Second year Day 134 - Friday April 26, 2013

Today we got up and visited with Tyler while he got the car loaded up to leave to drill.  They will drill in Helena again this month.  He borrowed Bridgett's car and she was very happy to have someone driving it!  I forgot to mention that she and I took it into town for some errands on Wednesday.  She asked me how fast from 0 to 60 her car goes. I don't know I said, but when I pulled out on the highway I punched it and held the pedal to the floor until we hit 70 (the speed limit on the highway).  She was SO EXCITED!  Of course, I know she remembers that feeling, and loves it.  She kept commenting on what a great car it was etc.  Then, on the way home she asked me if she could drive it down the driveway.  I said, well maybe dad ought to be with you the first time you drive since your wreck.  Just in the driveway, she said.  I remember how to drive you know!  Well, you call dad and ask him I said.  So, she called Mark and he said...I want to be with you the first time so you need to wait.  Bummer, she said!  But, she accepted it just fine (thank goodness!).   Oh, I forgot to mention this...it was so nice.....at conference on Sunday Stephany and I saw some people that we know and hadn't seen for quite a while and gave them hugs.  When we saw our old bishop, Steve Perrone, we gave him a hug and talked for a bit.  Then he said, you know we pray for Bridgett every day.  We pray for your family every day.  Oh thanks, I said.  We really need those prayers and we are thankful to everyone who prays for us!  And I want to say thanks to everyone reading this blog.  Thanks for your prayers in Bridgett's behalf and our behalf.  I know that the Lord is blessing her!  I really don't mean to whine about things, when I do.  I am so thankful for her life being spared!  I am so thankful that we can have her spirit around us! I do know that the Lord is blessing her and blessing us!  Life is always changing, many times the unexpected happens.  But, whatever happens, we just keep focused and keep going.  Endure to the end.  That's what we're trying to do.  And please....keep up the prayers and keep putting her name in the temple!!

Second year Day 133 - Thursday April 25, 2013

Mark left to Utah today to go pick up Arrianne.  Today is the last day of her finals.  Also, she has her last recital tonight--a Renaissance recital.  Whew!  Mark will get there in time to hear her sing. She passed her sophomore review (of course!) and I think has A's straight across (again).  She really works hard!  Bridgett and I are back full force on her program.  Every time we go on a trip, we get a little bit off program.  I mean, there are the core things that we never miss.  But there are a few things that go by the wayside for a few days.  Sometimes I get discouraged with the whole memory thing.  I mean, I still think that many of the things from her long term memory she has re-learned and not remembered.  So, from time to time she forgets them or I realize it.  Like this for example.  I was talking about something and I said where was dad born?  Total blank look.  So, I told her Whitefish.  Now she is remembering that, not because she remembers from long ago, but because I told her and she remembers now.  Also, where was I born?  Vague look--maybe in Utah?  OK, I was born in Salt Lake City.  There's a hint of a memory there.  And I realize that this is something that we have not talked about since the wreck, so she didn't re-learn it yet. I was talking about Conference and I said two of our relatives spoke.  BTW we had talked about it several times on Saturday and Sunday, even though she didn't hear them talk.  Anyway, she couldn't remember--that's OK because she didn't hear them.  But then I said, it was two of your relatives that live here in this stake.  Then I thought OH NO, we have LOTS of relatives here in the stake.  But, she was totally blank.  Can you think of any relatives we have that live around here I said--NOPE!  Wow!  So, anyway, I gave her other clues...who is one of my brothers that lives here?  Then she said, Oh, Chris, but, you know, he isn't here anymore (and she whispers that he died).  She remembered that, and we weren't here for the funeral.  Then I said his wife and son talked and she said Julie and Stratton or Austin?  So, that part is there.  We have spent hours going over all of my siblings and their families and all of Mark's siblings and their families, so she didn't remember that from long term memory either.  BUT, she does remember some random things from long term memory that we have never told her before.  So, it is coming back slowly. But, some days I do get discouraged about it.  Oh, I guess I'd better remember to discuss where everybody lives, etc.; something I haven't done yet with her.  And, I'd better get a page together about Mark and I with facts like I have for the kids and then record it along with her other pages that she listens to, one each day.  Oops!

Second year Day 132 - Wednesday April 24, 2013

I forgot to mention that this is finals week for Arrianne.  She's been SO swamped!  It's has been just a crazy week for her.  Luckily, it's almost over!! And...she still has her voice!  Yippee!  She has one more concert tomorrow night.  She had her sophomore review on Monday.  If you don't pass that, you get kicked out of the program.  She of course passed with flying colors.  She was very nervous about it and thank goodness that is over!  She also had a big audition on Monday night for a summer opera program.  Hopefully she gets into that as well.  It wouldn't be until July, so she'd still be home for two months first.  We'll see how that goes.  For another update on Bridgett's progress.  Some people see Bridgett and say to me afterwards, if it wasn't for her eyes looking so weird, she'd look lots more normal now.  That's true.  She still isn't back to normal yet, and in some ways is still young acting (or at least different acting), but overall she is doing better and looking much better.  The eyes.....they are a problem.  They are getting better than they were, for sure.  But, they are not normal at all and it's frustrating to be sure.  Often she asks me about them and if they look crossed or not.  She worries about them off and on.  She often comments that the left eye is the crazy one.  It for sure is worse than the right eye.  We keep doing the eye exercises every day.  The eyes do track together so much better.  The left eye often is looking forward, but it does bing back and forth at times.  Still neither eye will move outward past mid line.  Frustrating!  We will see what the ophthalmologist has to say at the Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake when we see him in July. 

Second year Day 131 - Tuesday April 23, 2013

Bridgett and I spent time repacking Jenn's boxes so that Mark can take them down on Thursday, when he heads down to move Arri home for the summer.  Bridgett and Stephany are SO excited for Arri to be home, as are the rest of us!  It's going to be GREAT!!  This is a funny thing.  So, just since we saw Faith the last time, all of the sudden Bridgett started saying two things that she used to say!  The first thing was "dang it, Jim."  She started saying that all of the time, like when she was playing cards and couldn't get the right card.  At first I couldn't figure out what she mean or anything.  I happened to mention it to Jenn and she asked if we had reminded her about that and I said no--how could we?  We don't even know what it means or why she is saying it.  Jenn got so excited about her saying it without us reminding her.  Why, I asked.  What does it mean??  Jenn said it is a quote from "The Office."  When Bridgett lived with Jenn and Tyler while she was a senior in high school, they all started watching the office.  So, anyway, Jenn and Bridgett apparently used to say it to each other all of the time.  So, Jenn was super happy to hear that Bridgett remembered it, and on her own.  Also, Bridgett started saying "terr-bad."  Like, when something happens, she would say, that's not "terr-bad."  I mentioned that to Arrianne and she said, oh my gosh, Bridgett always used to say that!  I guess it's a cross between terrible and bad..."terr-bad."  Bridgett did have lots of her own unique ways of communicating with people!!  It's so exciting to hear her personality coming back!! 

Second year Day 130 - Monday April 22, 2013

Today was a very busy day.  We all headed into town to get some things done.  Bridgett and Stephany came with me and Mark met us in town.  We did a little car shopping at Eisingers.  Bridgett and I went into the building to see if we could see President Busick, but we didn't see him.  Mark told me afterwards that we were looking in the wrong place and that's why we didn't see him.  Darn!  I should have asked.  Bridgett particularly wanted to say hi.  We were in town all afternoon, and came home tired and starving.  A typical day, when we have stuff to do in town!  It really does take quite a bit of time once you include driving in and out, etc.  The girls are doing good pain wise, right now.  Bridgett hasn't had to take hardly any pain medication lately; maybe once a day or some days not at all.  Stephany is doing better all the time too!  She isn't taking anything for pain, but still feels yucky some days. 

Second year Day 129 - Sunday April 21, 2013

This morning Stephany, Mark and I went to conference.  Tyler stayed home with Bridgett.  It was a good thing she didn't come with us.  It would have been very crowded and noisy for her, in addition to being uncomfortable on the folding chairs.  Conference was great, as usual.  Carl Clark was put in as the new stake president, which was so exciting for us!  He was Bridgett's branch president in the singles ward.  Anyway, everyone just loves him!!  He kept President Busick and Thorderson as well.  So, it was all exciting and super good news!  I sent a text right after the announcement, to tell Arri about it and I asked her to call Tyler and Bridgett and tell them.  I knew that they'd both be excited about it. Later on after conference I talked to Bridgett and she was just glowing about it.  She was really excited!!  I really enjoyed the talks.  Several of the speakers talked about trials in life and that everyone has them, or will at some point.  We all just do our best and have faith and we make it through the trials.  That's what we are doing....just doing the best that we can right now.  Some days it seems harder than others.  Some days it seems that we don't do as well.  But, overall I think we are all handling things.  Bridgett is progressing, just at a slower pace than we had all hoped.  But, she is progressing all of the time and that's the important thing.  The doctors told us not to be worried unless her progress stops.  I said to Mark, maybe we should ask our very own general authority, our old stake president, President Stanfill, to give her a blessing.  He smiled and said that the Lord is blessing Bridgett and things will happen in the Lord's time.  I know that, I just wish the Lord's time was faster sometimes.  That sounds bad, I'm sure, but I'm human.  Still, I wonder....doesn't it seem like it would be so powerful to have President Stanfill give her a blessing with President Clark, President Busick, President Thorderson and Mark standing in??  Hummm......

Second year Day 128 - Saturday April 20, 2013

Today was such a busy day!  And today I was just exhausted.  Every once in a while I just feel crashed, and today was that day.  I did get a lot done, although not near enough!  Sometimes I feel as if I am sinking in a hole faster than I can dig out!  Bridgett and I were out pretty early doing some shopping.  She used to hate shopping when she lived on her own.  Mostly it was because she was at the store alone.  Now, she almost always wants to go with me.  Partly I think because she wants to walk and she usually asks if we can walk up and down every isle.  Partly I think it's because she remembers that she hated shopping alone and she doesn't want me to go shopping alone.  She does worry about me often.  Tonight was the adult session of conference.  I wanted to go to it and meet Mark there (he was at earlier meetings), but realized that Bridgett would not be able to sit through either tonight or tomorrow.  Whatever session I went to, Tyler would have to be in charge here with Bridgett while I was gone.  So, I decided to go tomorrow to the session with Mark and Stephany, when they were announcing our next stake president.  It's good I decided that because by evening I was SHOT!  I couldn't have driven into town anyway, because I was so tired.  I did feel badly afterwards, as Julie and Austin both spoke in the evening meeting.  At least Mark was there to hear the talks and tell me about them.  Julie spoke about faith, not mentioning Chris per se but trials; those of us who know her know what she was talking about.  Austin spoke on being prepared for life.  He has turned in his mission papers and will be getting his call soon. 

Second year Day 127 - Friday April 19, 2013

Bridgett and I ran to town today.  I had to get one of her supplements that I can't order online easily.  Also, we went to the shop and helped locate some of Jenn's boxes that have been here since she left home.  She never had a place to put them but since they moved to her current home she does have room outside in a shed.  She has asked us to bring things to her when we have room, but we haven't had any extra room yet.  However, next week Mark will go down to help Arri get moved from her apartment and he will take Jenn's stuff to her.  I had Mark put a few boxes in my car to bring home today so that I can get them repacked before he takes them down.  They have some of her ceramics that she made when she was young, some pottery she made and some things from Hawaii that might break, etc.  He will load up Jenn's stuff and take it down, unload it, and load up Arri's stuff and bring it back!  There seems to be a constant in and out around here!  I asked Mark where Arri will put her stuff until fall or later in the summer if she goes back down earlier and he said in her room.  Right now, Bridgett is sleeping in Arri's room and all of her stuff is stacked in the corner that Arri would usually use.  However, the room is large and there are two beds.  It will be a bit crowded, but it will work.  The next issue....where will Arri sleep?  Stephany wants her to sleep in her room so they can spend lots of time together.  Bridgett, like a big sister would, said OK.  But I want Bridgett and Arri to spend time together a lot this summer as well.  Of course, at this point Bridgett goes to sleep by 10:00 so Arri might as well be in Stephany's room!  During the day the girls will have to do lots together.  I always see a lot of improvement with Bridgett when she is around Arrianne, and so I am excited for what the summer will bring!!

Second year Day 126 - Thursday April 18, 2013

Little by little, more and more, Bridgett is coming back to us.  A little thing that I have noticed lately is her handwriting.  For months therapists asked us if her handwriting was normal yet.  It was certainly readable, and for many people it was just fine, but it wasn't her handwriting.  She had very distinctive handwriting and it is very clear and legible.  So, no....her handwriting was not back to what it used to be.  But, guess what!  Her handwriting is almost normal now!! WOW!  Very exciting!  Not that handwriting is so important and it would have been just fine, but more that things are getting more normal all the time and that's exciting!!

Second year Day 125 - Wednesday April 17, 2013

Of course, all of our thoughts and prayers are to those injured and the families of those who were killed in the Boston Marathon bombing.  I have not been able to watch any of the actual news about it, but have been kept updated by Tyler and Mark. These things are atrocious and most unsettling to all of us.  One of the things on Bridgett's program is to watch news (she doesn't watch TV) and then keep informed of current events.  Tyler updates Bridgett on things happening.  Some things she needs to know about and some things don't matter.  This is something that does matter, and something that people will talk about for a long time.  Switching keys here....Arrianne had her opera workshop performance tonight and it went great. I spoke to her afterwards and she was just so energized that it was cute.  Of course, after something like that everyone is starving and no one can sleep any too soon, so they all go out to eat.  She always goes with the opera people but tonight she went out with her roommates and their dates, including Arri's date.  They all had lots of fun.  Bridgett always gives Arrianne advice about dates etc.  It's cute and very typical I think of their relationship and so fun to see Bridgett react that way:)

Second year Day 124 - Tuesday April 16, 2013

Sunday I talked to Mary Stingspring about indexing.  Bridgett and I have talked about doing some indexing and we both think it's a great idea.  This way we can feel like we are helping out with something important, while Bridgett is practicing typing as well.  Mary sent us the links and I got us all signed up.  We will start out slowly and work on it when we can.  I don't want to add anything else that causes more pressure on either of us... but I think it can work out and be something else a little diversionary!  By the way...I am wondering if winter will ever be over.  I'm getting pretty tired of the cold and snow.  Hopefully soon it will actually get nice outside!  Bridgett and I did fertilize my azaleas last week.  Hopefully they will be stronger this year.  I fertilized one group of the plants last spring and you could really tell the difference.  So, we'll see this year.  We had an arborist come out a few years ago and he said he was amazed at how well our azaleas do out here.  He said they are super hard to grow in our climate, but we must have the right combination of circumstances with the lake or something.  Anyway, they are beautiful! I really do look forward to the spring and seeing the flowers blooming everywhere.  I do love flowers! 

Second year Day 123 - Monday April 15, 2013

Tax day!  Even though I got the taxes all turned in pretty early (at least by the 15th of Feb. I think) it has taken until a couple of days ago before they were ready to pick up.  I got a call Thursday that they were ready, and headed into town to pick them up so we'd have time to review them before filing.  I guess things have been complicated this year because of the tax law changes.  I've heard several people talking about how late the tax changes were finally comfirmed.  Also, I know that we had to make some decisions and let the accountant know about those before he could finish, so that made things slower.  And then with trips, etc. it was hard to meet with him and get those decisions made.  Anyway, everything got efiled either Saturday or today.  It's always a relief when it's all done and we can move on to something else.  Also, Stephany's yearbook pictures were due today and we thankfully got those turned in on time as well.  Bridgett is doing really well as far as being out of pain. I don't think I mentioned that Faith lent me a couple of her tuning forks.  She has two sets, and because she is moving her office this month, she didn't need to have both sets.  She hoped that these could help out in between visits to her.  And they do!!  They work in the same principle of acupuncture: it's kind of needle-less acupuncture.  Even though acupuncture really helped Bridgett, she refuses to have any more after that big bruise that she got months ago.  Anyway, since we've been home I've used them probably 2-3 times a day on Bridgett and they really do help with pain!  I'm really glad that she lent them to us.  Of course, Tyler likes to tease me about all of the different alternative things we do around here.  He says people will think that we practice voodoo!  Hah!

Second year Day 122 - Sunday April 14, 2013

Bridgett, Stephany and I headed out to church this morning (Mark was already there for early meetings) and unbelievable we made it almost entirely through sacrament meeting without having to get up and walk!! We only walked for like the last 15 minutes!! That was great progress!!  It was fast Sunday and Bridgett enjoyed listening to the testimonies that we heard.  After the meeting, she and I headed home, leaving Stephany to finish meetings.  I drove up to pick her up when she was done later on.  We all had a good Sunday.  I am trying to get a few moments to make an occasional call to one of my siblings when I can.  This year (plus) has been very hard for actually trying to stay in touch with anyone.  Don't anyone feel offended--I can hardly find time to even call my mom very often.  Between trips, appointments, program for Bridgett, schooling for Stephany, my portion of bookkeeping for the business, trying to keep up on paperwork for medical claims, and just trying to keep up with stuff around the house...there's not a lot of extra time.  Anything extra really stretches things...like taxes or whatever.  I sadly don't get much time to do anything else.  I'm sure that everyone in the family feels neglected to some extent.  I'M SORRY!! I'm doing the best I can right now!  I just hope everyone can understand!  Overall, I do feel that everyone understand and tries to be as supportive as they can.   Sometimes I tell Mark that we will sleep next year (or whenever!). 

Second year Day 121 - Saturday April 13, 2013

Today was a catch up day.  There's lots to get done around the house after being gone--including finishing the unpacking of several boxes we brought home from Provo.  Arrianne still had two of Bridgett's boxes in her trunk from when she moved into her new apartment!  Crazy!  Anyway, finally everything of Bridgett's is here and accounted for--that we know of!! Today was a day of washing, taking care of things that have been sitting on my desk for a long time, etc.  Bridgett's funny comment lately.....she knows how bad it is when she has neck pain so whenever we talk about someone attacking someone (Arri be careful at night, etc) or a bear attacking someone (maybe in our yard!) then the worst thing she can think of is to say that if anyone or anything tried to hurt her or anyone in the family---she'd kick it or them in the neck!  That's what sounds worse or all!!

Second year Day 120 - Friday April 12, 2013

We were up late last night, so we all dragged out of bed pretty late this morning.  Mark was around only long enough to review our taxes and get things signed and then he headed to Polson to get some things done for the Lake County Republican Central Committee.  Bridgett and I got some of her program done and then did some baking.  We made some yummy gluten free pumpkin muffins.  In the afternoon, after Stephany had done her school work, we headed out to get some pictures taken for her yearbook; we've got to get those turned in by Monday.  Arrianne had a concert up in Heber tonight and got home feeling sick.  Dang it!  I always cross my fingers that she won't get sick right before she has to sing.  She has finals coming up in a week and a half, including Sophomore Review, where she has to sing four pieces for the department.  Also, she has her opera performance and last choir performance as well as singing in her aural skills class.  Terrible time to get sick!  She will load up on vitamins, etc and try to get some extra rest.  We'll all pray hard for her!!  Bridgett's pain level has been good all week.  I'm so glad that we were able to get things under control.  Our next appointments with Faith are the third week of May.  I think we will be home all of June and then we will travel to Salt Lake in July to see the ophthalmologist about eye surgery for Bridgett.  The guy we will see is a pediatric specialist and does surgery for diplopia all of the time.  He is supposedly very good.  We will just do a consult first and then make a decision about when to do the surgery.  I do want to talk to some people about the surgery before we make any definite plans.  I think I did post already that the gal that we know that had a terrible accident just days after Bridgett did had her eye surgery and it wasn't completely successful.  In some ways it made things worse.  We just want to be careful about what we do and make a very good and informed decision.  Of course, we will pray about it first as well.  

Second year Day 119 - Thursday April 11, 2013

As part of getting back into the swing of things, I had to get back to the whole monthly issue with medical bills.  I am still arguing with Central Utah Clinic about the overpayment and refund due back to me.  I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with the collection agency (remember they turned a bill into collection that they shouldn't have) and then their billing office and then finally about an hour on the phone with my insurance company.  I spoke to another really nice woman at Assurant (insurance) and she was just so very helpful.  She is going to help get this all straightened out (hopefully!!).  Also, while talking to her she told me about her sister who had a TBI.  It's amazing how many people we seem to run into that have someone in their life that has had a TBI.  Anyway, her sister as 16 when she was injured.  She parked on one side of the highway and had to cross to the other side to get to her job.  It was really foggy and a semi (without any lights on) hit her.  Terrible.  It has been 27 years since her accident. She recovered and is married with children.   However, she still has never remember anything about her life before the accident.  Her father had passed three years before the accident, so she doesn't remember anything about him at all.  But, she has her life since the accident and is very happy.  So, I remember coming to the point that I decided that it didn't matter if Bridgett remembered anything or not.  Of course, now she is remembering more and more all of the time....so that is GREAT!!  Mark made it home from Glendive tonight.  It's great to have him home, not only because we missed him but because I need the extra help!!

Second year Day 118 - Wednesday April 10, 2013

So, today was the day I started getting back to the grindstone after getting home from Utah, since I was busy all day yesterday.  First, to open up all of the mail.  That is a job itself!  Next, to check emails.  Also a job!  Usually laundry is one of the first things on my list, but I actually did laundry right before we came home so we're OK there.  Next, to get all of the bags unpacked and put away.  Then just things to get back to regular life like printing up new check lists for Bridgett's program etc.  It's good to be home and cooking again.  It gets tiring eating out so much when we are gone.  And it's nice to drink out of the water filter at home instead of water bottles while we are gone!  It's so great to sleep in our own beds with our own pillows!  It's wonderful to have the whole house to walk around in--not just a little hotel room.  I can work on my own computer and have everything I need at my fingertips.  I'm so glad that we things work out so well when we are on our trips.  It's great that we can also see Jenn and the boys and Arrianne when we are gone.  But, when all is said and done....it's always just so nice to be home!!!

Second year Day 117 - Tuesday April 9, 2013

Today is Bridgett's birthday...she turned 23!!  I got up early and wrapped all of the presents.  I made sure to put each thing in a separate package so there were lots of presents to open up.  I actually had to woke Bridgett up so that we could get the presents opened up before Mark had to leave at 9:00, to head to Glendive.  Usually she is awake by seven, but today she was very tired and slept in.  I woke her at about 8:15.  She was so excited to see all of the presents on the table!  She unwrapped presents and was very happy with everything she got.  Bridgett's request for today--to play games all day and not have anyone tell her that they were too busy to play!  Hah!  So, since Mark was gone, and Steph had school to do, I got to play games all day!  We did take breaks to do the dishes, make food and bake a gluten free birthday cake.  I found some neat candles at Target in Orem.  They are very tall, striped candles of different colors and Bridgett really like them.  Bridgett had calls from Arrianne, Jenn and Scott and she was so excited and happy to talk to each of them.  Then, to my surprise, President Busick (from the stake presidency) called in the late afternoon to wish her happy birthday!  Bridgett was napping at the time but he asked when he could call back.  I said in about an hour and sure enough he did call back!  Bridgett was so excited to have him call.  He and Bridgett have a little bit of history and of course, we are friends.  When she was a teenager and very sick, he came to the house and helped Mark give her a blessing.  Also, his son had a TBI a few months before she did.   He and his wife also came to our apartment in Provo and visited last spring.  He also stays in touch with Mark about her progress. Anyway, it was super nice of him to call and it really made her day!  Bridgett talked about it for the rest of the night and she was just glowing!!  Thanks Matt!

Second year Day 116 - Monday April 8, 2013

I decided to just sleep until I woke up without an alarm so I didn't get up until seven.  We all got showered and by then Arrianne was ready to head over to visit before school.   Bridgett and I ran to Jamba Juice and got steel cut oats for everyone (our favorite!).  We sat around and had a last visit.  It's only about 2-1/2 weeks until Arrianne will be done with finals.  We all miss her so much.  Bridgett really misses her and can't wait for her to be home.  Arrianne finally left at 9:30 and we headed to Jenn's to drop something off and kiss everyone quick.  Then we hit the freeway and headed to my mom's house.  It's so hard to have time to get to visit and I feel really bad about that.  I had hoped to visit with her yesterday, but I was just too tired to make the drive to Salt Lake.  I even thought about staying another day, but Mark has to leave tomorrow to Glendive to the funeral of a friend of ours and he will be gone for three days.  I want to make it home before he leaves so we can at least say hi!  It was pouring rain by the time we got on the freeway.  I ran into moms and spent about 25 minutes there.  She starting crying right after I arrived and I really wished that I could have stayed longer, but at least she cheered up before I left.  I really miss being able to spend more time with mom and well, all of my family.  I got on the freeway and headed home in the rain.  By the time I got north of Salt Lake it was really raining and the fog made it especially challenging to drive.  We pressed on and made it to Idaho, where we met with snow flurries off and on.  I called to the office and had Melissa check the road report for Montana before leaving Idaho Falls.  It looked like everything would be OK.  Monida was slushy and a little stormy, but not bad.  After that the weather was good the rest of the way home.  The girls held up pretty well.  By the time we hit somewhere around Gold Creek, I had them switch places in the car and then Stephany rode up front until we made it to Missoula.  It would have been better if there were three places up front of something.  The back seat is just not that comfortable and it was cramped because we had so much stuff with us.  More than half of the back seat was covered with stuff.  Anyway, we did finally get home and it was so great to be home!!  Mark and Tyler met us and unpacked the car for us (THANKS!).  I was really tired of loading and unloading the car!  The girls and I just plopped down and felt so glad to be out of the car!!  Bridgett was really excited that tomorrow is her birthday.  She was up late and so will probably sleep in some.  However, Mark has to leave by 9:00 so she won't be able to sleep too late--we have to open presents before Mark leaves!!

Second year Day 115 - Sunday April 7, 2013

Today I woke up exhausted!  It's been a long two weeks!  We hung out at the hotel and watched the morning session of conference and then went over to Jenn's for lunch.  Bridgett watch all of conference with us!! Yippee!!  There were some really great talks and we all enjoyed it.  Lunch was great at Jenn's house.  It was good to see the kids and hold the babies.  We went back to the hotel for the second session of conference and watched all of that, although Bridgett did nap during part of it.   In the evening we just spent time with Arrianne, visiting all that we could.  We discussed the whole apartment situation, etc.  Finally we got in the car and drove around and looked at a few places.  Its that time of year when we have to make a decision about a new contract.  Perhaps she will just stay where she is......that was Bridgett's vote!!  Later on we got things packed up and mostly ready to check out tomorrow. 

Second year Day 114 - Saturday April 6, 2013

We had early appointments and then headed back to Provo.  Arrianne called us to let us know about the announcement that President Stanfill (our stake president) is now one of the seventy.  That was exciting news!  Later on after conference I took the girls to the mall to shop at Charlotte Russe, as their store will close at the end of the month and everything was on sale.  We got some great buys--jeans for $7.50, scarfs for $2.50 etc.  Even Jenn was able to join us with the twins.  It was probably good that we were there to help.  I don't exactly know how she would have kept the babies happy while she tried on clothes otherwise:)  After a while Bridgett got tired and I left the girls with Jenn and the twins; she dropped them off after they were all finished shopping.  On the way home I asked Bridgett what she remembered about her life in Provo since she lived there for four years before the wreck.  She said.....when you have friends, life is great! When you don't have friends, life sucks!  Hah!  A very Bridgetty thing to say!

Second year Day 113 - Friday April 5, 2013

Back to Richfield for afternoon appointments!  Lots of back and forth this trip.  By the time we go home, we will have shuffled between hotels seven times!  Whew!  Our appointments went well today.  Bridgett is getting the neck, kidney, ovary, bladder and lung pain resolved.  Faith has been very accomodating to us, even meeintg us one evening for a second appointment because Bridgett's pain level increased.  She met us early Thursday so we could make it back in time for the prom, then later Friday so we didn't have to get up early after the prom, and then we will meet her early Saturday so that she can head back to Colorado.  We sure appreciate her!!  Each day the girls are doing better.  I just wish we had more access to Faith! 

Second year Day 112 - Thursday April 4, 2013

We had appointments in the morning and then checked out and headed to Provo as Stephany had her Liahona Prom tonight.  I took her to Marinello to get an updo for the prom.  Arrianne and Bridgett met us there.  Stephany's hair turned out awesome and she was really happy about it.  Stephany looked gorgeous of course in her beautiful ball gown and long black gloves.  The girls and their dates headed out for dinner (Olive Garden) and then to the prom.  The parents were invited to show up for the promenade later in the evening. Bridgett and I went to Aunt Debbi's house and we played cards, along with Grandma Noland (Beth).  At 8:40 I got a call that the promenade had started, almost an hour before I was expecting it to happen.  Luckily Uncle Gary had just given me directions to the North Hampton House, where the prom was located.  I jumped in the car and drove quickly there, and arrived just as they announced Stephany!  Whew!  It was a beautiful prom and Stephany had so much fun!  We got to visit with Brother and Sister DeGraff for quite a while as well.  Liahona has been a GREAT experience for our four youngest children! 

Second year Day 111 - Wednesday April 3, 2013

Faith has been working on the point where the shunt entered Bridgett's head/brain.  Not only did it pierce the dorsal midbrain, like we already knew, but she said it also disrupted the sensory motor portions of the brain.  She worked on this area a lot today; her specialty is brain work.  I have seen an increase in memory since we came down this trip.  Overall, I see more of Bridgett's personality coming out--yippee!  We are hopeful that this will help with the overall eye function, as well as brain function.  I got records for her that explain that exact damage to the eyes and it all syncs up with what Faith has been saying and working on. 

Second year Day 110 - Tuesday April 2, 2013

We are back into the routine here in Richfield.  Appointments are going well.  The Marriott here is nice but small rooms.  Next door is Winger's--which has a gluten free menu.  Handy!  I'm glad we have that option each day.  It seems that each day is somewhat the same--we go to the appointments, then to Winger's for a good meal, then collapse at the hotel for some rest, then eat leftovers for dinner and then to bed.  Stephany and Bridgett are getting some great work done.  I'm glad we are here. 

Second year Day 109 - Monday April 1, 2013

The big surprise of the day was a text from Jenn saying that she'd tried to call but couldn't get through (I got a new phone on Saturday) and had been feeling weird lately and just taken a pregnancy test.....WHAT!!  I called her and.....!  It's been a while since we'd talked about that now that the kids are grown, so it took me completely by surprise but I was completely taken in until she suddenly said April Fools! Whew!  It's a little soon for an announcement like that!  We headed back to Richfield for appointments with Faith.  Bridgett's neck is hurting and all the way down I tried to decide what she had done to hurt it--maybe opening the outside doors at the hotel (which are VERY heavy).  When I got to Faith's she said that the work that she did on Bridgett Friday flared everything up.  She worked quite a bit on the pelvis and getting rid of scar tissue from her oophorectomy.  So, for some reason many things in Bridgett's body are related and causing pain.

Second year Day 108 - Sunday March 31, 2013

Easter Sunday!  We woke up to Bridgett in excruciating pain.  Bummer!! I was hoping that we could all attend church together on Easter.  The only thing that relieves her pain somewhat is walking, so we were off to Walmart at 5:30 am to do some walking.  Her pain continued through the day and besides Lortab I had to resort to Robaxin.  I hate to give her all of those meds, but sometimes the pain is just so bad that it can't be helped! We did get to go to Jenn's for Easter dinner and thankfully she was a little better during that time.  Scott and Jaclyn and Weston were in Utah to visit Jaclyn's sister, who just had her first baby.   They drove down to Provo in the afternoon to see the twins (and the rest of the family).  They were able to hang around for quite a while visiting and that was super nice.  We got some family pictures together while Scott's family was there, so that was fun.  Often he is not here when we are so it's hard to get pictures together.  Overall it was a very nice day.  It was also wonderful to contemplate the atonement and it's special meaning in our lives at this time, with the passing of my dad last year and Chris this year.  Also, the atonement brings us comfort as we see the pain (including the emotional pain) of Bridgett's accident.  It affects all of us and we all can partake of the healing comfort of the atonement. 

Second year Day 107 - Saturday March 30, 2013

Today was a very fun day for us.  The twins were blessed today--at home so as to avoid germs that come with large crowds.  We had Tyler's brothers and their wives and kids, Tyler's sister (Carmen), Tyler's parents were there via face time and Skype collectively (as they were in different locations), Mark and I and all of our kids except Scott and Jaclyn, and Mark's sister.  Also, the bishop was there from the ward to preside.  Everything was great and the babies were even quiet during their blessings!  Afterwards Mark and I were able to attend a recital that Arrianne was a guest soloist in as well as part of a quartet.  It was nice to be there for that--we miss so many of her performances!  She did a great job!  The head of the department and her private instructor bot had numerous words of praise for Arrianne.  Steph and Tyler kept Bridgett entertained at the hotel while we were gone. 

Second year Day 106 - Friday March 29, 2013

It was a hard day today.  I felt to badly that I wasn't there for the funeral but I had to be here with Bridgett--that was the thing of greatest importance.  Everyone said that things went very well at the funeral.  There were like 300 people there and in honor of scouting (which Chris was very involved in), many were wearing scout uniforms.  I had some tears even though I wasn't there.  This has come as a great shock to the family; we definitely did not expect to have one of our siblings die at such a young age.