Lots of things going on today. Troy had the trache removed today. They have now replaced it with a "button" which is basically just a clear plastic tubing that sticks about 1 inch out of his neck and is held in by a toggle bolt type of mechanism that keeps it in place. The respiratory therapist says that it will, more than likely, stay in for about 1 to 2 weeks. It's definitely a step in the right direction.

Another huge milestone today was when the speech therapist gave him an ice chip and rubbed it on his lips; Troy opened his mouth, took in the ice chip, sucked on it, and swallowed! For a patient with the type of brain injury Troy has, that is big improvement! Of course, Troy will have to do it consistently, from now on, for it to count as an increase in his Rancho score, but it definitely is cause for praise to God! So, to help him keep practicing, for the rest of the day, I would offer him ice chips from time to time and most of the time he took it and sucked/chewed on it and swallowed. It was amazing to watch!

God is definitely answering prayers and continuing to work his will in his perfect timing! It's exciting for me because today there was talk that Troy's time here at Shepherd will more than likely be extended, if he continues to make progress as he has has these past two days. The downside of that would be that I will have to consider moving up here - AGAIN (not looking forward to that stressful event again, but I know God will give me clarity so I have quit trying to figure things out and give it all to God), the upside is that Troy will not have to have any gap in his therapy and if Troy continues to make progress this way, he'll be back to us real soon!

Prayers are powerful and God is definitely showing his glory!

I continue to trust in the LORD and trust in him to continue to guide me through these major life changing decisions that are about to come forth for Troy, the girls and myself.

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13

To God be all the glory.