Second year Day 340 - Monday November 18, 2013

There wasn't really time to figure out what to do for breakfast today, so we had room service.  I'll worry about getting a better plan tomorrow.  Actually the room service was pretty reasonable; two scrambled eggs for $4.  Not bad.  Stephany was even able to get some yogurt.  It's only 0.8 miles to Faith's office from here, so we decided to walk and see how that would go.  Actually, since we've all been walking so much more, it was a piece of cake.  The walk was nice and our appointments went well and we then walked back towards the hotel, stopping on the way to grab some lunch.  Everyone was tired from the appointments and we got naps afterwards. We had enough lunch left to eat it for dinner.  I don't have a microwave here, but I had requested a fridge, so that's good.  The hotel is awesome.  It's a historic building that they renovated like two years ago.  It's owned by Wyndham corp.  There are 12 foot ceilings and granite desks in each room.  The beds and pillows are heavenly.  The lobby is beautiful and luxurious.  It's like a really nice vacation for us!  I spent the evening with a map of the downtown, googling menus and getting a plan for the week.  It's cool because many of the restaurants are health conscious and offer vegan and gluten free options.  NICE!

Second year Day 339 - Sunday November 17, 2013

So, this morning I still wasn't sure about leaving but still planning on it.  Then, everything fell into place and Mark was a big help in getting us ready.  I ran around and finished everything up and at three we headed to the airport and left at five. We ran into Brother and Sister Tanner, who were on our flight as far as Salt Lake.  Bridgett was really happy to see Sister Tanner, our Relief Society president.   Bridgett felt pretty good as far as the cold was concerned, but motion sickness was a problem.  I gave her a quick dissolve Zofran at the airport before we left.  She loved the takeoff and the speed.  Then once we were in the air she started to feel sick.  The Zofran definitely helped, but by the time we landed in Salt Lake, she was feeling really poorly.  Luckily I had arranged for a wheelchair, although they didn't show up right away and I had to ask someone for help.  Just as she sat down, the guys with the wheelchair showed up.  We practically ran through the airport cause those guys have long legs.  I would have asked them to slow down a bit, but Bridgett was actually enjoying it mostly.  Anyway, we got to our next gate and had just over an hour to rest and get something to eat.  Bridgett was too sick to get out of the wheelchair, so she just rested and ate a few French fries.  By the time we boarded, she was doing much better.  The trip from there on was pretty good.  I thought about the many times I'd flown into Denver and felt so sick those last few minutes as the plane made a descent; it's just always so choppy landing there.  Thankfully, the landing was relatively calm today and Bridgett only got a little bit sicker.  It was good to finally be on the ground!  They met us coming out of the plane this time and wheeled her over to baggage claim.  We quickly got our bags and were off to ground transportation to get a taxi.  I told the taxi driver that she gets easily sick and said I'd tip him big if he could drive slowly and smoothly.  He did a great job and she didn't get sick at all.  We got checked in and all crashed right away.  Tomorrow we see Faith at 10:00.  Its been a long day!  Oh, something funny Bridgett said on the plane.  She was remembering about going to the fair when she was young and riding on that ride that is big strawberries that spin.  After she verified that she was thinking about the ride correctly, she said that ride at the fair is so much more fun that this plane ride; you don't get near as sick!!

Second year Day 338 - Saturday November 16, 2013

Today Arrianne had a really busy day, starting with cleaning checks at her apartment.  They do this monthly.  Anyway, when Bridgett talked to Arrianne today, they talked about the cleaning checks.  Then Bridgett told Arrianne to do a really good job on her cleaning today.  She said, I always did a good job (true!).  She said, my cleaning job was always a white glove job!  Funny and good remembering.  Bridgett is a neat freak and always likes everything neat, clean and orderly.  She always did do a white glove job!! We talked about cleaning checks after that and she really does remember them.  Neat! We are supposed to be flying out tomorrow to Colorado to see Faith, however Stephany has had a cold (although she's doing better) and now Bridgett has a cold.  I worry about whether or not everyone will be well enough to fly by tomorrow evening.  I am getting packed and getting everything ready here, and planning on it.  At the last minute we can cancel our tickets and hotel if we need to.  Praying that we won't have to cancel, though! 

Second year Day 337 - Friday November 15, 2013

Bridgett says the funniest things!  Today she said can I teach you sign language.   Sure I said.  Then she said, we'll have a test this weekend.  A test!  Why?  Well, how else would I know if you learned anything or not!  Hah! 

Second year Day 336 - Thursday November 14, 2013

We will have Bridgett's party on December 14th, two years from the wreck.  Of course, there would not be enough room to invite everyone, but instead, I'd like to invite you to send a card or message to Bridgett and we will give it to her that day to read.  Then she will realize how many people are thinking about her!  The address to mail it to is:
     Bridgett Noland
     PO BOX 9078
     Kalispell MT 59904

Or you can email a message to mtmacro@gmail.com and I will print it up for her.  It will be the best present ever, knowing how many people are thinking about her.  Please make sure that you mail soon, in order for me to receive it before December 11th.  Thanks everybody!!

Second year Day 335 - Wednesday November 13, 2013

I forgot to post something else about Sunday (a week ago).  The Relief Society was asked to come up and sing "As Sisters in Zion"and Bridgett wanted to go up and sing as well.  She and I went up with everyone else and she sang out loud and clear.  It was really fun and also nice to see her want to participate!  Several days ago Bridgett suddenly said, we should have had a party when it had been one year from my wreck, and celebrated that I was alive!  We did have a party, or rather a small family gathering because at the time Bridgett just didn't feel well enough to do anything big and, she doesn't remember doing it at all now.  So, she said, we need to plan another party for this year!  Great idea!  We will be in Utah on December 14th, so Scott and Jenn will be there to celebrate (we'll have to celebrate with Ty before we go).  Then she said, who are you going to invite to this party? Who do you want to invite I asked her?   Well, she for sure wanted to have Uncle Dave, and his kids and from there on it was just a matter of thinking of all of the aunts and uncles.  She really wants everyone who came up to the hospital during that time to come and celebrate with her.  So, we made a plan.  Her favorite place to eat in Provo (right now) is at Mimi's Café.  I called and reserved a room and it will hold 55 people.  If everyone comes, it will be like 58 people, but of course, that counts babies.  Probably everyone won't be able to come, but we'll see!  Anyway, now its a matter of getting a hold of everyone and inviting them, etc.  I think it will be really fun.  Also, Bridgett is totally excited about the entire thing and really happy to be having a party.  That's our Bridgett!!

Second year Day 334 - Tuesday November 12, 2013

Today I went into the room to hand Bridgett some laundry, and she had one of her drawers out on the bed and was re-folding and re-organizing it!  Such a Bridgett thing to do!  Bridgett was always so organized and loved to organize anything.  She loved to help other people get more organized.  I always thought that she should start a business organizing things for people.  We talked about it often. She was good at it and loved doing it.  She often offered to help her friends or family organize things.  It was fun to see her spontaneously doing organizing! I have suggested that she help me do some organizing because previously it would have been her idea of a fun activity, but she hasn't been interested in doing it at all before now. 

Second year Day 333 - Monday November 11, 2013

One of the funny things Bridgett always tells me is when I finish using my iphone and set it down.  The light will still be lit up and she will reach over and push the button to sleep it.  Then she says, the battery will last longer if you turn it off!  It will save battery--only she says it in her British accent like bat-try or however you'd spell it!  Hah!  She tells me that all of the time.  Her old ipod was, well, old, and you had to sleep it all of the time, it didn't do it by itself like the iphones do now.  So, she always thinks about that.  She still talks in her British accent from time to time.  On another note, I was thinking about Bridgett walking to music the other day, and I thought I should dig out her ipod with her workout music.  Actually, she was wearing it when she was in the wreck, and initially it wasn't turned in to the police and we assumed that someone found it and kept it--and it was gone forever.  Then several days later, someone did turn it in.  They were on the scene and trying to help find out who Bridgett was.  Remember that she arrived at the emergency room as a Jane Doe.  (I shudder thinking about it)  Anyway, I did find the ipod and got it plugged in to charge. It was of course dead, but I also wonder if it works at all or if it was damaged in the wreck.  We've never tried to turn it on or anything.  It's kind of like stuff from the wreck initially had everyone freaked out and we didn't want to deal with it at all. 

Second year Day 332 - Sunday November 10, 2013

Today on the way to church, Bridget asked is President Monson a prophet or a general authority.  We have to redefine many words and get those things sorted out in the brain!  It was such a great meeting today!  We were late and missed getting the sacrament, but then Bridgett was able to stay to the whole meeting when we finally got there. She didn't have to get up and walk or anything.  First, Dean Stimpson reported about his mission in Czechoslovakia and then Steve Perrone spoke as the high councilman.  Steve was one of our bishops in 3rd ward, and his kids were friends of our kids.  Bridgett was so excited the minute we sat down and she saw him on the stand (she remembered him!).  From time to time during the meeting she gave him the biggest smiles and he returned those smiles, making her giggle! She was motivated to make it to the end of the meeting so that she could say hi.  During the meeting, from time to time, she would whisper something about him or his family to me, like their names, and who played with who, where they lived etc.  She always asks questions like, don't Perrones live up by Dr. Stebbins office but you drive past it and turn left and they are by the park? Then I tell her she's right, and she says she's just checking!  Anyway, we walked up to the stand afterwards.  Steve was still on the stand and we were below the railing.  She smiled so big and said Bishop Perrone!  He and she just had this biggest embrace and it was just so touching! She said she was so excited to see him and she asked how his day was.  He said it was just great because he got to see her!  She said she felt the same way.  They chit chatted for a bit.  Then, he said I feel so close to you Bridgett and a part of your life.  Our family prays for you every day.  She was just so tickled about that!  I started to tear up!  It was just so touching thinking of all of those that have prayed and still pray for our Bridgett!  Thank you everyone!  Thank you so much.  She needs those prayers and we can feel how much every one's prayers really help!  Bridgett talked about Steve off and on throughout the day. 

Second year Day 331 - Saturday November 9, 2013

Today Bridget made a comment that she has made a time or two.  She was trying to remember something and then suddenly said oh my gosh!  This brain injury is so annoying because I can't remember things! It's good that she realizes what is causing the problem.  I remember way back when she was at the inpatient rehab.  The therapists did not realize what I problem she was having with her sight.  A couple of them asked her to do things that literally where impossible given her low vision.  She left therapy saying that she was now dumb.  We went through a hard time back then, trying to help her realize that she's not dumb.  She's as smart as she ever was, but just has a hard time locating information.  One of the therapists said, it's like back in the day when they used card catalogs in the library.  If someone dumped all of them out on the floor in a mess and then asked you to find one of them, it would be hard, almost impossible.  After a brain injury, that's how all of the information is....still there, just not really accessible.  Then the brain has to start recatorgizing things and trying to put things back where it can locate them again.  It can be a long, hard process. 

Second year Day 330 - Friday November 8, 2013

So Bridgett's face book account is now hooked to my gmail.  I changed that months ago because Bridgett couldn't remember her password and it was just easier to have the reset sent to me and I figured I could change it later.  Anyway, apparently when Bridgett went to bed last night, she spent time posting things to face book!  She always goes to bed and reads or plays on the ipad for a half an hour or so before she falls asleep.  Anyway, I woke up this morning with a bunch of email and found that she had replies back to her!  Crazy!  I guess she's remembering being on face book and wanting to do it more!  When she first left home, she was really into face book.  The last couple of years before the accident she had not really spent much time posting, but did stay in touch with people on face book. I take this as a good step forward.  It was really snowy again, and I didn't want Bridgett out walking where it might be slick.  So, instead she rode the bike inside.  Actually, this is what happened.  She was talking to me about face book friends and wanting to hang out with people.  I said that she needed to get back to where she could do things with people like just talking to people without having to be doing something else, and watching movies.  I set a goal a while back that she needs to be able to watch a two hour movie, and that we can start by getting a goal to watch 30 minutes and work up to it.  So, today she said, I can do that!  So, she sat by me on the couch and ate lunch while we watch an episode of the Big Bang Theory (she used to like that).  Then after watching a whole episode, she said I can watch two episodes!  She then got on the bike and rode the bike through a second episode!  WOW!  Of course, she was doing something during both episodes, but the best she's done with watching TV has been 30 minutes or (mostly) less, while she plays or reads on the ipad the entire time!  Progress! 

Second year Day 329 - Thursday November 7, 2013

Walking went great again today.  Afterwards, Bridgett said she wanted to look at face book.  She has never wanted to do that before either, even though I have suggested it numerous times so that maybe she could remember some of her old friends.  Anyway, she started looking at friends, and then after seeing one of her friends pictures, she said she wanted to post something to Brigham.  She couldn't tell me anything about him (how she knew him, etc.) but I remember her talking about him and tried to tell her some things.  She still couldn't remember.  But, it is going to be his birthday tomorrow, so she posted a birthday greeting to him.  She sounded very Bridgett on the post!  And then he commented back to her message!  She was so excited, actually giddy!  She spent the rest of the day just acting so happy.  I think it is a good thing to have her interact somewhat with her old friends and try to remember who they are etc.  Her siblings have mixed views on the whole thing with the objection being that since she doesn't remember people, she might say something silly or they might get upset with her and ruin her chance to see them normally again.  I don't know that it will happen that she can ever see some of these people again anyway, so I'm not so concerned.  Anyway, we'll see.  Anyway, later on in the day she was still giddy about the whole face book thing and I said something to her.  She said, I've got to quit being so happy!  I know, I'll just think about something sad like a crocodile eating me!  Bridgett!  She's just so funny! 

Second year Day 328 - Wednesday November 6, 2013

Today Bridgett gets a big high five.  It was snowing and so we went to Bigfork to walk at the church.  She walked fast for 25 minutes, with no stopping and no granny walking (that's what the physical therapists called it when she walked slow with little steps)!  Then I came home and took Steph out in the snow to walk.  When we came in Bridgett said, I read my blog while you were outside.  What, I said?  She said I goggled my blog and read it for a while when you were outside.  I have told her about the blog before, and I've showed it to her before.  She's seen the heading etc. but never been very interested in the whole thing really. Anyway, she said she just googled Bridgett's bike wreck and found it!  I was so proud of her!  That took iniative, remembering what the blog was called, etc.  I was so happy for the rest of the day! 

Second year Day 327 - Tuesday November 5, 2013

Today Bridgett suddenly said something and ended it with dontcha know.  Then she said, what's that cartoon with the little blond boy on a trike riding everywhere and his mom always says dontcha know?  I remembered what she was talking about but couldn't remember the cartoon.  Bridgett called Arrianne, but she didn't know what Bridgett was talking about.  Later that night she suddenly said, oh, its Bobby's World!  She asked Tyler about it before bed and right when she was telling him he said, oh, that's Bobby's World.  I said that Arri couldn't remember and he said that Scott, Jenn, Bridgett and he used to see it occasionally but not the younger girls.  Today when we went walking I turned on a little music on my iphone.  Bridgett just started jogging the minute she heard it.  It was like she did it so often before the wreck (jogged to her music) that she just started it automatically again!  Cool!

Second year Day 326 - Monday November 4, 2013

Tyler's birthday!  Today Bridgett had an appointment to get her hair trimmed today.  We have been talking about this for weeks now, that she just wants a trim and maybe some thinning.  She used to regularly have her hair thinned because its SO thick.  Anyway, she woke up this morning and wished Tyler happy birthday, and then told him that she was going to go and get a pixie cut!  What!!  Luckily, I have always told the girls that they need to think about cutting their hair for at least 30 days before they actually do it, in order to avoid those "hormonally based decisions" we sometimes make.  So, I called Sharon and cancelled the appointment and said we'd reschedule it in a few days.  Bridgett actually cut her hair quite short one time while she was at college, but she didn't like it.  She usually kept it about shoulder length, as an adult.  Of course, as a teenager, she had waist length hair, but she cut it off when she was 16 and donated like 18 inches (or something crazy like that) to Locks of Love.  Her hair is so thick, they had to put it in two huge pony tails when they cut it off.  Since that time, she wore it shoulder length, although in the months before her wreck, she had told all of us that she wanted to grow it out so that she could do fancy things with it. 

Second year Day 325 - Sunday November 3, 2013

Sometimes I get asked about Bridgett's neck.  I did blog that the neurologist is happy with the fact that she is to a point where she is not having to take Lortab very much.  I told him that she makes it about three weeks without too much pain and then the fourth week she is on Lortab and Robaxin.  He said that given her injury, he is happy with where she is at this point.  She does have days that she can't get her shirt off  by herself (arms over the head is painful).  She often will tell me, when asked, that it feels like she has someone poking her all day...annoying, but not particularly painful--and not bad enough for any kind of pain relievers.  She has the days where I have to use the tuning forks on the neck or where we break down and give her Advil.  Luckily, she is having very few Lortab and Robaxin days overall, although the closer we get to our next appointments with Faith, the more she usually needs to take pain relievers and even Lortab.  Right now, it's been three and a half weeks since her last appointment, and I can tell that without even looking because Bridgett is having more pain.  Unfortunately, this time she has to go six weeks before she has an appointment, instead of four weeks, the longest she has even gone since we started seeing Faith.  It will be tough, those last couple of weeks, but at least we haven't started with the Lortab yet.  Hopefully she will be in shape for flying on the 17th, as we are flying to Colorado for the next appointments. It was the only option to see Faith in November.

Second year Day 324 - Saturday November 2, 2013

Today Bridgett was thinking about her car wreck, which happened during the summer of 2009 (I think).  She was driving home from Utah and had made it to Seeley Lake.  I had just talked to her like ten minutes before I got a phone call that she had been in a wreck.  Someone on the scene called me.  They said she was OK but that the paramedics were checking her out.  Eventually we found that she was being life flighted to Missoula, so we drove to Missoula to bring her home.  She was fine, just banged up and bruised, but OK and we were able to take her home in about four hours. Anyway, Bridgett was remembering about that wreck and suddenly she turned to me (without having said anything prior about the wreck) and said....I told them that I was OK and didn't need to go to the hospital, but they life flighted me anyway.  I reassured her that we knew she had, that we never did blame her for being life flighted, that it was just a precaution and not to worry herself about it.  Another example of the random memories that Bridgett is having.  Of course, this one may not be so random, since it involved another wreck, a hospital, and her recent thoughts about her bike wreck. 

Second year Day 323 - Friday November 1, 2013

Today when we were headed to town, Bridgett saw a bike rider and said, if I hadn't been wearing a helmet, would I have died?  Yes, I said, you almost died and you were wearing a helmet. Its a sobering thought for all of us. 

Second year Day 322 - Thursday October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!  Bridgett painted her fingernail today, as did Stephany.  After only one fingernail was painted, suddenly she turned to me and said, this is just like when Scott had one fingernail painted and played basketball.  It was painted dark blue!  Thinking back, I remembered that time.  Their cousin, Mandy, had painted one fingernail, and just for fun Scott left it painted and played basketball.  If I remember right, his coach was not any too happy about it.  Scott played for the homeschool team and they were very strict.  Anyway, he only left it there for about two days.  So, after Bridgett remembered this, I called Scott and asked him if he remembered that time.  He laughed and said he'd forgotten about it until I mentioned it, but he had a good laugh with us about it.  Like I said, random memories! 

Second year Day 321 - Wednesday October 30, 2013

Today Arrianne flew with the rest of the Chamber Choir to Charleston for the NCCO,  National Collegiate Choral Organization, Fifth National Conference.  Their choir was one of the (I think) eleven choirs asked to participate.  It was a very large honor.  I believe BYU was the only other Utah choir asked to attend.  I asked her if it was a competition.  She said no, if you were asked to attend you already were chosen as one of the best college choirs.  She said the UVU chamber choir is one of the top 20 college choral groups.  Neat!  They will be in Charleston until Saturday.  Today Bridgett said, when it had been one year since the wreck, we should have had a celebration, because I'm alive!  I told her we did, she just doesn't remember it.  But we will for sure have another one this year (and probably for many years to come!).  So, this time she wants to plan something, and I will let her decide what to do and so its really fun for her!  Hmmm......I just remembered that we will be in Utah at that time, for appointments.  Mark will be driving us, in case of inclement weather.  So, we can work around that.  This way we can be with Scott and Jenn's families as well, although Tyler will be here.  Maybe we'll have to have two celebrations!  I know Bridgett would never complain about that! 

Second year Day 320 - Tuesday October 29, 2013

Whenever we are in the car and see someone on a bike without a helmet, Bridgett is sure to comment to me that they must want to die.  Of course, they don't want to die, but they just don't realize the danger they are putting themselves in.  If anyone of you is reading this blog and bikes without a helmet--stop and remember to wear a helmet!  Today, Bridgett said, if I hadn't have been wearing a helmet, would I have died?  YES, I told her!  You almost died and you WERE wearing a helmet!  Thank goodness for that helmet and thank goodness that I insisted on buying a really, really good helmet! 

Second year Day 319 - Monday October 28, 2013

More random memories!  Bridgett suddenly talked to me about someone that she knew when she was very little and about hula dancing with them...Sheri Meier and her kids.  It's always fun and random the things that she remembers!  And, the little details that she seems to remember, when she still doesn't have the whole picture.  The brain is a very interesting and complex thing! 

Second year Day 318 - Sunday October 27, 2013

Sometimes I panic about how fast the time is going.  Today was one of these days.  I look at how close we are getting to year two.  I hope we are doing everything we can to help Bridgett heal.  I remember our hope that everything would be fairly normal by year two and I try not to be sad, but focused on the whole picture.  Sometimes its hard.  Months and months ago, Mark's cousin Jerry called me and talked to me about Bridgett and it was so comforting.  He said that they personally knew a boy and a girl that had a TBI.  The boy healed quickly and was pretty well back to normal I think he said at about 18 months out.  The girls took three years, but then she was back to functioning normally.  I sometimes go over this in my mind and remind myself that everyone is an individual and has their own healing time frame.  In the eternal realm of things, time matters little.  But in our mortal life, we do worry about the time frames somewhat.  Anyway, I also remind myself that Bridgett is young and even if it takes a long time, she still will have many years of life left.  I pray constantly and try to have faith in God's promises. 

Second year Day 317 - Saturday October 26, 2013

On thing that I know I have talked about before, but is worth mentioning again, is the fact that Bridgett has such an appreciation for the small things in life since the accident.  So, when we are outside, she notices even the smallest thing and comments on the beauty of the world and all of Heavenly Fathers creations.  It helps us all stop and "smell the roses" a little more.  We all get caught up in our lists of things to do (mental or otherwise!) and forget to just enjoy the moment.  I do appreciate this aspect of our life now.....enjoying life for what it is and enjoying the moment! 

Second year Day 316 - Friday October 25, 2013

I don't know if I've posted this before, but Bridgett continues to ask me lots of driving related questions that I can answer!  She remembers laws about driving etc, but asks stuff like how far back from a stop light is the line where you have to stop?  Hmmmm.  Like I say, some stuff I know, some stuff I know where to look up, some stuff we google, some stuff....we just don't know and can't find out!