Today is a big day! Joanne is getting to go on her first outing since being in the hospital. We are leaving just after speech therapy and heading to P.F. Chang's. We actually blogged about this a few days ago and got an email from someone from P.F.C. corporate asking us what location, what time and how many people will be in our party and that they would make sure everything was taken care of. How cool is that! We will be having won ton soup, lettuce wraps, crab won tons and orange chicken (all Joanne's favorites).
After that we are headed to our house to meet Joanne's next request. We are going to the house so that Joanne can sit on her couch, in the living room and snuggle with her cat Joey. Joey is technically Audrey's cat, but Joanne has sort of adopted him as her own.
Of course in order to make the house habitable several members of Team Joanne are over there cleaning the place up. On top of that, Papa is installing hand rails on all the stairways. I am so glad that he is handy because I could never in a million years do what he is doing.
The main cleaning task is to remove two cat's worth of cat hair that has accumulated over the last three months. Disgusting! On top of normal shedding, Pumpkin (Emma's cat) sheds more when no one is there. It's like a separation anxiety thing with her. So we have more than the normal amount of cat hair to deal with. Bless Gran and Emma for tackling this project.
I will post later about how it all goes!
Prayer request:
Joanne has been very car sick in every ambulance ride she's had so far. We are praying that she doesn't get car sick as we drive around today.
Toben
SOOO happy for all of you! This just makes me very happy. Have the most wonderful day EVER! And YAY to P.F. Chang's!
Posted by: Melana | April 16, 2011 at 09:56 AM
I'm SO excited for y'all !! I've been following y'all's story since the day after the stoke--- when another blog was asking for prayers for Joanne. At the end of the day/before bedtime/ I often wonder how Joanne's day went as well as all those who make up team Joanne-- so thankful that you have kept us unto date on this blog. When I read about the wonderful outing planned for today, I got SO excited!!! ( like I was getting to go, too) how sweet is is to be part of the body of Christ ~even though we've never met, prayer has made a connection. I'm praying that TODAY is JUST the BEST for your whole family!!! Love and prayers from Memphis, TN
Posted by: Karen Hollis | April 16, 2011 at 10:02 AM
My Saturday is starting with a big smile knowing what joy is ahead for Joanne & Co. on her getaway! And PF Chang's just got cooler in my book....didn't know it was possible! Enjoy and can't wait to hear ALL about it! XOXO
Posted by: amy | April 16, 2011 at 10:04 AM
I hope that you all have a very happy day together!
Posted by: Tricia | April 16, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Wow, way to go PF Changs! What a special day, I pray it's everything you want it to me...and more. Praise God for the simple things!
Posted by: Tami | April 16, 2011 at 10:09 AM
(referencing previous post) That is, to "be". :)
Posted by: Tami | April 16, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Must feel good to get a little bit of normal back. Hope all goes well...
Posted by: Sylvia | April 16, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Have an AWESOME day!!!
Posted by: Zita - Mlle Magpie | April 16, 2011 at 10:14 AM
This is just awesome!!!! praying for her all day! May it be a sweet blessing for her to be home.
((hugs))
Fran
Posted by: Fran | April 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Enjoy you day, it's just so wonderful that Joanne is able to have a day out, I can only imagine her excitement. I pray there is no travel sickness to spoil things.
Lynn
Posted by: Penbleth | April 16, 2011 at 10:27 AM
what a special day! I just prayed for no car sickness for her! HAVE FUN!!!!
Posted by: HomemakerAng | April 16, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Yippy!! I am SO excited for her. It's seems like yesterday we were all praying she would "just wake up." Hopefully, since Joanne is sitting up for the car ride she will be fine.
You'll have to post some picture of her being home. I'd love to see her sitting on the couch with Joey & Pumpkin!
Hoping for a FABULOUS day out for all!!! Go Team Joanne!
Posted by: Kimberly S. | April 16, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Oh what an answer to prayer this day is! I bet Joanne is on cloud nice! Have a wonderful time! I can hardly wait to hear all about it!!!
Posted by: Maribeth | April 16, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Yay Joanne....I woke up this morning and thought...this is the day you get to go home and snuggle with your cat!! Yippee!!!
Enjoy your lunch, too!
So much love surrounding you....and you just amaze me with your endurance and strength!
Blessings and lots of love
Jen
Posted by: Jen Medeiros | April 16, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Praying for all to go perfectly and for all of you to be filled with joy and encouragement!! So proud of that girl and all of Team Joanne for your walk and perseverance!
Posted by: Dedra Herod | April 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM
What encouraging news! I can only imagine how happy Joanne is to be able to leave the hospital (even if only for the day) to go out to eat and go home. Hopefully this will motivate and encourage her in her recovery journey. Praying it all goes well. (((hugs))) from Canada!
Posted by: erin | April 16, 2011 at 11:27 AM
I began following Joanne's recovery through Reminisce (This & That). Although I haven't commented often, Joanne's been in my prayers.
I am delighted that she's having a day out to do some fun things. And I'm really hoping someone takes pics of her on the sofa petting her cat. That makes me smile - just to read that she wants to do that!
Hope the day is just great!
Posted by: Dianna | April 16, 2011 at 11:30 AM
"You can never go home again. But the truth of the matter is you can NEVER leave home, so it's al right.". Maya Angelou
Welcome home Joanne! Maya Angelou's words ring so true, you never really left home. Sure, you were clearly without the comforts of home. Your own bed, the familiarity, your kitties. But home, the essence of home, well they were with you every grueling step of the way. Today is a victory lap on your way to your forever homecoming. Much deserved, hard earned, precious and fragile. You are home Joanne, but the truth of the matter is you never left.
God bless the home that is the entire extended Heim Family!!!
Posted by: Auntie Mip | April 16, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Hooray! Have a terrific time and soak up every minute! (Praying for no car sickness too.)
Posted by: Beth Petty | April 16, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Embarrassing typo...that would be God Bless the Hein Family...occasionally my iPad autocorrects...you should see what it does to my last name!
Again, have a wonderful, glorious, tummy ache, cat hair free day!
Posted by: Auntie Mip | April 16, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Hooray!!!
I can't wait to hear all the details of her first trip home! :) :)
Praying all goes smoothly and that there isn't any motion sickness!
What a long way you've all come! Woo Hoo!
Posted by: Rachael D. | April 16, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Praying today is wonderful! Considering where you guys started, I'd say it already is:) Be blessed today!
Posted by: rhonda | April 16, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Can't wait to hear how it goes!
Posted by: Beth | April 16, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Thank you! Thank you Team Joanne!!!! Thank you for cleaning and making it pretty for her. May God give special blessings to each and everyone of you for doing what many others would have loved to been able to do.
Praying that the car sickness doesn't show up and your day is wonderful!
Posted by: Marena | April 16, 2011 at 02:54 PM
So many of us have prayed for this week-end.
Just remember that God is in the details!!!
Blessing to all of you, and Praise to our Father for making this happen for you.
California is sending you a Big smile!
Posted by: Jan Jarvis | April 16, 2011 at 07:53 PM
I've been keeping up with Joanne since day one when I first read about her. I put her picture on my blog and began praying for a complete recovery. We know that God has always been in control. She has made such wonderful progress. We have all been looking forward to this day when she could go home, if only for a short time. This is only the beginning of so many good times to come. May God bless your family.
Posted by: Jo | April 16, 2011 at 09:12 PM