Day 223 - Tuesday July 24, 2012

We got up and Bridgett washed her own hair today--and no problems!  Yippee!  Afterwards we sang happy birthday to Scott - happy birthday!!  Everyone's schedule is crazy so we are trying to figure out when to get together.  Bridgett had an appointment with Brian Miller today and he worked on the muscles in her neck to keep them loose and actually she never complained once about any pain for the rest of the day.  She rode the NuStep when we got there.  It was kind of weird because she said her heart was really pounding and so I asked them to take her pulse and it was 71!  Later after more exercise it was 113 but that has been her resting heart rate lately.  I forgot to mention yesterday that I discussed this with Jen Hawes.  She said one of two things--perhaps as she increases her cardio vascular work out it will just get better or she should take some special herbs to decrease inflammation in the lungs.  I said she is taking anti-inflammatory herbs now but Jen said that the lungs are kind of different and will only respond to certain things.  Anyway, maybe this means that just increasing cardio will help--that would be great.  I will continue to keep an eye on things.  Brian had Bridgett do strengthening exercises with her arms--pulling down weight which he said is easier on the neck than pushing weight and then sideways pulling on weights.  Also they did balance exercises.  Bridgett loved every minute of it--she kept saying this is ridiculously fun!!   Cute!  That's the old Bridgett--loving to work out.  Anyway, the appointment went well and we will be able to see Brian again on Thursday because he had a cancellation (good for us!).  Today the Allred reunion started.  Mark got the motor home ready to take down to the Swan Lake campground.  We always take it even though we are staying at the house because then we have a place to go inside if it rains, a place to get away from mosquitoes when it gets dark and this year an extra place for people to stay--Aunt Debbi and Uncle Gary are staying in the motor home.  We didn't get down to the campground until later on when the game playing had already started--just perfect timing for Bridgett as she loves to play card games!  She recognized many of the relatives but it took a little processing to get the name to the right person--many of us have that problem!  There was lots of hugging going around and then lots of laughing and playing of games.  As soon as the mosquitoes came out we headed home.