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!