Travis Weekend ~ October 8th

LOVE love LOVE

that Travis gets to come home on

some weekends.  God bless Lynna's

heart...it is A LOT of work for her though.

But she doesn't hesitate...

thrills her to have Travis home!!!:)

October 8th weekend was a big one for us.

Travis not being able to eat is awful. 

I remember exactly where I was standing

at Texas Neuro when Trav's

neurologist looked at Lynna and said

he didn't think Travis would ever

be able to talk or eat again. 

I thought I might die right then and there.

All we had been waiting for was

when Travis would say something...

we all joked what it would be.

I just knew he was going to be like

"Ya'll, I liked Superman but

not this much!"

I remember I very quickly put what

the doctor had told us on

Caringbridge so people could pray.

My parents didn't like it that I had done

that.  They were just sure that

the doctor was wrong and that it

was not right to share that

 information with everyone.

All I could think about was not

ever hearing his voice again.

I still can't stand the thought of that.

In the days, weeks and months that

have followed we have realized that

Travis talking is NOT our main goal

or issue with him. Travis has learned to

communicate with us...

through texting, his Dynavox,

spelling out words by pointing

at an alphabet chart, etc.

 It's the eating that is THE worst.

Our whole world, our lives, our days...

all evolve around eating. 

You don't realize that until you

are around somebody who CAN'T

eat but would LIKE to eat.

It's very sad.

We decided early on that we would

not eat or drink in front of Travis.

We just couldn't do that to him.

For the longest he would beg

for sips of water or ask Lynna

to order him a pizza or bring

 him a coke.  :(

He never does that anymore.

CNS has encouraged Lynna and all

of us to eat around him

AND take him to restaurants.

His counselor says this is his

new life and he needs

to be accustomed to it.  

We just haven't been able to do it.....

until October 8th weekend ~

 when we all went to Fuddruckers:)

This has always been our family birthday

spot because it's so relaxed and it's

perfect for the Storm;)  ha!

I have many, MANY memories

of Travis at Fuddruckers.

Including his 16th birthday dinner...

where I gave him a new truck.

(It was a hot wheel!).

We thought it was a perfect place to take

him since there are couches and

games and stuff.  Troy and I got

there early and ate quickly so

we could be done and hang with

Travis while everyone else ate.

Other than the tears I shed

as Travis sat on the couch behind

me as I finished my burger,

it was perfect...

Even Macy was in town from school:)

Aunt Kitty, Uncle Ron, Mical, Joanne & Tyler

came, too!  Travis draws a crowd;)

These are the women of our family.

Travis is loved,

cared for and nurtured!

In typical Travis fashion,

being in a restaurant and seeing

people eat didn't seem to phase

him at all.  When we ask him

if it's okay, he always shakes his

head for yes and smiles. 

His attitude is TRULY

unbelievable. 
He inspires me!
Shame on me for the things I
complain about in this world. 

Talk about an inspiring family........

Look at him laughing with his mama!

Nobody makes him laugh or smile

like she does (well, maybe Hudson!).

As far as the future of Travis eating

or speaking again?...according to most

who work with him (doctors, speech

therapists, etc.), it is unlikely that he

will ever be able to do either.  His damage

 is so severe.  Are we giving up?

NEVER!  Better yet, is Travis

giving up?  No WAY!  Never, EVER!!!

That evening Lynna, Travis and Hunter

went home to rest.  Apparently Lynna

fell asleep on the couch.  Travis started

texting me to bring the STorm OVER!  ha!

 So of course, we went straight away!!!!!!

And on Sunday, too:)))

It's not only hard work on Lynna...

but poor Hunter, too!
You just have no idea what it's like.

God bless their hearts.  :(

It's ALL so worth it

and we are ALL so thankful...

A sweet Sunday...

with VERY sweet people!

As I think back to that day when the doctor

told us that information about Travis

never eating or talking,

I could never have dreamed that he

would be able to text us like he does now.

That in itself is such a miracle.

I hope someday to read back over

this and realize that God performed

many more miracles and that Travis

CAN talk and eat. 

"There is no one who can

hold back His hand..."

Daniel 4:35