Second year Day 46 - Monday January 28, 2013

We woke up to snow here in Provo.  I drove to the store at 7 a.m. and did Jenn's shopping for her.  Next to the house to help out with breakfast, etc.  My car was driving just fine.  Anyway, after several hours at Jenn's, when I had fixed lunch etc. I left to go get Tyler.  My car was making a very weird clunking noise.  I called Arri and she could hear it over the phone.  I tried to get a hold of Mark but he was unavailable.  I then called Scott and he listened to it and said to park it. I drove the block back to Jenn's and Arri came and picked me up.  Luckily she had a break between classes.  Tyler came over and looked at it, checking underneath etc.  Finally I talked to Mark and he talked to the dealership and it was decided that they would tow it to check it out.  I spent the afternoon calling, waiting, etc and finally got it towed just in time to go back and pick up Arri at the school at 6; she lent me her car for the afternoon.  Anyway, it was a kink in the program for sure, but I'm glad that it happened now and not while we were driving home later this week.  Bridgett helped me cook some dairy free, gluten free blondies while we waited at Jenn's; that seemed to ease some of the pain.  Tyler and Steph spent time holding the cute little babies so that Jenn could play with the boys. 

Second year Day 45 - Sunday January 27, 2013

Tyler Fenn goes back to work full time tomorrow, so Jenn will need help all day.  We are all trying to plan to make sure that things work out OK and we will keep our fingers crossed.  I stayed at the hotel until noon today (wow!) and spent time with Bridgett working on her program.  I have been very worried that she would slip some with the erratic schedule we have had.  Actually on Lumosity she got her highest score ever on one of the games!  That made me feel better about things!  I do think that seeing Faith as much as we did helped out so much and I just wish she had not got sick!  I was able to relax a little bit today and that was good for me too.  It's been a BUSY couple of weeks!

Second year Day 44 - Saturday January 26, 2013

I seem to always forget to tell about some things.  First, I forgot to mention that Mark's sister Deb stopped by the hotel on Tuesday and played a game of cards with Bridgett.  It was fun for Bridgett to see Deb.  Second I forgot to tell you what happened on Wednesday that was so sad.  I took Bridgett shopping with me and when she opened the door to get back in the car she somehow hit her nose on the door.  I was loading the groceries at the time, hear her cry out and ran to see what happened.  Right as I got to Bridgett, her nose started bleeding everywhere.  I found some napkins in the car, got her in the seat and reclined it and tried to get her soothed down.  She actually started crying, because the pain was so great.  It was so sad to see an adult cry like that!  We were supposed to be going to Jenn's and I figured that she would have arnica, so we headed over after I got Bridgett calmed down a little.  At Jenn's we also put some ice on her nose.  I was worried that she would wake up with two black eyes, but actually she did not.  Her nose was very red and there was a scratch on it, and there was swelling but no one would know about that unless they looked closely.  The inside of her nose was swollen as well I believe, because for several days she has said that it feels like she needs to blow it but not really.  Anyway, we got through it and from now on I will keep on eye out when she opens doors!   Mark said, don't you always open her door and I said no--she does it herself and has from months and months.  I only help out when it is icy and she needs help getting in without slipping. 

Second year Day 43 - Friday January 25, 2013

Today is Jenn's birthday.  She got a picture while she was holding the twins with a sign above her head that said something like best present ever and arrows pointing to the babies.  Cute!  We all had a fun day with her!  I made stew for lunch and my Tyler brought the girls over to eat with Jenn.  Also Arri came over after school.  In addition was had a very quick visit from my sister, Sue, and her daughter Heather.  They got to peek in at the babies sleeping (no one dared wake them up since Jenn had to leave).  It was great to see them!  Jenn ended up leaving early for her doctors appointment, while the babies were sleeping, so that things would go smoother and she wouldn't stress about them.  Then I had to leave to get Bridgett down to Josh's and Arrianne took Tyler and Stephany back to the hotel.  We had a great appointment with Josh.  He was very happy to see Bridgett and said she is definitely his most fun client!  Bridgett was very talkative all during the appointment, telling Josh about our trip to New York among other things.  She actually did a pretty good job of remembering things, with just a little cueing from me.  Later after dinner (Tyler Fenn ordered dinner for Jenn) we stopped at the house and made Jenn some gluten free, dairy free brownies.  The girls took turns holding the babies and we got a few pictures.  All in all it was a very fun and productive day! 

Second year Day 42 - Thursday January 24, 2013

Boy were the roads sick today!  There was freezing rain and it was just not good.  Mark had bad roads through Malad I think he said, then luckily everything was good after that!  When I left to Jenn's house early the roads were bad and I had to stop twice to hop out and scrape my windshield.  Bummer!  But the good news was that although there were numerous wrecks that day, no one in our family had a wreck!  Jenn and Tyler (Fenn) had to take the babies to the doctor today for a check up and their circumcision, which needed to be done before two weeks.  Since they had a time frame, they didn't cancel, but it was nerve wracking to be on the roads with the babies when there were wrecks everywhere!  The babies are doing great!  They are almost back to birth weight.  Lincoln is just 1 oz shy of birth weight and Logan is just 3 oz shy.  The doctor wants to have them weighed again next week, just to make sure that Jenn is able to nurse twins; he told them that not many people are able to successfully nurse twins.  However, she is not supplementing with formula at all and the babies are doing great and gaining weight.  They say to eat 500 calories extra to nurse one baby and so for twins, 1000 extra calories.  She said she is just so hungry and trying to eat as much good quality food as she can.  Of course, if you eat junk you can easily add 1000 extra calories, but it's a little more tricky with good quality food! Almost every evening when I go to cook dinner at Jenn's, the girls go with me to hold babies.  Everyone is just having so much fun holding babies! 

Second year Day 41 - Wednesday January 23, 2013

I forgot to say this yesterday.....as we drove past Jenn's old house on the way home from the dentist Bridgett said, hey, that's the turn off for Jenn's!  She remembered!  I do think that she has lots of Provo memories that are slowly coming back.  Also, whenever she's around Jenn or Arri she remembers lots more things.  Of course, she is close to all of the kids but lived with Jenn and Arri as an adult so she has other, different memories.  Faith was still sick, so we couldn't go to see her again today.  Bummer!  I mean, she can't help that she's sick, but we really were counting on these appointments!  I'm glad that we can see Josh while we are here.  He doesn't have near the expertise and experience that Faith does (who is also a ND) but he does relate well to Bridgett and he has helped her in the past.  Tyler drove down from Bigfork today to help out when Mark will leaves back for home tomorrow.  The roads were only bad through the swan, but are supposed to be bad in Utah tomorrow when Mark leaves.

Second year Day 40 - Tuesday January 22, 2013

So at 9:00 Mark took Bridgett to the dentist to have her teeth cleaned and checked.  The dentist then evaluated her tooth and said that he could do another buildup that should last better than that first one.  They had another appointment saved for us in the afternoon to actually do the procedure and I took Bridgett to that appointment.  This dentist, Dr Leishman, is super nice and we really like him.  Jenn found him for us!  Back in the day, she dated his nephew and she met him socially.  Then when she decided to go on a mission and needed her wisdom teeth removed, she went to him.  After getting married she switched dentists because he wasn't one of the ones she could use on Medicaid, but we started seeing him when we were down visiting because he is so good.  All of the kids love him and his office staff.  That makes going to the dentist so much easier!   Anyway, Dr Leishman did the new buildup on Bridgett's tooth and it looks great.  He wrapped the buildup around the entire tooth and so now this way it is stronger and as an added benefit the tooth is all the same color.  One thing I didn't like.....Mark did discuss this with the dentist and they decided to do it....was that they left the tooth not entirely the same shape because the dentist believes that Bridgett is grinding her teeth at night and that is what caused it to break off in the first place.  Mark said that ever since the wreck she does grind her teeth at night.  I have never noticed it lately, although I do remember that she did it after the wreck.  Anyway, the tooth does look really good, and most of all it didn't require any numbing to get it done and it only took like 15 minutes.  As soon as we got there they were ready for us and called us back.  After it was finished Bridgett looked in the mirror and was so excited to see it fixed.  She said can I shake your hand? Of course he said yes!  Afterwards they gave her a carnation and she was also happy about that!  All in all a good day!

Second year Day 39 - Monday January 21, 2013

Faith is still sick so we couldn't go to Monroe again today. Luckily Mark reminded me about Josh Chappel and so I got ahold of him and he will see her often, starting on Friday.  Whew!  Bridgett is still having kidney/gall bladder pain, so we need to see someone.  Also, he really helped out with her brain function as well.  I really do recommend craniosacral for TBI if you can find someone competent.  Not all therapists are equal!  Some really do have a great background and experience helping with brain related stuff.  Tomorrow we see Bridgett's old dentist.  I don't think I posted about this yet, but the buildup on one of Bridgett's front teeth fell off since we have been here. It was the one they did after her wreck.  Random!  They just put it in last April and you'd think it would have lasted longer.  Mark took Bridgett to see the guy that fixed her teeth after the wreck.  When they put her under, we were assuming that they would be doing four crowns and then when they finished, they had done only three and done a buildup on one tooth.  They said that it would be just as strong and there would be no problems.  At the time we assumed that it was a good thing that they didn't have to do another root canal, but now we are wondering.  So anyway, Mark took her to that guy and he said now we will have to crown that tooth.  What!  I couldn't believe it!  We still don't want her to have to sit through a root canal and we surely are not going to have her put under again!  Mark told him that and he said well we don't have to root canal it.  What!  Then why didn't they do that last time?  Besides all of the pain that she might have now, the insurance paid for it last year and now it is a new year and she has a $5,000 deductible to meet.  Crazy!  We definitely were not happy.  So, I called her regular dentist for a second opinion and we will see him tomorrow. Actually--for Bridgett's reaction to the whole thing....she said if it's going to hurt I will just leave my tooth the way it is.  Sad!  It isn't broken in half, but it is pointed looking and definitely not normal. 

Second year Day 38 - Sunday January 20, 2013

This was a random thing that Bridgett remembered!  We drove down Freedom Blvd to the hotel, past the apartment where Arri and Bridgett lived before the wreck.  We passed a bike shop called Taylors Bike Shop and Bridgett said....hey there's Taylors Bik (she pronounced it with a short i) Shop. We have always done that...looked at signs that were burnt out and said what it now seems to say. It was during the day and the sign wasn't lit up so it didn't look different, but I remembered that last year the "e" was burnt out so the sign seemed to say Bik shop!  Hah!  That was remembering!  Still she remembers lots of random things, so I think the brain is rewiring and it will all just slowly come back. 

Second year Day 37 - Saturday January 19, 2013

Boy the days are flying by!  Early this morning we headed to Richfield and took Arri with us.  Mark stayed in Provo and helped Jenn during the afternoon.  We had great appointments with Faith.  She saw Bridgett first, then Steph, and then Arri.  Arri had a little fender bender last year and had some whiplash that hasn't been addressed really.  It was good to get her worked on as well.  Also, she doesn't have school on Monday, so she can go with us then too.  When Faith worked on Bridgett's brain it was so funny.  While she was working on the frontal lobe Bridgett was just spontaneously spurting out things that were so funny and so much like her normal personality.  Faith reminded us that the frontal lobe is where personality is (which I knew but the girls probably didn't).  Anyway, she also worked on the lungs, kidneys and gallbladder.  Bridgett felt great after the appointment, and then visited with Faith's little boy; the little boy followed her around and it was cute.  She also waited in the living room with Faith's boys, while they watched a movie.  Since the accident, Bridgett has avoided any room with a TV on (the noise) and also avoided being with little kids (if she could get away from them).  So, today she made the choice to be out with the kids and the TV while the rest of us were in Faith's office.  Funny and also great!  I just love to see progress like this!!  It was a long day by the time we got back to Provo and I was shot so didn't go over to Jenn's.  Hopefully they managed OK with Mark there only during the afternoon.  I will head over about 7:30 tomorrow, when the boys wake up.  When I say the boys I mean Connor and Caden; the twins I will call the twins or the babies. 

Second year Day 36 - Friday January 18, 2013

Busy day again!  In the early morning I went to Jenn's and stayed until lunch time.  Then I came back to the hotel to do school with Bridgett and catch a little bit of a rest.  Then back to Jenn's to fix dinner and help until about 7:00.  Actually I brought Bridgett back to help me prepare dinner (which she does at home).  She helped peel potatoes and carrots while I made meatloaf.  Then we put the potatoes and carrots in a Reynolds bag with olive oil and Lipton onion soup mix and baked everything.  Also, we made a spinach salad.  After helping with dinner Bridgett heard Caden whining.  Up until now she has just been frustrated when the kids whine and wanting to leave because they were noisy.  Instead of reacting that way, she said Caden, can I read you a story?  Now, that seemed very Bridgett to me!  Bridgett loves kids usually and they love her.  She worked as a nanny for a while and wanted to continue with that because she loves kids so much.  Anyway, she read him a story and then wanted to read more but he was hungry and tired and didn't want to listen.  After we had been at Jenn's about an hour and a half, Bridgett was ready to leave and I wasn't finished yet so I called Mark to come pick her up, which he did.  When I was done I headed back to hotel, bringing dinner for everyone at the hotel with me that I cooked at Jenn's. The babies are doing great!  Stephany was feeling a little better today.  Bridgett feels pretty great most of the time.  Tomorrow we see Faith again....every other day this week and then twice next week before she leaves back to Colorado.   The end of February we will come down and stay at a hotel in Richfield and see her daily while she is here.  She has been so helpful to Bridgett!  She really is great....just too far away! 

Second year Day 35 - Thursday January 17, 2013

Funniest thing ever....we stopped at the store to get some things for Stephany to eat  and Bridgett went in with me.  Then we stopped at Panda Express to pick up something for Stephany to eat that was hot and already cooked.  Bridgett wanted to stay in the car so I left her my phone, like always.  If she gets bored, she calls someone--Arrianne, Tyler, or Mark or she plays a game on my phone.  Anyway, when I came back she said she face booked for me.  I said what?  She said I face booked for you and the post said....."I am going to the store to get some things for my youngest daughter to eat.  so much fun."  When she told me what she said she ended it up with saying ha ha ha although she didn't post that.  I thought it was so funny and laughed and laughed.  I never post to face book so now people will read it and think....what?  I was also very happy because I have tried to get Bridgett to just even look at face book because she has a page and often posted.  She kept current with her friends and photos.  Anyway, she has showed NO interest in face book at all until today.  I have never used my phone app but she found it, knew what to do, and did it!!  We had an appointment with Faith today.  Mark took the girls for me while I helped Jenn.  Faith said she worked on the memory centers, so right away, this is what happened!  Also, Bridgett asked me which finger she broke playing rugby (which did happen) and I told her.  Someone knelt on it in the scrum I think.  Anyway, some new memories! 

Second year Day 34 - Wednesday January 16, 2013

Busy, hectic day here!  Every day will probably be busy and hectic!  Scott asked today, on the phone, how Jenn is going to manage when everyone leaves.  We all wonder!  She's a great mom, but it would be exhausting for anyone!  Hopefully we figure things out before we leave.  My mom called and asked the same thing...how will Jenn survive right now?  So, everyone's on the same wavelength.  We just have to figure out the answer.  All of this talk about a c-section has Bridgett remembering about having her emergency surgery, in December of 2010, when she had the cyst, a torsion, and had to have the ovary removed.  She says to Jenn...I know the pain of the incision.  It hurts to laugh (which it does), get up and down (which it does), etc.  I think it has helped Bridgett remember things.  Today we took Bridgett and picked out a recliner chair for Jenn.  Bridgett tested every one and she and I picked the one that felt the most comfortable and was the easiest to get out of.  Hopefully it will help out a lot.  Also, it is big enough that she can sit and hold the babies, and maybe even Caden too! 

Second year Day 33 - Tuesday January 15, 2013

Today Jenn and the babies came home from the hospital.  I helped out at the hospital from 5:00 a.m. til 9:30 a.m. then we had the big switch....Tyler Fenn bundled the boys up and picked up Mark at the hotel and then dropped him back off to be with the boys.  Tyler Fenn came to the hospital to be with Jenn and I went straight to the hotel and picked up the girls to drive to Monroe to see Faith.  We left at 10:00 and were gone until 5:00.  We had great appointments with Faith.  I just love the fact that we found her!  She is just so knowledgeable....and I wish more accessible for us!  The girls felt great afterwards, so we grabbed some dinner and headed to Jenn's to hold some sweet little babies!  Stephany and Bridgett just love to hold the babies, as do all of us!  It was a great day, although tiring!

Second year Day 32 - Monday January 14, 2013

Another busy day, although we are all getting into a routine of sorts.  The babies are doing great still.  A photographer came and got the cutest pictures (she takes all of the baby pics at the hospital).  Jenn is feeling better all of the time and it doesn't take five minutes to get out of bed and another five to get back into bed like yesterday.  In fact, she was up walking when I got up to the hospital for my second shift.  I was able to get some "school" done with Bridgett this morning, which was a relief.  I hate to miss any days, and we already missed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  But now we can get back to things and so that is good--we just need to be organized--and have unlimited energy!  Hah!

Second year Day 31 - Sunday January 13, 2013

Mark stayed at Jenn's with the boys last night.  Arri stayed at the hospital with Jenn and I think it was pretty much a mad house there.  Jenn's incision was still hurting so badly that Arri did the diaper changes, handed her babies to nurse, etc.  Meanwhile the nurse were checking blood sugars all the time on the twins and pushing for formula following each feeding.  Obviously neither Jenn or Arri got any sleep so when I got there at 5:00 Arri crashed and slept for quite a few hours without moving, even with all the talking, the nurses/doctors coming in/out etc.  Jenn and the babies are doing great!  I was only going to talk about Bridgett on this blog, but sometimes life intervenes and this is one of those times!   Bridgett and Stephany are surviving all of the back and forth as Mark and I switch places helping out.  Mark and I pretty much see each other as we exchange the car!  Anyway, we are all surviving, although I think Arri is not feeling too great.   

Second year Day 30 - Saturday January 12, 2013

Mark dropped me at the hospital about 7:10, and then returned to the hotel to be with the girls.  As I walked through the lobby and to the elevators, it was reminiscent of last year when I walked this same walk every morning after catching a few quick hours of sleep.  The only thing different...for some reason there wasn't a guard at the entrance like last year.  I wonder why?  I had my mind racing back and forth from last years accident to this years birth of the twins.  I tried to keep focused on the twins, but it was hard.  When I walked into Jenn's room, it was two floors above Bridgett's room in the ICU, I think exactly.  I had the same view out the window and everything.  I gave Jenn and kiss and then my eyes teared up.  She understood; when she started coming for the stress tests for the babies she had the same reaction and also cried.  I was able to hold Jenn's hand while they waited for the numbing process to finish.  She was shaking so hard..they said the drugs do this.  This is the first time I have been here for the birth; I usually come after the baby is born.  It was great to be with Jenn!  They took her down about 10 minutes later than they were supposed to, and she was still feeling some pain and not yet numb.  I was left in the room to pace while I waited, although I did have a book with me.  Jenn and Tyler were busy worrying about their little twins, and I was worrying about my baby...Jenn.  It is a common surgery, but after months of worrying it was another thing to worry about.  Just about this time last year one of the faculty at UVU, where Arri goes to college, died in childbirth.  It doesn't happen often, but it is a worry still, especially with the C-section.  Finally, after about 45 minutes, Tyler and the nurse stopped at the room for me to see the babies and I found out that everything was great and everyone was doing just fine, including Jenn.  The babies are just spectacular!  Lincoln weighed 5 lbs. 2 oz and was 17".  Logan weighed 5 lbs 14 oz and was 17-1/2".   By the time they got Jenn stitched up and back in the room, the twins were rooting and both nursed right away.  It was a busy day, but so fun!  Bridgett, Arrianne and Stephany were so excited to see the babies, and in the afternoon Mark brought them all up to hold the babies.  I took the girls back to the hotel and Mark helped Jenn while I got a nap.  Later on Tyler Fenn brought the boys up to the hospital and Mark headed back here.  We took turns between the hotel and the hospital, which are luckily only about three blocks apart.  We ended the night with Arri staying with Jenn, while Tyler Fenn stayed home with the boys.  I'm not too sure that either Jenn or Arri will get any sleep, but I will be there in the morning at 5:00 and find out how the night went.  Before bed, Bridgett talked to Tyler (brother) on the phone and just raved about how beautiful the babies were and how fun it was to hold them!  We all had such a good day and we are all so glad that the twins stayed inside for long enough to do so well on their own!  Jenn should be able to bring them home with her in three days. 

Second year Day 29 - Friday January 11, 2013

Today was Mark's birthday.  We got up, loaded up the car, sing a quick happy birthday song, gave Mark a few cards and some candy for the trip and off we went.  The roads were not good but we made it!  It was a long trip but the girls did just fine.  We were all glad to get to the hotel and get settled into bed to get some rest before the big day tomorrow.  Jenn will have the C-section at 7:30 a.m. and I will be up there when it happens.

Second year Day 28 - Thursday January 10, 2013

We plan to leave to Utah tomorrow although there is a large storm system moving through today that affects Montana, Idaho and Utah, among other states.  We will check out the weather and roads tomorrow morning before leaving, but we are planning to go.  I am racing around trying to get the packing done and trying to think of everything I need to take care of for the next few weeks.  Mark said that instead of having me drive down alone, he will drive down with me.  Tyler will be here and drive down in a week and switch places with Mark.  I need someone else down there to be in charge of Bridgett while I help out with Jenn.  Hopefully everything will work out; I'm not totally sure how but I'm just praying it will and trying to have faith!

Second year Day 27 - Wednesday January 9, 2013

Bridgett has been having asthma attacks lately.  When she was 14 she started having asthma attacks, having like three a day.  Every night I would pray about what to do and then go to bed.  In the middle of the night I would wake up and think about a certain book I had and that I should go read in that book about asthma.  I would be so tired I would fall back to sleep without getting up.  This happened for three nights in a row and then finally on the third night I forced myself out of bed and went and got the book!  I found a section that talked about allergy to dairy causing the problem.  I immediately took her off of dairy and voila!  She stopped having asthma attacks.  So, Monday she had an attack and I immediately took her off the little bit of dairy she was having---ranch dressing and Doritos on her taco salad, which she craves and has every day for lunch.  However, the attacks have not stopped.  Today she had five attacks.  Arrianne has asthma attacks as well when young, but I took her to Vern and she had a parasite in her lungs---he gave her something and she never had another.  So, I took Bridgett to Vern's.  He said she had a serious virus in her lungs.  They have been hurting for weeks, well, actually months.  I have taken her to the doctor, they listen and say she's fine; even in the inpatient rehab she complained daily about her lungs.  Anyway, he gave us several things to take and we'll see what happens.  I did call the doctor on Monday and get an inhaler for her to use.  This is just another development in the healing of Bridgett's body I guess.  She has had pain regularly in the lungs since she had the accident.  She had aspiration pneumonia initially from vomiting just after the accident, either at the scene or at the emergency room--I don't know which.  This pneumonia plagued her throughout her stay in the rehab.  After the rehab the pain continued.  Remember that she had that very racing heart rate, going up to 120 often.  The physical therapist said this could have been from difficulty breathing--the lungs, causing her heart rate to go up.  He said that this could have related back to the pneumonia or from having a breathing tube for so long.  I guess no one really knows.  Additionally she has regularly had pleurisy pain, diagnosed by the doctor since we got back to Montana.  This bothers her every day.  Perhaps these things are all related?? 

Second year Day 26 - Tuesday January 8, 2013

We have a book called Help for Language. The purpose of the book...."Improve understanding of abstract and ambiguous language by interpreting subtle meanings; discriminating between literal and rhetorical questions; explaining metaphors, proverbs, and similes; and explaining oxymorons and meanings of intonations."  It has all kinds of different exercises in it that Bridgett does.  We are getting back pretty far in the book and for the past few days they have been these kinds of exercises.  First they will give her a problem to solve and then ask her to tell me how she would deal with it.  For example....you just found out you are going to move, what would you tell your boss.  Or, you bought a pair of shoes and need to return them because they are too tight, what would you tell the sales clerk.  It's been fun to do these with Bridgett because she has the best answers.  For instance, the question....you teacher says there is a pop quiz on some material that they never assigned for you to study, what do you tell them.   She says.....excuse me professor.  You assigned us to study chapter 26 sections A-F, not G-P.  It's so funny that she so specifically tells what she studied!  

Second year Day 25 - Monday January 7, 2013

Today we talked to Arri after class.  When we hung up Bridgett was just quiet for a few minutes and then she said--she's so lucky! I said why do you say that and she said.....she's at school.  Then, she said matter-of-factly, I will be going to school too, after a while.  Not now...but give it time.  It was sweet.  Actually that's somethings she always says...give it time.  If there's pain....give it time, it will get better.  If someone is sad....give it time, it will get better.  Stephany said you know Bridgett, that's not the answer to everything.  But, strangely enough, it is the answer to a lot of things!  Just give it time, it will get better! 

Second year Day 24 - Sunday January 6, 2013

Bridgett always seems to have a new saying.  This last week she has been calling me mother dear or mother dearest.  This has been fun for me because that is exactly what she used to call me (since she's been an adult).  She is also calling Mark father dear and calling Tyler brother dear.  I haven't heard her say sister dear yet, but maybe she is saying it.  The funniest thing happened the other day.  You know how you get fortune cookies with sayings in them and they don't really relate or else they could relate to anyone.  Every once in a while someone gets one that just cracks us all up.  So, Mark picked up Chinese food for Arri's birthday and we all ate here at the house.  When Bridgett opened her cookie, she read it out loud.  It said....your judgement is a little off at this time--rely on friends.  We all just laughed and laughed (yes, even Bridgett!).  It was just so funny!  Then she opened up mine and it said...your path may be difficult, but will be eventually rewarding.  Hah!  That was just too funny to have two of those in one meal!  Arri flew home today.  We all took her to the airport and off she went.  We will see her in only a few days though, as we head to Provo on Friday, in time for the twins birth on Saturday.

Second year Day 23 - Saturday January 5, 2013

Every morning Bridgett writes in her planner, recording events from the day before, trying to remember what happened (with some prompting from me).  Also she records things that are/will happen on the current day. Additionally we look ahead to what is happening the next day. Today as we sat at the planner I said that tomorrow, Sunday, Arrianne will fly back to Provo.  Bridgett stopped writing and then looked off into space for a minute.  Then she turned to me and said I'm not going to write that down because I don't want it to happen.  Of course, she realizes that it will happen anyway, it's just hard for her because she is so close to Arri and misses her greatly when she is gone.  SAD!  But, Bridgett never stays sad long and soon we were back to doing the other things we needed to do.  I'm sure there's some degree of longing that she was going back to school too.  However, she realizes that its not time yet--there's lots to accomplish still before that day. 

Second year Day 22 - Friday January 4, 2013

Today was the day that Jenn had her appointment with the doctor to discuss when to schedule the C-Section.  The ultrasound shows that the babies are at five pounds now.  Their growth has slowed down now and there are still concerns about the umbilical cord.  They will perform an amniocentesis on next Friday, the 11th.  If the babies lungs are developed, they will do the C-Section on the next morning, Saturday the 12th.  If the lungs are not developed yet, they will do the C-Section on the following Thursday, the 15th.  We plan to leave on Friday, the 11th to go down even though they will find out while we are traveling.  I do believe that their lungs will be developed, since they already gave her the two steroid shots to help them develop in case she delivered early.  In any case, we will know in a  week!  Today was a great day for Bridgett.  She is remembering things better all of the time.  I think that her eyes are looking more normal a lot of the time, although the left one does like to float inwards.  Still neither eye can go much past mid-line.  We will just have to wait and see what the next six-twelve months bring for healing with her eyes.  Perhaps we will end up getting the eyes operated on after all but at least we will have given them the best chance to heal first.  We are so very blessed that Bridgett's brain in plastic enough to ignore the left eye vision instead of having her see double.  It was the neurologist that pointed out how very plastic her brain is still to be able to ignore the double vision, which is a great blessing!  Somehow she is in this wonderful place.....apparently when a child sees double, their brain ignores the one eye's vision but completely so that the brain doesn't see that other eye's vision at all.  In adults, the brain is unable to ignore the double vision and the person sees double all of the time.  Bridgett is in the perfect place....the brain ignores the double vision, but at the same time she sees independently with the left and right eye.  We do exercises with both eyes separately and then tracking together and she uses both eyes.  Cool! 

Second year Day 21 - Thursday January 3, 2013

Today was a bit of a busy day.  We made a last minute trip into Kalispell this morning to have Stephany checked one last time before they remove her braces in a week.  Everything was a go so she was very excited!  Also, Arrianne had to see Sara Marie one more time before heading back to school on Sunday afternoon.  Bridgett came with us just to be with us and so that was fun!  She's been very patient while waiting here and there for us.  Also, we brought her program stuff with us so that we could get stuff accomplished in the car.  Mostly that works out just fine.  In fact, there was a point where we were doing some things almost exclusively in the car and when we finally did them at home Bridgett commented that it seemed so weird to do these things at home!  Bridgett continues to read a lot with the Kindle.  That has just been one of the best things!  Thanks again Alicia!  Anyway, she's read all of the Twilight series, all of the Harry Potter series, Rainmaker by Grisham, a Rex Stout book, and now she's moved onto the complete Jane Austen series.  In between she's done some reading of actual books, but it does still tire her eyes reading too much regular size print, although she does like reading her regular scriptures (and sometimes scriptures on the ipad). 

Second year Day 20 - Wednesday January 2, 2013

These are busy days for me as I am desperately trying to finish up getting all of the corporate tax returns and our personal tax return completed before I leave to Utah for the birth of the twins.  Corporate taxes are due March 15 and I usually turn them in on February 15th to the accountant.  I will probably be in Utah until somewhere near this date, so I need to get everything done before I go.  Tax time is always somewhat stressing for me and this year is no exception.  I am also depending somewhat on Arrianne to help while she is home so that I have more free time to work on taxes.  So far I don't think I've stressed her out (yet!). 

Second year Day 19 - Tuesday January 1, 2013

Happy New Year's everyone!  It's going to be a great year!  A new exercise that Bridgett does for her eyes is called far point/near point.  She sits facing a wall with a poster size eye chart.  Then she has an identical smaller size, hand held chart.  She focuses between the two charts, to improve her far point/near point focusing ability.  I think I mentioned something about it before.  We finally got the two charts and Bridgett is doing this exercise now.  Today Bridgett sat and played Mario with Stephany.  I really do think that video games are good for her; they strengthen her hand/eye coordination and actually many of the different therapists utilize the different games for therapy.

Second year Day 18 - Monday December 31, 2012

New years Eve.  The big news of the day was that Bridgett actually stayed awake until almost 11:30.  She was definitely in rare form, and just SO funny tonight.  I really need to record her doing and saying the funniest things so that we can all remember them later on!  One funny thing.....I was reading in the newspaper something about the music video of Psy doing Gangnam Style. I asked the kids what that was and so they played it for me.  Bridgett thought it was so funny and so all of the rest of the day she was imitating Psy doing his "dancing."  She continues with her British accent off and on and today was one of those very British days.  It just cracks us up to hear some of the things she says.  I got a call from Emily Berner's mom and she left a message a few days ago.  We played phone tag but actually talked today.  We have a lot of information that we can swap and we only actually talked once before I think, since both of our daughters had their accidents last December.  Anyway, we are going to try to meet up sometime in Kalispell and share notes a bit. 

Second year Day 17 - Sunday December 30, 2012

Today is Arrianne's 20th birthday.  It's been so good to have her here at home for the holidays.  She and Bridgett are very close and Bridgett has definitely missed her so much.  It's been great to see them spend time together, giggle, act silly, and just plain have fun.  Oh, I wanted to tell you this.....I always say that Bridgett remembers the most random things, bits and pieces of her previously life.  This is a good example.  Mark answered the phone today, said hello and then Bridgett said this.....
remembering that over the years she's heard Mark say it....hello, put your quarter in.  Whenever Mark answered the phone and he didn't hear anything on the other end he'd say that, referring of course to the fact that maybe they were at a pay phone and he was giving them time to put their quarter in.  Anyway, it was so funny that she remembered that!  More bits and pieces of the memory are returning all of the time!  Additionally we see that her short term memory is getting better all of the time.  She hears something once and often remembers it....cool!

Second year Day 16 - Saturday December 29, 2012

So one of Arrianne's friends had a terrible accident last year, within days of Bridgett's accident.  She has a blog set up as well and it's been nice to keep "in touch" so to speak through the blogs.  I thought it was interesting that her mother also posted about how hard it was coming up to the one year date and about the feeling of re-living some of those moments. I guess it's a common thing probably.  We all just try to stay focused, work hard, keep positive, pray lots, enjoy the many great moments we have with our family and feel grateful for friends/family support.  Thanks to all of you for taking the time to read about Bridgett.  Thanks for all of your many prayers and support.  Thanks for the many thoughtful things you have done over this past year.  Thanks for loving us and understanding when we are too busy to spend time with you, talk on the phone enough with you, or maybe even forgot important things that we shouldn't forget; sometimes life is just distracting and I know that's true for all of us.