Speech Therapy

After getting the trache tube out yesterday, I had to have a "swallow test" today before getting the go ahead for drinking and eating soft foods.  So we went to a speech therapist.  I never knew there was so much involved in swallowing.  They want to be sure that when I swallow, there is nothing going down my windpipe.  Since I've had so much trauma to my throat, it doesn't work like it used to.  There are muscles at the top of your throat to keep stuff out of your nose, and muscles at the bottom to push the stuff down your throat, and different muscles to keep stuff out of your lungs.  My problem is because I had the surgery where my uvula was removed, the muscles at the top don't work very well.  It affects my speech, so I talk out of my nose now.  I'll have to go to the speech therapist twice a week for a few weeks so she can teach me what to do so that I don't talk weird anymore, and so water won't go up my nose when I drink.  It could take a few months to get it to work.  But I got to drink a little juice, and I ate a little applesauce, and a bite of banana today.  And I had some mashed potatoes when I got home.  I will need to keep the stomach tube in for a little while longer, because I can't replace every meal yet, and I certainly can't swallow my meds, so I'll need the tube for that for a few more weeks, probably.  The bandage for the trache wound can come off tomorrow.  That will be interesting.  If it's too ugly, I'll keep it covered for a few more days.  Cody was so bummed when I came home yesterday with the bandage.  He said he wanted to see the hole.  Gross child.  I'm not sure he could have handled it, considering the way Ken reacted.  

So that's it for now.  Thanks for the prayers, and please keep them coming.

God is love.