Third year Day 195 - Thursday June 26, 2014

Bridgett woke up very sore from all the leg work yesterday.  All day she was so sore walking around the house and trying to get up and down from sitting and laying.  Too much yesterday!!  It is always so hard with physical therapists to get them to understand the situation.  Since Bridgett was so gun ho to do everything yesterday, and since she remembered how to do everything from before and was explaining exactly how to do it, they thought she was under control and had her do too much.  It's a fine line and I know hard for them to find that line. I do know that some pain and stiffness is inevitable, but this is far too much!  Oh well, we'll figure it out!  I guess I get frustrated because sometimes it seems that there are so many days that pain takes a front seat and it just interferes with life!  But, at least its not as bad as it used to be.  Things are getting better!

Third year Day 194 - Wednesday June 25, 2014

Although yesterday was good and Bridgett's neck was great, today it was back to sore!  She woke up in pain and then it seemed to be a little better. She was scheduled for her first appointment with Kat Ingalls for physical therapy.  It was a long wait to get into her and then Kat had to reschedule because of illness, so we decided to go anyway.  The drive was hard for Bridgett. We got there and she was in a lot of pain.  So, now we can see how they handle pain I decided.  Anyway, Kat asked if ice or heat would help.   Bridgett said we use heat.  Kat had ice so she suggested we try that.  It did help, although we won't generally use ice as heat is better.  Also, Kat put a tens unit on Bridgett neck in the back.  It actually did help in that it distracted her brain from the immediate pain.  Kat said that is what they are looking for....distraction for the brain.  Anyway, it got us through the appointment and Kat sent it home with us to use.  After she was distracted from the pain, Bridgett said Let's work out!!  So Kat gave her some exercises for the legs to do....lunges, calf raises, squats and leg lifts from a standing position.  So, we will work on those at home until next week when we see Kat again.  I gave Bridgett some Advil that for the pain when we got to the car, and by the time we got home, Bridgett did not want to use the tens unit any more.  At home we did the tuning forks and the rice bag and she was much better by evening. 

Third year Day 193 - Tuesday June 24, 2014

Bridgett and I found one of her old CD's that is labeled Heather's mix.  Heather is one of her cousins and they were close growing up.  Anyway, I played it for Bridgett and she had a great time.  She of course remembers every word!  (she even showed me the dance moves to the cha cha slide) That's one thing crazy to the rest of us......even though there are many things she doesn't remember, she always remembers like every word to like every song she's ever heard!  Bridgett is feeling good today.  In fact, in her journal (that Lynn Beauclair is having her keep) she wrote "I feel great, awesome, superb, fantastic, and everything with great words!!"

Third year Day 192 - Monday June 23, 2014

Today Bridgett had speech therapy scheduled, but since her neck has been hurting so much we had to call and cancel:(  By afternoon she was doing better and was able to ride for 26 minutes on the stationary bike.  She still does love bike riding and actually has asked Arrianne to take her bike riding outside. Arri said that Bridgett would have to talk to Mark and I first to get permission before she would take her.  Then however, Bridgett said to Arri, it hurts to lift my head up very high, so you can watch for cars and let me know so that I don't get hit.  Arri said, well no, you almost got killed once and if you might not be able to see then I'm for sure not taking you out again!

Third year Day 191 - Sunday June 22, 2014

Another hard Sunday, with Bridgett in pain so we didn't go to church today.  Mark's convention was over last night, so he drove to his folks place in Three Forks and stayed there.  He went to church with them and then ate some dinner and headed home.  It was great to have him back!  By evening Bridgett was feeling just a little bit better.  We all played some games together and then sat around and talked.  I don't know if Bridgett will be feeling well enough to go to speech therapy tomorrow or not.  We'll see in the morning......

Second year Day 190 - Saturday June 21, 2014

Today Bridgett was remembering about one of her friends in high school...Annie Egley. She said to me, didn't we get to her house by leaving the log house and turning right up the highway and then driving out there for a while to another little town?  Yes, it was Kila I told her.  She remembers going to their house and hanging out.  She was also thinking about the creek at our log house, and how it would dry up in the summer many years.  Also we talked about how Mark would "smooth" it out with the plow attached to the four wheeler when it was iced up so that we could try to ice skate on it.  Still Woodland Park was a better place for ice skating, but it was kind of fun to be able to ice skate at the house.  I used to take the kids ice skating and also to play ice hockey at Woodland Park.  I taught all of the kids to ice skate.  It was a tradition of ours to go to Woodland Park on Christmas Day (except when it was on a Sunday) and go ice skating, while Mark had a nap at home.  It was something at the kids and I really liked to do together.  When we first moved out here we ice skated her as well.  Mark found a way to drive down to the lake here and plow the ice as well, but it was much bumpier here and actually didn't work at all:(

Third year Day 189 - Friday June 20, 2014

I took Arrianne to Michelle Helwigs office today to see about her throat.  She has had this very sore place in her throat for several days and it's something that she's had before.  It feels like a cut in her throat.  Michelle said that it is a cold sore in her throat, of all things!  Who knew that could happen!  Arrianne said, at least it's where people don't see it! Michelle gave her something that will clear it up in two days, and then refills to use at the first sign if it's return.  Good!  Apparently Lysine helps for prevention.  I will have to check out getting some for her. Today Bridgett was remembering about reunion at papa and grandmas house in Elmo.  She talked about the pavilion and described it to me.  She was remembering grandma and others staying up late to play cards in the pavilion.  She was also remembering the blue paddle boat that the kids like to play in. I'm glad she's remembering things about her childhood.  These memories are things that we haven't talked about yet, so it's very apparent that she's remembering them on her own.