Day 198 - Friday June 29, 2012

Today I took Bridgett to see Sharon and get the back of her hair trimmed.  Bridgett wants to grow her hair out but the back just was getting a little shaggy.  She keeps asking if she can grow her hair out like she used to wear it, so that's its almost long enough to sit on.  I tell her that she is 22 and decide how she wants to wear her hair; she can have it any length she wants.  Funniest thing ever that Bridgett is saying lately--when something is good that she is eating she says delicious this is instead of this is delicious.  That is the only thing she ever says grammatically incorrect.  I don't know if somehow she is quoting from a movie--it sounds like yoda from Star Wars!  She quotes lots of things these days and doesn't usually remember where she is quoting from.   But it's kind of cute anyway!

Day 197 - Thursday June 28, 2012

Today I had a very interesting conversation with Bridgett on our way to the Ferndale Market.  She talked about her wreck with me and then she asked what time it happened, which she has never asked before.  I told her about 5:00 and she said it wasn't dark then so why didn't the guy see me?  She asked what I was wearing and I told her and she said again why didn't the guy see me?  We discussed that he was probably distracted.  She said when he hit me he knew it and I said he said he didn't know he hit you and said he thought something fell off his truck.  Bridgett said that's just dumb--he had to know he hit me.  I said he got out of the truck and saw you on the ground and she said again he must have known.  Why didn't he tell me he was sorry she asked again.  I don't know (and I don't understand that part either).  He always could have sent a card or flowers to the hospital without facing us directly.  He could have told the police to tell us or whatever.  It is hard to understand.  Also now whenever we pass cyclists she says to them (even though they can't hear of course) that they should be careful so that don't get hit and get a brain injury.  When anyone leaves the house to go somewhere she reminds us to drive carefully so that we don't hit any cyclists and give them a brain injury.  She says I don't want anyone to have an injury like I do.

Day 196 - Wednesday June 27, 2012

Today we finally had another appointment with Ginny Wood and that was great!  Bridgett really needed to see her!  Ginny does a great job of getting to the right healing points and helping Bridgett feel better all over.  Lately Bridgett had been saying that she hurt all over, which is exactly how she felt a while back before her last appointment with Ginny.  After both appointments, she has felt so much better!  That's one of the great things about being home--resources!  All of the people we know and trust are here for us to see.  These are people like Ginny, Dorothy and Vern who have known Bridgett for years and in Ginny's case, all of her life.  Not only do they know and love her, she knows and loves them! BTW I did get another book downloaded to the Kindle and it was easy!  Yeah!

Day 195 - Tuesday June 26, 2012

I can't remember if I mentioned it but Linda Grinde said that the location of Bridgett's hematoma would make it difficult to remember time.  Bridgett remembers the year always, the month always, the day of the week--not so much, or the date.  However, she does remember in general terms like she says it's towards the end of the month like in the 20's for the date.  Or if given some prompts she can figure out the day of the week.  I really need to find a watch for Bridgett like Kasey had in Salt Lake.  It tells the day of the week, the date including the year and the time.  Perhaps that would keep her more oriented to the time/date on a regular basis.  We do have a large desk calendar on the kitchen table that we refer to often and discuss what has happened or what will happen.  Bridgett finished reading Twilight.  Now, to find another book to capture her attention!  I need to figure out if I can download a book to this Kindle when I don't have an account for it--I do have prime membership with Amazon, so hopefully I can work it out.

Day 194 - Monday June 25, 2012

Today we saw Vern and Dorothy and that went well. I stopped giving Bridgett the prescription for aricept on Saturday and we are watching to see what happens.  The last time I tried to stop was in March and we didn't have good results at all.  Each day Bridgett seemed more and more confused and by the fourth day she couldn't even remember who she was or who any of us were.  Of course, that was very early on in the healing process and we are much farther along now.  It's been a couple of days and Bridgett seems to be remembering as well as she was although she is repeating questions often.  However, today she said to me I'm sorry for asking the same question over and over.  So, it's ironic that her mind remembers that she's asked the question before, but doesn't remember the answer.  Maybe she does remember the answer, really, but is not sure about it.  I realized that months ago, she really did know but was wanting the reassurance that she was right I believe.  Way back then when she asked a question we would say what do you think and she really did know.  So, maybe that's kind of what's happening right now.  Anyway, Dr. Lindsay said he thought it was a good idea to see how she did without it and that was like over a month ago and I am just now trying it.  It was scarey to stop giving the aricept again because we have come so far and I don't want any regression.  But, it happened kind of naturally becuase I was so exhausted on Saturday night I fell asleep without giving Bridgett her pills and when I woke up and realized it (very late) and she was asleep aready and so I just let it go.  That was the start of this trial to see what will happen!  I'll keep you posted!

Day 193 - Sunday June 24, 2012

Every day at some point Bridgett talks about her her hair being so short and how it got shaved off, her incisions and scars and being hurt while riding her bicycle.  Usually she says about the guy in the truck something like this--the people in the truck, they were OK weren't they?  Lately I have been having her think things through--if a truck and a bike collided who would be hurt and then she realizes that the person in the truck would not be hurt.  Today was the first time we have started hearing some negatives from Bridgett about the whole incident.  Today when she talked about things Bridgett finished up by saying stupid truck that hurt me and gave me a brain injury. Oh, I have been meaning to post this for a while.  I said before I try to keep this blog only about Bridgett, but when family news relates to Bridgett I add that.  Jenn (big sister) is pregnant!  We have known for a while, but I was waiting to post and now I can add this---Jenn is pregnant with twins!  We are all so excited.  Of course, Bridgett keeps telling Jenn to have two girls (since she has two boys now) so that things will be even.  Jenn has called several times telling me how much she always misses having Bridgett around but particularly now when she's pregnant.  Jenn always gets very sick and she has always had Bridgett around to help her during her pregnancies and she really misses that.  We all wish we could be there to help but with the situation as it is we can't do much.  Bridgett needs time here to heal and we can't think about going back to Utah right now.  Also we are all so involved with Bridgett there is little time left to help out.  But we are all so happy and excited for Jenn and we pray daily for her.

Day 192 - Saturday June 23, 2012

This morning while I was driving to Stevensville to get Stephany Bridgett and Arrianne watched the Man from Snowy River on the TV at the hotel in Missoula.  Bridgett hasn't really watched much of any movie and she didn't watch all of this movie either BUT she made the comment that she liked this movie because it was set in Australia.   I was very excited that she realized that fact.  Also, it made us all happy because Bridgett has always loved Australia but ever since the accident she hasn't remembered that at all.   Now, suddenly she remembers that she has always wanted to go there.  When Bridgett was in a coma and we were talking to her trying to wake her up the respiratory therapist told us to promise Bridgett anything she'd really want if she would wake up, because he said she will hear you.  You've got to motivate her to wake up he said.  Anyway, we said Bridgett please wake up and we will take you to Australia.  Then when she finally woke up and all the time until now she has said she doesn't want to go to Australia.  So, this is another happy moment that our little Bridgett is really in there somewhere! We saw a bunch of cyclists on the way home from Missoula; apparently they were having a race.  Stephany said to Bridgett....who in our family is a cyclist and Bridgett said I am.  Stephany said do you want to ride your bike and Bridgett said yes but not where there are any people around so I don't get hurt!

Day 191 - Friday June 22, 2012

It was a VERY interesting thing to meet with Linda Grinde from the Brain Gym.  I really liked her a lot.  She is very intuitive and very nice and very fun.  She was also very good with Bridgett.  First she had Bridgett lay down on a massage table.  She held her heels and balanced her energy.  Next she did the brain buttons on the forehead.  These are the same points that Ginny told me to work on for Bridgett--the emotional points I believe.  Next she did tracking with Bridgett's eyes having her follow a small ball of blue yarn.  This seemed much easier for Bridgett than when I do tracking exercises with her daily, perhaps because of the size of the yarn ball compared to the end of a bright marker like I've been using and perhaps because of what Linda said--in order for the eyes to really work together, the body needs to be at rest and very comfortable.  She said that I should always do the brain buttons to relax the body first and then do the eye exercises while Bridgett is laying down.  Interesting and I think useful information.  We discussed the problems that Bridgett is having with the vestibular system and what I am currently doing (or not doing).  I am supposed to be spinning Bridgett in a chair but she gets so dizzy and actually nauseous when I do it that I am not able to accomplish it with her.  Linda said that she needs an even gentler exercise and suggested that I get Bridgett's exercise ball and have her balance sitting on it several times a day instead.  So, we will try that. It was funny--Bridgett spontaneous starting talking about her accident and what happened.  When she was finished and talked about her brain injury she said oh-- I don't like this story.  Linda laughed pretty good at that!  When Linda was done and ready to talk to me Bridgett asked if she and Arrianne could walk outside.  Linda lives in a beautiful house in a large field by Arlee, set back up next to the mountains.  It was so peaceful and relaxing there and the girls had a very nice walk while we talked.  Linda was just amazed when she heard about the details of Bridgett's accident from me.  She was incredulous that Bridgett lived and that she is doing so well after that kind of trauma to the brain.  She said that Bridgett has a mission in her life that she will learn to understand as she heals.  I believe that too of course--Heavenly Father has a plan for Bridgett to be sure! 

Day 190 - Thursday June 21, 2012

We made a trip to Missoula today and took Stephany to Stevensville to Youth Conference.  Tomorrow we will meet with the Brain Gym gal.  This morning I asked Bridgett if she remembered where we were heading and she said to Missoula.  How long does it take to get there I asked her and she said between 1-1/2 hours and 2 hours (correct!)  I said how long does it take to drive to Salt Lake and she said 10 hours (correct!).  It's neat to see her spontaneously remember stuff like this!

Day 189 - Wednesday June 20, 2012

Sara Marie mentioned something yesterday to me.  Bridgett had asked a question about the date and instead of just answering her I did like I usually do and had her think it through to deduce it herself.  Sara said you know that's pretty complex thinking that she's doing and that she herself had to really pay attention to follow it.  For example today Bridgett asked what the day of the week it was.  I said that Sunday was the 17th and today was the 20th.  Almost immediately she answered oh it's Wednesday.  I think it is very good for her brain to work any time there is an opportunity.  Since last week Bridgett has really been reading a lot every day (Twilight).  Also, during this time period she has been commenting that her vision is blurry.  I called the neurologist to get a recommendation to see an opthamologist up here and then called for an appointment. When we were in Utah she met with the opthamologist monthly. It will be a couple of weeks until we can get in, so I asked about her blurry eyes.  They said that when people read a lot they are busying concentrating and don't blink enough.  Their eyes get dry and this leads to blurry vision.  She said to get some preservative free saline drops and put them in her eyes--individual vials--and see how they do at least for some relief until we can get an appointment.  I ran to the store and got some and put them in Bridgett's eyes.  She didn't like it too much and later asked me several times this question....(Bridgett talking) I think I know the answer to this question but did you put some wet squishy stuff in my eyes a while ago?  She's hilarious! 

Day 188 - Tuesday June 19, 2012

Today we saw Sara Marie for acupuncture.  It was a good appointment.  Arrianne and I were both with her during the session and she always wants me to hold her hand, but today Arrianne held her hand.  Then while they were quietly talking (Bridgett will never just rest!) all of the sudden she reached up and scratched where a needle was, so it fell out.  It was right between her eyes and she's never had one there before.  Ususally she's very aware of the needles and never touches them and tries really hard to not move, so this was kind of random.  Also, she did it so fast that neither Arri or I could stop her.  Anyway, I went and got Sara and she put another needle in for the last six minutes of the session.  Kind of funny!  I told Sara that I had talked to Linda Grinde on the phone. Sara knows Linda and was really excited that we are going to meet with her. Linda does the Brain Gym up here in our area.  Apparently they do a lot of work with school age children, finding physical movement that enhances learning.  Anyway, Ginny had given me her name and number long ago and I just found it and called her.  She said that the same principles that they use for children apply for stroke and TBI patients.  She recently worked with a stroke patient with excellent results.  So, she lives in Arlee and we will plan to meet with her this weekend.  Stephany has Youth Conference, so we will drive her down and stay in Missoula and meet with Linda. 

Day 187 - Monday June 18, 2012

This is kind of a random thing and I will have to ask the neurologist about it...Bridgett (pre-accident) always talked in her sleep. However, since the accident she has never talked in her sleep (although she did sign in her sleep when she was at the rehab hospital!) until just two days ago.  Now, every night she has been talking in her sleep.  Earlier I posted that she would wake in the night and talk to me--but now she is actually talking in her sleep.  I don't know what it means, but it means to me that she is acting more like herself all of the time. 

Day 186 - Sunday June 17, 2012

Dorothy sent me a text and said I should order a book about vision therapy, Eye Power by Ann Hoopes.  It turns out that Ann Hoopes actually called Vern about some things (what are the odds) and when they heard about her book they talked to her about Bridgett's vision problems.  Anyway, I got the book and read the whole thing (it's only about 150 pages long) and it was so interesting.  One things it said in the section on TBI...."Visual-perceptual dysfunction is one of the most common devastating residual impairments of head injury" (Barbara Zoltan, MA, OTR/L). There is a name for the collection of problems and symptoms that affect the functional visual system after a head injury....post trauma vision syndrome (PTVS).   Common symptoms include:

• double vision (diplopia) Bridgett comments that she is not having any double vision
• blurred near vision This is getting so much better and she can read regular print now
• print seems to move I don't know if she had this or not
• eyestrain (asthenopia) Initially she had a lot of eyestrain but not a problem now
• headaches Initially she had a bunch of headaches but almost never now
• sensitivity to light (photophobia) No longer sensitive to light
• dizziness, vertigo, balance problems No longer dizzy or having balance issues
• nausea No longer having nausea and even carsickness is better
• attention or concentration difficulties Better able to concentrate
• staring behavior (low blink rate) that causes dry eyes Never had this that I noticed
• spatial disorientation Getting better all the time
• loses place when reading Only if she looks away from the page
• difficulty finding the beginning of the next line when reading No longer having problems
• comprehension problems when reading Comprehending reading just fine
• visual memory problems She is remembering more of what she is reading all of the time
• pulling away from objects when they are brought close Don't remember this being a problem

Remember all of my frustration with no one recognizing how severe Bridgett's vision problems were.  You'd think that therapists would have a little more training in these problems with vision since apparently they are more common than everyone seems to think.  I am just glad that many of these problems are resolving and I guess it's because of the visual exercises that we are doing with Bridgett daily coupled with the whole time element and I expect things to continue to improve.

There is also a syndrome called vision midline shift syndrome (VMSS) that can occur that causes TBI patients to misperceive their position in their own midline.  This causes the visual perception to be compressed in one portion and expanded in another portion therefore the world appears slanted, or tipped and walls may appear bowed and distorted which causes patients to lean to one side or forward or backward.  Remember Bridgett initially leaned to the left side but this corrected over the weeks at the rehab.I do not know if this was the problem, but anyway overall her balance is now great!

Day 185 - Saturday June 16, 2012

Today was a funny day.  Bridgett has been waking up at 6:30 or so lately (I wake up early so no problem there).  Today when she woke up the first thing she wanted to do was go for a walk.  I pointed out that it's pretty chilly here in the mornings, but that didn't seem to faze her.  I hurt my foot the other day so someone else needed to go out with her.  Luckily Tyler wakes up pretty early and he took her out for a nice walk.  Then about 1/2 hour after they came in she wanted to go out for another walk and he obliged again.  By the time the girls got up at 8:30 she was ready to walk again.  All in all I think she walked about seven times outside.  The final time she asked to go outside the girls talked her into riding the bike instead and she agreed.  Actually she had fun on the bike so that was good.  Today the girls played pinochle with Bridgett and she actually did pretty well--at least she took the bid and made it (with a little help from Arri).  Bridgett finished chapter eight of Twilight and started on chapter nine this evening.

Day 184 - Friday June 15, 2012

Today Bridgett helped me get some bread going in the bread machine, unload the dishwasher, load the dishwasher, and fold some clothes.  She regularly uses the microwave to heat up her rice bag.  Each day she is doing more around the house.  It is good for us to see this progress, and it is good for her to get more independent.  It's also a fine line for us to balance independence with watchfulness to make sure that she doesn't fall or get hurt in any way.  Her balance is really good, so it is unlikely that she would fall unless she trips on something or whatever.  Sarcasm continued today so I'm totally sure that Bridgett will get it although sometimes it's a little in the wrong context at this point!

Day 183 - Thursday June 14, 2012

A couple of months ago the girls asked me how Bridgett was going to understand sarcasm again and I said we'll give it some time and see; if all else fails we will have to try to teach her.  No worries--lately Bridgett has been totalling understanding sarcasm and even giving us a little bit herself! For example, I told her she needed to drink her (large) pills but she could have chocolate almond milk to do it and she said oh darn, if I have to have chocolate milk I will (she LOVES the chocolate almond milk).  Arrianne sang a Child's Prayer today with Bridgett.  First they did the verses separately and then right on cue they broke into singing the separate verses at the same time and Bridgett never missed a beat.  That can be hard to do--sing totally different tunes at the same time and stay on beat.  Fun!  Bridgett continues to ask to read a lot.  She is moving right along in her Twilight book and giggling whenever things happen with Bella and Edward.  If you ask her about the book when she isn't in the middle of reading, she is remembering what book she has been reading, who the main characters are etc.  In fact, today after she had done some reading she put the Kindle down and said I'm done; they get married in the end anyway!  Yes, but a lot of things happen between now and then I said.  Not long after that she asked to read again and continued to read for quite a while.

Day 182 - Wednesday June 13, 2012--26 weeks since the accident

It's fun to see the mind work and how the memory unfolds.  Amazing as I've said many times!  Today when we were playing cards Bridgett discarded a jack of diamonds and said watch out for the queen of spades.  Now, our family has always played pinochle, but we haven't even tried since the wreck, since it is much more complicated, with meld and bidding etc.  I said what is that in cards--jack of diamonds and queen of spades and she said a marriage.  I said not a marriage but pinochle and said that a marriage is a queen and king of a suit.  Oh yes she said.  So apparently now her mind is remembering pinochle (maybe in time for reunion!).  I don't think we will even try for a while, but remembering is the first step!  Bridgett regularly (and casually) tells me the way to go when we are driving home.  It used to be that whenever you asked her a question, she answered with her inflection as a question--how old are you?  22?  I guess because she was never really sure that she was right about anything, since she couldn't remember (and she was regularly wrong since she couldn't remember!).  Now when you ask her things she answers like she should--a definite.  Someone was talking about favorite colors and she said mine is orange (right!) and before this she had no idea.  The speech therapist in Utah was always amazed that Bridgett's amnesia was so profound that she didn't even know what things she liked or didn't like.  The only definite sounding answers to questions she had were about moral issues (where she would be answering things about what she would or wouldn't do) or when she answered questions and she would say--that just makes sense.  We have the Kindle now that we got from a friend on Sunday and it has Twilight on it.  Now, when Twilight first came out as a book, Bridgett and her cousin Heather each got a copy and read it like crazy and really loved it.  That was long before the Twilight craze.  Anyway, yesterday Bridgett started reading Twilight on the Kindle and really liked it.  It was so cute to see her get so excited when things happened.  Today when I was gone to town with Stephany for an appointment Arrianne sat and let Bridgett do some reading.  Bridgett was so into the story that she read for an hour!  Later in the evening when we took Stephany to Mutual we sat in the car and waited for her and Bridgett read even more of the story.  It's so neat seeing her have the opportunity to read with the larger print, really loving what she is reading and wanting to read so much!  Lately she has been able to read regular print (amazing!) but her eyes get extremely fatigued doing it and she has to stop after only a paragraph or so.  I love Kindle and the feature where you can increase the font!  Aren't we so blessed to live in this day and age!

Day 181 - Tuesday June 12, 2012

So lately several times Bridgett has asked Arrianne if she sings a certain song and then started singing it.  I already posted that she had been singing the Prima Donna song.  Well today she asked Arrianne if this was one of her songs and started singing in Italian Quella fiamma!  That was one of Bridgett's favorite songs that Arrianne sang the first semester of last year (before the wreck).  When Bridgett was in the hospital Arrianne sang it for her several times during rehab when Bridgett asked her to sing.  Exciting!  Now that's memory--remembering another language that you don't know--way to go Bridgett!  On the lines of funny things that Bridgett says to all of us....when I gave her a hug today I said I love you and she hugged me and said I love you too long haired beautiful woman.

Day 180 - Monday June 11, 2012

Today we had an appointment with Vern and Dorothy.  When I told Bridgett about that I asked who they were and she immediately responded about who they are and what they do--YES!  Also we talked about Sara Marie and I asked who that was and she immediately responded that she does acupuncture on her!  So, it is good seeing her remember things.  The other day something funny happened (last Tuesday) and today when I told Dorothy that I said something funny last week when we went on a walk, Bridgett immediately started laughing and was able to relate the story to Dorothy (although it took a few minutes because she was laughing so much!).  Yesterday when we came home from church, I had Bridgett give me directions and tell me where to turn and she did great and remembered everything!  So, things are doing so much better in the memory department.  Tonight on Bridgett's walk, she jogged twice for a bit.

Day 179 - Sunday June 10, 2012

Each day Bridgett is remembering more and more. Each day she seems a little more like herself.  Her short term memory is getting better all of the time as well.  Today after church Scott, Jaclyn and Weston came to visit.  It was so fun to have them over!  They played games with all of us, which Bridgett loved of course.  Lately she has wanted to play 3-13's like all the time.  She even woke up one night about 3:00 a.m. to ask me if we could play. Last night she woke up and wanted to read.  I don't want that to be a habit at 3:00 a.m. so I said we'd better go back to bed and read in the morning.  I am happy that she wants to read a lot, but you know....at the right time!  Anyway, we switched today to hand and foot, which is good for us to play a little because that's what everyone plays at reunion (which is next month).  Bridgett has started to quote from movies these past few days, although she can't remember which movie she is quoting from....one step at a time!  At least those quotes are starting to resurface.

Day 178 - Saturday June 9, 2012

So, Bridgett always says the funniest things.  Today I asked her what the month was and she said June.  I said good memory. She said well if you were in my head it just makes sense.  Actually she says that a lot (if you were in my head).  Or one of us will say I love you and she'll say I love you, then we'll say I love you more and she'll say you're not in my head, you can't know that you love me more!  Funny!  Also, she says things like this a lot...

• little miss cold hands (when Arri has cold hands)
• miss pretty eyes (to me)
• miss long hair (to all of us girls)
• little miss cake maker (to Stephany)
• mr. beard guy or mr. bald guy (to Tyler)
• mr. no beard guy (after Tyler shaved for drill)
• miss throw something and miss (I threw something on the couch and missed)
• etc.

She's funny about Tyler's beard.  He usually grows a beard between drills.  When we have family prayer at night, we all give each other a hug and a kiss (tradition).  When Tyler had a beard, she'd look at his beard and then make a face and then very quickly kiss him and then smile (whew it's over!). Funny!  As soon as he shaved, she said I like that no beard!

Day 177 - Friday June 8, 2012

Yesterday we did a lot of walking outside.  Bridgett asked several times to walk more, so that was good. In the evening while trying to watch a Disney movie, Bridgett asked if she could ride the recumbent bike, so that was great!  When Bridgett got tired doing five minutes on the bike, the girls reminded her that she used to ride for two hours at least.  Those days will be back! Today was the day for puzzles.  Arrianne got out a bunch of puzzles and off they went!  Initially Bridgett was unable to do puzzles (back in February).  We didn't have puzzles in Provo for her to try, so now that we are home we are finally getting around to it.  First Arrianne started Bridgett off on puzzles that are wooden with 4-7 pieces in a frame.  No problem, she did about six.  Then she graduated to puzzles with 30 pieces, still in a frame.  No problem, she did about five.  Next they moved to 48 piece puzzles without a frame.  Still no problem, she did about three.  Last we tried a 100 piece puzzle.  For this puzzle we had to give Bridgett some hints, but I was very proud of her--she completed the whole thing.  Lisa Livingston came to bring her girls to play with Stephany today.  She used to be one of Bridgett's YW leaders.  I said do you remember her name? At first Bridgett did not answer.  Then I said Lisa Liiii....and she said Lisa Livingston.  If you give her the first sound of a word she doesn't remember, she gets it.  So, that was fun.  All of the time she is remembering more and more.

Day 176 - Thursday June 7, 2012

From time to time I like to post about something Bridgett is doing to help her heal, in hopes that it can help someone else at some point.  Anyway, today I was going to tell you about a couple of things....bee pollen and MCT Gold.  Every day I make Bridgett a protein smoothie.  I got a great recipe from the Green Tea House in Whitefish (actually they published it in a magazine) for a smoothie they call liquid gold. Here is the recipe....

Liquid Gold Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 tsp maca
1 tsp ground flax (I use flax oil)
1 tsp bee pollen (I use more--see notes below)
1 Tbsp raw almond butter
2 Tbsp chai protein hemp powder (or choice of protein powder)
1/4 c. ice (I don't add ice)
10-12 oz. hemp milk (I use coconut milk)

Anyway, I have been giving Bridgett this every morning for quite some time.  All the time I have been increasing the amount of bee pollen, so that now she has  about two TBSP.  The healing benefits of bee pollen are amazing to say the least.  Of course, you do have to start out with a small amount and build up slowly to make sure that the person doesn't have an allergy.  For more about bee pollen check out this link http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/bee-pollen-benefits.html

Another thing we have been doing...MCT Gold 100% Medium Chain Triglycerides.  There is a bunch of research on coconut oil for improving brain function.  I was trying to add as much coconut oil as I could to her food until she passed out and hit her head back in February.  At that point we had such a hard time getting any food down her, so there was nothing to add coconut oil to.  Anyway, at some point I was told about the MCT.  This is the part of the coconut oil that  really helps and it's in a liquid form so it's easier to use.  I just give Bridgett two dropperfuls every several hours or so, so that it is spread throughout the day.  I do miss sometimes, like when we are in town for appointments.  But, overall we are pretty consistent about it and I notice improvements in cognition.  For more information on the research check out this website link:
http://www.naturalnews.com/030971_coconut_brain_function.html

Day 175 - Wednesday June 6, 2012

Today was Stephany's 16th birthday.  She requested that we have our traditional Christmas morning breakfast today, since we didn't have a "real" Christmas this year.  Jenn made us breakfast, but we went to her house in shifts while someone stayed at the hospital with Bridgett.  Anyway, our tradition is to have bacon, little pig sausages, and waffles with raspberries, strawberries and whipped cream.  So, what a breakfast we had.  It was very fun and a good experience for everyone.  We ate fairly late, so it was really brunch (just like on Chirstmas morning actually!)  Afterwards I had an idea.  We had recently purchased an XBOX Kinect for Bridgett's therapy.  She is supposed to do the sports games daily although with her neck and shoulders hurting she has not been able to yet (tomorrow we will try though!).  Quite a few years ago Tyler bought a Guitar Hero although he didn't own the XBOX--Brad did own an XBOX and they were were roommates in Utah back then.  So, knowing that Bridgett loved Guitar Hero before when she was in Provo for the past four years (she never played at home obviously because we didn't have one) and remembering that Bridgett was very good at it, I asked Tyler to dig his Guitar Hero out and hook it up.  And thus started the day of Guitar Hero!  Stephany and Tyler played a lot this afternoon and Arrianne got some time in too.  Bridgett watched everyone play once and then she tried to play, with mixed results.  Guitar Hero requires quite a bit of coordination.  Then she sat around and watch the other kids play....and all the while she playing in the air and doing a good job of getting the right fingering (or whatever you would call it!).  She was having fun watching and "playing" while they were actually playing.  After a while she played again and she was able to get through an entire piece!  I was happy about that--amazed really but I expect to be amazed by Bridgett so I wasn't surprised!  We will have to make sure to let her play on a regular basis--I think it's great for her.  All day long Bridgett continued to feel great and she would say that she was fantastic, wonderful, awesome, amazing, brilliant, or whatever other adjective she could come up with at the moment.

Day 173 & 174 - Monday/Tuesday June 4-5, 2012

We continue to see progress every day which is encouraging.  Bridgett used to say that she felt so good.  Now she says that and then no wait--I feel great!  Just today she woke up saying she felt awesome.  After a bit she said she felt fantastic and then she said...or brilliant!  Yes, I feel brilliant!  Cute!  It is so nice to have her be so positive and happy all of the time.  If there is anything she doesn't want to do (like swallow a handful of supplements one at a time, which she does a few times a day) she has a little fake cry face and sometimes adds that little fake tear running down her face that she used to do (from a Batman movie I think--maybe two face did it?).  But she always says--this is just a pretend cry because I can't be sad--I'm just too happy!  Bridgett saw Sara Marie again today. Sara was very pleased with Bridgett's progress since her last appointment, and of course happy to hear that her neck was doing so well.  After today's treatment Bridgett said her pain level is only a 1!  Yippee!  Sara said that this appointment will serve to finish the balancing for Bridgett and next time she will begin to work on her eye points.  This time and last time she did one needle on top of the head for the brain and she said that it seems to have helped her eyes somewhat anyway, without doing specific eye points.  We got Bridgett's insurance policy switched to Montana for now and when we need to go back to see doctors in Utah we will be able to change the address again.  Hopefully we won't have to worry about eye surgery so maybe we won't have to switch back any time soon.  I still can't believe the amount of pages of bills and insurance paperwork that we have received so far....and I know for a fact that there is more to come.  We still haven't received bills from the Provo hospital for the ICU yet.  Arrianne is helping me try to match all of the insurace explanation of benefits to the bills and check for accuracy etc.   You can't even believe all the bills related to x-rays, because there were so many of them.  I think I said before that she had many, many x-rays, as well as 31 CT's and an MRI.  Lots of imaging!  CRAZY!

Day 172 - Sunday June 3, 2012

After church we were all in the dining room playing games.  Arrianne got up to stretch and did a little Irish dance step.  Then Stephany and Arri started discussing Irish dance.  Next Bridgett said can I do some Irish dance and got up.  We all raised our eyebrows and watched to see what would happen.  (I should insert that when the girls started dancing, Bridgett started too)  First of all she did 123's.  Then she started saying part of a dance that the three girls learned the first year they danced....cut 123, hop 123, hop point, hop back, hop point, hop back, jump 234567, jump change 234567.  This is how they call out the steps doing first the right foot and then the left.  Then she said that she wanted to dance it and so she walked it through with Arrianne (twice) while I recorded it. I was so amazed that she remembered that from when she was 14!  She danced for only a couple of months, then that is the year that she got really sick and she was unable to dance anymore.   

Day 171 - Saturday June 2, 2012

Today we got a flyer from the Glacier Symphony and Chorale advertising the Amadeus Festival in Whitefish.  I was telling Bridgett that they would be playing Mozart music and she said I have a name of a composer in my mind... you'll tell me if it's right or not?  (she says this a lot--just making sure that she's remembering correctly) Anyway, she said isn't Tchaikovsky a composer too?  Such random things the mind remembers!  She also said later aren't Bach and Beethoven composers too? It's so fun to have her remember things!  We had a good day today!  Bridgett's neck is feeling good--the pain is only at a 2 still--yippee!  Or maybe I should say woohoo--Bridgett and Tyler love to banter a little about the voice inflection one should have when they say woohoo!  By the way, my azalas are blooming...we got home in time to see them!  Woohoo about that!  Bridgett and I were so excited to see them yesterday, when I first noticed them starting to bloom.

Day 170 - Friday June 1, 2012

Bridgett's neck is still feeling much better.  If I ask her pain level she says 1-2!  Yippee!  Of course, it will be best when there's no pain but this is so much better then it's been that we are thrilled.  She says every day that she feels so good and she just glows with her smile. Then she says she almost feels great!  When her neck wasn't hurting and you asked her she said that she felt awesome.  So, those days are close at hand again.  Bridgett's short term memory continues to improve.  If I ask about the book she is reading she can tell me who the main characters are and a little bit about what is happening.  When she starts watching a movie and then stops and later on wants to watch a movie again, she usually remembers what she was watching earlier in the day.  There are other things that she remembers from short term memory (like Arrianne's song) and her long term memory is coming back a little more all the time as well.  We are so happy and encouraged about these thing!  Tonight Bridgett went outside to walk with Mark and Arrianne.  After a bit Arrianne asked Bridgett if she could jog and Bridgett tried it and did jog!  She was smiling and had a good time although she said afterwards that it hurt her feet and legs.  We explained that it's been six months since she has jogged so she's just out of shape.

Day 169 Thursday May 31, 2012

(Today is our 32nd anniversary) It seems that every morning Bridgett has a different song stuck in her head--from memory, not from us listening to it.  Today she woke up and looked at me and said I have this song in my head, can I sing it.  Yes I said and she started singing from Mulan...let's get down to business to defeat the Huns!  It's funny what songs she remembers...always at least one a day and sometimes up to three.  This afternoon Arrianne said to Bridgett--let's sing a round.  OK said Bridgett--which one?  Let's do row, row, row your boat Arrianne said and so she started singing (thinking that she'd probably have to explain more to Bridgett) and Bridgett just started right in and they did the entire round with no problems! Bridgett also started whistling a couple of days ago and by today she can whistle a song!  Arrianne is taking voice lessons again this summer.  Right now she is learning four new pieces so there is only so much time practicing in the day to sing any one piece. Several days after she started the piece in English Bridgett started walking around the house singing part of that song....mama is a queen and papa is a king, so I am a princess--I know it (from the Prima Donna song)--cute!  Bridgett helped load the dishwasher tonight and she has been helping me with folding laundry lately.  Also, Stephany has reminded her how to use the microwave so that she can heat up her rice bag when she needs to.  She is also regularly disarming the alarm. Oh, I forgot!  Bridgett started a couple of weeks ago asking if she could braid our hair.  She regularly asks to braid my hair.  She always comments on how long and pretty it is.  She then feels her hair and says its so short.  I ask her why and she tells me that the doctors shaved it off because of her accident and then goes on to tell me that she had a bicycle wreck!  I ask her how long she wants her hair to be and she says almost so long that she can sit on it--which is how long it used to be when she was a teenager.  She cut it off when she was about 16 and donated to locks of love (about 16 inches or so).   Her hair is so thick that they had to make two pony tails in order to be able to cut it.  Funny!