Third year - Month of August, 2014

Early in the month of August, we had the all class reunion in Whitefish.  I had planned to go with Mark, but Stephany got outrageously sick with a kidney infection, so I stayed home with her.  In fact, I spent the weekend debating a return to Med North Urgent Care and did finally take her back for a second time.  It was decided at this visit to change the antibiotics and culture the specimen to see what bacteria was causing her symptoms.  She did not have the usual set of symptoms, but instead had a fever, nausea, and vomiting.  Also, aching all over like the flu.  However, unlike the flu, these symptoms persisted for over a week, so I took her to Med North.  She finally did the original three days of antibiotics and an additional ten days of a second antibiotics, and after three visits to Med North, she finally was feeling somewhat better and the tests showed the infection gone.  That was just two days before our move, so we actually moved with her feeling pretty ishy.  Anyway, also, the Wayments came to visit us.  Their daughter Courtney had a TBI two months before Bridgett.  We met them at the rehab hospital at the U of U.  We had such a great visit with them!  Courtney is doing great!  We had time to discuss the new Pathway program that Bridgett is enrolled in.  They were the ones that originally told us about it.  We are very excited and hopeful about the coming class that will start in September.  Penny (Courtney's mother) said that it was the best rehab money they spent.  We are hoping for the same kind of results.  The first semester Bridgett will take a class called Life Skills.  The description is as follows...

GS 120 teaches basic life skills that can lead to success in both personal life and academic studies. The three main areas of study are: learning to learn, self-sufficiency, and disciple leadership. The topics studied include study skills, career and academic planning, provident living, budgeting, goal-setting, time management, learning to lead by teaching others, and blessing others with what is learned.

Also, this month we actually accomplished the move, on August 21st. We ended up taking the big trailer and it was actually pretty full.  I had the lead in the convoy, with Bridgett and me in the Buick.  Arrianne and Stephany followed us, driving Arrianne's Elantra.  Mark had the rear, pulling the trailer behind his truck.  We had some extra excitement (NOT) on the way down as the girls car spun out of control and they did a few 360's, and hit a barrier but were mostly unhurt and just really shaken up.  The car did not fare so well, and was actually totaled.  We all know that they were watched over and protected and their lives were preserved.  Things could have ended up very differently.  Although we were in sight of each other almost the entire way, at the moment they spun out of control I had gone about two minutes without checking my rear view mirror, and luckily for me did not witness it.  If I had I would have probably had a heart attack!  I mean really!!  When I noticed they weren't behind me, I pulled right over and it was only 1-2 miles ahead of them.  We were just outside of Lima and had no cell service, so I waited, knowing that Mark was between us.  After a few long minutes of waiting, they drove up and pulled over behind us.  They got out of the car shakily and burst into tears.  Stephany's door was mashed in and wouldn't open, so she climbed out Arriane's side.  It was cold and rainy so we all got in my car and talked about it.  Next to stop was Mark and then two ambulances.  Someone had called it in as a rollover.  Unbelievably, after this entire episode, Arrianne was actually able to drive the car to Orem!  It took a lot of fortitude on her part!  But at last we made it!  BTW, when we went back to where they wrecked to meet the highway patrol, I saw that they were so close to going over a large cliff and I almost had a heart attack then!  I know that they were watched over, as they came so close to going over that cliff!  The highway patrolman was so very nice and did not give her a ticket, although the car took out part of the guard rail. 

We had a small Boyd Hall reunion for my mom and siblings on Saturday.  Mark, Bridgett, Arrianne and I went, and Stephany had to stay home and rest as the move really took a lot out of her (not to mention the wreck!).  It was great to see almost everyone!  Arrianne and Bridgett just stayed for about an hour and they headed back to Orem.  Mark and I stayed about an hour more. 

We went to the new ward on Sunday.  It was very nice and we were able to meet the bishop.  Bridgett introduced herself and told him a little about her wreck.  She actually did quite well.  We have been practicing introductions, in order to be ready for her class. 

School started on Monday for Arrianne and then starting on Tuesday Stephany began an institute class that they are taking together.  It meets twice a week.  They are also taking a Thursday night class in addition. Stephany's other classes don't start for a couple of weeks.  Likewise with Bridgett's classes.  Mark was able to stay with us until Wednesday the 27th.  We are mostly unpacked and situated, at least enough to get by:)  We dropped the Elantra off to Larry Miller repairs and have rented a little car so that we can all be where we need to be.  Now the waiting period to see what will happen to the Elantra (although as I mentioned, it ends up that it was totaled).  What a month!

Also during August, Bridgett finished the first phase of the brain protocol and started on the second phase.  I see a definite improvement in her memory and actually she is looking more like her old self all of the time.  Even the speech therapist commented that she is doing much better than her testing showed, which translates to me that she has improved from last month and the speech therapist is now seeing it.  Bridgett is VERY excited to start back to school and we are excited too, although of course a little apprehensive as well.  We pray so fervently daily for Bridgett's continued improvement and I know that there are others out there that pray for her as well.  Thank you so much!  All of the time we are seeing the answers to these many prayers and also witnessing a living miracle! 

Third year - Balance of the month of July, 2014

It's been so crazy around here that I have gotten so far behind with my posts.  So, I plan to post a few general posts and then hopefully get back to posting daily.  As I have mentioned before, this post has served many purposes.  First I created it in order to get information about Bridgett to people who we know and love. Second, I hope that this is a record that at some point in the future I can print into book form and give to Bridgett, as a way to see what she went through.  Especially when we are talking about the first year, she remembers nothing.  She has been asked what is the first thing she remembers after the wreck and she answered that she remembers flying to New York.  That was eleven months after her wreck.  From time to time she says something about the rehab hospital, but I think that these are things she remembers from the stories we tell her and not from actual memory of her own.  If I ask her questions about anything that happened the first year, she draws a blank really except for the stories we tell (like flying home with the Stanfills).  Third, I hope this blog can help someone else out, who may be going through some kind of a similar experience, whether it be a TBI or whatever. 

We had a busy for the rest of July.  My brother Dave and his two youngest kids, Jaiden and Justus, came up from Utah to visit.  We had lots of fun with them, and Bridgett for sure had a blast.  Bridgett was very close to Dave and his family in the few years preceding the wreck.  She often stayed at their house, took care of the kids, went to do fun things with the family, went running and biking with Dave and just had lots of fun.  She is always so excited to see them and really enjoyed their visit.  Also, Bridgett and I made a trip to Orem and Faith came and saw us at our place there. Mark had already brought down some mattresses for us and a few other things, so we were fairly comfortable there.  Additionally I was able to get a very quick visit to the dentists, as I have a tooth that feels as if it is broken a little bit, but there is no pain.  It turns out that it did indeed break, but it did not break to the root or anything.  I will get it fixed when we get to Orem at the end of August.  There was no one to be with Bridgett while I did it this trip, so no problem waiting from the dentists viewpoint.  Also, the girls and I are busy making lists of things to pack so that hopefully we will not forget anything important when we head to Orem.  At least if we do, Mark can bring it to us on the next trip down!

Third year Day 215 - Wednesday July 16, 2014

Well we learned something interesting today.  Bridgett was talking to Faith and we were discussing the fact that noise bothers her so much.  Suddenly Bridgett said when the dogs bark next door, I hate the noise because I can feel the vibration of the noise up and down my spine!  What!  She has never said that before.  I asked her if she feels that with all loud noises and she said yes she does!  So no wonder loud noises bother her so much.  I'd hate that too! Faith said that in utero the baby is in water and all noise is vibration through the water. Then things change in the primitive part of the brain development and this is during the phase of birth to nine months.  So the brain protocol first phase very important to Bridgett. Hopefully, her brain will continue healing so that won't be an issue any more. Today begins the second week on phase one of the brain protocol.

Third year Day 214 - Tuesday July 15, 2014

Bridgett said my eye must be straightening out because sometimes I see straighter.  It's so hard to know exactly what she is seeing.  One of the therapists said I wish I could see from your eyes for one minute so I would know exactly what you were seeing.  I  think that as well sometimes.  Its very hard to describe what you are exactly seeing, especially since you may not know or remember how you used to see before!! Today Bridgett was thinking about girls camp songs.  Actually, this is the week that she would have gone to girls camp back in the day!  Anyway, she was singing camp songs and we had some fun times laughing over the silly songs!

Third year Day 213 - Monday July 14, 2014

Today was speech therapy.  After we parked and were headed into the hospital building where Lynne's office is, Bridgett suddenly stopped and said, hey, something is happening to my eyes!  Sometimes I'm seeing better!  Is my eye less crossed?  I looked at it and it looked the same; nevertheless, something must be happening in the eye--brain protocol at work??  I spoke to Lynne and asked if we could have the appointment without the lights on and only the light from the windows  Lynne's office is very light with a lot of windows in it and so plenty of light without the fluorescent lights on.  Faith speculates that the fluorescent lights flicker and add to Bridgett's eventual headache after a time.  BTW, it seemed to help; at least Bridgett did great during the appointment and made it to the very end with no problems.  Anyway, back to the appointment itself.  Lynne looked over Bridgett's journal, asking questions to see if Bridgett could remember things that happened during the week.  She came to yesterday's entry about Mark telling stories and when Lynne asked Bridgett about what stories he told, she immediately began laughing and laughing.  She tried to tell the story though her laughter, and did a pretty good job of remembering the details.  That was great!  During the therapy session, Lynne had Bridgett work with some blocks that she called the tower test.  There are three wooden posts, with rings on some of the posts--some large rings and some small.  Next, there was a series of pictures and Bridgett had to match the configuration of the rings to the picture, with the stipulation that you couldn't put a large ring on top of a small ring when you moved them.  She was able to do several of these and had a great time doing it.  Bridgett said afterwards, we need to get one of those to play--it was FUN!  I googled and found a game that looks the same, called Tower of Hanoi.  Maybe I will have to order it.  However, it probably wouldn't have the pictures that you are supposed to match.  Hmmmmm.........

Third year Day 212 - Sunday July 13, 2014

This evening Mark told stories while the kids and I listened.  There are some of those stories from when he was young that the kids know as well as he does, and maybe better now!  Hee hee.  Anyway, one of the stories was about a time that Mark went fishing with uncle Rick.  One of their friends took them someplace they had never been before and then left them.  They were walking along and found the river to fish but didn't know where to stop. There were all of these clumps of dirt with plants in the water and you could jump from clump to clump.  Mark called them lily pads for ease of telling the story, but obviously they weren't really as they weren't floating plants, but dirt with plants.  Anyway, after jumping from clump to clump Rick said the water doesn't look deep, I'm going to try just going through the water.  He stepped in and went clear under and nothing could be seen of him.  Mark waited and waited from him to pop back up for air but he didn't.  Finally a fishing pole end came up and so Mark carefully grabbed it and pulled, hoping that the pole wouldn't come apart.  He pulled and pulled and suddenly Rick's lips came out of the water and he drew in a huge breath of air.  He he pulled farther and got his face out of the water, though the rest of his head was still under.  At this point Rick said I could have drowned!  Then the two of them started laughing and laughing.  I'm sure part of that was after worrying that he would drown, they had that emotional release because he didn't.  Anyway, Bridgett laughed and laughed at that story!  She didn't remember Mark telling it to her before, but it really made a hit with her now!

Third year Day 211 - Saturday July 12, 2014

Bridgett told me today that uncle Frank is her favorite uncle.  Then she said that's kind of weird that I think that because he wasn't around much when I was young.  True!  I'm glad that she can recognize that and think that out.  But she really did have such a great time while he was here and is still talking about him! Of course, she does love all of her uncles!  And she has a great time with them!  She used to spend a lot of time with Dave and he definitely is one of her favorites!  They used to bike together and run together.  Also, she has a real soft spot for Jon and Justin, who always go out of their way for her and make her feel special.

Third year Day 210 - Friday July 11, 2014

Bridgett had PT today with Kat Ingalls.  The most amazing thing happened!  When she got there, Bridgett started telling Kat about a dream she had with Kat in it.  They were working out together.  Now, this might not seem amazing at first, but it is the FIRST time that Bridgett has remembered a dream since her wreck!!  Now, that's amazing!  Related to the brain protocol?????  PT went great and Bridgett had fun.  So far, we are learning some things that seem to help with Bridgett's physical progress, so that's good. 

Third year Day 209 - Thursday July 10, 2014

Bridgett remembered traveling with Buttercup, the little Pomeranian we used to have.  We would take her in her crate in the motor home when we traveled.  One time we actually took our little calf Ace with us too.  Bridgett remembered that time and we all had a good laugh.  Right before one of my brother's weddings, Mike??, one of our cows delivered her first calf, and then had a prolapsed uterus.  We called the veterinarian and he came and actually just washed off the uterus and shoved it back in.  He gave her a shot and said that it was 50/50 if she'd live.  He said that within the hour she would die, or she would make it.  Poor thing was in shock I'm sure and within the hour died.  So, we had a newborn calf and no mother to nurse it and we did what anyone would do--ran to the farm store and bought colostrum and a bottle and learned how to feed it.  For quite a time we fed it round the clock--that is either Tyler or I fed the little guy.  And, when it was time to leave, there was no one that would be there to feed around the clock, so we hitched up the horse trailer behind the motor home and loaded up Ace and a portable fence, and off we went.  That trip we also were taking Julie (Chris's wife) and her kids with us in the motor home.  When we stopped for gas, we fed Ace!  Unfortunately, when we hit northern Utah, we had engine problems.  So, there we were, stopped on the freeway with a mooing calf to feed and it was like 90+ degrees!  We called for a tow, but would have to wait hours to get towed and then to Wyoming!  So, after some rest for the motor home, Mark tried it again, and we found that we could drive slowly and actually made it to Sue's house in South Jordan!  That last little bit down 90th South, we were going VERY slow, and barely made it, but we did make it.  Then we put up the fence in Sue's backyard (thanks again Sue!) and stayed for a week with little Ace.  All of the neighborhood kids, and some parents, came to see the real cow in Sue's backyard!  It was kind of a funny and very redneck thing to do.  Ahhh the memories!  We are all sure glad that Bridgett is getting some of these memories back!!

Third year Day 208 - Wednesday July 9, 2014

Today we actually started day one of phase one of the brain protocol.  Luckily everything went well.  The old program that I originally got a copy of was quite complicated, with different things to take each morning, afternoon and evening, and different things to take Monday, Wednesday and Friday, others to take Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and something separate for Sundays.  I knew I would need a big chart to keep track of it all.  However, now the program has been streamlined, and there's just a short list to take each morning and evening.  GREAT!  No complaints from Bridgett, which is huge because if she wasn't on board with taking them, that would be a problem:)

Third year Day 207 - Tuesday July 8, 2014

Monday was the day that we were supposed to start Bridgett's new brain protocol, but I was just so exhausted from everything that I didn't get started yet. Tomorrow will be the big day. So anyway, the protocol is something created by Dr. Gerard Gueniot, M.D. of France in the early 1980's.  The protocol has been in use for over 15 years, and has had great success.  The aim of it is to complete any brain development that has been interrupted and is especially used by those with ADHD, ODD, autism and panic responses, and additionally, any one with any significant brain trauma or emotional trauma during the development of the brain.  It is a very interesting protocol and I have been eagerly anticipating doing this protocol with Bridgett.  Faith began to talk to me about it many, many months ago and tomorrow will be the first day.  Exciting!!

Third year Day 206 - Monday July 7, 2014

We had an appointment with Lynne for speech therapy today. Bridgett does love to see Lynne and enjoys the appointments.  When we got there, I asked Lynne if I could talk to her privately for a few minutes, so Bridgett stayed in the office with Lynne's student Jenny.  Lynne and I walked for a bit and then sat down and talked.  I talked to her about Bridgett's shutting down, and about her being over whelmed.  Lynne was very understanding and it was good to talk to her.  We both decided to work together and dialog more.  I felt really good about it.  Last week Lynne had said something about not wanting to offend Bridgett about interrupting and then something about the old Bridgett and then Bridgett said, I'm not offended by my old Bridgett but I do miss her!  Now that's something to think about!

Third year Day 205 - Sunday July 6, 2014

This was one of those huge attendance days for us in the Bigfork ward.  In the summer we have so many visitors, a large bulk of them from Canada. Anyway, the attendance is somewhere from 800- 1300 people on the Sunday of the 4th!  There are so many people, it's hard to park anywhere close and its very noisy for Bridgett to be there.  She really can't take that kind of noise level, so we opted to stay home this week even though she was feeling good enough to go.

Third year Day 204 - Saturday July 5, 2014

Frank and mom were up early and headed back to Salt Lake.  Tomorrow Frank heads back to Las Vegas, as he to be back to work on Monday (at 4 am!).  It was a short but great visit!  Today Bridgett asked me, didn't Albertsons used to be Buttreys?  Yes, it did!  Of course, that was our closest grocery store when we lived in the log house and it was the one that Bridgett would remember shopping at the most often.  Exciting the many things she is remembering from her childhood.  I remember the days when we thought that her entire long term memory was forever lost!

Third year Day 203 - Friday July 4, 2014

This morning Mark was up and out early, headed to the church to get everything ready for our annual community breakfast. Mom and Frank and I were able to start visiting early.  Arrianne headed to the church to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the flag ceremony.  After she returned, mom and Frank and I headed to the Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell, to put flowers on my brother Chris's grave.  Actually I found it just fine, even though there is still no headstone.  However, I was surprised to see that the little solar light they had there before was missing although the little flag was still there.  It is so peaceful and nice at the Conrad Cemetery.  It was nice to just spend a little time there and visit about Chris. Next we drove to Whitefish to our old place there.  We had a nice visit and drive and then headed back home.  By the time we got there, Arrianne had gone back to Bigfork, to drive Mark's convertible in the parade while he walked beside her.  They decorated it all up with red, white and blue.  Mark was also all decorated up!  He wore his Republican vest with buttons from the State Convention.  Since he is running for office here, he wanted to be in the parade.  He is running for the Montana State House of Representatives.  After we were all done with everything, we spent some time on the lake.  Frank really like the speed boat, and liked going full out or about 50+ mph.  Mark liked the boat but didn't really like the speed when they went full out!  Actually, it was mom's first time on the boat.  When she and dad were here before, he was unable to go down to the dock and so she stayed with dad and didn't go down either.  Afterwards we had some dinner.  Bridgett really loved having Frank here (and mom).  She kept telling him how much she loved him and then telling me that he was her favorite uncle. She said to me, I know I never got to spend much time with uncle Frank growing up, but I do love him so much.  Cute and true.  We haven't been able to spend much time with Frank over the years, but since he separated from Cindy he has been able to spend more time with all of us, especially with mom.

Third year Day 202 - Thursday July 3, 2014

Busy day today getting ready for my older brother Frank and my mom to come and visit.  It will be a really quick visit.  They will be here tonight and tomorrow and leave Saturday.  Frank lives in Las Vegas.  He drove to Salt Lake yesterday and picked up mom and now up here.  That's a drive!  However, he recently bought a Mercedes convertible, so he's loving the driving.  My parents used to have a couple of convertibles, so mom is excited as well.  When they were first married, they had a corvette.  They had that when Frank was little too.  However, as Frank used to remind me, they sold it when I was born because there was no room.  That was back in the no car seat days, and Frank rode on the floor as an infant, and then by the gear shift as a toddler.  Hah!  Then when we were a little older (like I was maybe 7) dad bought a Buick convertible.  Both cars were black and shiny!  Anyway, Frank and mom got here around dinner time, so we had quite a bit of visiting time this evening.  Mark had our Lake County Republican Central Committee meeting this evening in Polson, so he wasn't home until later on.

Third year Day 201 - Wednesday July 2, 2014

I forgot to mention that when we were in town yesterday, Bridgett was telling me a block or two in advance, what businesses were located on Main Street.  These would be businesses that she remembers from before the wreck, as we have never had reason to discuss then since the wreck.  For example, she said, isn't the karate place up ahead on the right, at the corner? I do love it that she can be so much more aware of her surroundings.  Some of these landmarks are things that she haven't discussed, so I know that they are from her long term memory.  Cool!

Third year Day 200 - Tuesday July 1, 2014

Actually today was PT, and it was really too close to Speech therapy for Bridgett.  Another drive into town!  For her neck, that's really pushing it!!  But, she did OK today nonetheless.  Her neck was tight, but Loretta (Kat's assistant) showed us a way to push on the clavicle lightely and have another hand behind on the shoulder blade and this releases some of the tightness.  Part of the time Bridgett just needed to walk outside, so we went out with her and walked up and down the sidewalk.  We ended the appointment after only 40 minutes, instead of an hour.  Perhaps this is what we will need to do from now on???

Third year Day 199 - Monday June 30, 2014

Bridgett had speech therapy today with Lynn and her student Jenny.  She made it through almost the entire appointment before she finally started to get feeling poorly.  At the point when she started feeling bad she had just been showing Lynn how to do lunges and explaining some technique.  Lynn was impressed with her ability to explain and demonstrate etc.  Then Lynn talked to her about interrupting people.  She said that in conversation that Bridgett needed to be careful not to interrupt.  At this moment, almost precisely, Bridgett suddenly stood up and started to feel horrible.  Her neck hurt and she said that she needed to do some walking.  Afterwards I talked to Faith about this experience and she talked to Bridgett.  Faith then told me that Bridgett was upset because she doesn't like to interrupt, but with her memory issues, if she doesn't interrupt sometimes she forgets what she wants to say and it might be important.  When we talked to her about writing down her questions for later, Faith pointed out that often she begins a sentence and then forget her thought before she can get the entire sentence written down.  So, this whole line of discussion was very overwhelming to her and that's why she just kind of shut down.  Also at this time Lynn had talked to her about being more independent, and Faith said that right now with her memory issues she is very dependent on me for her "second brain" and then "pushing" her for independence is scaring her very much.  I understand this completely, and hopefully when I talk to Lynn about it she will understand too.  We need to have these appointments be productive, not counterproductive! 

Third year Day 198 Sunday June 29, 2014

Bridgett is still pretty sore from those exercises that the PT's gave her to do.  But, every day things are a little better.  This morning she was in too much pain between her legs and her neck and so we stayed home from church.  Luckily the girls go to the singles ward in the afternoon so they can still go even if we stay home.  Today Bridgett remembered about how we used to take our little Pomeranian named Buttercup with us on trips in the motor home.  She fit in a little crate and rode along quietly and then we didn't have to board her.  Actually, there was one trip when we did board her and she was so scared at the kennel because they put two Rottweilers next to her (after we left), and she was shaking when we picked her up and vomited afterwards.  She finally calmed down and we decided not to board her again.  She was at a kennel run by a veterinarian, so they checked her out and said it was just nerves.