Third year Day 142 - Sunday May 4, 2014

Mark and Arrianne said they were better, but they both had a relapse today.  Bridgett and Stephany were pretty played out after the drive yesterday, and I didn't have much energy either.  We all rested and slept off and on today.  I was thinking about some funny things that Bridgett said on the trip that I never posted yet.  One day we saw a girl going into Smith's and she was a really cute girl wearing big baggy basketball shorts and a tee shirt with flip flops.  See that girl, Bridgett said, that's how I like to dress and I'm not the only one.  Lots of people dress like that, see! Haha!  It was funny that she remembered that, as she did use to love wearing those big baggy shorts and flip flops.  I always just put it down to being an athlete.  She did wear a cute top though and she always looked cute just because she was.  However, I did at times try to encourage her to dress up a little more.  But, it was Bridgett and she certainly had plenty of dates and guy liked her!  Another funny thing.....we were parking and had the handicap permit in the window.  A policeman went past us and she said, can they give someone a ticket if they park in the handicapped space and don't have a permit or that person isn't in the car?  Yes I said.  She said, well if they stop me I will say, I can park here!  Am I handicapped?  Yo, look at my eyes!  Haha!  You can just picture Bridgett saying that, can't you!  She's a kick!

Third year Day 141 - Saturday May 3, 2014

We left about 8:30, although loading up the cars was a little crazy.  We were on the freeway by 9:00 and hoping to make it home by 8:00.  We will have to stop several times I'm sure.  Actually the girls all did great and we made good time.  Mark followed us (after we got to Ogden and I caught him) and we stopped at our usual places.  When we got to Deer Lodge, Mark wasn't feeling the greatest.  I said that they girls can't tolerate the Swan cut off usually as they get sick on the winding roads.  Also, I needed some groceries from the Good Food Store in Missoula.  I encouraged him to go through the Swan so he could get home faster, and he took me up on it.  He made it home over an hour before us and unloaded Arrianne's car.  We finally got there just before 8:00 and so I felt that we made good time as well.  We were all glad to be home finally!! On the way home, Bridgett and I talked about this....when we used to drive to Utah for medical appointments after the wreck, Bridgett used to say this every time we crossed any kind of Bridge.....on the bridge, off the bridge.  It was really funny that she'd say that EVERY time!  This trip she did ask me how many bridges we cross going home and I have no idea.  However, we do cross a lot and it's an interesting question:)  Another funny thing she said was that she wished someone would figure out how to teleport so that we wouldn't have to drive so much!

Third year Day 140 - Friday May 2, 2014

We hope to leave tomorrow.  Arrianne is feeling much better today, and was able to get her research paper turned in with time to spare....hah!  Just in time actually:)  Mark and I met with the manager and rented the place and then did a walk through and made notes of a few things that needed to be fixed.  I called and got the electricity in our name.  I talked to the bishop's wife and she was really nice.  Bridgett has had several more appointments with Faith this week and is feeling great:)  In the afternoon we all got a much needed nap and I think that I really needed that before driving tomorrow.  We have two cars going back, and although Arrianne's doing better, she can't really drive.  Mark will drive her car and I will drive mine. 

Third year Day 139 - Thursday May 1, 2014

We were supposed to leave tomorrow to go home, but with Arrianne feeling so awful, we have decided to leave Saturday (if we can).  Hopefully she and Mark will be fit for driving/riding by then.  Also, hopefully everyone else will be in good health:)  I still had not been able to get ahold of the manager of the place we were interested in.  I tried several times to reach her but her mailbox is full and she isn't answering texts or the phone.  In desperation I tried again once again, and she answered!  I said I had waited for her and still wanted terribly to see the place, when she told me that another person was going over there.  I said, you know yesterday you promised me that I could be the first to see it.  She said, if you can go over right now, you can be the first.  I was at the time in the car headed to the store, so went directly there and saw the place by myself.  I loved it inside as well.  I called Mark and asked him to come directly over, and he brought Stephany and came immediately.  We then texted that we'd take the place and asked where to come for an application.  The manager texted back that the owners wanted to change the application somewhat and said she'd sent it by email when it was completed.  We left for the hotel, happy but wondering if it would all work out.  Later in the afternoon, Mark's sister Debbie came over to play cards with Mark, Bridgett and me.  Mark picked her up at the Women's conference at the Marriott center, and then took her back when we were done.  We had a fun time together and we were glad that it all worked out. After that Mark and I met Scott at a Chinese restaurant in American Fork and had dinner and talked for quite a while.  It was really great to spend some extra time with Scott this trip.  Jenn and the twins were sick this week, so we weren't able to see them again. Arrianne spent much of the day sleeping and then trying to put together her research paper.  She has until noon tomorrow and will hopefully be done on time.  It was pretty late when we talked to the manager again.  She had emailed the application which we filled out.  She talked to the owners and they decided that we are a good risk, so she'll meet us tomorrow to get the application, sign the lease and actually rent the property.  A busy but good day!

Third year Day 138 - Wednesday April 30, 2014

Today was Arrianne's big day with two back to back two hour finals plus a recording session in the evening.  She was off to the university early and after today she just had a big research paper to finish tomorrow.  Bridgett and I went to the store this morning and on the way back to the room while walking through the lobby she was holding onto my arm; she only sometimes holds onto my arm while walking.  All of the sudden she said, I think it's because of the brain injury, but sometimes I don't feel steady when I walk so if I hold onto you, its because you are my "steady" feeling.  Of course, I know why she does it, but it's good that she realizes why she feels that way.  All of the sudden I had this feeling to look on my phone at the KSL site for a place to rent, and I saw a place that is in Orem and sounds perfect and it had only posted just minutes before.  I immediately called the number, reached the manager and told her I was very interested.  She said that her maintenance man needed to still go by the place and put a lock box on.  She said that I could see it about 7:00 tonight, after the lock box was in place and that she would just give me the code and we could go in and text her as we entered and left. She also assured me that although she had other messages, I was the first person to actually talk to her and so I could see it first. I was so very excited about it that I left immediately for my appointment to get my teeth cleaned so that I could drive past the place and see the neighborhood etc.  I left Bridgett and Stephany at the hotel with Mark sick in bed.  I was just a minute late to the dentist, but very happy that I drove by because I loved the place from the outside.  Later that afternoon, after Arrianne's finals were done I called her and she left campus with one of her friends and met me at the place to just get a peek through the windows.  I saw that the lock box was on the door now, and tried to call to see the place, but only got a message. We really liked what we saw, but had to leave and wait until later.  Arrianne headed back to campus for her recording session and we headed back to the hotel.  Mark feels a little better but I don't know if he will be able to come look at the place tonight or not.  Arrianne won't but she will have to depend on what Stephany, Bridgett and I decide:)  This afternoon we had a weird thing....a fire drill at the hotel.  They had left a letter under our door that there would be a drill, apologizing for the inconvenience.  When it went off, Mark and Bridgett were both resting (not sleeping) and Stephany and I were just leaving the room to go get some food.  Bridgett declined wearing the Bose headphones, but I think it would have been better; at least it didn't last long:)  Mark felt too sick to worry about it at all, so just stayed in the room with Bridgett. We didn't try the elevator because we didn't know if it would work or not.  The alarm was deafening to say the least; but actually worse in the room than in the hall.  There were two guests in the hallway, leaving their room hurriedly, and wondering if the alarm was real or what was happening.  They were foreigners and had a hard time understanding as I tried to explain it was a drill.  I then said NOT REAL, NO FIRE and they understood that thank goodness.  They were trying to find the stairs and walk all the way down.  Stephany and I just waited a few minutes until it was over, then went down, so no problem.  All evening I waited for a text with the code, and I tried the number but wasn't able to reach the manager.  I was very frustrated and by the time it was about 10:00 I gave up for the day.  Arrianne was gone until about 11:00 and then came home exhausted and feeling terrible.  She said all she had all day to eat was two protein bars and she hadn't had much to drink.  She was shaking and I helped her get some Advil and wrap up in blankets and go to sleep.  During the night she woke up and got in a hot bath because she was shaking and cold; then she had to get out because she threw up.  It was a long night....I think her electrolytes are messed up and she is exhausted.  She said she doesn't feel like the flu, but we are all a little more nervous about being able to drive home by Friday......

Third year Day 137 - Tuesday April 29, 2014

Today Bridgett had an appointment to get her teeth cleaned at Dr. Leishman's in Orem.  We have had a long relationship with him; he is the uncle of a guy that dated Jenn before her mission, and he removed Jenn's wisdom teeth.  He is a super nice guy and slowly all of us have been seeing him.  The girls started seeing him when they moved to Provo, and then since we were there all of the time, we started as well.  The gal that cleaned Bridgett's teeth was Tracy and she had cleaned Bridgett's teeth after her wreck and remembered all about Bridgett and her accident.  It was kind of cool really!  She was such a fun person to be around and so she and Bridgett had a great time together.  Bridgett always has her "Bridgettism" words that she kind of makes up and she used one of those words in front of Tracy and Tracy said, you make up words like I do!!  Tracy was very excited about that. I said that Bridgett calls it her speak-a-ging and Tracy had a good laugh at that word. Bridgett and Tracy had a long conversation about these words and then Tracy told Bridgett that she needed to write a book and that she would co-author with her on it.  Bridgett of course thought that was a great idea!  Someone who appreciates her words:)  Then they talked about cars and Tracy has a mini cooper.  She invited Bridgett to come and take a ride in her mini and then Bridgett said OK but maybe Tracy would like a ride in her convertible mustang!  Tracy thought that sounded cool.  All in all it was a very fun appointment for Bridgett, and entertaining for me as well.  Of course, I always get a kick out of the "Bridgettisms" that I hear almost daily, but it was fun for Bridgett to have someone else appreciate her and have so much fun with her:)  Mark threw up during the night last night.  He thinks he has food poisoning.  Everyone is a little worried to be in such close quarters and not get germs if he does have the flu, especially since Arrianne has finals through Thursday........

Third year Day 136 - Monday April 28, 2014

So far this year we have had over 50 hotel nights.  It's so hard to live this way and have no place to cook, and so expensive as well.  We finally have decided to rent a place for next year.  So, this week while Arrianne is having finals, we are on the hunt for the perfect place.  Then our plan will be that Arrianne and Stephany will live there to go to school, and I will stay there with Bridgett and she will try out an online class that we have been checking out.  Then, Mark will come and visit me instead of me driving back and forth so much.  We will do this for the first semester and then re-evaluate for the second semester.  Hopefully it will all work out, and if not, we will do something else:)  I have been in touch with David Bailey, who used to be in the management at Alpine Village.  We've had someone living there for the past four years, so he knows us well.  Also, remember we stayed there after Bridgett left the rehab hospital, for about three months.  Anyway, he's been very helpful and given us some great leads.  We went and looked at one place today, in the graduate housing area of south Provo.  It was nice, but we were not able to commit about it yet.  It will take Arrianne about five more minutes to get to school and she will have to go on the freeway.  So, we will continue looking. 

Third year Day 135 - Sunday April 27, 2014

This morning I got up early and drove to Riverton to pick up mom and then on to the cemetery to put flowers on dad's grave.  It was so beautiful and so quiet at the Salt Lake City Cemetery this morning.  It was just recently that the headstone was finally placed, and we were the first family members to see it; it looks beautiful!  Arrianne sent the bouquet of red roses that we had given to her for her recital, and we were able to place them in a flower holder in the ground at the top of the headstone.  Apparently they had added that onto the order for the headstone, and mom was super happy about that.  The red roses looked so striking on the grave.  Mom and I stood there for a while, just thinking about dad and talking quietly about him. After that we drove in the cemetery to where my great grand parents are buried.  Now I will remember the location of their grave. Next, we drove to my great grandparents old house in the avenues and got a few pictures.  From there we went on to the old house where mom lived on the upper east side.  I guess it's still considered in the avenues as well.  We had such a nice leisurely talk all of the while. Finally we headed back to Riverton and I ran into mom's place for a few minutes, then I hit the freeway for Provo.  We had some lunch at the hotel and then took Stephany and went to visit Scott, Jaclyn and Weston; Bridgett and Arrianne took a nap at the hotel, as they were both wiped out from the weekend.  We had a great visit at Scott's place and were glad that we could go and stay so long.  Then we headed back to the hotel to play games with Bridgett while Arrianne did some studying for finals.  She doesn't like to study on Sundays, but it was necessary with finals. 

Third year Day 134 - Saturday April 26, 2014

This was a crazy day!  Arrianne had to be packed up and moved out of her apartment by noon, a week before finals were over:(  She had started packing a few things before we came down.  She and Mark headed to the apartment at about 8:00 and started working like mad.  About 11:00 Bridgett and I drove over to see how things were coming, and realized that they needed help!  Bridgett sat on the couch and played on her ipad while I helped Arrianne and Mark helped a little more and then left to get more boxes.  At 11:45 Mark was still gone and Arrianne told me that after 12:00, if they came to inspect, they would charge her another days rent.  So, we started moving everything from her room into the living room, so at least her bedroom was empty and her cleaning job (one of the bathroom) was done; we would have moved the boxes outside, but it was raining, perfect weather for moving, right!  Just at 12:00 Mark got back and we frantically moved the boxes from the living room to the cars.  Just as the last box went out the door, the lady from the apartment building showed up to check the apartment.  Whew!  The cars were loaded to the max, and Arrianne had to squish in the back of her car with hardly anywhere to sit and the piano at eye level across her lap:) Well, it makes for a good story later on, hee hee.  Anyway, at least we got done!  Arrianne and Bridgett were exhausted.  Stephany was still at the hotel wiped out from yesterday.  We dropped off the girls, and then drove to Jenn's, as she is letting Arrianne put her things in the basement instead of moving them back to Montana for the summer; thanks Jenn!!  This was also the first time we were able to see Jenn's house and the kids gave us an amazing tour. We really liked the house so much and had a good time with the kids.  Tyler helped move everything to the basement, and used their furniture dolly.  They have one part of the basement partitioned off so the kids won't play in there and so nothing will get broken.  I made some tofu and veggies there for Arrianne and I.  We are all trying to eat in the hotel more and eat out less.  Then Mark and I headed back to Provo and took a nap!

Third year Day 133 - Friday April 25, 2014

Today Bridgett had an appointment with Faith in the morning, hoping that she would be able to make it through the this afternoon.  After a lot of stress on Arrianne's part, we all headed to the Summerhays Music Store for her recital.  She had a pretty good turn out.  We had ordered little mint boxes for everyone attending that we gave out at the door.  Family attending: Jenn (Tyler watched the kids),  Scott (Jaclyn was with Weston at his basketball game), my mom, my sister Susan and her husband Scott, their daughter Emily, my brother Jon, my brother Justin and his wife Shana, and Mark's sister Deb and of course Mark and Stephany and myself.  Arrianne did an amazing job, and looked beautiful!  We hired someone to video tape the recital.  Bridgett did an amazing job as well:)  She stayed sitting during the entire recital.  She had her headphones.  She sat by Jenn at the end of the outside isle.  I guess she did talk to Jenn some but I didn't hear her.  Arrianne said she only heard her once, when she was laughing, and Arri almost laughed as well (disastrous while singing), but overall things went great!  Afterwards Mark treated all of Jenn's family, Scott's family and the rest of our family to dinner at the Rodizio Grill in American Fork; Weston's game was over so he and Jaclyn joined us too.  It was packed (Friday night) and very noisy.  When we first went in, Bridgett just put her head on the table and said she wasn't hungry, then.....I finally thought about the noise.  So, I ran to the car and got the Bose headphones and voila!  She then was able to sit and eat and enjoy the dinner.  She stayed inside the entire time, just asking Arrianne to take her to the car about 5 minutes before the rest of us.  That was amazing!  Overall a great day!!

Third year Day 132 - Thursday April 24, 2014

When Bridgett was in the rehab hospital, one of the therapists explained a head injury this way......its like if you took the card catalog drawers from the library (how they used to be) and dumped them all on the floor and then asked someone to find a certain card.  In other words, all of the information is still there in the brain, it's just that it is almost impossible to find that information when needed.  So, what the brain is now doing is trying to reorganize, sort, and re-file all of that information to get it back into a place where it can be found again.  That's a lot of information to reorganize! 
Bridgett had an appointment with Faith this morning and also one in the afternoon.  She was pretty stiff from the ride down, but is feeling better after her appointments.  Tomorrow is Arrianne's junior recital.  Of course, we are all keeping our fingers crossed that Bridgett will be able to make it through the recital, because we all want to be listening and there's no one to go out with her.  I have the Bose earphones with me for her to use.  Bridgett will be able to have one more appointment with Faith before the recital tomorrow.  We'll see:)

Third year Day 131 - Wednesday April 23, 2014

Today was our driving day to Provo.  Mark was with us, so he did the driving and I got to be a passenger:)  Bridgett rode in the front seat, as usual.  Its really the only place where she can be comfortable, and the best place for her to not be nauseated.  Of course, she did have to take Zofran, but at least she did actually pretty well this trip.  At one of our bathroom stops, Bridgett suddenly said, isn't it called a urinal in the men's bathroom?  Yes.  Like I said, little bits and pieces....
Everything was pretty crowded in Provo, and I realized that commencement is tomorrow.  I remember that day that I was a part of commencement at BYU.  Exciting times!  Hard to believe that Arrianne will graduate next year......

Third year Day 130 - Tuesday April 22, 2014

I thought I’d talk a little more about long term memory loss.  Most of us think this only refers to  remembrances of people or events.  However, to further clarify, I cite these two pieces of information. 

This information from the Medical Dictionary:

long-term memory n. Abbr.   

The phase of the memory process considered the permanent storehouse of retained information.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

What Is Long-Term Memory Loss?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines long-term memory loss as difficulty remembering events that occurred further in the past. Long-term memories are formed when short-term memories, or non-permanent memories, are consolidated in the hippocampus, a brain structure located in the medial temporal lobe; once the memories are consolidated, they are available independent from the hippocampus in the neocortex, where they can be retrieved. When a patient has long-term memory loss, he has problems recalling stored memories, not creating new memories.

Types of Memories

The Helpguide.org article “Improving Your Memory--Tips and Techniques to Improve Memory,” states that long-term memories can be three types of memories: episodic, semantic and procedural. Both episodic and semantic memories are conscious memories, which require active thought to remember; procedural memories, on the other hand, can be recalled unconsciously. Episodic memories are about experiences, semantic memories are factual data and procedural memories are skills and routines.

Brain Location

Long-term memories are stored in the neocortex, part of the cerebral cortex responsible for higher functions in the brain, according to Helpguide.org. The neocortex has separate parts for different functions; for example, there are areas in the neocortex for language, sensation, movement and problem-solving. When part of the neocortex is damaged, the patient will lose the associated memories. For example, if the language area of the neocortex is injured, the patient may have long-term loss of semantic language memories.

Third year Day 129 - Monday April 21, 2014

Today was a get ready for traveling day.  There is always much to do on that front!  Also today Bridgett started asking me about some childhood games they used to play.  First in her mind was Mother May I.  She tried to explain to me all of the rules and did pretty well actually.  Also we talked about Red Light Yellow Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Hide and Seek, and Simon Says and she remembers them all!  It's fun to see that things are still coming back to her memory!  I've said it before, but I will say it again, losing the long term memory!!

Third year Day 128 - Sunday April 20, 2014

I was really looking forward to going to church today, but Bridgett woke up with terrible kidney pain again, and her neck was hurting as well.  So, today was a day for quiet reflection at home about the atonement and the resurrection and what they mean to me personally as well as everyone else.  I am so thankful for my Savior and for the sacrifice that He made for me personally, for my family and for everyone!  I love my Savior so much and I am ever grateful to Him for my chance to repent and be redeemed.  The events in our life regarding Bridgett's wreck have brought more forcefully to my mind the fact that Christ suffered not only for all of our sins, but also for all of our pains and afflictions.  It is through the atonement that we all have the opportunity to return to live with Him some day, with perfected bodies and minds.  This I am so thankful for.  We had a nice day together and we were able to talk to Arri, Jenn and family, and Scott and family.  How we love each of them and miss them all!  Afterwards we sat around and remembered things from the kids childhood about Easter specifically and then just about other things.  It seems that on some things, like holidays, Bridgett remembers a fair amount now, so that is encouraging:)

Third year Day 127 - Saturday April 19, 2014

Ever since we have had kids, we have celebrated Easter by having the Easter Bunny come on Saturday and then being able to worship and enjoy Sunday and think of the resurrection without the Easter Bunny.  So, today, I still put out Easter Baskets for everyone at home, although we didn't color or hunt eggs (duh!).  Of course, there is almost no candy that either Stephany or Bridgett can have, but I put in some xylitol candy for them and some fruit bars.  Also, they got a cute stuffed bunny, chapstick, lotion and some bubbles. Obviously, nothing much.  Some years, they got little hats and gloves, coloring books, etc. I sent a package to Arrianne with the same, and also a package to Jenn's kids (Connor, Caden, Lincoln and Logan) as well as Scott's son Weston. I sent Jenn's kids some non candy treats as well, as she's trying for no sugar for this month.  Weston got the regular Easter type of candy, and so did Tyler and Mark.  I got Mark a two foot bunny!  He loved it, but then he does love Easter Bunny chocolate, or any chocolate for that matter.  Stephany was sure to get a good picture of it, to send to the kids in Utah to see.  BTW the girls are both great about not wanting or eating stuff they are allergic to, so they didn't wish they could have the stuff that Mark and Tyler got.  Actually, Tyler doesn't eat much sugar, so he probably won't eat much of his candy anyway:)

Third year Day 126 - Friday April 18 - 2014

Some interesting things about meeting with Dena, the nutritionist, today.  First of all, she attached some probes, and tested Bridgett's basal metabolic rate (or index I think she said, anyway the rate at which she burns calories while sleeping/resting), and ratios of muscle in the body etc.  Bridgett has gained weight since her accident, which all of the doctors attribute to disturbances in the brain affecting glands, including pituitary and hypothalamus. Anyway, even if she eats on a restricted calorie diet, she still doesn't lose weight.  So, we are getting a good food plan, and we'll see what happens.  Perhaps the allergy food elimination will help as well.  Anyway, it was kind of crazy, because Bridgett burns like almost 1800 calories at rest.  So, she was eating 1750 calories a day and not losing weight, so that was messed up.  Dena says that she needs more protein.  Also, you may have guessed this, but she still has a lot of muscle in her body.  Not surprising really.  Dena recommends she eat about 2100 calories a day to lose weight.  She gave us a good outline of what to eat and really we need to work on protein drinks twice a day, as well as three servings of 3-6 oz of protein.  The big fun thing at the end of the meeting--Bridgett wrote Dena a check herself!!  I don't remember of I told you before or not, but I had ordered some checks for Bridgett's account that her social security is depositing to (as of this month).  They were supposed to have my name on them and Bridgett's, but they only have Bridgett's name.  So, I asked her if she could write the whole check out and she did!  She needed a little prompting about how to spell out the amount, but I showed her an example check after she had already put in the name and date and dollar amount, and she did the spelled out dollar amount.  She apologized to Dena about her handwriting but Dena assured her it was just fine and as good as most of the checks she receives.  Bridgett always had such great handwriting, so she is frustrated that it's not better, but it's getting better all of the time still.  Anyway, it was a great achievement for her!!

Third year Day 125 - Thursday April 17, 2014

I got Bridgett's test as a fax yesterday, but picked up the actual test today.  Also, I've been doing more thinking about meal planning etc.  Lots to think about.  Tomorrow we will meet with a nutritionist to discuss what to eat, working around all of the food allergies.  Stephany has another list of allergies, but they are both allergic to beef, eggs, milk (all dairy), wheat and gluten, so some things can be the same.  Still, there are enough differences that it's causes some dilemmas.  Mark and Tyler just eat regular food, in case you're wondering:)

Third year Day 124 - Wednesday April 16, 2014

Today we got Bridgett's allergy test back and now I see what the problem was (hopefully) with all of the stomach aches.  Things she's allergic to and has been eating: beef, eggs, cranberry, pineapple, banana, almonds, soy, corn, peanuts, and sesame seed.   Things she's allergic too but hasn't been eating: wheat and gluten, spelt, and all dairy, including goats milk.  Brother!  So, we had been using dairy alternative such as dairy free ranch, and cream cheese, and these all have soy in them.  So, on the look out for dairy free ranch recipe with no soy:)  Also, since she has been eating gluten free, we have been using almond flour and almond butter recipes, but no more! She's been eating more paleo, so now no more beef and no more eggs for breakfast.  Additionally, she loves apples and peanut butter, so no more of that as a snack either!  So, a bunch of things that she had been regularly eating, she's allergic too.  Always something going on with all of our diets:)  I can't really remember a time when we didn't have at least three options for every meal, because of all of the allergy issues (and also my macro eating).  Oh well, it's not the worst problem in the world:)  I finally made it to the dentist this afternoon, and got that little filling done.  I went to Dr. Colonna, who does laser dentistry and it was pretty cool, actually.  No drilling (I hate drilling!), and no having to numb the mouth before using the laser (the cavity was pretty small).  So, if Bridgett gets a cavity, you can bet we will go to him to fill it.