friday morning. Dr. Arnoldo will place homografts on the back of Clay's head. In a week or two, they will take him back to O.R. to remove these grafts and place autografts (his own skin) in their place. We have been worried about the back of his head and are relieved that it will finally be covered and begin to heal.
Clay had a busy morning and a restful afternoon. Clay was sick to his stomach three times today. His nurse noticed a correlation between his vomiting and his pain medicine. Each time he was given hydrocodone, for pain, he vomited within minutes after it was put down his feeding tube. He is still receiving a small amount of morphine through his IV. Extra pain medication is given before wound care, etc. Kristen, our O.T., made Clay another cast for his right hand. Uncle Justin (my brother) came to visit Clay at 11:00am. This was Clay's busiest hour of the day. The speech therapist came to work with Clay. She would place a cap over Clay's trach and ask him to say a word. It will take some time for him to get used to having air pushed over his vocal cords again. He gets really anxious each time the cap is placed over his trach. He then was taken to the big window where he watches for those airplanes taking off at Love Field. He also wanted to show us a new trick. While lying in bed, he can pick up his soft, spike ball with his little toes. We were laughing and he was smiling - it was really cute. He was asleep during our afternoon visits and wide awake during our evening visit. We hope you all have/had a restful night ~ thanks to all of you!

Tuesday, May 5

Hello to all. I think Chance and Arnie wore Clay out yesterday because he slept a lot today. :-) His little body has been working so hard, so I like to see him resting peacefully. He was awake during our 11:00am visit and got to go to the playroom. The occupational therapist was waiting for us when we arrived, and she had the Wii set up for him. She placed the remote in his hand and showed him the correct buttons to push. He played a boxing game which required him to move his right arm back and forth really fast. All this exertion made him tired and he fell asleep right there in his chair, so we took him back to his room. The physical therapist walked him before our 2:00 visit. She said that Clay did not want to walk, but did it anyway. He walked down the hall faster than usual and wanted back in his bed. He was asleep during our 2:00 and 5:00 visit. Some friends brought dinner to us this evening, and they also brought a big soft bear for Clay. He was awake during our last visit and wanted this new bear on his bed. Before we left, he patted his stomach and motioned for us to place the bear on his stomach. The bear was almost as big as Clay and he was smiling as we left the room. I just want to pick Clay up and give him hugs and kisses. When I have to leave the other boys, I can't get enough hugs and kisses. I'm so thankful for the comfort we have in God. We're thankful for your prayers and for Clay's progress.

Monday, May 4th

Early post tonight. Clay had a busy and good day. He is starting to sleep all night and likes to sleep late in the mornings. Occupational therapy was ready to go to work at 8:00 and Clay was not fully awake yet. I helped wake him up. He sat on the edge of the bed for a bit and then played with monkeys in a barrel. When this was over he was awake and ready for more. He did several more exercises but my favorite was when he had to move his arms like a chicken. He gave it a good try and I clapped. The O.T. did work with the left hand and I received my first good look. Not pretty but hopefully functional. She had the rehab doctor come and visit with me about the options for this hand. Speech therapy showed up next and Clay really took this opportunity to show off. I always knew that talking was his strong suite. They capped his trach and he said several words and counted to 10 twice. The most exciting part was when he asked to have the cap placed back on and told me, "I want macaroni." Needless to say I went all over the hospital to find him some. After speech left he was ready for another trip to the play room, but we told him he would have to wait until he had walked. He was not very excited by this prospect, but walked to the window and then back past his room and down to Kermit's. As soon as he returned to his room and set down in his chair he forced air over his trach and said playroom. Off we went. After all the activities he was ready for his bed. Arne and I settled him in and he found some good cartoons. At the last visit he had a dinner tray. He was willing to try everything but nothing taste good yet. I am headed back for the 7:30 to say good night and Deidra and Grandma are headed this way to take over here. Carson , Cody and I will try to hold down the fort in Olney until we can return this weekend. Thanks to all and good night.

Sunday, May 3rd

Hello to everyone. Clay had a good day. He is much more alert and sometimes becomes frustrated when we cannot understand what he needs or wants. He slept late this morning. When Deidra and I returned from meeting he was in his chair and preparing to take a trip to the play room in the Acute Care Burn Unit. Arne had him ready to make the trip so we all went over together. He had a nice time but he was extremely disappointed that they did not have the Wi hooked up on Sunday. We were amazed that he remembered this because it had only been mentioned to him a couple of times. He was very clear in mouthing the word Wi to his mother and I. Upon returning to the BICU he went down and counted a few airplanes. As we prepared to leave one of the nurses went to the freezer and pulled out a box of Popsicles. Clay picked strawberry and we were told he ate the entire thing. Thanks to Arne and Bonnie. His nurse has an I phone with several kids games loaded on it. Clay played with it non stop until Arne finally had to go to work and do his nursing duties. We see improvements each day and we are thankful. Deidra, Grandma, and the boys went to Olney tonight. This will be only be the third time Mom has been home since the accident. Please continue to pray for Clays recovery. Thanks to everyone for all the gracious help.

Saturday, May 2nd

Hello to all. Sorry for the late post tonight. Clay had a pretty good day. He played several games with his occupational therapist. He has a new set of magnets that he really enjoys. He and I had a couple of serious fights with his toy dinosaurs. His always seemed to win. Mandy his physical therapist rotated out of the burn unit today. She had helped Clay through several steps and will be missed. She walked him to the window and back for the last time. Clay was told if he walked to the window he could come back to his room and sit down. He went straight to the window and skipped his usual rest and turned and raced back to his room as fast as his weak little legs would carry him. He knows the faster he gets it over with the less pain he has to endure. Deidra visited with the O.T. who told us that they had taken more of the fingers than we had thought. This was disappointing, but he will overcome the loss. Today was the 100 year centennial celebration for our home town of Olney. A coworker of mine had a muzzle loading rifle that was made several years ago by the Olney gun works. She donated the gun to a raffle for Clay. I purchased several tickets and put them in Carson, Cody, and Clay's name. I took a phone call as we were going in to see Clay at 5:00. The ladies that worked on the drawing wanted to let me know that Clay was the winner. When we went in and explained it to him he attempted to grin from ear to ear. His mouth is very tight and his smile are precious. Thank you to everyone in Olney and elsewhere that have helped the Fites and Clay. Please know we will be eternally grateful. I would like to wish everyone a pleasant and relaxing Sunday. Good night.

Friday, May 1st

Hello to everyone this evening. Tonight is a joint effort between Deidra and myself (Chance). The boys and I traveled back to our second home and arrived around 8:00 tonight. I have not become accustomed to Dallas traffic. Clay has a new cast on his left knee to keep it straight. He has a burn scar high on his left leg and the most comfortable position for him is to bend his leg up. DeeDee makes sure that he has his orange soft spike ball near his feet for comfort and self tickles. He sat near the window today and counted airplanes in and out of Love Field. Bonnie was his nurse. They brought his lunch tray while he was at the window. He elected to dine outside his room. Mom and Grandma watched as Bonnie helped him sample everything on his tray. He was not interested in any pureed food item until she got to the ice cream. This brightened him up a bit and he indicated he would like some more of it. Sounds like his brothers.
Several speech therapist came in today and Clay had some anxious moments when they covered his trach. He did not feel like he could breathe easily. It was a panic for a little bit, but they talked him through it. It feels different for him since he has not had to force air over his vocal chords for so long. When they cap the trach, he has to get used to breathing through his mouth and nose again. They did not leave the cap on today. They will come next week and place a cap, with a valve on it, over his trach. This will allow him to breathe air in through his trach tube, but force the air out through his mouth. It will take some time for him to get used to it. He was able to say "dad", "mom", "ahhhhh", and "bye". Some of the other nurses came in to hear him talk and clap for him. During the 5:00 visit, Bonnie was going to take him to the play room. He was sitting in his chair and pointed to the bed. He wanted to get in his bed instead of going to the play room. He had a busy day and wanted to sleep. At the last visit he realized it was dark outside and he did not want Mom and Grandma to leave. DeeDee went back in and gave him a hug. I think there were tears being shed by both Clay and Mom. All and all Clay had a busy day with the speech milestone being one we hope he can build upon in coming days. We pray each evening that the Lord will continue to strengthen Clay and comfort him when we are not in the room. Sweet dreams to all.