Third year Day 57 - Saturday February 8, 2014

We had a long session with Faith this morning.  After her regular body/brain work, she had Bridgett do different aspects of her program and she had her hands on Bridgett's head, testing her brain during these activities.  She said that a couple of the Lumosity games were too easy for Bridgett now, and her brain was not having to work at these activities any more.  Actually, these were things that her speech therapist had her work on, not Bob.  When Bridgett is reading on the ipad, she suggested changing the font smaller once a week, so that she has to work harder that day.  The dreaded spinning activity that she is really mostly unable to do anyway, is not helping with the vestibular system any way at this point.  Instead of us spinning Bridgett, they are having her spin herself at her own speed.  She is sitting in an office chair and just uses her own feet to very slowly turn around.  She goes super, super slowly.  I haven't been able to see that it could benefit her at all, but we have been doing it daily anyway.  At this point, I think we will just skip it.  All of the rest of her program seems to be working for her.  I just need to be sure to help her so that there is intensity, for a short period of time.  That is what Bob recommends anyway.  After all of this, Bridgett was tired and said let's quit talking about school!  So, in fact, we did!  We checked out and headed back to Provo.  There is a severe winter storm warning in effect for Idaho through Monday at 5 p.m. and also through southern Montana.  I have decided not to leave until that is over.  I talked to someone today whose parents live in Malad.  She said they had a foot of snow over night and more to come tomorrow.  Also, there are supposed to be super low temperatures and high winds.  Crazy to even think of traveling!  So, I will stay in Provo I guess until Tuesday morning, and then hope to be able to make it through.  When I left home, I was planning on going back to Provo Friday, and leaving for home today.  The best laid plans!  Today was Jenn's big moving day.  It was supposed to now and luckily that didn't pan out.  I was going to stop there on the way back from Richfield to Provo, but two of the kids are throwing up, so we had to just skip that and go straight to Provo.  I called Scott and he said that I could see him some time tomorrow.  Bridgett said, let's not talk about it.  I just want to get to the hotel and rest!

Third year Day 56 - Friday February 7, 2014

Initially Faith thought that she would be only able to see us through this afternoon, however, she said that Bridgett still needs another session.  She decided to rearrange her plans for the weekend so that she could see Bridgett tomorrow as well.  Luckily I had made reservations for an extra day!  Actually, for quite some time I have been doing that.  I can always cancel the reservation for one or two days, but I can't always get an extra day or two.  So, I always make every reservation for longer than I think, and I always have overlapping days between Provo and Richfield.  Our appointments have been going well this trip.  Last trip, Faith was able to do a lot of brain work, which was awesome.  This trip has been a lot of body work and some brain work.  It's actually better for Bridgett to have appointments this often, it's just super hard on all of us to actually travel this much, and live in a hotel this much.  I always have a list of things to tell Faith.  One of the things on my list this time was the fact that Bridgett has said several times that her left leg weighs so much more than her right leg, so she feels off balance.  Of course, it is a brain thing, and often she has weird sensations for a time.  Also, her right eye and ear have been randoming hurting off and on.  Faith says that as the bones in the brain are moving, it is causing pressure on different places.  She worked on this today and immediately the eye pain went away.  That eye pain had been bothering Bridgett for weeks.

Third year Day 55 - Thursday February 6, 2014

By this morning things were much calmer for Bridgett.  I think this entire trip we will not do any school and I will be very careful not to push her at all.  However, after I decided this Bridgett on her own did one of her ipad apps and scored the highest she has yet.  This leads me to wonder, how much does pushing help the brain then, really.  I did talk to Faith about that a little.  She said that she will gp through each of Bridgett's school activities at the end of the week, while she feels the amount of brain activity, and let me know what she thinks about all of that.  Hmmmm......Do you ever feel like this.....the more answers you get, the more questions there are?

Third year Day 54 - Wednesday February 5, 2014

We checked out of the hotel and left Provo about 9:30, with plans to meet Faith at about 12:00.  We have never seen her at her place now, so we left ourselves some extra time.  We stopped by Jen's on the way out of town. The kids were sick, so I just ran up and gave her a kiss and hug and she waved and yelled to Bridgett.  I didn't know if Bridgett would want lunch before her appointment or not.  Since we wake up by 6:00 (and me even earlier), we usually have lunch by 11:30.  However, Bridgett was still having neck pain and didn't feel like eating.  Off and on she has had to use the neck brace ever since we left Montana.  Thankfully we had it with us.  Our appointment went well and Faith was able to immediately relieve Bridgett's neck pain.  We were supposed to have an afternoon appointment with her, so that she could do brain work for Bridgett, but that was not to be.  After she worked on Bridgett, she said, that must have been some appointment yesterday!  She said that Bridgett's brain is just buzzing and she just needs to rest and be calm for the rest of the day and hopefully things will be better tomorrow for brain work.  So, we left Faith's and headed to Richfield to check in to the hotel.  We stopped and picked up some lunch and did a little walking in Walmart.  We checked into our "usual" room; we almost always stay in the same room!  However, the gal at the desk said that we would be able to stay for Wednesday and Thursday in that room and then have to move to a king suite for Friday.  Whatever!  I noticed when I booked the room online that the normal larger queen room was unavailable.  We need that larger room, because Faith will come and see us at the hotel and she needs room for her massage table.  We'll worry about it all on Friday. She said that there was a high school wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday so there would be lots of teenagers at the hotel.  Hopefully it won't be too noisy! 

Third year Day 53 - Tuesday February 4, 2014

This morning we had a nice breakfast and then did a little walking.  Bridgett's favorite place to walk is Target, probably because she finds so many cute things there!  We did find some super cute scarves that were on clearance for only $4 so that was a great find!  One of them was a scarf that Stephany had wanted but didn't want to pay full price; she saw it a few trips ago.  Then the last trip it was 20% off, and then 70% off this trip!  Usually we aren't around long enough to see these things go on clearance like that, but our trips were spaced out just right!  At length it was time for our appointment.  I had consulted with our lawyer about the fact that I wanted to be in the room while they talk to Bridgett.  He advised me requesting to be in with her but not pushing too hard.  He said that if they said I couldn't be in with her, to request that I be able to check on her every 30 minutes.  Remember, they had said that the appointment was scheduled for three hours!!  Crazy!!  I had the guardianship papers with me and I was all ready, or so I thought.  However, when we got to the appointment, it was in a very new office building.  The foyer was very nice and the receptionist desk had no phone or receptionist!  The examiner came out of the only inhabited office and seemed very nice.  I told him my position.  He said that he was unable to allow me to be with Bridgett, but that he would leave the door unlocked and that I could open it and check on her at any time whatever.  I consented as I did feel that things were OK.  I did tell him that she would probably need to walk around the room and move so that she could be comfortable with her neck issues. She was in the office for approximately seven minutes when the door opened and Bridgett told me that she needed pain medication; she was in obvious pain already.  I gave her some pain meds and she walked around for a bit and then consented to going back to the appointment.  I could stand outside the door and hear them talking although I could not tell what they were saying.  I opened up the door about every 15 minutes to check on her.  It was a long time for all of us!  The appointment lasted one hour and 45 minutes.  At the end of the appointment, he told me that he was not allowed by Social Security to give me any information but that I could request that the info be sent to our neurologist and then he could give me a copy of the report.  He was very nice but also said that the appointment had been very demanding on Bridgett and she was free to curse him all the rest of the day!  Hah!  He also told her to go and do something fun and get a treat!  She was smiling when we left the office, but as soon as we got in the car she began to rant (no cursing)!  She called Tyler and ranted to him for five minutes or so.  She ranted all the way back to the hotel and then finally quit ranting.  However, off and on all day she expressed her displeasure at the long appointment, her neck pain, the demanding questions and problems, etc.  She did always say that the doctor was very nice and understanding.  However, she said, let's never do this again!  We tried to think of something fun to do or a nice treat.  Eventually she settled on having a brownie, one of her favorite desserts.  Arrianne didn't have any classes this afternoon, so we tried to just rest and visit and do happy and fun things.  I was exhausted really by evening and crashed early with Bridgett, about 7:00.  Tomorrow we drive to Faith's house for appointments there.  Since we had to drive back so soon to Utah, we figured that we might as well see her too.  She can see us the rest of the week. 

Third year Day 52 - Monday February 3, 2014

Bridgett and I dropped Arrianne off at UVU this morning and then went to the Provo Town Center Mall to browse for dresses for Arrianne.  She needs a recital dress for her Junior Recital, but doesn't have a lot of time to look.  We actually found three great dresses and put them on hold for Arri to try on later today.  We were able to get in our daily walking at the mall this way, although all too soon Bridgett was in pain again.  We went straight to the hotel and spent the morning resting, visiting and playing cards.  When it was time to go and pick up Arrianne, Bridgett said she could not go.  She didn't want to get in the car for any reason at all because of her neck pain and was also very tired and wanted to take a nap.  I notice that when her pain in higher, she usually wants to nap.  I had to get Arrianne, since she didn't have a car, but I was reluctant to leave Bridgett alone. I had qualms about leaving her asleep...what if she woke up and was disoriented and no one was there?  She might forget that she had my phone, etc.  She put it in her pocket and I reluctantly left as there was nothing else to do.  I got Arrianne and then we ran to a store that was on the way between UVU and the hotel.  There we were not able to find a dress, so we hurried back to the hotel.  We had been gone over an hour and Bridgett usually only sleeps for an hour.  We had tried texting but she hadn't answered; just before we got there we even tried calling but no answer.  Of course, at that point I was nervous to say the least!  Bridgett has very acute and actually hyper sensitive hearing since the wreck, and the sound of the text coming in should have awakened her and the ring of the phone for sure!  When we got to the room, she was just getting out of bed and said she just woke up.  I asked her if she'd heard the phone and she hadn't.  We checked the ringer and it was on, so I guess she was REALLY asleep!  We visited with her for a bit and played a few games.  Then I said that we needed to run to the mall and look at the dresses.  Again she declined coming and no amount of talking about it would change her mind.  So, again I left her for over an hour to go to the mall and try on dresses.  From time to time we called and checked on her.  Sometimes she forgets that she has the phone, etc. so might become alarmed and not know what to do.  However, she was fine, Arrianne found a dress and everything worked out great.  We even had time to run to the alteration shop close to the hotel and talk to them about alterations.  All in all it was actually a pretty productive day.  Tomorrow is the big appointment and I wanted Bridgett to be well rested and that worked out. 

Third year Day 51 - Sunday February 2, 2014

Ground Hog Day!  Bridgett always remembers this day and loves the watch Ground Hog Day with Bill Murray.  She is always quoting from this and other movies (although now she can't always remember which movie she is quoting from!)  One of her favorite quotes is when Bill Murray is "teaching" the ground hog to drive and says "side of your eye, side of your eye."  Anyway, in honor of the day, and the movie, I am placing some quotes from the movie below.  Remember any of these
quotes from the Bill Murray 1993 classic – Groundhog Day?

1. You wanna throw up here, or you wanna throw up in the car? I think… both.
2. Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster? I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.
3. It’s the same thing your whole life: “Clean up your room. Stand up straight. Pick up your feet. Take it like a man. Be nice to your sister. Don’t mix beer and wine, ever.” Oh yeah: “Don’t drive on the railroad track.” Well, Phil, that’s one I happen to agree with.
4. Come on, *all* the long distance lines are down? What about the satellite? Is it snowing in space? Don’t you have some kind of a line that you keep open for emergencies or for celebrities? I’m both. I’m a celebrity in an emergency.
5. This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.
6. This is pitiful. A thousand people freezing their butts off waiting to worship a rat. What a hype. Groundhog Day used to mean something in this town. They used to pull the hog out, and they used to eat it. You’re hypocrites, all of you!
7. He… might be okay. [the truck explodes in a fireball] Well, no. Probably not now.
8. If you gotta shoot, aim high. I don’t wanna hit the groundhog.
9. You want a prediction about the weather, you’re asking the wrong Phil. I’ll give you a winter prediction: It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be grey, and it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life.
10. What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?
    Ralph: That about sums it up for me.
11. Not bad… Mr. Connors, you say this is your first lesson? Phil: Yes, but my father was a piano *mover*, so…

HaHa.  Anyway, I woke up and the roads are pretty clear, so we hopped in the car and took off, after saying a teary goodbye to Stephany.  This is the first time she has not gone with us.  It's just too hard of a trip on her and since its hardly been any time since the last trip, she can't really make it.  The worse roads were between our house and Polson, where it was snowing and snow packed.  After that, things cleared up and were actually pretty good the rest of the way.  We stopped in Dillon for gas and then Bridgett made it all the way from there to Provo without stopping!  This has NEVER happened since her wreck.  However, she began to have neck pain about 90 minutes out and the pain got pretty severe.  She put on the neck brace and took pain killers.  I wanted her to get out and walk, but she just wanted to get to Provo and get out then.  In retrospect, I should have insisted that she get out and walk and didn't; but, now I know better for next time.  I got checked into the hotel and met Arriane there.  We put Bridgett in the hotel wheelchair in order to get her up to the room and then got her on the bed on the heating pad.  She was really in agony!  We had wanted to stop and see Scott, but of course, that was out of the question with Bridgett's neck pain.  She finally was able to relax and the pain moderated enough to actually fall asleep.  She woke up in the night for pain killers as well.

Third year Day 50 - Saturday February 1, 2014

I was talking during the week about Bridgett's tolerance for noise lately.  Also, I've noticed that she has a greater tolerance for pain.  Women can relate to this.....plucking her eyebrows.  She can't do that herself, because of vision issues.  But, when I pluck her eyebrows, she almost can't stand it!  Each hair is agony to her.  Of course, she never had that problem before the TBI.  Anyway, today I plucked her eyebrows and she let me do that whole thing without flinching even!  Wow!  Impressive!  Hope this trend holds up!!  I've been watching the weather and road reports.  I think that we will be able to make the trip.  Of course, that's one reason why I want to plan to go now.  If there's a problem, at least we tried for our first appointment attempt and then we will still have a second attempt.  At this point it seems that the best day for driving will be Sunday, although I hate to drive on Sunday.  However, that day seems the most clear for storms in Montana, Idaho and Utah.  I am packing everything up and then I will make a final decision in the morning. 

Third year Day 49 - Friday January 31, 2014

After thinking and praying about the trip to Utah, we have decided that we'd better just try to keep this appointment.  I will watch the road conditions and decided what day will be best for traveling.  I called the examiner and told her we'd be there next week.  I am now trying to think of everything that needs to be done before we leave.  We just came home ten days ago!  Crazy!  And, this is such a busy time of year for me anyway, with tax time just around the corner.  Corporate taxes are due by 3/15 and I try to get them turned into our accountant by 2/15.  This year I will not make that deadline for sure.  Luckily though, Melissa and I did work quite a bit in December on corporate taxes and things will be a little easier this year in that light.  Things seem to work out, right!  Now, start packing again.....

Third year Day 48 - Thursday January 30, 2014

I was talking yesterday, saying that Bridgett's usually game to try things.  That's one thing about her personality that always been there, and really still is.  Bridgett has always been a person that has decided what to do and has not been afraid to try new things.  For instance, when she was young she played sports but never played soccer.  Then, when she was in sixth grade, at a time when soccer was really starting to get competitive, she decided she wanted to play.  I tried to explain that the team maybe wouldn't be too happy with someone inexperienced joining up, but that didn't faze her at all.  She had me sign her up, and started playing with gusto.  She only played that one year here, but she had a great time and made lots of friends.  True, some players were so competitive that they were upset with her inexperience, but that didn't bother Bridgett in the least.  Then, when she went to Utah for the second half of her senior year, she wanted to play on the high school team.  She tried out, and got on the team and played her heart out!  Actually, just before one of the games, she went out and got new cleats.  She played in them before they were broken in--big ouch!  She got terrible blisters, but kept playing anyway, for the team!  Brother DeGraff was the coach, and when he saw her blisters later on he couldn't believe it.  They needed her, and she wouldn't quit, even in pain.  (good thing I wasn't there, although if I had been I wouldn't have let her play in new cleats!)  Then, in college, even though she'd never even seen a rugby game, someone asked her to try out for the team and she went to practice and tried out and was selected to be on the team.  She loved rugby and had an awesome year playing.  She played hard and got hurt and kept on playing anyway.  True rugby spirit, huh!  She made lots of friends, including the fact that she dated a rugby player on the men's team.  Actually, she often practiced with the men's team, and even got to play with the All Blacks when they came to work out and teach the men's team.  She was in her glory that day!  She had wanted to try to work hard on rugby, and get on the women's Olympic team.  They will have rugby in the Olympics in 2016.  She planned and hoped to be there!  Her episode with losing an ovary due to a torsion scared both of us.  The doctors said that sometimes women get hit and lose an ovary, and after losing one ovary already, she couldn't risk losing another.  Back in those rugby days, I worried about her getting a head injury or another bad injury, since they don't wear helmets or pads.  We talked about finding a different sport to throw her energy into.  At length she decided to switch to Triathlon, and began her training for competing in that.  Who knew that her decision to switch to Triathlon would be the thing that endangered her and led to her accident and TBI while training on her road bike!

Third year Day 47 - Wednesday January 29, 2014

I got a letter from Disability about a week ago, requesting that Bridgett appear for an appointment, in Utah, on the 4th of February.  I called and talked to the examiner and explained that we had just been down there and would be traveling back towards the end of February and asked if they'd reschedule the appointment for when we are already down there.  She said that their policy was that the appointment could be rescheduled once and then if it is missed for any reason (sickness, flat tire, anything) that she would be automatically denied any benefits.  Actually, I applied for benefits for her last August and they still have been collecting data, etc and not made a determination yet.  What a process!  Mark and I are discussing what should be done at this point.  I can't hardly think about driving down in the winter again so soon, but then again, the pressures on at this point.  We have been praying about it and I told the examiner that we would give her a decision by Friday at the latest.  Many things to think about and consider, including storm reports, etc.  Bridgett doesn't want to go at this point, but I can explain it to her.  She's pretty much game to try things. 

Third year Day 46 - Tuesday January 28, 2014

One thing I need to mention to Faith is that since Bridgett's last set of appointments, I've really noticed that she is tolerating noise so much better!  There have been several times that I have turned on my stereo (yes, we are that old fashioned here!) and played music fairly loudly in the house and she's tolerated it!  Usually, she has to go into another part of the house if music is played at any volume at all.  Also, Mark was helping out with some vacuuming today and Bridgett didn't go to the bedroom and shut the door.  I even asked her if the noise was bothering her and she said, well if it goes on for like a half an hour it will probably bother me, but right now its fine!! Wow!  That's a huge improvement!  Exciting!

Third year Day 45 - Monday January 27, 2014

Today Bridgett was talking about things she wants to do for a job when she gets beter.  She almost always talks about going back to college to get a degree; she only sometimes goes back to her old plan to be a personal trainer.  Of course, that is something almost impossible to think about at this time, but could hopefully happen as time goes on.  She often talks about doing something to help other people.  From time to time I talk to her about being a public speaker.  She has the personality for it and also a voice that carries; her speeches would be full of humor and animation, for sure!  Actually, when she went to college as a freshman, she was a English major and wanted to go into Journalism. 

Third year Day 44 - Sunday January 26, 2014

Bridgett always wakes up excited to go to church and begins to get her clothes ready.  However, as she wakes up at 6:00 usually, she has plenty of time to slowly start hurting and often by the time church rolls around, she doesn't feel well enough to go at all.  However, today was a  good day and she was able to go.  It was our ward conference and she was very excited to see President Clark, our Stake President.  He was previously the Bishop in the Singles ward, and really we've known him all of Bridgett's life.  We went to church late, just as sacrament meeting was over, planning on staying to Sunday School at least.  We met President Clark in the hall and Bridgett was just bursting with excitement and told him how excited she was to see him.  He gave her a hug and told her she was one of his favorite people and he was also excited to see her!  That really made her day!  We went to Sunday School and President Thorderson was teaching, from the Stake Presidency.  He is in our ward, so Bridgett knows him.  Also, we consulted him when Bridgett broke her finger playing Rugby.  The doctors in Utah wanted her to have surgery to fix the finger that had healed improperly, but he gave us a second opinion to use bracing, etc. to straighten the finger and it worked!  Bridgett was very happy about that (as were we of course!).  She made it for about 10 minutes of Sunday School and then needed to get up to walk.  Mark went to the hall with her, since he usually can't and I have to miss things so much.  They walked around for the rest of the 50 minute meeting, at which time I took her home as she was in a lot of pain.  Sometimes it makes me just sad watching her try to do things and having so much pain.  But, we all try not to dwell on it and know that things will be better at some point.

Third year Day 43 - Saturday January 25, 2014

Today Bridgett had fun calling Jenn for her birthday, although we weren't able to actually connect with Jenn and just left her a prolonged singing and talking message.  Jenn and Tyler (Fenn, to distinguish my son-in-law from my son) have made an offer on a house in Payson, Utah, and will be closing on the house soon.  They are crazy busy, running around packing, looking at new furniture, trying not to go crazy (!), etc.  It will be strange not having Jenn in Provo, as she's been there for so many years.  However, it is only about 25 minutes south of Provo and in a really great location; the house is just two blocks from the new Payson temple so they'll be in walking distance!  Of course, they will have so much more room and also a fenced yard!  Exciting times for them!

Third year Day 42 - Friday January 24, 2014

Today Bridgett said, I'm glad that I didn't lose my happiness in my accident.  Boy, we are too!  It would be so much more challenging dealing with depression on top of everything else.  I'm very grateful for her wonderful attitude.  Today Arrianne and I were discussing her attitude.  I was reminding her that many months ago she and Stephany were worried about what if Bridgett couldn't remember sarcasm, because she used to use it so much.  I said, don't get worried yet, lets just wait and see.  Now, we all laugh about that, because Bridgett definitely remembers what sarcasm is and uses it regularly!  She has a plucky attitude, mixed in with the right amount of sassiness, and its good to see that she didn't lose that either! 

Third year Day 41 - Thursday January 23, 2014

Today Bridgett talked to me about wearing braces.  This is the first time that she has spontaneously remembered about wearing them.  She asked about how the cement worked, how Dr. Stebbins knows how to adjust them, etc.  She said she remembers the pain when they were adjusted.  She said that even though it hurt a lot, she as glad that she had braces.  I'm glad that she is remembering about them:)

Third year Day 40 - Wednesday January 22, 2014

Another day back home and lots to get done!  I keep the suitcases close, as we use them far too frequently!  But, we have a pretty good routine that's down pat, regarding what to pack etc.  I keep things at home ready for the next trip.  I have a container with "kitchen" stuff in it so we can make things at the hotel.  I have a George Foreman grill and a crockpot that I take, along with spices, etc.  I make steel cut oats in the crockpot for breakfast, complete with maple agave.  I can also make brown rice for me, although I usually make enough at home to last for a while on the trips.  I made sweet potatoes ahead of time this past trip, and we brought those along.  Also, we have a great vegan tapioca pumpkin pudding recipe that I made and brought. We can make chicken or other meat for the girls to eat in the George Foreman grill.  It gets expensive to eat out so much, not to mention that everyone feels kind of yucky without the benefit of home cooked meals.  I have a picnic "basket" with plates and utensils that I take on each trip.  We seem to carry so much stuff with us, but it makes the trip so much easier in the long run. We also carry dish soap, hand soap, shampoo and body wash etc.  We like our brands best.  I keep the hotel shampoo, soap, etc. to give to give away.  We have been collecting these things for quite a while, and we are donating them to the Guest House at the Provo hospital.  They don't provide soap, shampoo etc. but have a box of a few donated items in the laundry room.  Hopefully they will enjoy the large box that I will bring down to them on the next trip! 

Third year Day 39 - Tuesday January 21, 2014

Today we headed back to Montana.  The trip was fairly uneventful.  We made pretty good time and it was great to be back!  We had a funny conversation on the way home.  Bridgett said, when you're old and dad's dead, will you come and live with me?  I said, well, the other kids might want me to come to their place too, you know.  She said, if you come to my house, I'll take care of you, and cook for you, and clean your room for you!  She said, I'll even put potpourri on your pillow every night so it smells so good!  She said, I'll even put chocolates on your pillow, just say you'll come live with me!  It was so cute!  I said, I'm sure that I'll come and spend time with you, but I will also spend time with everyone else.  That's OK, she said.  You'll have the best time with me!  Got to love it!!!

Third year Day 38 - Monday January 20, 2014

Today Bridgett and I got up early and headed to Scott's house, to try and catch him before work.  On the way, we stopped for gas at the Maverik station by the University Mall.  Suddenly Bridgett said, this is where I used to gas up all of the time!  I mean, this exact gas station.  (BTW we have been there before and she never remembered that before now!).  She said that she started gassing up there when she worked at the mall, because it was so handy!  Neat that she remembered!  We then headed to the freeway, to Scott's house.  When we got there, he had just left so we missed him, but we did get to have a nice visit with Jaclyn and Weston.  Bridgett was very happy to get to hug Westy and see his Christmas presents (as was I).  Afterwards, we headed over to my moms house, which is only about five or so minutes away.  By the time we got there, Bridgett was not feeling very well and didn't want to go inside.  So, she sat in the car and played on the ipad and read for a bit while I visited mom.  I called outside to check on her and she didn't answer, so I went outside to check.  She was fine; I asked her why she didn't answer, and she said that she didn't know it would be for her:)  I really think it would have been better for us to stay another day in Richfield, and hopefully I won't live to regret it (along with Bridgett). I think that extra day would have helped Bridgett feel better and able to visit longer today.  Arrianne didn't have school today, so we all got to spend some more time together.  It's so good for the girls to be together!  We plan to leave in the morning. 

Third year Day 37 - Sunday January 19, 2014

I don't think I posted about this yet.  Bridgett got Jenn some soap from Bath and Body Works for Christmas, along with some other small things.  Anyway, the hand soap was gingerbread scented and Bridgett was really excited to give it to Jenn.  She gave it to her early and told her to open it before Christmas and enjoy it during the holidays.  Jenn called a few days later and said that it was the best present ever, for this reason.  She said she is always nagging at the boys to wash after using the bathroom, but ever since they opened the soap, they always wash up every time!  So, she said the secret to getting little boys to wash their hands.....good smelling soap!  Hah!  Anyway, Bridgett was pretty excited that her present made such a hit with Jenn! 

Third year Day 36 - Saturday January 18, 2014

Today we all had fun doing some shopping.  Its great for the three girls to get time together and fun for me to be with them too!  We all had a blast!  We pretty well all got tried out shopping and then collapsed at the hotel for some rest.  I had an appointment with Cameo to work on my shoulder this evening.  I was glad that I could work in another appointment this trip!  I'm having trouble catching up with Scott and his family, as they are always busy with Weston's basketball practices or games.  He had a game last night, but it was right at dinner time, up in Murray and with the traffic situation here, there is no way that I could have made it in time.  Bummer!  Hopefully I will get to see them yet!  We've been able to sneak a few quick visits with Jenn and her kids.  When Bridgett hasn't felt like going inside, she has waited in the car and then Jenn has gone out to visit in the car with her.  Sometimes she just doesn't want to be around the noise and other times she just doesn't feel good enough to go in. 

Third year Day 35 - Friday January 17, 2014

We actually had appointments scheduled with Faith through tomorrow, but the girls really want to get back to Provo and see Arrianne for the long weekend.  Faith worked on the girls for quite a while this morning and then said that she felt that they would be OK until next time.  She's seen us every day in the morning and afternoon this week, so we actually got a lot done for both of them.  As I mentioned earlier, we are at a point where she is able to do a lot of brain work for Bridgett.  She said that there is a certain protocol of nosodes that she can do next time we come down.  Bridgett has not been to a point where it would be beneficial yet but by then she thinks it will really help things out.  We made the drive back to Provo with no issues.  I had wanted to stop at Young Living for some oils, but last time we were there Stephany saw a cat.  I called ahead and sure enough there is a cat and they do let it inside.  Stephany is sensitive enough to cats that if I walked in shopping and got back in the car it would cause her a problem.  Drat!  Oh well, we can order over the phone or online.  It's just fast and easy to stop on the way and I do usually stop on the way back from Faith's.  These past couple of months, though, we have been very careful with Stephany's exposure to cats, hoping to keep things in check while her system gets stronger. Then we are hoping that we will be able to tolerate little things like me going in to someplace where there is cats:)  When she was little it was a problem too.  I remember that we used to spend a lot of time in the Flathead County Library, as part of our homeschooling.  Then, the library got a cat.  I didn't realize it at first, but every time we went to the library she got sick and then finally I had to admit it was the library cat!  Drat again! 

Third year Day 34 - Thursday January 16, 2014

Whether we are in Provo or in Richfield, Bridgett and I wake up very early and we go walking.  We walk at Target in Provo and Walmart in Richfield.  This way we are inside and not out walking in the dark and also we don't have to worry about ice/snow.  We walk up and every isle of the stores at least once and they are pretty big stores.  We can definitely get in 20-30 minutes of walking, depending on how Bridgett is feeling on that particular day.  I don't know what the people in the store think!  We do often grab something while we are there, even if it's only something little like a headband!  Bridgett found the cutest headband on clearance today and she was so excited to wear it.  We were talking about famous people this morning.  I can't remember who we were specifically talking about at one point but Bridgett said....I'm impressed by his famousity!  Another one of the Bridgett words!  She knows they are not really words, she just likes to make up new ones and always has.  However, Arrianne said maybe we'd better have her be a little more careful about made up words now since the wreck, because people might think that she doesn't know the real words.  True.  So I am trying to remind her to be a little more careful about made up words. 

Third year Day 33 - Wednesday January 15, 2014

I forgot to post last week that I saw Cameo for some work on my shoulder.  Off and on I have had problems with my shoulders, including frozen shoulder in the right one about 10 years ago.  In the early months of Bridgett's wreck I was struggling with problems with my left shoulder.  Cameo is a medical massage therapist, and she's just awesome with shoulders! I had taken Bridgett to see her initially, and five minutes into the appointment she told me she would be able to help with my shoulder; I didn't even say I had problems with my shoulder, she just looked and could tell.  She worked on it only twice and it was so much better.  Also, she gave me exercises to do that really helped.  Now, its the right shoulder again.  It's not out of the socket, but its rotated incorrectly in the socket and causing pain.  She worked on it last week when I was in Provo (she's in Pleasant Grove) and its already feeling somewhat better.  Faith thinks that four appointments should get it back in shape.  I plan to see Cameo this Saturday and then on the next trip hopefully I will be able to see her on the way down and on the way back.