Second year Day 15 - Friday December 28, 2012

Today I took Bridgett and Arrianne to do some shopping for Arrianne's birthday (on Sunday).  Stephany didn't feel good enough to go (sad!).  Bridgett helped Arrianne pick out some cute clothes and was very fun/cute with her comments about how things looked.  It's so nice to have Arrianne here to spend some time with her sisters!  We are all loving it!

Second year Day 14 - Thursday December 27, 2012

Today I took Bridgett all to the Bigfork Clinic to see Michelle Helwig.  We have really enjoyed having her as Bridgett's primary care physician.  She is so personally interested in her patients and really seems to care!  We were supposed to follow-up with Michelle after we had Bridgett in the ER back in November, but with travelling etc. it just hasn't happened until now.  Also, Bridgett has been complaining about pain in her lungs, and since she is prone to pneumonia I thought we should just check it out.  Michelle said that Bridgett's lungs are clear; she's just got congestion. So, no more antibiotics--yeah!  We discussed the whole kidney stone thing and Michelle agreed that it seems that Bridgett did pass a stone at the ER.  So, one of Bridgett's gifts for Christmas--an anatomy coloring book.  Bridgett has always been interested in anatomy and she also took anatomy as part of her curriculum at Provo College, where she was taking their personal trainer program.  She and I started studying it on Tuesday; she did some coloring of the bones in the leg. Each day now we have reviewed the names of the femur, the tibia and the fibula.  By today she is remembering the names of the bones.  Further indications that she can re-learn and memorize things when she gets back to college at some point!  Exciting!  Tonight I took Stephany to meet with her Young Women's President, Sister Neilsen.  We discussed Bridgett's situation with her.  I was thinking back to the beginning, when Bridgett pretty much spoke her own language.  Everything they asked her to name in therapy, she used a word that wasn't from English for sure!  I started secretly writing down some of the words and she would use the same word for the same things each time, just like it really was a language.  She could even spell these words, which the speech therapist said she had never seen before--someone spelling the nonsense words.  I believe that it's because it was an actual language for her.  Anyway, at some point the therapist said we can't understand your language.  I began to tell her that she needed to learn to speak English so we would know what she was talking about.  Anyway, of course, she is doing great now and very rarely forgets the actual name of something.  The other day though, she looked in the mirror and said that her hair was all skwoofy.  I said what is that word and she spelled it for me.  Maybe it's a hang on word from the other language!  Hum.....

Second year Day 13 - Wednesday December 26, 2012

Bridgett asks many questions a day--trying to figure everything out again.  For a couple of weeks she has been asking how many feet are in a mile.  Today she turned to me during breakfast and said there's 5,280 feet in a mile you know.  She remembered!  Yes!  So, we know that she remembers things that happen that impress her mind for whatever reason (like throwing up in the taxi or seeing the Statue of Liberty).  Now, we see her remembering facts that she has learned.  This is important when we think of her being able to go back to school again!  Today I got the best letter from Courtney's mom, Penny.  Remember they are the great people that we met at the U of U inpatient rehab in Salt Lake.  Courtney had a TBI in October and was getting released from the rehab just a couple of days after Bridgett was admitted.  We try to stay in touch with each other.  Penny has been a great support to me through all of this.  There are only so many people that can really understand what life is like for a caregiver of a TBI survivor.  I cried all through the letter; it was great!  Courtney sent Bridgett a wonderful picture of a girl being held in the arms of the Savior....just like they were during their comas.  It made me cry!  Bridgett loves the picture and it has a special place where she can see it daily now. 

Second year Day 12 - Tuesday December 25, 2012 Christmas Day!

We had a really nice Christmas Day today!  We opened presents, had our traditional breakfast of waffles with strawberries/raspberries and whipped cream and then rested, played, visited the rest of the day.  We all held our breath, so to speak, until midnight when we finally knew that no one was in the hospital.  Of course, the obvious person would have been Jenn, but she made it through the day!  The babies are doing just great and Jenn is staying on bed rest.  She will find out next week what day they will do the C-section.  Bridgett's best gift--a light for her kindle so that she can see better to read at night.  The bedside lamp just isn't quite bright enough really so she has to have two lights on to read at night.  Now she can just have the bedside light and this light.  It's called a kindle kandle and she thought that was just way too cute of a name! 

Second year Day 11 - Monday December 24, 2012

Christmas Eve!  The first thing we did this morning was go to the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor for an exam regarding Bridgett's vertigo (yes, on Christmas Eve!).  We had to wait for quite a while to get in and then the doctor actually spent quite a bit of time with us.  He did his exam which included some tests for the vertigo.  Finally he said that he wanted to do an Electronystagmography (ENG) test on January 2nd to further investigate the matter.  He said that the vertigo could be caused by a problem in the ear, or a problem in the brain, or a problem with the brain getting the correct info from the ear.  He said these problems may just correct themselves over the next year, he can't say at this point.  He said the problem is not with the little crystals in the ear--that part of balance was fine.  I came home and read about the test and actually it doesn't sound that fun.  The article I read said that the test itself could cause dizziness/nausea during the test and then for hours afterwards. Hum......
Bridgett and I stopped at Target for a last minute gift and we saw Joann Tanner in the parking lot.  It was great to say hi to her!  We then came home and did some of our family traditions....we had a nice dinner, then Mark read the Christmas story from the Bible.  Everyone got to open one present and then I read a short story I have read to the kids every year since Scott and Jenn were little--The Gingerbears First Christmas.  My sister Sue bought this book and gave it to us way back when!  The funny thing about opening a present tonight.....last night when I tucked Bridgett in I said tomorrow's Christmas Eve and she said we get to open a present, right? 

Second year Day 10 - Sunday December 23, 2012

Today it has been one year since Dad passed.  It's hard in some ways to believe it's been a year, yet in other ways it seems so much longer.  Dad, we all miss you and love you so much!  Thanks for everything you have done for all of us over the years.! Thanks for being such an amazing father!  I do feel as if my life has been so blessed because I am your daughter!  Mark, Bridgett, Arrianne and I went to church today.  It was a hard day for me and I was close to tears often.  When I got home I called mom and although I didn't want to cry on the phone, I did; I think I needed to.  She was leaving soon with Jon's family to go to the cemetery.  Bridgett was very sweet with me all day, hugging me if I was teary and saying that if she could she would take my pain.  Of course, the rest of the family was very sweet as well.  Thanks for the support everyone!  We are all so blessed to be part a family that loves each other! 

Second year Day 9 - Saturday December 22, 2012

In our quest for having Bridgett read national news and discuss it I have realized that often there is very little national news in our local newspaper.  Also, sometimes for days the same story will be discussed.  Originally it was suggested that we subscribe to Time or Newsweek in order for her to read the national news.  Perhaps I need to do that; something to check into.  Just in case you are wondering, Jenn and the twins are doing really well.  Jenn is doing great at staying down and resting.  My family was just so sweet! For their annual Christmas party they decided to get together and assemble freezer meals and snacks for the kids to help Jenn out!! It was so wonderful, when they told me I started crying!! Mark's sister Deb has been able to come over twice for the  afternoon to help with the kids and that has been great.  Also, Mandy (Mike's wife) was able to come over for an afternoon and help out.  I really do appreciate everyone's help so much.  I just can't be there right now and it's hard to be here and unable to help.  We will of course go down when the twins are born.  Hopefully by that time Stephany will be feeling better and be able to help out holding a baby and Bridgett will be able to help out holding a baby and not be so bothered by the crying and or noise in general! Anyway, THANKS to everyone!  Oh I forgot to mention...this week is the first evening that it happened that we asked Bridgett what she ate for breakfast and she remembered!  She also remembered her lunch and the snacks she had that day.  Woo hoo!!  It was hind of funny because it was just a few days before, at the neurologist's office, that Mark had commented that she remembers random short term memory stuff but she can't remember just details of the day, like what she ate for breakfast.  Well, apparently now she can!!  She also was able to do a reverse seven digit number this week!  Double woo hoo!  I was so happy I ran to the computer to email our program coach!  I was literally jumping up and down with excitement! 

Second year Day 8 - Friday December 21, 2012

Bridgett was taken with the fact that today it is 12.21.12.  She recognized that herself and I am always glad when she sees little things like that.  Several times during the day she commented that it's so funny that the date is one two, two one, one two!  I am still having fits with Quick Books and had to run into town again this morning.  Bridgett decided to go with me and we ran into Walmart while we were there as well as stopped by Target for one thing.  When we pulled up into the parking space at Target, we saw Joanne Tanner from Bigfork!  That was fun! It gets tiring going into town so often, plus it really puts the crunch on time for doing Bridgett's program.  I still try to do some of the things while we are driving...asking questions, doing digits, etc.  We do a lot of work with sequences.  For instance, I give her a list of things to tell me and then she has to remember the sequence of questions and then answer them in order.  She can easily remember a sequence of three questions and sometimes she can do four.  I do notice that if she gets distracted with asking me questions she loses the sequence.  For example, I might ask her to name three jungle animals, three blue things and three things in the sky.  She then has to wait until I finish the sequence and then remember the sequence and answer in order.  Sometimes she gives me an answer and then she has a why question for me in the middle of the sequence.  If I answer her, she forgets the rest of the sequence.  I think that could happen to anyone, but I just have to keep reminding her to stay on task, stay on the sequence.  Of course, by the time we finish the sequence she forgets her question but still she needs to learn to stay on task.  As time goes by I will help her stop and write the question down to ask me later.  Right now that would be too distracting as well.  Many of these things we do daily are to help her re-establish her short term memory so that she will be able to get back to college, listen to a professor lecture, take notes and recall. 

Second year Day 7 - Thursday December 20, 2012

Well, to add to our busy week we ended up going into town again today.  Bridgett and I took Arrianne in to a couple of appointments and we did a little more Christmas shopping in between.  I had the girls help out with getting things for the Christmas stockings.  I can't believe that I started shopping only a few days ago and I am already done today.  Of course, we aren't very extravagant at Christmas ever, and this year we are holding it down a little more than usual.  The girls and I are doing a little more baking and candy making today and that's always fun.  Bridgett's job today (every Thursday) is to help out making a menu for the week.  It's interesting to see what she is remembering these days about holidays.  She remembered lots of things but struggled remembering our traditional Christmas breakfast.  She remembered parts of it and we cued her on the rest.  Another thing Bridgett is supposed to do to help her eyes is called far point/near point.  I ordered an eye chart for her and then Mark took it to Insty Prints and they copied it and shrunk it.  She is supposed to sit in front of the wall chart and look at it, then down to the small copy and read the same letter on both.  Then she slowly moves down the list, switching back and forth between the wall copy and the handheld copy.  This is teaching her eyes to focus back and forth..distance to near point...hence the name far point/near point. 

Second year Day 6 - Wednesday December 19, 2012

Today we headed into town for a speech therapy appointment with Lynne.  However, we arrived there and got settled in her office and she never showed up.  We walked around after a while and inquired about her.  Someone finally told me that she apologized and would be arriving soon.  At length, we had waited 40 minutes and decided to leave.  Just as we were leaving we ran into her in the hallway.  She was extremely apologetic and we just visited for about 10 minutes and then left.  I was actually glad to see that Bridgett did a pretty good job of being patient while waiting.  Bridgett pre-accident was a very punctual person and also somewhat impatient with late people.  Today she was annoyed, but handled it well.  Next we went to Target to do a little bit of shopping.  Bridgett helped pick out some jewelry for Arrianne...knowing just what she'd like.  We then hustled to the shop so that I could do a backup and install an update to QuickBooks.  Next we headed to the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor.  Bridgett continues to have vertigo and so they wanted her to get her hearing/ears checked out at the ENT.  She actually has an appointment on Monday, Christmas eve, to see the doctor, but they wanted to get her hearing checked today first.  Also today they did a tympanogram.  The results....everything is normal hearing wise.  I said then does that mean that the vertigo is because of the brain injury and what does that mean as far as getting better.  The audiologist said that the doctor will do further testing on Monday and then discuss the whole thing further.  He said that he has seen just this thing before, following a TBI.  So, we'll see on Monday I guess.  Then after that appointment we still had to go to the bank, the gas station and the grocery store.  Bridgett was glad to finally get home and see her sisters, who had been busy trying to make some English Toffee with marginal results.  We all spent the evening visiting and having fun.

Second year Day 5 - Tuesday December 18, 2012

So, a week until Christmas.  I haven't spent time shopping yet, other than a few things online and shopping for Jenn's family while in Utah.  I need get going so that everyone has something for Christmas. It will be a difficult Christmas for the family, remembering Dad's passing last Christmas Eve (while Bridgett was still in a coma).  All in all it was a very hard Christmas for our family last year.  I do know that many people have hard Christmas's and I have always been mindful of this fact....it just hasn't happened that we have had such a hard Christmas until now.  Bridgett is supposed to be reading some national news and then discussing it with the family.  We are trying to get her up to date about things that people will be discussing when she returns to college in the future.  Last week we discussed the launching of the satellite by North Korea.  Today we discussed the terrible shooting in CT.  It's a depressing subject, but will be discussed for a long time and she needs to know about big events.  I know that these people will have a VERY hard Christmas without their little babies with them.  It's just so hard!  But of course, with we all know that those who have passed are in a much more wonderful place---it's just so hard to miss them so much and to not have them near to hug and hold.  Mom...I know how hard it is; we love you and think of you daily! In fact, today Bridgett said (with distress in her voice) I'm so sorry I lived if Grandpa had to die because of me.  I reassured her that she was supposed to live and that Grandpa had already lived a wonderful life.  He was there to help her wake up from the coma and get better and he would have wanted to do that I know.  He is watching over our family now and I feel his influence from time to time. 

Second year Day 4 - Monday December 17, 2012

We spent the day at home today.  Bridgett is always in a great mood but seemed particularly happy today.  I said to her...you're having a great day!  What's great about today?  She said.....Arri's here!  I just love her and miss her!  I love it that everyone's so close!  Of course, I do realize that Bridgett misses Arri so much.  Thank goodness Arri will be home for three weeks, although the time is already flying by!  In January we will be in Provo when the twins are born and it will be good for them to spend a little more time together as well.  BTW we finally got the Christmas tree decorated.  After we got it up Stephany and Bridgett were not feeling well enough to get it decorated.  And then it got to be this emotional thing I think....remembering that last year Arri was coming home on the 15th and we were going to decorate the tree together....and then because of the wreck didn't get to.  So, anyway, we've just been enjoying it without any decorations (but a good smell!).  So, tonight we finally got it all decorated and then just sat around and visited with each other by the glow of the lights.  I love this time of the year!

Second year Day 3 - Sunday December 16, 2012

Bridgett is still having kidney pain and Stephany is still sick, so Tyler stayed home with them while Arrianne and I met Mark at church (he'd gone early for meetings).  It was nice to actually get to sacrament meeting and well as fun to be at church with Arri.  We pretty much hustled in and out to hurry home and get back to Bridgett.  We all had a good day of visiting and resting and it feels so nice to just be together!  Thanks to all of you who called or sent me an email over the weekend about the one year mark.  It's so nice to know we have support!

Second year Day 2 - Saturday December 15, 2012

Arrianne arrived safely today.  Actually from the time of the accident last evening until we got home safely, we all worried about something happening and we were all very much relieved when she was safe and sound.  Her friends invited her to meet them in Springville at 10:00 last night and she declined.  I had told her to stay home and rest and be safe--not to go anywhere.  I was glad I had said that!  I mean, I know we are all being paranoid, but everyone just wants everyone in the family to be safe!  Now we got past that 24 hour period I think everyone will be much calmer!  Scott, Jaclyn and Weston came out and spent the evening with us, visiting and playing games with Bridgett.  It was great to see them!  Everyone's been so busy working lately, it's been hard to find a time to get together.  Weston was delighted to see that he's quickly approaching Arrianne's height.  You should have seen the surprised look in Arrianne's eyes when he gave her a hug and she realized how tall he has gotten!  Bridgett gave him a hug and called him "little man."  I thought that was cute!  Anyway, it was nice to be together.  Earlier in the day we sat around and talked about a few funny things that happened while Bridgett was in the hospital.  We joked about the cleaning lady, who was annoyed that Tyler slept there every night on the couch.  He wouldn't leave the hospital for anything.  She would come in the morning and vacuum and repeatedly hit the couch trying to bug him.  Also, we joked about Jenn falling asleep in the waiting room, with the bright lights in her eyes.  She finally grabbed a diaper from her diaper bag and put it over her face to block the light.  We got a picture of that!  We talked about everyone shaving their heads and how funny it must have looked to the other people in the waiting room.  We talked about other things as well, and it felt good to be able to think back and laugh at things!

Second year Day 1 - Friday December 14, 2012

Today was a much better day emotionally.  We had an appointment with Dr. Bret Lindsay today, the neurologist.  It was kind of interesting that our appointment was today, the one year mark.  Of course, Bridgett and I had discussed the fact that it has been a year.  Someone asked me if Bridgett was upset by the day and she really wasn't.  Of course, I always discuss it with her in a this way.....yay!  You're alive!  It's been a year, isn't that great!  We decided that we should celebrate the occasion--sort of a really special un-birthday!  After talking we decided that tomorrow, when Arri flies home from college, we will get together with Scott, Jaclyn and Weston and all be together and have a little party.  So, back to the doctors appointment.  The appointment went well.  We did discuss the fact that Bridgett is still dizzy from time to time.  He had her describe the symptoms and said that she is having vertigo.  He pointed out that she has had dizziness all along, which is true.  He really didn't have any other comment about it but I am still wondering if it will resolve itself or what.  We also discussed her vision.  I never did get a copy of the letter from Dr. Judith Warner at the Moran Eye Center.  I believe that she must have mailed it to Bridgett's Provo address.  I asked Dr. Lindsay for a copy and after I got home I read it and noticed that it did get sent to Provo.  She did recommend a doctor in Missoula to do the corrective surgery for the double vision, but thankfully Dr. Lindsay said that he thought we should wait at least another six months to do it, just to be sure.  I am glad he thinks this, because that is how we think.  The eyes have already done so much better and I think the eye exercises are helping.  So, we will watch and see.  This evening I talked to Arrianne on the phone and she was having a night like I had last night.  She knew it was the day before flying home, which it was last year the day of the accident.  About the time it happened she was at home alone, just like last year.  She started crying a bunch as well, being in Provo--it seemed so much like last year.  I called her about this time and we talked quite a while.  Bridgett also told her funny things to try to cheer her up and it seemed to work.  Finally she felt much better and we said goodbye.   Oh, funny things Bridgett said today.  When we were driving to the appointment I said Dr. Lindsay might ask you what you've been doing lately and what will you say?  She said....oh, you know, just becoming myself again!  That cracked me up!  Then when we walked into the building for her appointment, Bridgett was talking pretty loudly, telling me funny stuff and I said to her, you need to talk quietly now because we're inside here and she said.....mum will be my word!  She really does say the funniest things!!

Day 365 - Thursday December 13, 2012

Tomorrow it will be one year since the accident.  Again I am having an emotional day about things.  I have decided that when the accident happened, Mark and I had to be the strong ones.  We had to stay tough for the family.  I actually cried very little during the whole hospital stay.  Also, I was the one that was with Bridgett early in the morning when the doctors came in each day.  Many times they were the bearers of what seemed bad news.  I couldn't be crying during this time either.  Anyway, I told Mark that I think I have been saving up now for the last year and I am finally crying.  This seems silly I know because Bridgett is really doing so well.  But, at some point you just need to cry about things to work through them, and apparently that time is now.  Part of the time I was with Bridgett crying, even though I hated to do that.  But, no one else was available and so there I was.  She was so cute.  She first said...I'm sorry you have to cry because of me, it makes me so sad!  I assured her that it was OK and apologized for crying.  Then she kept saying funny things to try to cheer me up.  I was alternatively laughing and crying and it I'm sure it would have been a strange thing to see.  Anyway, I finally pulled it together and I was doing better until Mark got home.  Then I hugged him and cried some more. 

Day 364 - Wednesday December 12, 2012

Today Bridgett met with Lynne for speech therapy.  It's been several weeks since we have seen her because of our travels.  Lynne was actually quite surprised at how good Bridgett was doing.  She said that already she could see that the goals that she set after the last appointment have been met or exceeded.  She commented that she could hear a change in Bridgett's voice, in the tone of her voice.  She said I think I am hearing more of the "real" Bridgett. She also noticed that Bridgett's left eye seems to be getting better and commented that the daily eye exercises must be helping.  All in all it was a good appointment although Bridgett's pain meds started wearing off and by the last 20 minutes she was in real pain with the pain level at four.  It makes it hard to concentrate or respond with that kind of pain.  One interesting thing....Lynne had Bridgett read a paragraph and then she asked Bridgett to tell her what it said.  I sat there listening and wondering what Bridgett had read because she said....."there was this one time (a very Bridgett thing to say!) when my mom and I went for a walk.  It was very pretty.  We came to a place where there was this sand and I tried to walk on it.  Then I sank into the sand and my mom tried to help me out.  She had to call for help and someone came and rescued me."   Actually she was more descriptive than that but that's the jest of what she said.  I was wondering what kind of a paragraph Bridgett had read and why it would say something that was a story about us.  Lynne then said that Bridgett had read the paragraph and when she was telling about it she made up a story to explain the paragraph.  Bridgett had read what was actually a factual paragraph about quicksand and then made up the story.  Lynne said she thinks that Bridgett is just creative and makes things into a stories.  Bridgett said at this point that the story explained the situation so that people could understand it better.  Interesting....

Day 363 - Tuesday December 11, 2012

Even as I write the date I am filled with this strange feeling as the year mark approaches.  I am flooded with memories of that day a year ago when we got the call from the emergency room telling us about the accident and the surgery.  I tried to talk to the kids about the feelings I am having, thinking that they too would be having feelings.  Tyler said don't talk about it....it just makes us sad.  I don't want us to repress the feelings, but instead talk about them.  However, I guess everyone of us has to deal with things in our own way. 

Day 362 - Monday December 10, 2012

Something else that has changed over the past months.....when we play card games Bridgett has always just played for fun these past few months.  About a week ago she started wanting to score the games.  She matter-of-factly says, I want to win you know.  This is the real Bridgett!  Her sense of competitiveness kicking back in!  It's so great to see more and more of Bridgett returning all of the time!  Oh, great news about Jenn and the twins!  The babies are four pounds now, ahead of schedule actually.  The doctors said that they are so happy with their development at this point and they want to see her go until 36 weeks before delivering.  Jenn was so happy and excited to hear that; she has dreaded thinking they would be weeks and weeks in the NICU.  Anyway, also they said that the bottom twin, Logan, has moved into a position where he will stay at this point and this position actually protects the top twin, Lincoln, so that if Lincoln's waters breaks Logan will keep the placenta from tearing away causing the hemorrhaging (they believe).  So, anyway it means that we can all (especially Jenn and Tyler) quit panicking so much about there being a problem if Lincoln's water breaks first. 

Day 361 - Sunday December 9, 2012

Sometimes its just frustrating to all of us, mostly Bridgett I'm sure, when she has days with lots of pain.  Today was one of those day....terrible pain in the kidneys again.  It is so hard to watch her in pain!  The pain levels went up to a five and I finally gave her some Lortab.  She said from time to time...can someone just knock me out if it gets any higher.  Mark certainly could understand that level of pain from the kidneys.  That is exactly how he felt when he was trying to pass that kidney stone and actually those were also his exact words.  As if!  Anyway, we were planning on going to sacrament meeting but the pain intervened!  Now every time Bridgett showers she wants to straighten her hair.  She also talks about growing it out, but not too long.  These are such Bridgett things to say, do and think!  Although she had such long hair in her teen years, she cut it all off, donated it to Locks of Love and hasn't wanted long hair since.  Even though she initially wanted her hair to grow long after the accident, she has now come to the point of returning to her normal way of thinking about her hair length.  I think she will grow it to her shoulders and then be wanting to get it cut.

Day 360 - Saturday December 8, 2012

Today it snowed like 10 inches at our house and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  We played Christmas music all morning and Mark got a beautiful fire started in the fireplace for us to enjoy.  Stephany and Bridgett worked together and put up the little lights on the banister and Mark and Tyler brought in the Christmas tree and got it all set up and looking (and smelling) beautiful.  We all love this time of year!  Stephany was pretty worn out after helping with the lights so we will wait to decorate the tree later on.  One goal that Bridgett and I have is to have her do more cooking and be able do more than just help me, which she does, but make things independently.  I should interject here that before the accident Bridgett really didn't like to cook.  In fact, she was pretty shrewd at getting around the whole cooking aspect of living independently.  One of her best secrets....date guys that like to cook!  She seemed to have an uncanny knack for this!  Many of the guys she dated would cook dinner for her almost every night and sometimes lunch as well.  I think that she always planned on marrying someone who loved cooking and would be willing and happy to assume this part of living as she never really enjoyed it.  But, now that we are setting goals for independence, we have set cooking goals.  I really don't think Bridgett remembers that she hates cooking and we are not reminding her! Instead we are using this window to try to get her cooking and liking it.  We'll see how that plays out!  We set this goal....each week she will cook a certain recipe with me (her choice mostly) and then later on in the week she will cook the same recipe by herself.  This week her choice...one of her favorite dinner meals....meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  Actually she started right out and said that she could do it herself and she did and it turned out great!  I did help peel some of the potatoes because by that time she was tiring out a little but otherwise she was in charge, followed the recipe and did great.  We are then compiling a list of recipes for her that she can cook by herself.  Somewhere in all of her packed things I do know that she has a recipe box filled with things that she learned to cook as a teenager but who knows where it is, so we are making another one. 

Day 359 - Friday December 7, 2012

This morning we cruised right through Bridgett's protocol, getting everything done relatively early in the day and then headed into town.  Mark and I had to meet with a notary to get some legal documents signed and we met at our office at 1:00 to do that.  I brought Bridgett with me.  Bridgett was excited to see Scott and ducked out of Mark's office and into Scott's to visit with him for a bit.  After we finished with the notary I was supposed to install the newest version of Quick Books (2013) which I planned would take only about a half an hour.  Instead, there were complications and the whole thing was an aggravation really and we ended up at the office until 4:30. Anyone who has installed new business software or had their software changed at work knows my frustration as I stared at the new screen following the install; I really hate it when things change!    BTW Bridgett was a trooper and either read her Kindle or played cards (I brought them with us) with Mark while I was wrestling with the install.  By the time I could leave it was getting dark and snowing and we still had a few stops to make.  I looked at my list, decided that several of the stops would have to wait, headed to the bank and then to the grocery store and we got everything as quickly as we could and hit the road.  The roads were less than ideal and the traffic was going very slowly...35 miles an hour all the way home which makes for a long drive.  When we crossed the bridge on Hwy 82 there was a police car with lights flashing and we could barely see that a pickup truck had gone headlong into the ditch.  The traffic was stopped going up the hill and then when it was clear to go several people were stuck on the slippery hill with no traction, including a semi truck.  There were men under the wheels presumably putting on chains in order to get up the hill.  Just ahead of the semi were several cars without good tires that were also stuck and couldn't get traction to drive on up the hill (thanks for making sure I had my studs on honey!).  We slowly passed these cars and the semi and turned onto Hwy 35.  From there on the speed was 25 miles per hour all the way home.  After that long afternoon at the shop and then the long drive we ended up at home pretty worn out and I told everyone that they could scrounge leftovers or do whatever they wanted but I wasn't cooking.  I had planned making something special for dinner but obviously much earlier in the day I had figured out that there wouldn't be time to make it anyway.  Oh well, so much for planning! I called Mark and explained the road situation to him.  Actually a couple of hours later when he came home there was still terrible traffice at the same spot and he was stuck on the bridge for 20 minutes. Obviously we didn't get any further on Christmas decorations today!

Day 358 - Thursday December 6, 2012

Mark offered to stay at home and help with things while I snuck away to see Ginny Wood for an appointment.  I decided that with twins coming I'd better take care of myself so I don't get any more worn out!  It was very nice to have an appointment and also very nice to have some adult conversation that didn't involve my teaching someone something!  At times my life is reminiscent of the days when I had all the kids at home and I was homeschooling.....each child sitting around the big table while I ran from person to person answering questions about the subject they were working on and always trying to think of the best thing for each one to help them learn the most.  By the end of the day I was exhausted!  It is always nice to see Ginny and she is always so supportive of our family--thanks Ginny!  When I got home I jumped right back into the routine and by evening I told the family that I was going to bed at 7:30, which I did!  Bridgett also went to bed and we both just crashed.  I amazingly slept until 6:30, which is late for me--eleven total hours of sleep!  I woke up tired but not exhausted like I had been feeling.  Bridgett slept until 8:00 so she was tired as well!  Needless to say we didn't get anything extra done today, which I need to be doing to be ready to help Jenn.  But, tomorrow back to the grindstone!

Day 357 - Wednesday December 5, 2012

We are getting back into our schedule/protocol of things that Bridgett does every day.  One of the new things that they have added....watch the national news daily and read some of the newspaper or a news magazine and discuss with the family.  We are trying to get Bridgett back into realizing what is happening around her.  I started the newspaper back up and it arrived for the first time today. Bridgett read some of the front page and seemed to enjoy it.  We tried listening to the news but it annoyed her really.  We will give it some time and try it again.  So this week Bridgett has been picking up some actual books and wanting to read them, notably her scriptures.  She has done some reading of scriptures from large print scriptures and from her ipad, but she specifically asked me for her very own scriptures (which were on her dresser but she had put something on top and forgotten where they were).  She has read from her scriptures several times a day all week.  Also, she started reading a couple of other books as well.  So, now when she lays down to read she has her kindle, her scriptures, Dinotopia, a Series of Unfortunate Events, and a John Grisham book and she rotates between them. At any given time you see the stack on the bed and it's kind of amusing to watch her rotate between the books.  Also today we put up the Christmas stockings, some of the wall hangings and a couple of things outside on the front door (or next to it).  We will shoot for doing some more decorating tomorrow. 

Day 356 - Tuesday December 4, 2012

Remember last Christmas for us.....sitting in the ICU while Bridgett was in a coma.....memorable but not in the good way!  So, this year we are trying to have a better Christmas!  We have had several crazy Christmases in a row and this year we might be having preemies so it might just fit right in there!  This morning we went into Bigfork to buy a Christmas tree.  Gone are the days that we hike into the woods, which was our family tradition every year until we moved to Bigfork.  Of course, the last few times we went we ended up with Charlie Brown trees, so I was happy to move here and need to buy a big, nice tree the year that Jenn got married (our excuse was the reception here at the house!).  Since then we have continued that new tradition.  Of course, last year the we bought the tree, put it in the garage to warm up, got a call that night about the accident and left in a hurry; Mark threw the tree out a few months later.  It was probably a good thing that we didn't actually get it put up!  Anyway, we have a tree now and hope to get it decorated in the next few days.  Mark got the Christmas decorations out of the garage and we put up the big nativity, which had recently been displayed at the Christmas Creche display at the stake center.  It's so fun to see all the ornaments!  By this time the girls were both tired and so we will put off doing more decorations until tomorrow.  We have always decorated with the kids and so we want to have them still have the fun of decorating, even if it means spreading it out over a few days.

Day 355 - Monday December 3, 2012

Home at last!  Bridgett is glad to be home and "out of the car!"  Today was a day of unpacking and organizing.  It will be a busy, crazy week because Jenn could go into labor at any time and so we might be headed right back. 

Day 354 - Sunday December 2, 2012

I wasnt planning on heading home until tomorrow, but after some discussion with Mark we decided that I had better just head home today.  Jenn will have her ultrasound next Monday (just over a week from today) and then they might decide to deliver the babies right away.  I have a lot of things to get done at home before we come back down, so I had better get home sooner than later!  It is hard for me to leave Jenn at this time and I wish that I could stay, but hopefully everything will be under control with people helping her for now. It is very hard to be the mother on bed rest with small children. I was on bed rest when I was pregnant with Arri and it was very hard (and also at Christmas time!). We got up and did some last minute packing, a quick check of the hotel room and headed off to Salt Lake after kissing Arrianne goodbye; we had already kissed Jenn and family yesterday.  We stopped in Salt Lake to see my mom and had a short, very nice visit with her.  Stephany was able to go in today and see Grandma's new apartment, which is so very nice.  Grandma has her Christmas stuff out and it was nice to see her gas fireplace "burning".  Bridgett took Stephany on a tour of the apartment, so apparently she remembers seeing it earlier this week.  Afterwards we headed out on the long trip back to Montana.   The girls did really great on the trip home and actually the time went by very quickly.  Bridgett actually didn't have pain for the whole trip and that was awesome! The roads were very good until we got close to Butte and then we hit snow.  Luckily it turned to rain by the time we hit the swan highway.  It was great to get home and give Mark a big kiss!  There's no place like home!

Day 353 - Saturday December 1, 2012

I can hardly believe the time has gone by so quickly and already it is December.  We are still in Utah.  Jenn is on bed rest until the twins are born.  I spent the morning with Jenn and the boys while Tyler stayed with Bridgett and Stephany at the hotel.  We played for a while, I tried to help Jenn do some planning and then I took the boys to Burger King for hamburgers and then Target for shopping.  I forgot to mention this about Bridgett--she randomly decided that she wants to start straightening her hair again!  When we were with Arri she asked her to help straighten her hair and now she has asked me to help find her straightener when we get home so that she can use it.  Bridgett seems to be paying more attention to some of these kinds of details lately, which is good.  We tried to get to sleep early so that we can be fresh to head home tomorrow.  It's been a busy two weeks and seems about time to get back to home, our own beds, and more routine.

Day 352 - Friday November 30. 2012

When we went shopping for baby things we bought three sets of cute preemie outfits and Jenn was so excited to see those!  We hung them on the knobs on the dresser so that she could look at them while laying in bed.  She also loved the diapers; they are so small!  This morning before heading to Monroe with Bridgett and Stephany I started some lentil soup for Jenn's dinner and asked Mariah, Jenn's sister-in-law (who was helping today with the boys), to turn it off when it was finished so that we could head out.  Our appointments today went great, although I got a call again that Jenn was in the hospital again with more contractions.  After stress testing the babies and talking to the doctor, they released her home again.  She is dilated to a 1 but they just stressed keeping her fluids up and staying in bed; apparently it is somewhat common to get dehydrated when pregnant with twins.  A week from Monday they will do an ultrasound and check to see whether the one twin, Lincoln, is doing OK as far as growth; they are worried that with the poor umbilical cord placement he will stop growing.  As far as Bridgett's appointment.....she is having NO tailbone pain ever since she had her appointment on Tuesday (yippee!).  Also, her neck pain is very low, less than 1 on a 1-10 scale.  She is also very low on kidney pain.  Faith said that she doesn't have any kidney stones but that there is a lot of sludge, almost sand like, that she is having to pass.  This confirms what I had been thinking already.  I had mentioned this to the doctors months ago that it seemed that she had sediment but they just passed it off and said not to worry about it.  Faith was able to do more work on Bridgett's eyes and also more brain work.  Faith is very positive about how things are coming with Bridgett.  Next she worked on Stephany and that also went well.  We are finding more answers to the problems she is having and we are hopeful that she will be getting stronger now. 

Day 351 - Thursday November 29, 2012

Today was another early day for Bridgett.  She got into the swing of the time change in New York and so now she is waking up at 5:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. (and going to bed at 7:00-7:30 p.m.).  Of course, I am always awake early so, these past couple of days we have been leaving the hotel so that it is quiet for Stephany to sleep a little longer.  Yesterday we did some grocery shopping for Jenn, and today we did some shopping for the babies for Jenn.  First we hit Walmart (they are open 24/7).  We got preemie diapers and baby fingernail clippers, etc.  Afterwards we spent some time working on Bridgett's program.  Luckily there is a computer with internet access that we can use in the business center, since I also seem to forget to bring the laptop.  I am already carrying a bag with the kindle, the ipad and some books that Bridgett uses everyday.  We have been given new instructions for the eye exercises that we do daily; specifically to move very slowly so that her eye focuses completely and I believe to strengthen the muscles; we are working on that.  Also, Bridgett is supposed to read some news daily and watch some news daily; we are working on that as well. There are several other changes as well as instructions to continue the other things we are already doing.  Of course, while we were in New York much of the program was not accomplished daily, but instead we had lots of other stimulus that week. 

Day 350 - Wednesday November 28, 2012

While we were in Monroe yesterday I got a call from Tyler (Noland) saying that Jenn was having contractions and had gone to the hospital; he was with the kids.  She was having actual contractions and they finally sent her home and put her on complete bed rest.  I am not sure that I have mentioned this but they have told her that there is a complication with one of the twins; the umbilical cord is attached at the side of the placenta instead of the middle.  If her water breaks, he will die in one minute so there will be no time to do anything about it.  They told her about this some time last week before we left to New York.  She and Tyler (Fenn) are naturally very concerned and worried.  It is a lot of stress for her to deal with, especially when she is having contractions.  I spent part of the day over at Jenn's house, trying to help with the kids so she could stay down.  I will try to help her get things figured out before I try to go back to Montana, so that she is able to stay on bed rest.  Bridgett was doing just great after her yesterday appointment; Stephany is extremely fatigued.

Day 349 - Tuesday November 27, 2012

So I forgot to mention this yesterday......I picked up Arrianne from school at about 5:00 and by the time we got back to the hotel it was just the same time of Bridgett's wreck almost a year ago.  I sat in the car thinking how light it was outside and how crazy that the guy didn't see her.  I said something to Arianne and then we just sat and cried for a bit.  It's almost been a year....in just a little over two weeks.  It's weird to be here in Provo, thinking about it.  Of course, it is so wonderful to have our little Bridgett alive and doing so good but it is a weird feeling thinking about it and thinking how different things were just a year ago.  I took Bridgett and Stephany both to Monroe today to see Dr. Faith Christensen.  Of course, we had the usual two hour drive which went pretty well.  Both girls had a great appointment. Faith was able to make some adjustments for Bridgett but then spend most of her time working on brain function.  This is the most brain work she has been able to do.  Afterwards she worked on Stephany and tested supplements for us as well as foods for allergies.  She said that Stephany's immune system is just shot (which we knew) and that she doesn't have any reserves to draw on so that is why she is so tired.  She suggested some new supplements for us to try out and all in all I thought it was an amazing appointment.  We headed back to Provo and amazingly Bridgett listened to music on Stephany's ipod (synced to the radio in the car) the entire time home except for the last five minutes.  She has not been able to listen to this much music yet so that was definitely encouraging!  The drive back went really well and both girls did much better than they did on the ride there. 

Day 348 - Monday November 26, 2012

I have been waking up early (like normal for me) but today I was up at 5:30 New York time.  It's going to be a bite when we get back and I have to adjust back!  I got some business taken care of early and then woke everyone at 7:00.  We made it to the car service at the hotel by 7:45.  Instead of the Suburban I had booked, they had a van with tons of room.  Mark alerted the driver about Bridgett's carsickness (even though we had already left instructions).  This driver was OK but not nearly as careful as the taxi drivers last night.  I guess you never know!  But at least we all got to ride together.  I sat in the first row next to Bridgett and held a vomit bag on my lap the whole way, just in case.  A couple of times I thought we might need it, but luckily she didn't throw up!  We got to the airport in about an hour.  We headed to security and I was the only one that had problems--with my luggage.  First they flagged my small carry on that was purse sized.  They ended up saying there was nothing that caused a problem and let that pass (whatever!).  Then they flagged my carry on suitcase and ended up saying that it was my fingernail clippers that I always fly with (and have never had a problem with); there is no little knife thing, just the clippers.  They still let me take it on so whatever about that as well.  Thankfully there was NO LINE at all and so it was still pretty quick.  We grabbed breakfast in the airport.  They said we could still have priority boarding (like we did on the first flight) so that we could get Bridgett situated.  It ended up that the flight was delayed by 20 minutes because of another plane.  We finally got all situated and the flight went well.  Bridgett had much less pain than the first flight.  Arrianne thankfully managed to catch a little nap, as well as everyone else but Bridgett and I.  We got back to SLC and drove to where Mark left his truck, hurriedly moved stuff to my van and Mark left straight for Montana.  We headed straight to Provo and got Arrianne there four minutes before her Opera Workshop class, whew!  Then we got checked into the hotel and unloaded the car.  I left Steph and Bridgett with Tyler and picked up some dinner and then picked up Arrianne.  By the time we ate and got everyone situated, and I drove Arrianne to her apartment and got her luggage unloaded and situated, I was exhausted and went right to bed. 

Day 347 - Sunday November 25, 2012

Today is the big day of the concert.  Mark took Arrianne early to a rehearsal at the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center; her other rehearsals have been at a hotel by Central Park on 7th.  They took a taxi because everyone's feet were shot from yesterday and she still has to stand a lot at the concert.  It actually only took 5 minutes by taxi and he got her there too early, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 8:15 a.m.  They wouldn't let anyone in early (15 minutes) but she stayed outside with other singers she knew from Kalispell while Mark headed back.  He went and picked her up after her rehearsal at 11:00 and she came to the hotel and had some lunch and a short rest.  Then Arrianne and I headed off to the concert while Mark stayed with the other kids.  I got a ticket on a group buy which we did early and it still cost just over $100 so we made the decision to just have me go.  Arrianne headed to the performers entrance while I tried to figure out where the main entrance was.  While looking around I saw the Manhattan temple just across the street and so I was able to get some pictures.  I did find the entrance to the concert hall and went through security and found my seat; there is security just about everywhere like the museums etc.  The concert was amazing!  The choir sounded so great; it was just wonderful.  When they sang For Unto Us a Child is Born I started crying.  This is one of my all time favorites to listen to anyway, but to be sitting in the Lincoln Center in New York listening to my daughter sing it was such a thrill!  Wonderful!  They are making a DVD of the performance and each choir gets a copy that can't be reproduced so I need to find out if there is some way to buy a copy for us.  I just had assumed that we would be able to so I hope we can!!  Afterwards we headed back to the room where everyone was resting and we rested a bit too.  We got the room mostly packed up and ready for departure tomorrow and then we convinced Bridgett to brave a taxi to the Empire State Building.  I bought tickets in advance and we went to catch two taxis (three of us in each one).  Mark told the driver that Bridgett gets carsick and asked him to drive very carefully and slowly and so he did!  It was great and she didn't get sick; of course it wasn't very far to go and we probably could have walked but it was night and dark and windy and also we had walked so much yesterday.  We really enjoyed the Empire State Building.  There was absolutely NO LINE at all, which was amazing.  There were some people up above on the 86th floor observation deck, but not many.  After we went through security there was a small area with pictures explaining things and there was this huge stuffed King Kong standing there.  Mark, Tyler, Arrianne and Stephany walked past it and then as Bridgett and I reached it....it started to move!  I said hey, watch out (but no one apparently heard me) and Bridgett saw him and shrieked and jumped!  Everyone turned around quickly while I tried to explain to her what had happened and not to be panicked that it was just a guy in a suit.  The King Kong guy came and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek to mean no hard feelings I guess.  Bridgett said that her heart stopped beating when she saw him move and it really scared her. But, it was alright in a bit and we continued on to the observation deck.  Whew!  It was an amazing sight to see, looking out over all of New York.  They say that you can see 80 miles.  Mark, Bridgett and I looked for a while outside while the wind was blowing and we were freezing and then we headed inside to look out through the windows.  The other kids stayed outside and used the binoculars that you put a quarter in and found the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.  They came and got us and we braved the wind and cold to look as well.  It was amazing!  I'm really glad that we came!  Afterwards Arrianne, Bridgett and I took a cab back to the hotel, giving the same instructions for a smooth and careful ride and the driver was great.  Mark, Tyler and Stephany headed to Grand Central Station to look around like Arrianne and I had already done; Stephany didn't want to miss it.  I can't believe that she has done so well considering how tired she is.  Of course, she was shot most of today.  Also, I can't believe how well Bridgett has done.  It has been a great trip!  When we got back to the hotel we stopped at the bakery across the street to get authentic New York cheesecake for everyone (Stephany's request as well!).

Day 346 - Saturday November 24, 2012

Today we had a VERY full day with lots of walking.  Mark left at 8:00 with Arri and they walked to her rehearsal on 59th and 7th.  We are staying on 45th and Broadway.  He walked back and we had some breakfast and then we headed out for the day.  We first walked to Central Park and went to the Central Park Zoo.  Next Mark headed back to get Arri and we walked through Central Park.  We all met up at 72th and 8th to go to the American Museum of Natural History on about 80th.  We stopped at the street vendors and had some lunch outside the museum on some benches.  Mark missed the vendor that had lobster in a bun (??).  We then went through the museum.  I should say that Bridgett and I did one room--the animals of Africa--and then everyone else did the main floor and the second floor.  I found a semi quiet hallway with a bench and Bridgett stretched out with my coat as a pillow and slept.  After a while I went and asked for a wheelchair and I pushed her around a little.  Bear in mind that it is the Thanksgiving weekend and there are SOOOOO many visitors and so the museum was packed!  There were so many people and so much noise.  Bridgett was much more comfortable in the quiet more deserted areas of the museum.  After a while everyone else was done and their feet were tired too; it was also getting later and we wanted to get back before dark.  Tyler and Arrianne offered to walk back with Bridgett while Mark, Steph and I did the lower floor; we never did get to the lowest floor.  They made it back to the hotel just fine while we went through the ocean and rain forest exhibits as well as animals of the forests (straight from our backyard it seemed!).  Then we headed back as well, arriving just after it got dark.  Everyone was hammered after walking 80 city blocks plus around at the zoo, park and museum.  Bridgett was feeling better than everyone else but then she had a nap and didn't walk through the museum!  After some dinner we all headed to bed early.  BTW if I didn't say it before....Bridgett is adamant that we not take taxis anywhere, so we are walking everywhere.  Of course, that is great most of the time, but it does mean that we don't go very far from the hotel, like to the Staten Island ferry as planned.  However, we are realizing that under the circumstances we are getting lots of sight seeing done without stressing everyone out to the max and so it is just as well. 

Day 345 - Friday November 23, 2012

I always get up before everyone else, so I have been leaving and bringing breakfast to everyone.  After everyone got up and ate we headed to 42nd St. to the Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibit.  We spent over an hour there and it was fun and interesting for everyone. The only bad part for Bridgett...a "black hole" tunnel that spins around you.  We had her close her eyes and walk through; you had to walk through to get out.  Mark also had to close his eyes!  I made it through but held on to Steph and the railing.  It feels like you are walking at an angle and are going to fall over! Then we headed next door to Madam Tussuad's Wax Museum.  That was also fun and we got a lot of pictures of the kids (and Mark!) standing by various wax statues.  They had a superhero movie that we tried to do; it was in 4-D with glasses.  Before it started they said if you are prone to seizures or want to leave after it starts you can.  As soon as it started Bridgett said let's leave.  It started with something very startling and it scared her and it was very loud.  We left and everyone else stayed.  It lasted about 10 minutes and it got worse as far how much it would have startled Bridgett; it's a good thing we left!  The kids enjoyed it though.  The museum was a real hit with everyone and Bridgett had lots of fun posing along with everyone else.  Mark and the kids grabbed McDonald's right next door while Arrianne and I headed to a sidewalk vendor with Falafel gyros.  We met back at the hotel and after everyone ate Mark and Arri headed off to her rehearsal for the Messiah.  They had to walk about 15 minutes, not too far.  Mark made sure that Arri was situated and then headed back.  Everyone got some good rest (except for Arri).  She's going to go home hammered!  Bad timing with finals coming up, but it's a once in lifetime opportunity and she doesn't want to miss anything! This evening we ordered take-out, which was a smart idea.  Since we are staying in Times Square the traffic is pretty bad this weekend not to mention the fact that it's Friday night.  We ordered John's Pizza which is just about a block from here and is authentic New York pizza that everybody loved!  Afterwards we headed out into Times Square.  Mark took Bridgett with him to the Hershey's store (Mark loved that store!) and I stayed with Arrianne and Stephany while they had their cartoon drawn by one of the street artists.  They do them in charcoal and turned out really good!  We finally all collapsed for some needed sleep.

Day 344 - Thursday November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I headed out early to get muffins and water for breakfast for everyone.  While out I checked with the doormen and asked about a different and better way to get to the airport.  They suggested the car service and I booked through them.  I had not done this before, because all of the companies had bad reviews.  However, in retrospect I realize that the bad reviews dealt with the airport end of things.  They said that the vans were late, drove around the airport picking up people (and making people carsick, etc.) and that by the time they dropped others off it was a VERY long trip.  This way we will just have our family and head straight to the airport with no delays (in a SUV).  I checked that out before as well (private SUV) but then everyone said let's just do a taxi.  Now we know how great that went!   We all went to the parade together after everyone had breakfast. Of course, we didn't go early so we didn't get any place really good to stand.  We were back from the corner and couldn't see anything but the balloons but it was still fun.  Bridgett lasted for about 15 minutes and then wanted to walk around.  I walked here and there with her for about 30 minutes and then finally we headed back to the hotel to watch on TV while Mark stayed with the kids.  They got back when the parade was over where they were standing but it was still being broadcast on TV so they caught some of it that way.  Then Arrianne and I took Mark to where he could get some New York style pizza and she and I went to buy some Broadway tickets.  We ended up getting some awesome tickets for Phantom of the Opera for Arri, Steph and me. After everyone ate lunch they napped while Arrianne and I went to Grand Central Terminal.  We took a taxi there which was a waste because the traffic was so bad.  We didn't know how far it would be but after getting there decided that we could easily walk back.  Riding the taxi there--30 minutes; walking back--15 minutes!  The terminal was fun to look at and we got some great pictures of the architecture.  After we got back we ate a little dinner and rested for a bit and then headed out for the Phantom.  The theatre was literally a half a block from where we are staying!  It was, needless to say, GREAT!  The only hard thing......while waiting for the show to start I unfortunately let myself think of the fact that Bridgett couldn't go with us.  She still doesn't like lots of noise and doesn't feel good enough to sit that long.  Of course, months ago when we planned the trip we were hoping things would be different; Bridgett was initially looking forward to going to a musical.  But as it got closer I realized that it wouldn't work out.  Still I was going to let her go if she wanted to and then have Mark come pick her up when she couldn't stay any longer, but alas even she realized that she wouldn't enjoy herself.  I started crying in the theater, tears running down my checks as I sat waiting for the production to start.  The girls were naturally upset that I was upset.  Arrianne said she has also tried not to think about it and I know that's how we all feel.  Bridgett is enjoying the trip but it's not like we had hoped it would be.  I finally snapped out of it and focused on the show and like I said it was GREAT!  The cast was great but the Phantom was amazing! It certainly is the highlight of our trip and even if we don't do anything else, the trip was worth it just for this!  It didn't really seem like Thanksgiving day but it was a really good day in a different way.  I miss you Scott, Jaclyn and Weston!  I miss you Jenn, Tyler, Connor and Caden!  I wish everyone could be here with us!

Day 343 - Wednesday November 21, 2012

I forgot to mention that Tyler got sick early Tuesday morning before we flew out and ended up heading to the bathroom on the airplane to vomit. Then of course the fiasco with Bridgett--what a start to a trip! This morning Tyler was still sick--dizzy and nauseous. We left him in the room and did some girl shopping--thanks Mark for being patient with us. First we hit Toys R Us. We had fun there and got fun pics with the different things there: Wonka, T-Rex, the Barbie house, etc. We were going to do the ferris wheel but everyone baled (except for me) and we skipped it. Actually I have always hated ferris wheels ever since Frank scared me in one when I was little. But I have been psyching myself up for it and I was going to go this time--oh well, maybe later in the trip! We stopped and ate food on the street--it's so cool that we can find vegan food almost anywhere. Arri and I had falafel pitas and Mark and Bridgett had beef kabobs; Stephany had a protein bar just before we left and wasn't hungry. Then we headed out to 5th Ave and went to the American Girl doll store where we got some more fun pics with the girls and some of their dolls. Next we went to Saks and wandered through the purses, hats, scarfs and jewelry with the girls trying on some hats. We went upstairs and gazed at the expensive clothes for a while, joking at the high prices. I think this mostly left the girls deciding that they'd better marry someone rich because they saw some really cool things! Afterwards we headed to the hotel to check on Tyler and bring him some food. We ordered in Chinese from Ollies (on recommendation) and it was really good. I forgot to mention that last night we had some great New York style pizza and everyone loved it. In the evening we headed out to the M&M store, Hershey's, and the Disney Store. Mark and Bridgett went back to the hotel about a half an hour before us and the girls and I headed down Times Square just to see things. There were so many people and it was really fun. We were going to get discount tickets to the Phantom of the Opera, but couldn't get any together. I think Arrianne and I won't mind sitting alone so we might be the only ones that actually go. This weekend will be crazy for everything with so many people in town but we will enjoy ourselves anyway!

Day 342 - Tuesday November 20, 2012

We got up early and headed for the airport and began our trip. Bridgett did exceptionally well on the flight, which took just under 4-1/2 hours. She enjoyed the take off speed and openly laughed in delight. However, this was soon replaced with a sick feeling as the plane lifted and made the little dip feeling. I immediately gave her the under the tongue zofran and in a few minutes she was feeling better. She only had to get up once to go to the bathroom and once to walk up and down the aisle for a bit. She felt reasonably good the entire time although at the end of the flight as we were making the descent her ears plugged up and she just couldn't get them unplugged no matter what she tried. We sat and had her chew gum, yawn, swallow, etc but to no avail. It actually took until we landed before she had relief and she was in pain for quite a few minutes. The taxi ride was another matter. We took two taxis because there were six of us; she was with Mark and Arrianne and I was with Tyler and Stephany. About 30 minutes into the hour long taxi ride Bridgett started making sounds and then threw up. The taxi driver was of course driving like a mad man and bragging that he was so quick to the destination. He wasn't too happy when they got out and he saw the vomit in his taxi and told Mark to pay him an extra $20 to pay for the clean-up. We had just as horrible of a ride and Tyler and Stephany both got sick, but no one threw up with me. After making it to our room we collapsed and rested the rest of the day. Mark called and had them come and pick up Bridgett's clothes to have them laundered--with a rush on the order! So much for site seeing! But tomorrow we will head out, hopefully with everyone feeling much better! Now, to figure out how to get back to the airport without getting everyone sick!

Day 341 - Monday November 19, 2012

Today was one of those crazy running around days.  I had payroll to get done remotely (thanks Melissa for getting it to me so early!!), last minute shopping, Stephany had a haircut with Clint Atwater (wonderful guy in Provo) and just general getting last minute packing etc.  Bridgett spent most of the day with Mark and Tyler.  Arrianne had a very full day on campus, arriving at 7:30 a.m.and getting done at 9:15 p.m.  I was hoping to get a quick nap, but it was not to be.  We left the Provo Marriott and headed to the SLC airport Marriott, stopping on the way to visit my mom and take the kids to see her new apartment (which is wonderful by the way).  We got to bed late and hopefully we will all be ready when the alarm goes off early in the morning!

Day 340 - Sunday November 18, 2012

Today we were able to go to Jenn's and have an early Thanksgiving dinner with her family.  It sounds like it wouldn't be too hard to just make dinner somewhere else, but actually it was kind of complicated.  We didn't want to stress Jenn out at all so we did the prep and some of the cooking at Arrianne's. I got the turkey all ready and then Mark took it to Jenn's and put it in the oven.  Things were somewhat complicated by the fact that I brought some of the stuff (including some pans), we used some stuff at Arri's and some stuff at Jenn's.  It seems that I forgot to shuttle some of the stuff around and that made for some extra driving, but all in all it worked out fine.  All of the food turned out great, we ate on paper plates so the clean-up was fast and we all had lots of fun visiting.  We were at Jenn's for three hours and Bridgett didn't suggest once that we leave.  In the past she has been ready to leave in a short amount of time and pretty annoyed by the noise of the kids.  However, today she did great and that was so wonderful.  Both Arrianne and Jenn commented on how much Bridgett had changed since they saw her last and that was fun.  Even when Bridgett was ready to leave she was quiet about it.  She put on her shoes and went and stood by the door! When Mark asked her what she was doing she just said she was ready to leave as soon as we were and just waiting by the door to be close! 

Day 339 - Saturday November 17, 2012

Today we made the trip to Provo and it really went quite well.  Thankfully the roads were great.  We just stopped the normal amount of times and Bridgett's neck really didn't bother her.  She has been complaining the past couple of days that her tailbone is hurting (I can't figure out why) and so that made the trip somewhat uncomfortable for her; she did a lot of shifting around in her seat.  Otherwise everything went smooth and we arrived and got all checked in and Mark showed up a little while later.  Mark had gone to Helena yesterday for meetings and so he just left from there and met up with us in Provo.  Arrianne was able to come over and meet us after we arrived and she stayed the night with us.  We were all pretty tired but happy to be here safely.  I must admit that I left home tired so I was very tired by the time we finally made it. 

Day 338 - Friday November 16, 2012

Part of Bridgett's every day protocol is supposed to include spinning on a chair for 2 minutes to help reset the vestibular system.  She is supposed to do this 8 times a day but she became so dizzy after just once a day we weren't able to do it with her for the past several months. She became so dizzy she was close to vomiting and remained dizzy for hours.  Just a couple of weeks ago she finally got to the point where she can spin herself for six revolutions (as opposed to having us spin her) once a day and tolerate it.  However, yesterday and today she was dizzy again.  I mentioned this to one of her advising team late this afternoon and they think she might have fluid in one of her ears; she has been complaining about an earache lately.  We had better get that checked out before flying on Tuesday! Since it was too late to run to the clinic today and we are driving to Provo tomorrow, it will have to wait until Monday.  She does have a primary care physician in American Fork that we can call and talk to and hopefully we can get her in on Monday.  For now, we will be back to skipping on the spinning activity.

Day 337 - Thursday November 15, 2012

Another one of the things that Bridgett does every day is to listen to audio books.  She already had a book downloaded on her ipod before the accident so she is listening to that one...Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites Book 1. There is actually quite a bit of evidence to support the use audio books as opposed to only reading yourself.  This kind of input can be very beneficial in helping with a number of learning issues.  Bridgett finds it enjoyable to listen although not for too long, probably about 10 minutes a day. 

Day 336 - Wednesday November 14, 2012

After checking with people we know and praying about it we've decided to go ahead with our New York trip.  We are all very excited to go because we've never been there before.  Matt (President Busick) took the time to call his sister in New York and ask about the situation for us (THANKS!) and assured us that things were OK in the area we are headed and that there is a lot to see just in the Times Square/Central Park area and so off we go!   Our flight is non-stop from SLC airport (cool!) and they will meet us with a wheelchair at the curb and take Bridgett right through.  She of course can walk just fine but will get tired quickly and with all the other commotion it's probably better in the long run.  We have a list of places to go in New York and hopefully Stephany and Bridgett will have the energy to make it through everything!  On Friday and Saturday Arrianne has a half day rehearsal so the girls can rest during that time.  Also on Sunday she will have a short rehearsal and then the performance (the Messiah at the Lincoln Center) at 2:00.  We fly back to SLC on Monday and Arrianne will hustle to try to make it to her last class of the day, Opera Workshop; they have a performance on the 7th of December so it's critical to not miss rehearsals.  We are all excited and just hustling to get everything packed and ready for the trip.

Day 335 - Tuesday November 13, 2012

This afternoon Bridgett said the funniest thing and it was also cool because it shows she is remembering more as well. You just have to know Bridgett to get that she has the same humor she's always had! Anyway, on Bridgett's face is a little tiny (I mean really small) spot that is like a broken blood vessel.  Anyway, often she asks me what it is from.  I usually say oh it's probably from the wreck.  Then a couple of months ago she started asking me if the spot came from the "birth cord" being wrapped around her neck.  I say it's not called a birth cord, what is it and then she comes up with the name umbilical cord.  She did have the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck at birth BTW.  Also, she did have several hemangiomas on her face when she was a baby that actually got bigger and then receded entirely as she got older.  But I also say no I don't remember that being there so it must be from the wreck.  In fact, I have gone back and looked at pictures to see if it was there but I can't see it.  It is VERY small so it probably would be hard to see in a picture.  Anyway, today she said this whole spiel like she usually does and then I said it's probably from the wreck and she says no and looks me right in the eye.  She said to me I've always had that little mark there....ever since I was a weeee little lass!  Hah!  What a crack up!  But she remains positive that it's always been there and this is the first time that she's actually remembered that fact. I will have to ask her sisters about it....they would have probably discussed it with her when she was in Provo, putting on her make-up etc.

Day 334 - Monday November 12, 2012

Today while I was cooking dinner Bridgett was sitting at the table working on something.  Suddenly she looked up from her work and said didn't you have breast cancer before?  Yes I did I responded.  She said I thought I remembered that!  I'm so sorry!  That is something that we haven't prompted her on before that she remembered.  Its weird how she remembers random things here and there.  The mind is a very complicated and complex thing, as I have said before.   Later on she said it again and came and gave me a great big hug and said in such an earnest voice..I'm soooo sorry that you had cancer.  It hurts me to see you hurting.  One thing that the speech therapist commented on was that she wanted Bridgett to start feeling sadness, and other negative emotions etc.  Well, spontaneously she has been feeling more emotions lately (besides just happiness and love).  The other day I tripped and fell and hurt my knee.  She came up and hugged me and was almost in tears worrying about me.  How's that for another emotion!  I maintain that she will spontaneously recover and have all the emotions she should without prompting or planning from us....and that IS happening naturally and spontaneouly as she is healing.

Day 333 - Sunday November 11, 2012

Some days Bridgett really remembers things without prompting and that's exciting.  For example, Bridgett has a bowl of her rings on her dresser.  Now, before the accident Bridgett really loved to wear rings; she loved bling.  Anyway, at first she didn't really want to wear rings and now she goes to her ring bowl many days and chooses rings to wear and puts on her watch every day, which is in the top of the bowl.  Lately she has worn a certain ring day and night but sometimes adds a second or third ring.  Today I was next to her when she put on her rings and she showed me which one she was wearing and asked if I liked it.  I said yes and then I realized that she hasn't worn more than the one ring for several days.  I looked in the top of the bowl and I didn't see the last ring she had been wearing, which was a very distinctive ring that I could remember clearly.  I said hey I don't see that ring you were wearing a few days ago and she said it's here.  I was suspicious because often she sets things down somewhere and then forgets where.  I said no I mean really I don't see it; I wonder where it is.  Then Bridgett dug around in the bowl for a bit and finally pulled out a ring and said see, here it is.  By golly it was the same ring she had been wearing like five days ago!  Now there are a lot of rings in her bowl so I brought it to the kitchen table to have her count how many....I knew you'd be surprised when you hear how many she dug through to find that ring and REMEMBERED which one it was.....72 rings!  Crazy!

Day 332 - Saturday November 10, 2012

I have a book with questions in it that I ask Bridgett every day. They are thinking questions basically and there is a huge range of the questions.  Today the questions were about two items...how are they alike and how are they different.  I asked her about fingers and toes and she said without a beat....they are both appendages but fingers are on your hand and toes are on your feet.  That cracked me up....appendages!  But it also showed me that some of that anatomy she had previously learned is trying to shine through.  Also, she is continually asking me where different organs of the body are. At first I would say why?  Is that hurting?  But then I realized she is just trying to get all of that information back to a point of recall. 

Day 331 - Friday November 9, 2012

The funniest thing...ever since Tuesday, election day, Bridgett has been doing this.  She suddenly, for no reason, will just use that sing song voice of hers and say AMERICAAAA.  She does this at random times throughout the day.  When Stephany said why are you saying that she said (of course) because I can.  That is her standard comment when asked why about something.  Anyway, she also told Tyler that it just sounds cool.  It's very funny to hear and Arrianne actually said that sounds like something very Bridgett.  Strangely enough Tyler said that while his unit was in Africa some of the other Marines would do just that, randomly say America.  However, I have a hard time picturing that they used a sing song voice while saying it like Bridgett does.  I'll have to ask Tyler about that when I can.....he's in Billing for drill this weekend.  Luckily he made it safe because the roads were terrible.  This is the drill of the Marine Ball.  It seems that every year the roads are terrible when they are all heading to Billings for the ball.  Weird!

Day 330 - Thursday November 8, 2012

So I had said before that we were planning on going to New York for the Thanksgiving week because Arrianne is supposed to sing the Messiah at the Lincoln center that Sunday.  Of course, the tragic events of the Sandy hurricane have made those plans a little shaky and we are now trying to decide whether or not we should go.  It seems difficult to find out any information.  I did call the hotel but they weren't particularly helpful.  They just told me that the hotel was not damaged in any way and then told me that they were unable to comment on the situation otherwise; we have reservations at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.  With the stories of gas rationing we are wondering if we will be able to get taxi's and of course the subway seems worrisome at this point as well.  Bridgett has been excited to go but when she hears us talk about any problems there she just says let's not go then.  Hopefully in the next week we will be able to better access the situation and make a good decision.

Day 329 - Wednesday November 7, 2012

The day after the election.  Of course, I knew as soon as I woke up who won because it was morning and no one had woken me up.  I was depressed about it and just sat and stared at the computer for quite a while.  When Bridgett woke up I told her the outcome of the election.  She said...I didn't even vote for him!  I know, right!  We were supposed to go to speech therapy today, but instead Bridgett was having such bad kidney pain we had to cancel.  Also, we were all exhausted from a very long day yesterday and also from the upsetting news of the election I think.  I finally got Bridgett comfortable on a heating pad and we all took a nap.  Afterwards we were all doing much better.  Arrianne's migraine still persisted through the day although the pain was lower.  She was dizzy on campus, and her friends again drove her home.  FYI...Stephany is still sick.  I think I said this before but the nurse at her doctors office had this CMV and she had to miss 12 weeks of work.  I keep hoping for a quicker recovery, but here we are at about six weeks now I think. 

Day 328 - Tuesday November 6, 2012

Bridgett was very focused on the fact that she wanted to vote in this election, even if she only voted for president.  Several months ago I took her into the election office in Provo and helped her sign up for absentee voting.  Her ballot showed up weeks ago and she voted and we mailed it back in.  Actually the Utah ballot is pretty simple because you can choose to vote a straight party ticket, which she did.  Today we talked about the election but she did not want to watch any of the TV coverage.  However, she did ask questions and did talk to everyone in the family about voting.  We were somewhat distracted during the afternoon as I got a call from one of Arrianne's friends saying that she had collapsed at school and the paramedics had been called.  It took a while to get information, but it turns out they said she was having a complex migraine headache; she hasn't had migraines before so this in new.  She declined going to the hospital so her friends took her home and stayed with her until Jenn showed up to stay with her.  Jenn stayed several hours; Tyler came and picked up the boys and so they both just rested on the couch after that.  Later in the evening Jenn headed home and one of Arrianne's friends picked her up and took her to vote.  Arrianne was determined to vote no matter what.  By evening I was exhausted and went to bed early as did Bridgett.  Everyone else stayed up to watch the outcome of the elections. I told them...if we win wake me up, otherwise let me sleep.

Day 327 - Monday November 5, 2012

We had a craniosacral appointment with Kari this morning and she worked on Bridgett's kidney area.  She said it was very worked up and cranky.  Most of the day Bridgett felt great, but again in the evening the kidney pain started up.  Why just in the evening?  We will call Michelle Helwig tomorrow for thoughts from her about this whole situation. Hopefully she will be able to access the CT report and maybe she will have ideas.  Also, we will try to see Vern or at least call him.

Day 326 - Sunday November 4, 2012

Bridgett slept in today and we all were pretty draggy for most of the day.  She was pain free until about 5:00 and then the pain returned pretty strongly and I again gave her Lortab, but this time two to start with.  She spent most of the evening pacing around the house with one of us, as the pain was less while she was walking.  Who knows what's happening....but I don't credit the suggestion that she's constipated; let's just say that we know she's not.  Maybe it's a spasm in the kidney?  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  Today was Tyler's 25th birthday and we had a quiet day with him.  Tyler's been such a help with Bridgett!  I am so glad that all of the kids have rallied around Bridgett and helped her so much during these past months. 

Day 325 - Saturday November 3, 2012

Today was much like any other day until early evening when Bridgett started having very severe kidney pain.  I should say that she has been having kidney pain off and on for a few weeks but since she has passed three stones before, we kind of know the drill. Anyway, this evening the pain was much worse and I gave her a Lortab at 6:00 because the pain level was at a four and then I had to give her a second one at 7:00 because the pain was at a five. Then by 8:00 the pain was still rising.  We were walking to try to help the pain and every other minute Bridgett would whimper or make a crying noise and her legs would go weak from time to time.  We decided we had to go into the emergency room.  Bridgett did not want to go but finally the pain got bad enough that she agreed; she said it felt like the stone might be passing.  Mark and Tyler gave her a blessing, we loaded her into the back seat with the heating pad (my car has an outlet to plug directly into the car for electricity) and I sat beside her and off we went; of course it takes about 40 minutes from our house.  We got her all checked in at the emergency room and that took awhile to get all the questions answered etc.  Meanwhile she was walking with Mark and whimpering off and on.  Finally they got us back into a room and by this time the pain was starting to subside. She went to the bathroom after giving a urine sample and the pain dropped to a one.  They hooked her up on an IV and took blood for testing.  When they came to give pain meds I said what are you giving her--I want to be sure it's safe after the TBI.  They told me it was the strongest pain med they have and some Zofran for nausea.  She's not nauseated I said and now the pain is almost gone.  They verified this with Bridgett and then left the room.  They ran the urine and blood tests and the result was normal for everything. By this time the pain level was zero.  Finally they decided to do a CT and this was normal as well.  The doctor said maybe she has a spasm in her back or is constipated.  Mark said maybe she passed the stone but the doctor said there would be blood in the urine if that had happened.  Anyway, we left at last and got home about 2:30.  Bridgett was exhausted and asked if she could sleep in until 8:00 and I said sleep as long as you want!  While at the hospital her eyes were so tired and bloodshot and I kept telling her that she could sleep for a bit but she said I won't sleep until I leave here.  Anyway I searched online and you can pass a stone without blood so maybe that's what happened.  We will watch and see what happens over the next few days.

Day 324 - Friday November 2, 2012

Bridgett has a protocol that we follow every day for our own rehab here at home.  From time to time I tell you about one thing or another that she does.  We have a checklist that we go over daily to make sure that we complete everything that we are supposed to do.  Bridgett always has a great attitude about doing everything although sometimes she rolls her eyes or heaves a sigh about something.  Today I said to her (like I do from time to time) I am so proud of you for always doing everything that I ask you to do daily.  You know we do these things to help you get better!  OF COURSE I always do them she said.  Then this part really choked me up.....she said I would do ANYTHING you asked me to do because you ARE my mother! If you asked me to run 30 miles I would do it; I might have to walk a lot of the time, but I would do it!  I just love it that she is so sweet, so cooperative and so happy!

Day 323 - Thursday November 1, 2012

Today I saw Ginny Wood when Stephany had an appointment; Mark took her in and I picked Stephany up afterwards.  We have known Ginny for so many years, like 24, and we just love her!  She was so sweet today and came to the foot of the stairs and gave me a hug.  She told me some really sweet things; sometimes a person just needs to hear something that helps you through the day or the week (or the month or the year!).  It really helped me and lifted me up and I was so happy and thankful afterwards.  Bridgett stayed with Tyler and they played games, went walking and then he talked her into watching a movie.  She hasn't liked anything on TV at all yet, but she did watch almost a whole movie with him--the Great Mouse Detective, a Disney cartoon.  This was a movie that she watched over and over after her surgery in Dec 2010 and it is one that she knows by heart.  He also has been playing some of her music for her to listen to.  In the car she will listen to one song and then shut it off.  Perhaps 10 minutes later she will listen to another song and so forth.  He played music while they played cards, not too loud of course, and she listened with him.  She did ask him to shut it off after a few songs, but I think listening to things more and more will help her get used to loud noises.  She doesn't like anything loud; loud noises really bothers her at this point. 

Day 322 - Wednesday October 31, 2012

Yesterday Bridgett was talking to me and I was trying to get her to remember something from when she was young.  She has not had any "real" memories about her childhood yet, just short term memory of the things I list in her personal reference book.  Anyway, I asked her if she remembered anything about the log house and she said she remembered her bedroom.  So, at this point we went through who stayed in what bedroom and who moved where...to the "pink" room or the "green" room, downstairs etc.  She actually could remember all of that!  Then I asked what was in our yard and she said a trampoline, two swing sets, a basketball court, and a picnic table!  She also mentioned the field with cows and horses.  Then she said my head hurts--can we talk about something else.  This is the most that she has remembered so far about anything from her long term memory!  I was very excited about it!  It is sobering to realize that in six weeks it's been a year since her accident and there is so little long term memory.  However, it is coming back very slowly in small bits and pieces so that is encouraging.  Baby steps!

Day 321 - Tuesday October 30, 2012

Even when Bridgett is having a bad day with lots of pain if you ask her how she is doing, she is always doing terrific, wonderful, or whatever word she's on for the week.  Today she was in just terrible pain and we were working through it with mag phos, rice bags, pain relievers, etc.  Mark came in the room and asked her how she was today and she said WONDERFUL!  I said even when she's in pain she's wonderful and she said....how can I not be wonderful?  I'm alive!!  We should all have such a great attitude!

Day 320 - Monday October 29, 2012

Update on using the arm bicycle.....Bridgett woke up with neck pain on Sunday morning although it was just a one.  Then today she woke up with neck pain at a two.  This morning we had a craniosacral appointment with Kari which went well.  By evening Bridgett was hurting everywhere.  It's that time of month and she is always miserable then...ever since she had her right ovary removed in Dec. 2010.  She is having kidney pain, neck pain, and ovary pain so it's hard to tell if it's the arm bicycle flaring things up or just the regular hurt everywhere pain. We will see in a couple of days.  The endocrinologists checked out the left ovary (looks great!) and the right ovary removal site by ultrasound and they say that they believe that scar tissue is causing the problem and there is nothing they can do about it.  Hummm......

Day 319 - Sunday October 28, 2012

Today was a rare day when Mark, Stephany and I got to go to church together and Tyler stayed home with Bridgett.  The occasion was the dedication of the Calgary Temple and we headed into Kalispell for a broadcast of the event.  It was a wonderful meeting and it was just so fun to spend some alone time with Stephany as well.  We really don't get to do that much--be alone with Stephany--although we need to start setting some time apart for that very thing!  Afterwards we stopped at Scott, Jaclyn and Weston's house to switch vehicles (Mark had Scott's truck to get wood for someone and so Scott had the Lexus) and it was so nice to get to see them!  It seems like such a long time since we got to really visit.  We didn't stay long as Tyler already had responsibility with Bridgett for about four hours and it was important to relieve him.  However, overall it was such a wonderful and spiritual day!  I really needed that!  Ginny Reed made it a point to come up and give me a hug and I really appreciated that so much!  She said she'd been thinking about me and how much my life has changed.  I started to cry a bit--I'm just fine if we don't talk about things! (Well, I'm fine if I plan ahead to be talking about the situation--to therapists, doctors, etc.)  Anyway it was so nice of her to be thinking about me and to take the time to talk to me. 

Day 318 - Saturday October 27, 2012

I got a call from my mom today and she reminded me about how good it is for the brain to do puzzles.  We went through quite a few weeks where we did puzzles every day, back when Arrianne was home.  It's been quite a while now and it's definitely time to get the puzzles back out and get to work!  Thanks mom!

Day 317 - Friday October 26, 2012

Today was one of those nice days when we could just stay home and get things done.  Bridgett is back to helping around the house, in a small way right now; we are taking it slowly so as not to flare up her neck.  She is helping unload the top rack of the dishwasher, helping with some cooking and baking, etc.  Today the arm bicycle showed up and Bridgett was so excited to use it.  I only let her do it for like one minute (her max was five minutes at the PT) and we will see how things are tomorrow.  For the past week she has pretty much had no pain in her neck--yippee!  We don't want to rush anything and have a flare up of the muscle spasm!