Second year Day 162 - Friday May 24, 2013

The big day!  Bridgett and I had to leave early to Ogden for her appointment.  Mark took Stephany to the school to get her "graduation" picture in cap and gown.  Our appointment in Ogden went really well.  Overall they were very happy with Bridgett's progress.  We did discuss her eye situation.  At this point, they are advising us to go ahead with the eye surgery.  Bridgett has an appointment at Primary Children's in July for a consult and then I guess we will talk about scheduling surgery. They said that it will probably take several surgeries (yuck!).  But, I guess they way I feel about it is this.....I didn't want them to ever do they surgery in her brain on the optic nerves, and we avoided that so maybe this will be OK.  I picked up mom on the way back through Salt Lake, so that she could come to the graduation.  I dropped her at Mike's for about an hour and then headed to the hotel.  I had time to sit for about 10 minutes, then it was time to get ready and go up to the tabernacle for the graduation practice.  I took Stephany and picked up mom on the way.  We got there and had a repeat of Arri's experience (at the same place!)....the guy forgot to show up to unlock the building, so we had to wait outside for him to show up.  It actually took him about a half an hour to arrive, so we just visited in the car with grandma.  The practice went great.  Stephany had some time to visit with Brother DeGraff and get her picture taken with him.  He and Sister DeGraff said that it was the end of an era......the last of the Noland's to graduate from Liahona!  Actually Scott and Jenn graduated from American School.  I didn't find out about Liahona until Tyler and Bridgett were in Junior high.  I can't remember when Liahona started up, but it was some time just shortly before we had kids going there.  Anyway, the kids have all graduated from there since. The graduation went great and we all had a great time.  Afterwards I took grandma back to Mike's house while Mark took the kids to the hotel.  As far as how Bridgett did....well, she was doing good all morning and then when I took grandma to Mike's the road was very bumpy.  I went slow over all the bumps I saw, but coming over a hill I couldn't see a bump until we hit it and it REALLY hurt her neck.  She almost started crying.  We got out and she walked for a while to try to get brave enough to get back in the car.  Then, of all things, we had stopped on a hill and when I turned off the engine I turned the wheel hard and when I tried to start the engine again I couldn't turn the key at all.  This happened to me once in Arri's car, but this was in my new car!  I finally called Mark, who told me to keep trying and finally I got the key turned and the wheel turned, got Bridgett back in the car and headed back to the hotel.  For the rest of the day she was very sore and when Mark showed up at the graduation with the kids, she sat for like two minutes and then had to walk.  Tyler took her out and walked and sat in the back alternatively and that's how they did during the graduation.  Bummer!  So, we are back to Lortab and Robaxin.  Can't wait for Monday when we get to see Faith again!  Oh, side notes....Jackson and Jaiden (Dave's kids) were able to come to the graduation as well and that was so great for Stephany.  Also, Deb came too.  And, at the graduation, before things started, Bridgett got to talk to both Brother and Sister DeGraff.  She remembered them both of course and it was so fun to see her with them!  They both gave her hugs and had such nice things to say.  Brother DeGraff said that he felt so honored that one of the first things Bridgett remember was the quote by Thomas Jefferson, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be."  Anyway, it was very touching to me to have him talk to Bridgett and it was fun for her as well.