Thursday, August 20, 2009

It's been nearly a month since I've updated here. I'm not sure how many people are still checking. Still, I actually remembered today to update so here it is:

A few weeks ago Jonathan had his psych eval. We got the results back a couple of weeks afterward. The evaluation was to see if Jonathan could be cleared to work and drive. The psychologist who administered the evaluation said that she did not think that he was ready to work just yet do to his current social skills and other abilities. Though, she didn't want to write that in her report and say that he could not. She also didn't want to write that he was OK to work because the moment he is "cleared" to work all of his benefits would end. Since, from the evaluation, her conclusion is that he is not ready, yet he is adamant that he is - she is leaving that decision up to him, but advising that he start slowly. His sight is still a main factor in the type of work that he can do. Looking at a computer for the large part of the day and trying to type probably won't be a good option for him. So, the possibility of work for/with Charlie is the best bet currently. Jonathan has recently purposed that he wants to go back to school to finish his degree and become a teacher so that he can also coach. Many ideas and goals are coming to him. It will be exciting to see where God takes him.

As far as driving goes - there are a few steps he still has to walk. First, he has to have an eye exam. As you already know - he still has no sight in his right eye. So, the exam will be extensive. That is scheduled for next week some time. Also, after the eye exam, depending on his passing, he will have to take a very extensive driving test. This will test his reaction time, his depth perception amongst other things. If he does not pass the driving exam there are some classes he will have to take that would teach him how to drive with an impairment. After those classes he can re-take the test. Additional things such as adding extra mirrors to his vehicle may be necessary.

For now, it's still waiting for the continued process. We're all still holding on and trying our best to live it out. It's hard. It's hard for him to wait. It's hard for the family to endure him waiting :) , but we're all still here! God is still working - even when we're blinded by the current circumstance enough to forget it. He is, and we're still trusting.

Just a quick little story:
The other night Jonathan's right eye was bothering him a lot. It was pretty irritated and red. So, I put a couple eye drops in it and some ointment around it. This is the eye that he lost sight in. After i was done playing nurse I told him God's getting it ready to be healed - that's why it's bothering him - it's healing. His response was - that'd be crazy awesome!! We talked about it a minute or two longer and I assured Him it was coming. Every fiber of my being believes God is going to restore sight. He then told me that if God healed him that there would be no turning back - He'd have to do youth ministry for sure!! We joked about it for a bit longer, and I told him just to wait and see - literally. . . .
I tell you this to ask you to please continue to pray for that need. So much is affected by his lack of sight in that right eye. So much glory will be given to God once the healing takes place. I know it's on its way and I just want to continue to ask everyone to please don't stop praying for that need. I can't wait for the day when I get to write, like countless other times through this process, God has answered your prayers!!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

As I asked you all to be praying for Jonathan's evaluation I wanted to let you know that we have yet to get the results back. Next week Jonathan and my parents will meet with the doctor to be notified of the results. As you can imagine - Jonathan is more than ready to hear them say that he is free to "start life" again. He's anxious to start working and most definitely driving. He's got a truck on the way from Louisiana that he's already made huge speaker boxes for. So, if you invite him over just listen for the big thump coming down the street. He won't even have to ring the door bell - you'll know he's there! :) However, before he starts putting his speakers on blast and riding around on his shiny new rims he'll have to 1) have permission to take the driving test and 2) pass a very extensive driving exam. In the exam they'll test him on his reaction time, depth perception, etc. - things that aren't normally covered in a driving test. So, there's still a few more hoops to jumo through and some more waiting.

At times I am still in awe of all that God has done. In fact, just two days ago tears filled my eyes as I watched him walk into smoothie king. As most of you know, he is very intent on gaining back all of the 100+ lbs that he lost while in the hospital. So, at least 3-4 times a week we make our way to smoothie king to get a smoothie called "The Hulk". Each time either I run in to get it for him while he waits in the car or we both walk in. This time he started to get out of the car and I didn't. He asked if I was coming in and I said no. I asked if he was ok with going in by himself and he said yes, but as he was getting out he asked me once again "are you sure you don't want to come in?" I said yea, I'm sure and he shut the car door and made his way across the parking lot and into the store. I looked out my window and watched him closely as he crossed the street - we're all still pretty protective of him. As I watched him walking, tears just filled my eyes. It's been nearly 8 months since the accident. So much has changed in our lives and his. So many things are in it are frustrating and are out of our control, but it's moments like those that just put it all into perspective. Nearly 8 months ago I almost lost my brother. 8 months ago I drove to the hospital now knowing that the doctors would come in and ask us if we'd like to come say goodbye. 8 months ago i never imagined that I'd be sleeping on the floor of the ICU waiting room for weeks just so i could be close to him, and now - he's walking into smoothie king with a slight limp, but no walker, crutches or cane, to order his favorite strawberry hulk :). God is so good - beyond what words can express! We forget all that He's done at times when what has yet to take place seems overwhelming. He's still working just as he was in that ICU waiting room.

So, thank you to everyone who still keeps updated and remains prayerful. It is the power of God and His people praying that has gotten us this far. There's still a journey to comeplete so keep those prayers coming. :)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

I am writing in hopes that many will read this today and tomorrow. This morning starts Jonathan's phsycological evaluation. The evaluation is extended over two days time and will be completed tomorrow afternoon. It is a very extensive, intense and thorough test. As many of you know, there was some very minor brain damage caused by the accident. This evaluation will also see what that will or will not affect. Jonathan is, of course, very anxious about all of these tests and ready to show them that he is "not psycho". Although, that's not really the purpose of this evaluation, we're hoping for that same result. :) Beyond that though, clearance to work again and to possibly drive again, though further clearance would be necessary for driving privileges to be reinstated, is the desired outcome of this evaluation.

He's come so far. It's hard to believe that the accident was nearly 8 months ago. Some days it seems like this process has been dragging on forever, longer for Jonathan I'm sure. Other days, it seems like it was just yesterday that I was at the side of his bed at 3am rubbing his hair because that was the only thing that seemed to calm him. It's been a crazy, uncertain, unwelcome and difficult journey. It's been hard in ways that my many words could never fully express, but it's also been life changing in ways that we are ever so grateful for. God's done a lot in these 8 months. I've seen His hand evident in so many instances growing up, but in my 25 years - have never, firsthand, experienced it like this. His grace truly is sufficient though, we mistake it's absence all too often.

Thanks is all I can say for your many, many prayers. Though, I'm asking for them to continue. Regardless of the outcome of this evaluation - there's still a long road ahead. We absolutely covet your prayers and your support. When I started writing this blog I had no idea the amount of people that would read it. It was simply the easiest way to get a lot of information to a lot of different people. It quickly became a place for prayer needs and a showcase for God's amazing hand once they were answered. So, please, do not stop praying.

Thought I'd post a recent pic so everyone could see for yourself all God's doing.
Jonathan & dad on Father's Day

Mom's "hand"

Here's a picture of mom's "hand" as of last week. She's got 7 more weeks to go before she gets this contraption off. So, pray for more grace and more patience and more safety for this crazy family!! :)

Wednesday, June 10, 2:05 PM

Well, we can most definitely say that there is never a dull moment in the Newman family. Although, these days most of us are wishing and praying for some dull moments around this place. :)

You may or may not know that my mom was in a car accident about a week and a half ago. A man ran a red light and she ran into him and then a post. She, for the most part, is OK. Though the car is totalled, her hand is the only part of her body that suffered any severe amount of damage. Now, she has a cast and a very awkward contraption attached to it which makes everyday activities difficult. You can only imagine the frustration that also comes with all of this for her. So, please keep her in your prayers. The doctor told her that she would need to keep the cast on for the next 6-8 weeks. Charlie said if he didn't know better he'd think our family was part of some insurance scam - see dad on his crutches, Jonathan still healing and mom walk in with this big ol cast on her arm and you might think the same thing. :)

As far as Jonathan - physically he's doing well. He has to wear a brace on his right elbow at night that helps to stretch it out little by little. The doctor said that this may help without having to have surgery. So, he is trying this option first. His frustrations get the best of him sometimes. This past week was a rough week. Outburst seemed more extreme than before and we are all still learning what it truly means to have grace. often times it's our families, unfortunately, that seem to get the least dosage of our grace while others that we don't even know get the most. So, please, please, continue to pray that Jonathan would control his frustrations before they turn into angry outburst and inappropriate behavior. In the same prayers, lift us up - that his family would know when to speak and when to be quite; when to back off and when to move in. . . we're all still learning. This is life now. It's all still new, yet we're living it day by day. We're still ever so much in need of your prayers. Some would say the hard part is over. I tell you what, those people would be wrong! For Jonathan and for us, this is the difficult part. The "living it" part always is. So, please continue to lift Jonathan and the family up in prayers. God is working. That is evident, or the enemy wouldn't be fighting this hard.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued prayers. They are much needed and much appreciated. Also, please know that we thank God every day for you all - even though we may not know you personally. We pray that God would bless you and meet your needs as you have faithfully prayed the same for us! God Bless!!

Jonathan's Demo

The music is hard to hear on the video,but the words are what's important. Keep your eye on Charlie in all his "thug" glory - you're defnintely going to smile :)

Monday, May 18, 11:30 AM

It's been 3 weeks since I've posted any updates. Life is pretty much the same with very few big changes. Since the celebration things have been pretty steady. Jonathan has been released from physical therapy. He is doing great walking, so much so that he does not need physical therapy any longer. Further exercises and strengthening will be done on his own. He is still going to occupational therapy on Monday's and Friday's because his right elbow still is not able to fully extend and he is limited in his use of his right arm because of it. Wednesday's he, along with my parents, attend a nuero-physicologist therapy session. His understanding of things is great. It is the controlling of certain reactions that is difficult. We are still learning how to adjust to it all. Life is different now. He still has no sight in his right eye and therefore his abilities in many areas of life are limited. That's frustrating! He still does not have his full independence because of his reliance on others for many things still. It's a tough road to walk, but God is teaching us grace. Although, we readily admit that we, like all doctors, are still "in practice". It's tough. Honestly, sometimes it really tough, but the alternative, him not being here, would have been heart breaking. So, we're thankful, in the midst of the frustration :)

At the end of June Jonathan has a psych eval. IT is two days long and the results will determine if he is released to drive and work and many other things. He is VERY anxious to take the test and praying he passes with flying colors. So, please, keep that in your prayers. That God's perfect timing and hand would be present. He knows what is best - always. So, we're trusting.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers. The updates are becoming very sporadic I know and will most likely continue to be that way. This is simply life now. We are all just trying our best to live it out each day. So, though you may not get frequent updates, please keep up those frequent prayers. We are still ever so in need of them!! :)