wednesday evening

we are starting to get into the routine: in the cardiac chair at 10am, speech therapy, out at 12pm, rest, physical therapy at
2:30pm, rest. speech therapy went well today. gen had her mouth brushed with apple juice. she worked on swallowing, opening her mouth, breathing. she moved her tongue a little from side to side, and after the therapist left, she stuck her tongue out to the edge of her teeth. this was not a rude comment, only something she was to be working on. she also moved her lower jaw from side to side...another breakthrough. she worked with the speaking valve. today they put a little mirror in front of her mouth and nose, so we can tell when she is breathing through them. most of the air came through her nose, but each time we block her trach with the valve, a little more air than last time sneaks out. the physical therapist had gen hold herself up in a sitting position again today. this time she did it for one minute and twenty seconds. gen even started to fall forward a few times, but managed to straighten herself out. we took gen outside again. today we sat under a tree near a fountain. i can tell that gen is really missing summer. she yawned while outside, and we heard her make the yawn sound.