Second year Day 180 - Tuesday June 11, 2013

We have an appointment with Dr. Hoffman at the Moran Eye Center on July 23rd.  Of course, back in September, Dr. Judith Warner, the neuro Ophthalmologist, said that Bridgett's eyes had healed to the point where she no longer needed optic never surgery.  That was wonderful news!  I just couldn't bear the thought of having them go into her brain!  Anyway, she recommended that Bridgett have surgery for the diplopia, but also said that she did not believe that there was anyone in Montana qualified to do the surgery.  She said that it is a very tricky surgery in adults.  In children, the surgery goes well if the doctor is pretty close to doing it right.  Anyway, later she did tell us that we could try a doctor in Missoula, but at that point I had just found out that he did surgery on someone else with a TBI, and that surgery had not gone so well.  So, I was reluctant to try him out.  Eventually I did call Dr. Warner's office and ask who could do the surgery in Utah.  They gave me the name of Dr. Hoffman and I called and got the soonest appointment, in July! About a month ago I got nervous about it again.  I called back and said that we really need a doctor that will be amazing.  The gal I talked to said that Dr. Hoffman in amazing and the most qualified, and that's why Dr. Warner gave us his name.  I felt much better after talking to her and hearing about how many surgeries he does every year.  So, now we need to get Bridgett's insurance policy changed back to a Utah policy by July 1st so that she will be covered in network.  Our gal in Missoula that handles the policy said that snow birds change their policy each winter and that it was no problem. So, hopefully there will be no problem!  Now, to get everyone in the mind set that this will be good and positive.  I know that in the family there are a lot of feelings of worry about possible blindness etc.  I figure that after we meet with the doctor we will know more about what to expect and what possible problems there could be.  There is plenty enough to worry about without worrying about that right now!  The surgery would probably be in August or September and possibly she would need several surgeries.

Second year Day 179 - Monday June 10, 2013

Today was the first day that Bridgett has had to take Lortab for two weeks.  That's actually a good stretch with no Lortab, at least for the past several months.  She only had to take one at bedtime and I am crossing my fingers that we aren't started on another period of muscle spasms again.  Today, Bridgett said the funniest thing.  The dog was barking outside and I was telling him to be quiet so the neighbors don't complain.  Anyway, he kept barking and suddenly she yelled shut your freakin bark hole!  I started to laugh at her and she said, well it's like the movie where they say zip your howlin screamer.  I don't recognize that movie, but Tyler came in just then and he said it's from Treasure Planet he thinks.  That's also the movie where she quotes "dang it Jim" from all the time.  I kept wondering who the heck is this Jim she's talking about all the time.  So, apparently it's from Treasure Planet (animated movie).  Bridgett and her movie quotes! Gotta love it!!

Second year Day 178 - Sunday June 9, 2013

We got up and got ready for church and went to Isaac Reichner's farewell in Bigfork (our ward).  He is leaving on a mission to Russia.  He reports to the MTC on the 19th.  He did a great job and we enjoyed listening.  Arrianne, Bridgett and I headed home afterwards, while Stephany stayed to Sunday School.  I got Bridgett some lunch, made sure she got into something comfortable, made Steph a sandwich to eat in the car, and then left Bridgett with Tyler and headed to pick up Stephany.  Stephany, Arrianne and I went into Kalispell to Austin's farewell in 2nd ward.  He did a great job as well.  Afterwards, we stood around and talked to Julie, Kenney, Stratton, Austin, Shauna, and David (Julie's parents).  It was fun to visit for a bit.  Mark got back from Bozeman about 6:00.  He stayed with his folks at night and was able to go to church with them this morning before he left.  The girls got to visit a little more with Isaac in the evening. 

Second year Day 177 - Saturday June 8, 2013

A little bit of a better day for Bridgett.  Her cold is starting to get better and she is less miserable.  That's such good news!  Bridgett has been playing LOTS of Mario lately.  When we saw Bob, he said to move the TV down to eye level or below eye level, in order to stress her neck less.  So, we moved the TV and it's much better.  It's just below eve level.  I watched her play today and I must say that I was amazed.  She remembers secrets, where things are that you can't see etc.  and plays just great!  She is able to beat many levels.  Of course, she can't play as well as she used to, but really I was amazed!  Anyway, she's having fun.  I said something to her about "you're going to play that again" and she said, well if I don't have anything else to do, its OK, right?  I mean its not a complete waste of time, right?  It was cute, like she was justifying it to me.  I'm just glad that there's something else she likes to do when she is bored or whatever.  And I do think it's good for her hand eye coordination and for brain function too. 

Second year Day 176 - Friday June 7, 2013

I got a call today from Austin, inviting us to his farewell on Sunday.  That will be special to go to!  I felt really bad that I wasn't able to see him while we were in Utah.  They were down on last Wednesday, for him to get his endowments and then on Thursday they had a family gathering at the park.  We were of course in Monroe, and Bridgett was SO DIZZY.  We couldn't travel to Salt Lake.  Arrianne had set up a vocal lesson for Wednesday that we had to cancel as well.  We just we not able to travel for any reason.  Mark left to Bozeman for the state Republican Convention.  We were hoping to make it to Meredith Stanfill's reception tonight, but Bridgett was still feeling so sick from her cold.  The girls were going to go by themselves, but then Arrianne had a terrible headache.  So, we all stayed home (bummer!).  So far so good on not having to take lortab for the neck.  I can hardly believe it, with all the sneezing that Bridgett has been doing! BTW the azaleas are looking beautiful!!

Second year Day 172 - Monday June 3, 2013

Somehow this didn't get posted, so it's out of order:(  Anyway.......I  got up and decided that we should hit the road pretty early.  Everyone pitched in and we were loaded quickly and on the road.  Mark and I had talked and decided that it would be OK for me to drive into Missoula, so I could go to the Good Food Store...my favorite place to stop in Missoula.  He said that if I got pulled over, I should just explain the situation and that I was trying to get home before the temporary plate expired and hope that I didn't get a ticket.  And for sure I did hope that I wouldn't get a ticket!  We had fun at the Good Food Store and got fresh sandwiches for everyone--peanut butter for Bridgett!  Actually, she never has like sandwiches at all, but does occasionally tolerate PB & J.  Speaking of PB & J, I got the ipad the other day and played some of the old shows she watched as a kid.  I didn't tell her the name of the show, just started playing it and watched to see if she recognized it.  When I started the noodle dance she immediately remembered PB & J otter, the show and the dance.  She also remembered Teletubbies (Steph's favorite!), Bear in the Big Blue House, Rollie Pollie Ollie, and maybe some others.  However, she couldn't remember anything about Blues Clues.  She just said...some show about a blue dog???  Funny!!  Anyway, we got home in the early afternoon and I noticed that everyone disappeared into some other place, by themselves.  Funny!  Sometimes you just need a little alone time!

Second year Day 175 - Thursday June 6, 2013

Today is Stephany's 17th birthday!  It's so hard to believe; my how time flies!  We have a fun dinner planned for tonight, as per her request....hamburgers, corn on the cob and watermelon!  Of course, we planned to invite Scott, Jaclyn and Westy out, except that Bridgett is so dreadfully sick right now so, that will have to wait.  Also, today was Westy's graduation at Montissouri School.  We couldn't go to that either, because Bridgett was so miserable.  Arrianne's wrists hurt too much (randomly) today to drive into town either, so just Mark headed in.  Arrianne has a ganglion cyst on her wrist that acts up from time to time and randomly today the other wrist hurt too.  Anyway, I think that Stephany had a good day overall.  At least we were home and that's always great!!