Second year Day 285 - Tuesday September 24, 2013

It getting colder here and fall is definitely upon us!  It's in the 30's at night and the 50's during the day.  I do love fall and all of the beautiful colors!  We definitely have to get the boat out soon.  I haven't been able to go for a boat ride yet this year, and I was hoping to ride with Mark to Swan Lake to take it out, but now it will be just freezing and not enjoyable at all; so I guess I will get a boat ride next year.  I can't believe that winter is so close upon us.  Time just passes so quickly!  I woke up this morning with a poem running through me mind about the passing of time, how it marches onward relentlessly and no man can stop it. Some times I feel that we are not accomplishing enough each day and week.  I'm running hard, trying to get everything done that needs to be done but falling short. 

Second year Day 284 - Monday September 23, 2013

Things are all crazy for Faith right now, and we haven't been able to get any appointments set up.  She is having to be in Colorado LOTS and there is little time to see her in Monroe.  She asked if we could fly out to Colorado and it's an option, but an expensive option! We are working together to try to figure out our next appointment and hopefully she will still be able to meet us in Monroe, at least for this appointment.  When it gets farther into winter, it will probably sound better to fly somewhere as opposed to driving on bad roads!  We have been fortunate that it has all worked out so well up until this point. 

Second year Day 283 - Sunday September 22, 2013

When Bridgett got dressed for church today, she asked me for her gray shirt that zips up that back and she described how it looks.  We haven't had this shirt in her closet, so it must be one of her things that got packed when they moved her out of her apartment.  I think I told you before that her sisters chose some things to bring here for her dresser and closet, packing everything else for when she had recovered.  They figured that eventually Bridgett would remember her clothing and feel badly if it all got wrecked wearing it around the house or to appointments.  Made sense.  Well, she previously hadn't even remembered anything that was hers.  Sometimes one of the girls asked her about borrowing a scarf or something but she never remembered anything.  I told you that not long ago she asked about her Down East shirts.  Now, she's asking about something else.  It's exciting for me to see her start to remember her clothing.  Little by little! 

Second year Day 282 - Saturday September 21, 2013

Today Bridgett woke up and told me that she wants to putt her way through Trafalga!  She's talking about the miniature golf place in Provo.  That was a random and fun comment.  I actually don't think that she could putt right now, with her neck problems.  She does OK as long as she doesn't do anything that might stress her neck, like using her arms.  Remember that terrible spasm that lasted weeks after doing "fake" bowling for one game on the XBOX Kinnect.  So, we probably won't be doing that anytime soon, but it does sound fun:)

Second year Day 281 - Friday September 20, 2013

Today was one of those days when Bridgett needed help with getting her shirt off and putting her hoodie on.  When those days happen, she now says....will you help me with my hoodie.  I'm sorry.  I feel so broken!  I feel badly that she feels so broken!  She never makes many negative comments really.  Just things like this or another one is when she has a hard time remembering things and then she points to her brain and says stupid brain injury--I don't like it!  Every once in a while she tells me that she doesn't like that guy her hit her.  Otherwise, she doesn't dwell on it at all, so that's good. 

Second year Day 280 - Thursday September 19, 2013

This morning we had an appointment with Dr. Bret Lindsay, the neurologist.  We just really like this doctor!  He is great!  He has a great attitude, is easy to talk to, etc.  Anyway, today Mark was not able to go with us, so it was just Bridgett and I. Usually when we see him, Bridgett sits for only a couple of minutes, and then gets up to walk around because of the pain and paces through the rest of the appointment.  Today, she was able to remain seated for most of the appointment, just getting up towards the end.  She was very engaged, and talked directly to him throughout the appointment.  It is great to see progress in communication!  Before, she would answer questions and do some commenting and some interjecting, but mostly Mark and I had the discussion with Dr. Lindsay.  So, today was fun.  We talked about short term memory issues.  I mentioned that Bridgett puts things down and then even a couple of minutes later forgets where they are.  In fact, today before the appointment, I went to try to find her nice jeans for her to wear, and they too have disappeared.  Bridgett has no idea where she put them.  He talked to us today about putting her on Aricept, which she was on initially after leaving the outpatient rehab.  Before, they gave it to her for memory and without it, she basically couldn't even remember who she was.  It took us a while until she was remembering herself and us good enough to take her off the aricept--that was sometime after we returned to Montana last year in May.  Anyway, he said to start her on a low dose for a month and then double the dose the second month.  I have put a call into her brain guys in Utah for an opinion as well as Faith, just to make sure that we are all in agreement on this issue.  I actually feel pretty good about it though, although it makes you wonder if she will have to stay on this medication for a long time or what.  I guess I still have a few more questions:)

Second year Day 279 - Wednesday September 18, 2013

This past week or so has been crazy hectic, because I have had insurance renewals to deal with for the business along with all of the other business things going on (payroll, etc).  Sometimes life is just crazy!  I don't think I posted this yet.  Bridgett said to me...way back in the day, what did people blow their noses into--the wind?  Hah!  A common theme of questions, especially when Bridgett is having pain, is about anatomy.  Then she moves into asking questions like..what do they call it when they remove your kidney?  Isn't it dialysis that you have to do after a kidney removal?  How big would the scar on your back be?  Of course, this would be the kind of questions she asks on the days her kidneys are hurting.  Or, on the days her femur is hurting...if you have cancer in the bone, would they have to remove your leg?  Lots of questions about medical procedures and pain.  Faith said perhaps she heard things in the hospital that are weighing on her mind.  I don't know, but when pain intensifies, so do the questions, even with our assurance that she is not going to have her kidney removed, have a heart attack (when she feels that terrible pain in her lung from over inflation on the respirator), or whatever.

Second year Day 278 - Tuesday September 17, 2013

When we moved into this house, I kept the laundry hamper in my bathroom behind the door (which swings 180 degrees).  Then about the time that Bridgett moved out, I moved the laundry hamper across the room, by the tub area.  After Bridgett's accident, she didn't have the long term memory of where the laundry hamper was, so she would go into the room and looked around until she found it.  This seems like a weird issue, but the bathroom is large so its a little harder to find.  Anyway, suddenly about a month and a half ago, Bridgett remembered a long term memory of where I keep the hamper, only it was from before I moved it; where it was located before she left home.  So now, she goes into the bathroom and looks where its supposed to be in her mind and it's not there.  So, she calls to me and we talk and she can't remember.  Then I tell her to go into the bathroom and look until she finds it, which she does.  Afterwards we talk about it, trying to reinforce it in her memory now.  So, finally, after all of this time, she is starting to remember.  She has to think about it, but then she remembers. So, she might still go into the bathroom and not find it, but then I tell her to think about it and then she remembers.  She still showers in my bathroom because it's more user friendly then the downstairs bathroom. 

Second year Day 277 - Monday September 16, 2013

There are just some things that are difficult with personal care for Bridgett, between her forgetting things, not being able to do certain things because of neck pain, and not being able to see clearly enough. For example, shaving her legs. She can now do it by herself, although she misses lots of spots and can't see that she's missed them. She also has trouble reaching to the back of her legs without twinging her neck. I am teaching her to feel with her hands to find the missed spots. This is tedious for her and I need to be with her to remind her to do it. For now, I follow up and help her with the backs of her legs. She wants to remember things but some times its just hard. For example, she is now showering by herself. I have been teaching her to read the bottle each time in order to get the right bottle for shampoo and body wash. It's impossible to always have the same bottle and I think it's not good for her to be cued in by the color or shape. So, she needs to have ingrained in her mind the habit to read each bottle before she uses it. This also applies to toothpaste, etc. One time she put the medicine for her skin (that was in a tube similar to toothpaste) on her toothbrush and I came in just in the nick of time and caught her before she brushed with it. Also, we try to always keep extra things put away so its easier for her not to get confused. And now she reads everything first before she uses it.  Also, she might get her clothes ready to put on after her shower, go into my bathroom (which is kind of big) and put her clothes down. Then she will shower and afterwards call to me that she doesn't have her clothes in the bathroom, because she can't remember where she put them. I try to have her always do things in the same order and always put things in the same places, but I sure that all of our travel kind of messes things up that way. She needs a routine where she combs her hair, puts on deodorant, etc in the same order and then that becomes a habit so that she doesn't forget deodorant or whatever. 

Second year Day 276 - Sunday September 15, 2013

Bridgett and I went to sacrament meeting and stayed for a few minutes after the sacrament. Then I took Bridgett home and brought Stephany back to Young Womens.  Neither of them could be at church for very long, so this worked out OK.  Sometimes it hard to have so many issues to deal with at the same time.  But, I pray hard, put names in the temple, and trust in the Lord.  I know He is mindful of our family and He blesses us.  Sometimes we just have to keep things in perspective. 

Second year Day 275 - Saturday September 14, 2013

Today Bridgett asked about organizing her DVD's.  She went to the family room and found the two DVD cases she has and bought them up to organize.  So neat having her want to organize things!  So Bridgett!  Short term memory issues are a bummer sometimes.  Bridgett was wearing some basketball shorts and took them off and put them somewhere and can't remember where.  I have looked everywhere I can think of and I can't find them either.  They must be in some unusual place.  Hummmmm

Second year Day 274 - Friday September 13, 2013

Today I insisted that Arrianne go to the urgent care in Provo.  She has had a sore throat for about a week, and that's hard on you as a singer.  Also, she started spitting up mucous with black flecks in it--which is dried blood.  Not good!  So, anyway, she went today and they didn't even look in her mouth at her throat!  They asked if she had vomited lately, and she told them about the violent vomiting the night before the opera.  Anyway, they said that she has a tear between the stomach and esophagus and said that she needs to see a gastroenterologist: I called and can't get an appointment until October 1st.   The urgent care doctor said there was no point to look at her throat, because it was irritated because of acid from her stomach. Anyway, I still think he should have looked at her throat.   They said if she wasn't a singer they would just tell her to go home and give it six weeks to heal.  So, I thought about the George's aloe vera juice that we have used before for Stephany's ulcer and the health food store said that would help.  Also, DGL chewables, to heal the gastro/intestinal tract.  She's going to rest her voice most of next week and see how things go. 

Second year Day 273 - Thursday September 12, 2013

Bridgett woke up today and asked for her black or gray Down East shirt.  This is the first time she has asked for a piece of her clothing that she actually remembered belonged to her!  She has some clothes out to wear, but only stuff that we want her wearing now.  The girls and I decided that we didn't think that she should ruin all of her nice clothing now, when she doesn't really care anyway.  She has some really nice clothes from the Buckle, etc.  She was very into nice things before.  Anyway, I told her those things were packed but we'd look for them.  Now....to figure out where they are!! 

Second year Day 272 - Wednesday September 11, 2013

Of course, today is 9/11.  It's so hard to think that it's been 12 years since that fateful day.  Today we headed to Missoula to see Dr. Murdock, and passed the Ferndale Fire hall, with the fireman posted outside for 9/11.  We talked about the events of the day.  Of course, Bridgett was 11 then.  I remember so clearly sitting with the kids in the living room of the log house, watching with horror as events unfolded.  That was the day that I think that really cemented in Tyler's mind (at age 13) the thought that he needed to enlist in the military.  Back to Missoula...we arrived early and hit the Good Food store first.  There are some things that we just love there, that we can't get anywhere else.  Then we headed to Dr. Murdock, making it just in time for our scheduled appointment, although then we had to wait quite a while:)  We had a good, albeit long, appointment with Dr. Murdock.  He was happy with how Bridgett's doing wearing glasses.  She is always so happy and excited that she can see things!  He checked her eyes thoroughly, because she's had very dry eyes lately.  I had a list of questions for him in regards to that, although he could only really answer to the fact that nothing seriously was going on with her eyes.  I told him we were using artificial tears.  He suggested we switch to another brand, that is thicker.  He told us NOT to use anything that says it gets the red out, and we weren't.  I asked about this....Bridgett has been complaining that her ipad is too dim and she's been changing the settings so that it's brighter and brighter.  Now she has it all the way as bright as it can go, and still said it's not bright enough.  I wonder what's going on.  He had no really good answer for that.  Also, I said that she had been reading more on the ipad and less on the Kindle for the past 2-3 weeks, on our trip.  Could this be a reason for the eye irritation?  He had no real comment on that either. So, anyway, we got the new eye drops and they are better.  I suggested that she read more on the Kindle than the ipad.  I talked her into turning down the brightness of the ipad and turning on more lights, which she did. 

Second year Day 271 - Tuesday September 10, 2013

This is an example of another funny thing Bridgett said.  Our toaster is slow toasting things.  Today I toasted a bagel and said something about how slow it was.  Bridgett said, the toaster is slow because the flamage is too little!  Hah!  Today we went into town shopping.  Stephany had a Dr. Stebbins appointment as well.  Bridgett stayed in the car and played on the ipad while we were in Dr. Stebbins.  On the way into town, Bridgett suddenly turned to me and asked, where was Jessica Reichner born?  So random!  They were in the same grade (I think!) and went to seminary together here in Bigfork.  Bridgett hasn't seen her for years and they weren't that close really.  The mind works in strange ways!  It was funny because then we ran into Eliza Reichner (Jessica's younger sister), as well as Les and Kay Saari and their daughter--all in Dr. Stebbins office!  All of this burst of remembering and returning personality I attribute to the brain work that Faith did last time.  And, of course, just healing of the brain in general! 

Second year Day 270 - Monday September 9, 2013

Bridgett woke up today and came upstairs and asked me if we could go running before breakfast!  Hah!  So Bridgett!  Then later on today she said, can we go upstairs to the library and arrange all of the books alphabetically!  So Bridgett!  Every time she came home from college, she spent a lot of her time organizing things and re-arranging things!  Of course, in order to arrange the library, it would take a lot of time!  I had two full WALLS of bookcases, crammed full of books.  I have things arranged by subject in certain shelves, but I have never arranged by title before.  Bridgett used to arrange off of her CD's and DVD's by category and then alphabetically.  Steph suggested that she work on that first, because they have gotten a little mixed up with the other kids using Bridgett's stuff (with her permission of course).  She has forgotten hot picky she was about the order of things and hasn't railed on them to be careful to return things EXACTLY where they got it, hehe! 

Second year Day 269 - Sunday September 8, 2013

Both Steph and Bridgett were still not feeling well this morning, so no conference today either.  However, I was actually really happy today because all of the sudden Bridgett went to the kitchen sink and started washing dishes and stacking them on the counter, unasked.  She hasn't been able to do that for months because of the pain she has bending over the sink. Actually, she still can't load or unload the dishwasher because of pain, but she can rinse! Anyway, it was such a Bridgett thing to do--she was normally so organized and always kept her apartment so neat and clean.  Later on in the day she again went to the sink and rinsed and stacked things.  Then she turned to Mark and said....you know, in my apartment at school I made a sign and posted it that said that everyone should rinse and take care of their own dishes.  I think that we should do that here too!  My smile was so big, my face almost hurt---that's my Bridgett talking!!  Just something she would have said to us!  I was so very happy!! Oh, today when I talked to Arrianne she told me the funniest thing.  She said one of her friends from her freshman year saw her the other day.  He asked about how Bridgett was doing.  Then he said that he figured she was doing better because he friended her on facebook!  HaHa!  That was so funny!  She doesn't ever use the computer to do anything at all, but she does go on facebook from my phone from time to time.  I'd better see what else she's been doing on facebook:)

Second year Day 268 - Saturday September 7, 2013

Today was the start of stake conference.  Mark had meeting in the afternoon.  I planned to go meet him for the adult meeting tonight. However, Bridgett had terrible cramps this afternoon, and then to top it off--Steph got a migraine headache!  So, I stayed home to take care of everyone.  I missed going, as the Saturday night session is always the most spiritual meeting of conference I think. 

Second year Day 267 - Friday September 6, 2013

We had lots of shopping to do today!  Restocking the refrigerator and pantry.  The guys don't shop really while I'm gone--they just get by and really they just don't eat a lot of the time!  Mark stops on the way home from work and gets milk and bread (and maybe some chocolate!), but that's about it.  The shopping took a while and the unloading took even longer:)  Bridgett used to hate shopping while she was at college; mainly she hated shopping alone.  It was much better Arri's freshman year when they were roommates and they shopped together!  They pretty much did everything together, except classes of course, as they were going different places and taking different classes:)  They walked together and talked endlessly.  Of course, for Bridgett's triathlon training they weren't together.  Bridgett trained with a couple of different friends for that.  She biked with certain people (thanks Dave!), and ran with a girl in her apartment building that had done a triathlon.  Also, I think she was swimming, something she didn't have to practice a lot because she was always a natural swimmer; she and Tyler, both!

Second year Day 266 - Thursday September 5, 2013

This was a day to just relax and try to get our bearings being home.  Sometimes it seems that it takes several days to just unwind from a trip.  Obviously it takes several days to unpack, do laundry, file receipts, catch up on paperwork at home, etc.  My office at home definitely needs a few days of filing and sorting!!  Bridgett's feeling great and sleeping great.  She is remembering more things, although they are still random things:)  She's still full of a hundred questions a day.  Why do the roads have so many bumps in them, how did Adam and Eve know how to deliver a baby and how did they cut the umbilical cord, if its white in heaven--what color is it in hell?  Some questions are more easily answered than others, obviously.  Some of her questions are very deep doctrinally, or very deep scientifically.  Some questions are about why things are named what they are--who named the bones in your arm the radius and ulna?  We google a lot of things and look up other things but some things there are just no answers for.  For example, on why things have been named certain names---I finally just started telling her that no one knows or remembers how things got named.  Like--why do we call a cup a cup?  Or why do we call grass grass?  So, now when she asks, I say remember what my answer is to those kinds of questions?  Then she remembers and says OH YEAH!  It's weird that she can't remember some things but she can remember and says to me...I know I've asked this question a lot of times but I can't remember the answer.  Weird, right!  Some things that happen only once (since the accident) she remember vividly, but if you ask her what she had for breakfast, she won't remember.  Of course, if we have the same thing all of the time, we does remember.  Or, I'll say to her, what do we do today or where did we go and she won't remember.  But, if I give her a little hint, then she will remember. 

Second year Day 265 - Wednesday August 4, 2031

We made it throught the night just great and everyone felt much better today.  We loaded up and left Provo at about 9:15 and drove home, without many stops at all.  Overall, it was one of the better trips we have had.  Thank goodness we stayed an extra day, as I actually felt rested enough to drive!  We got home at about 7:45, and we beat Mark home from work!  Actually, it felt weird to get home to an empty house, but still nice to be home!!  Bridgett said, I hope we're not going anywhere again soon.  Nope!  Not until next week:)  We have an appointment in Missoula with Dr. Murdock on September 11th.

Second year Day 264 - Tuesday September 3, 2013

What a night we had last night!  Poor Arrianne stayed with us and she had school to content with afterwards!  We had planned to leave today, but this is what happened during the night.  First Bridgett went to bed at like 8:30, and then at 10:00 she woke up in terrible pain.  I had to give her Lortab and do tuning forks, etc.  She got back to sleep after about a half and hour and then I spent time talking to the girls.  This is the first night that Stephany has felt good enough to just talk, although she got tired easily.  Tonight Arrianne had a little melt down about Bridgett.  She just misses Bridgett so much and talked to me about how things would have been if Bridgett hadn't had her wreck.  She talked about how they'd be living together and all the fun they'd have.  It's so hard on everyone and we all totally know what she is feeling, although of course, they had a special time together as roommates.  Anyway, I spent time talking to her and hugging her and trying to explain and comfort her.  It was after midnight before we all got settled down to sleep. Then at 2:00 a.m. Bridgett woke up again moaning and unable to move.  I had to give her another Lortab and it took another half an hour to get her settled back in on the heating pad.  Then at 4:00 she woke up again and the pain was just as bad.  I gave her another Lortab (because she can have two at once) and we walked in the room.  I was considering taking her out in the hallway.  Of course, Arrianne was up each time, as she was sleeping in the bed with Bridgett.  At 4:00 I had her move to the bed with Stephany and finally got everyone settled back down.  At 6:00 Bridgett was up again and we did leave the room and go walking.  At that time I sent Faith a text (she's always up early), asking for help about what to do.  This never happens, where Bridgett has pain after we leave Faith's!  So, she said that it was all brain related and told me where to do the tuning forks for the brain--using a different fork then we usually use and in a different area then we normally do.  So, it worked!  Immediately the pain left!  I love those things!  The hard part is knowing where to do them and which ones to use:)  A little bit later the kidney pain returned with a vengeance.  Faith said that it is all related and connected to the brain, and said do those same brain points.  It worked again!  Anyway, I called Mark at 8:00 and told him that I'm exhausted and couldn't possibly drive today.  I am going to try to nap as much as I can.  I felt bad for Arrianne, having to go to class after that bad night.  Mark wondered if we could leave about 4:00 and go as far as Idaho Falls, but we can't stay that late in the hotel without paying for another day and then we'd be paying for two nights!  It doesn't make sense, but then I'm too tired to make sense of anything:)

Second year Day 263 - Monday September 2, 2013

Faith told us that Stephany needed to stay in Provo until at least Tuesday before we traveled, and that is our plan.  So, another day of Stephany just resting all day and the rest of us trying to not be too noisy.  This hotel has a small area somewhat seperated from the rest of the room, with a couch and desk, and the fridge and microwave.  We can spend time in this area and not really bother Stephany, which is good.  Arrianne did her studying here with us today and that worked out.  Bridgett and I played games and read most of the day.  It's restful for me to get in some reading--I love to read!  Over the past months since Bridgett's wreck, I have spent very little time reading.  When I was so exhausted during the summer, I spent time resting and reading.  Reading relaxes me and is refreshing to me and I am trying to continue spending some time each day reading.  It's great! 

Second year Day 262 - Sunday September 1, 2013

Today was a stay in the hotel day.  Stephany is still to sick to leave the hotel.  We bring in all of the meals.  Actually, on this trip we did even more eating from the grocery store.  I bought things ahead that we could prepare in the room and of course we always try to do that on Sunday so that we aren't eating out.  Bridgett and I always go walking, either up and down the hallways, or outside.  Early in the mornings it is still pretty nice outside and not too hot.  Jenn wanted to come over later in the afternoon and visit, but the kids have colds and we are having to be careful not to get Steph around germs, so didn't come.  Arrianne came over after church and visited and then stayed at the hotel with us overnight.  Tomorrow is a holiday, so no school. It will be nice to have her around, although she still has lots of studying to do. 

Second year Day 261 - Saturday August 31, 2013

Today we had our final appointments with Faith.  The past two days have been a little different than usual.  Faith got notice that she had to move at the end of this month, so the movers came to her house yesterday and loaded up everything.  Since there was no good place to have her work on everyone, she came to the hotel and we had our appointments in the room.  Luckily we are in one of the larger rooms, because they also have tiny, tiny rooms here, where there is hardly even room to move around the beds!  So, anyway, it was nice and relaxing for Stephany to just stay in bed until Faith came and then to get up and get worked on.  Today after the appoinments, we loaded up the car and headed to Provo.  I called ahead and they had a room ready so that we could check in earlier than normal, and we also left Richfield a little later than normal.  This way we could just go from hotel to hotel.  Stephany is just exhausted and needs to just rest right now.  Bridgett is doing great and feeling great!  I just love it when she feels so wonderful!  Her attitude is always super good of course--we are talking about Bridgett.  It's hard to get her down! 

Second year Day 260 - Friday August 30, 2013

Bridgett is forever asking me questions about everything in the world.  Today she asked me...."way back in the day, before people had Kleenex, what did people blow their noses into?  The wind?"  Of course, then I crack up and have a good laugh and then try to answer her questions.  It's funny the way the mind works!  So I was thinking about when Bridgett was very young and she used to say the funniest things back then (and for her whole life). She has always been so funny! Anyway, one of the things she often said was in this context. You know how something happens and you say "oh, never mind" or something like that. Well, Bridgett used to always say "I never mind!" We would tease her about that, and it was super funny because of course, she always minded me!

Second year Day 259 - Thursday August 29, 2013

We always bring cards with us while traveling, so that we can play games.  In the mornings Bridgett and I wake up before Stephany and it's hard to be really quiet so that she can rest--and she does need extra rest right now.  So, we go down for continental breakfast and then we play cards in the breakfast room.  Bridgett loves Three Thirteens and then usually we mix it up by playing Back Alley afterwards.  We always have had different card decks, that have pictures on the backs.  We have Scooby Doo, Peanuts, Care Bears, etc.  So, lately we have been playing with The Dog cards.  Today Bridgett said, hey we have The Dog cards, The Dog Monopoly (right!--and she hasn't seen it since the wreck to remind her!) and I have a The Dog fleece blanket (right!--and she hasn't seen that either since the wreck to remind her!).  Then she said we just to have dogs but sad things happen!  Right again....We have been discussing our different dogs that we have owned and what happened to each one.  She was really close to Jess and Jake and misses them, as we all do.

Second year Day 258 - Wednesday August 28, 2013

This week is a hard week for Stephany, as she is doing a clearing.  This entails five days of feeling miserable, in hopes that she will then be able to feel better.  It's difficult, but I'm proud of her for doing it.  It's hard, knowing that it could be very bad.  The last clearing she did, for the CMV, was while we were in Provo.  She was SOOOO sick!  This time we decided to do the clearing while in Richfield, so that Faith could see her every day and try to minimize the effects of the clearing while still helping it along.  So far, there has been a difference and I'm glad we decided to do things this way.  Bridgett is doing well.  She is really reading a lot lately and that's fun.  She is back to the Twilight saga, and mixes that up with some Harry Potter from time to time.  She is doing well with her new glasses.  When we get back to Montana we have another appointment in Missoula with the ophthamologist, Dr. Murdock.  At that time, he will be trying to apply prism films to the back of her lenses in hopes that she will start seeing double.  Sounds weird, right!  If he can get her to start seeing double, then maybe her brain will be able to merge the double images.  If that happens, he feels that there is a good chance that the surgery will be successful. 

Second year Day 257 - Tuesday August 27, 2013

This morning we had planned to meet Arrianne for brunch before leaving to Monroe, but she had call backs for choir.  So, instead we just drove to UVU on our way out of town and met her and visited in the car for a few minutes.  She ended up getting picked to be in the chamber choir, so that's exciting.  They do traveling each semester, so that will be fun as well.  We grabbed some lunch after visiting with Arrianne, and then headed to Monroe.  We just tried out Noodles and Company on this trip and it's great!  They have tofu to satisfy Arrianne and I as well as meat for Bridgett and Stephany. They have noodles and salads and their service was quick. Also, we can order online or on our iphone app!We got all settled in Richfield after our appointments with Faith.  Actually I really like the Marriott in Richfield.  They are very personable and friendly.  Most of the staff know us by name.  The rooms are nice and everything is just great when we are there.  Of course, nothing can compare to being at home......how we miss being at home when we are traveling! We miss being with Mark and Tyler, as well as missing our own beds and our own homemade food.  We miss puttering around in our PJ's and looking out at the lake.  But, we travel because we need to and we make the best of things.  At least we get to see Arri, Jenn (and family) and Scott (and family), as well as extended family when we can. 

Second year Day 256 - Monday August 26, 2013

Today Bridgett had an appointment in Ogden with Bob.  She met with him first for testing and then we met together afterwards.  He is pleased with her progress, although she did slip some with her math this past quarter.  I blame myself--I was just too tired out these past few months to keep up with math.  But, this next quarter we will do better!  It's hard to always be on top of EVERYTHING, especially with all of the travel.  Some days I am just worn out and every once in a great while I dream of having a day with no responsibilities to anyone at all.  But, for now, it's just push forward and do what is necessary (and try to stay on top of everything!).  I left Stephany in Provo.  Arrianne had some time between classes, so she stopped and picked up some lunch for the two of them and they ate together.  By the time we drove an hour and 15 minutes each way and spent two hours in Ogden, plus grabbed some lunch....we were gone quite a while.  Jenn came over to the hotel this evening and just sat and visited with us for about an hour.  It was great to see her and we actually got to visit more than usual since she was alone.  It's always great to see the kids, but it's sometimes nice to just visit alone too! 

Second year Day 255 - Sunday August 25, 2013

Yesterday was Geri Beilenberg's funeral.  I was so sad that I did not get to see her when I was home last time, but I was sick almost every day.  I got a call from Mark this week, telling me about her passing on Tuesday.  Of course, it was good that she went quickly instead of suffering, but I still had some tears about it. Mark was able to go to the service and it was very nice.  I will miss seeing Geri and miss her sweet smile and disposition!  It was a quiet day today.  Scott was working and Jaclyn and Weston were at her mom's.  Jenn was worn out from the week and needed a quiet day today.  We drove up to visit my mom later on in the afternoon and it was a really nice time with her.  I'm glad that we have had some good visits on these past couple of trips down.  I do miss mom and wish I could see her more often.  Of course I miss dad lots too.  Today was his birthday actually.  That made it extra special to see mom today and be with her at this time.  Bridgett was able to stay for quite a while; I guess we were there for at least an hour.  Every time I see mom, she's so excited about how good Bridgett is doing.  I sometimes wonder what other people have thought in the past about how she has progressed and whether she would really ever get better.  I know that the brain can continue to heal for a long, long time, much past the two years that they tell us.  I don't want to limit her growth at all, and hope that others can see and feel happy about her growth as well. 

Second year Day 254 - Saturday August 24, 2013

We had our appointments and then headed back to Provo.  We made plans to meet Arrianne at UVU (Utah Valley University) at 2:00 and take some things to her locker.  Her locker is messed up--I mean it's so difficult to open.  We finally got it and put a case of Dasani and some protein bars inside.  There's still plenty of room for books and now she has some emergency things.  Then Bridgett and I went to check into the hotel while Stephany and Arrianne went to do a little shopping.  They had a great time shopping and I was so glad that they could spent some time together--just the two of them.  Bridgett and I got the car unloaded and everything organized at the hotel and then we all had dinner together.  The weather wasn't bad at first and I was wondering, but then I got a call from Dave and he said that it was pouring.  He joked that it was a good thing so that mom didn't have a heart attack after cancelling.  Anyway, it all worked out. 

Second year Day 253 - Friday August 23, 2013

This morning Arrianne got up and headed to Provo at about 7:45 a.m.  She needed to get back to her apartment to get her cleaning check done this morning.  This is a move out cleaning check, so a white glove check and therefore there was a lot to get done.  She made it back just fine.  GPS on the iPhone is a great feature.  There are a couple of little turns to negotiate to make the trip back and it could be tricky so she had to pay attention, but since she had the GPS I didn't worry.  Anyway, she got back and got the cleaning done in time for the check.  After all of the roommates work, the gal barely gave it a glance, but maybe its because they keep it spotless really all of the time.   So anyway, they passed just fine.  We have appointments in the morning and then we were supposed to head back to Provo and to a family reunion.  However, I got a call this afternoon that there were going to be thunderstorms and that the reunion will be rescheduled.  Next time I guess we need a place with a back up plan, not just a plan to meet at a park....too easy to have problems if there's bad weather. Faith has been able to do a lot of brain work for Bridgett this trip and so that has been great.