Yeay!

Well, its official, Mlke is shelless!!! We couldn't believe it...we went in there to the doctor's office and began descussing various things regarding Mike's back! He looked at his ex-rays with us...which he said things were healing really great! He also was extremely impressed at "whoever" put the titanium cage in...he said they did a really good job! Yeah..he put the cage in...but we laughed! Then Mike was explaining about some stuff on his back that he was concerened about...the doctor looked at Mike and said..."well, let's see!" Mike said..."well we have to take my shell off in order for you to see"...and he pointed to the examining table and said "here I'll lay down so we can take the shell off" (we have been extrememly careful up until this point in having Mike lay down everytime he had the shell off...we made sure he wasn't sitting up more then 30 degrees...and even counting outloud together when I helped roll him so his entire body, knees and chest, would all roll at the same time so as not to twist something wrong). The doctor said..."no, just take it off." "Sitting Up?" we said in almost disbelief. "Sure" said the doctor. WHAAAAT....so right there in the office...while Mike was sitting up we unstrapped that thing...it was crazy! "You might fall over" said the doctor...and so Mike braced himself as we took it off. He definately felt incredibly weak. There are muscles in there that he has hardly been able to use, if at all for over three months. So it's going to be quite a process build them back up. I can really tell his chest and actually everywhere on his upper body has gotten alot stronger...gosh, he's so manly! But we thought we were done with that thing once and for all...but actually it's kind of a "weaning" process. The doctor said he'd want the shell back on before we got home...because his trunk would be so tired and sore. And today...he is incredibly tired and sore...just from sitting up without it...but not enough to put the shell back on! I think the first thing Mike comented on doing after the shell came off was "I get to shower without this thing, YES!" Mike's been a little nervous with it off...and hasn't wanted to do anything real big yet...but the doctor said he can twist and bend now...just not real fast and hard...he can't be on his belly yet...it'll take a few months still before that happens! But he can start rehab! YES! We're still waiting on our insurance for the go ahead...but he's one HUGE step closer!

Thank you everyone who has been cheering and praying for us! This was such an exciting step! Now on to the next...