Bittersweet day!!!!

Well, today was Norms last day in Speech Therapy. When we first got there, I went in to physical therapy to say hello to a couple of the therapists, and Norm went in to talk to Jim...the speech therapist. (I stole this picture from his wife's blog. This is Jim and his family.) When I got in there, Jim and Norm were talking and Jim said that he thought we really didn't need to come back anymore. He says that he had done about all he can for Norm. He is doing so well that they have no more work for him. Actually it was a good feeling to be done with therapy, but kinda sad when we drove away for the last time. I think we were both a bit teary. As we were driving away, I said to Norm, "it's kind of sad, isn't it?" and he said he felt the same way. We have been going there for a long time. Every day, for nine weeks, I went there, and at least three days a week since Norm has been out of the hospital, and that was April 29th. So, today, after just a little less than five months, we drove away from there for that last time as a patient. It sounds silly to be sad about it I guess, but I will miss those people who worked so hard for Norms recovery. I've said it before, and I will say it again.....they love their jobs and it shows. They help people every day and then when they are o.k. to go, they let them go. I wonder if it is just as hard on them to let patients go, as it is for the patient to leave??? They are really happy when patients get well enough to go home. I love that about them.

Anyway, I want to say thank you to you Jim. Thank you for helping Norm and teaching him that there is life after brain damage!!! Thank you for helping him learn that he can do it, for teaching him how to remember things, and giving him the confidence that he needs to go out there in the world and function like nothing ever happened. We (his family and I ) didn't know if he would ever come home again, after he had that 12 minute "code". Each day in Rehab, I could see small improvements, but it was a great boost to become an outpatient. Thank you so much for all that you did for him. I feel like we are on our way, but it is kind of scary out here by ourselves. You are a great therapist and a good friend. And thank you Carrie, for sharing your husband with all of us out here who need him. Thank you both.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Good bye to Jim, Paul, Brian, Rhonda, Cynthia, Alan, Karen, Randy, Shane, Andy, Dr Hilmo, Dr. Alward, Dr. Hill, Dr. Cambell, Laurie, Kevin, Justin, Kendell, Little Dave, Big Dave, Nora, Karen, Miley, Jeff, Mark, Scott, Tyler, Doug, Rachel, Laurie, "The Loony Loomer", Dr. McCann, Dr, Mitchell, Ammon, Jennie Mae, Dr. Walker, Brad, Dr. Hwang, and so many others. There were respiratory therapists, there were physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapists, receptionists, secretaries, housekeeping, dietitians, lots of nurses, nurse's aids, Cath lab people, ex-ray people, lab people, cafeteria people, valet parking people, security people, diabetes clinic people, wound care people, chaplains, Dr. Lininger, Dr. Day, Abby, and tons of others. We both will miss you, but as Jim said, we hope never to see you all again, as a patient...only as a visitor. Thank you all for all of your help, prayers, love, kindness, work, worry, patience, and putting up with me getting in your way and asking questions. Thank you for all that you do, each and every day, for anyone who needs you.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Meade

Berries, Berries and More Berries!!!!

Can you guess what I picked tonight??? We decided that we were just going to wash them and wait till tomorrow when we can get some really good vanilla ice cream!!! I really didn't expect rasberries this year, but there are actually quite a few. It would be cool if we can get enough for a batch of jam!!! We now know how to do jam sugar-free. It's good too!!!

I guess I am going to have to get out there and pick the weeds. They are almost as tall as I am!!! Of course if you asked Norm, he would say, "well, that's not very tall!!!" Creep!!!!

Norm had his appointment with the Rehab doctor today. I never realized why he needed to go to a rehab doctor and his own primary physician. The way it was explained to me today was that the rehab guy is who is there to follow up on Norms actual rehab and if he thinks we need to continue with any of the therapies or whatever. So, we went to see Dr. Lininger. He is pretty nice and asked Norm a bunch of questions. He seemed happy with the answers and said that he thought we didn't need to come and visit with him anymore...."there is nothing more I can do here" so, he wants us to communicate with him by phone if we have any questions or concerns. I thought that was pretty cool!!! Soon, we will be cut loose from almost everyone. Oddly enough, it is a little scary!!! Kinda like when we first came home....I didn't know what do to without the nurses, doctors and all of the therapists. Now, cardiac rehab is about the last thing. We still have a few more visits to Speech, but I think Jim said that would possibly end the end of this month. It is going to feel weird. I am going to miss some of those people too. They love what they do and are thrilled when people get to the point where they don't need them anymore!!!!

Anyway, as far as Norm goes, things are going very well. He has driven by himself a couple of times now. I must say that it makes me really scared, but I know it has to happen some day. I think back a lot about when he had his second cardiac arrest and was without enough oxygen for 12 minutes...none of us knew if he would even be able to come home again and look at him now. Honestly, I don't know how anyone can say there is no such thing as a miracle. He certainly is one, many times over!!!! Everyday brings improvement. The rehab doctor said that maybe he could think about going back to the temple in the fall. That would be awesome.

Here lies our 2 year old Troy-Built riding lawn mower!!!!!

After Norm got done mowing the other day, he shut it off for a moment and went to start it again and it was dead. Didn't even make a noise when he tried to start it!!! No more warranty either, so, he has been working on it for a couple of days now. It has been really good for him tho. He has spent a lot of time on it and hasn't thought much about all of the things he isn't able to do right now. Secretly I am praying he can remember how to get it back together!!!! He got some of it together tonight and said that he came out with and extra bolt!!!! Oh good!!! Now you have a spare!!!! NOT! But, he did say that he found out where it went, so has to take some of it apart again. Soooo, we shall see!!!

This is my best buddy, Clancy. He is the coolest dog ever!!!! My daughter hates him but I don't care. I totally admit that I am just no good when it comes to him, cause I love him to pieces!!!! He has been a wonderful friend for nearly 10 years now and I wouldn't trade him for the world. As you can see, he has only one eye. It is because of a syndrome that is prevalent in Jack Russell's where some of the muscles in the eye just deteriorate. So, because he only has one eye, we have to be really careful with him....and, he is in trouble now. For a couple of days now, his eye has been watering and has been pretty painful. I took him up to Salt Lake to the Eye Care for Animals place where he has gone since the whole eye thing started, and it seems he has an ulcer on his eyeball. So, they sent me home with some antibiotic eye drops, but, as of Monday it had not gotten any better....so, back up to Salt Lake I went!!!! Now, I have to go up there again tomorrow because his eye is still weeping and sore. He may have to have a very expensive procedure done that requires that they scrape the eyeball to encourage the ulcer to heal. Can you believe that??? Not me!!! Anyway, it is so terrifically expensive that I don't know if we can do it. I guess we will have to, but it is going to be really hard. They told me today that it is possible that they can do it without putting him out, but if they have to do it with anesthetic, we are in deep doo-doo!!! The whole thing only takes about 20 minutes, but man o man, the price is amazing! He is worth it, but there will be no steaks in our budget for a couple of years!!!!!

I have to have him up there at 9:45 in the morning so be thinking of me!!! I don't want to eat hamburger the rest of my life!!!! I hope they can do it with him awake. Much cheaper and much easier for him and everyone else. Pray for us!!!!!!!!

Dogs are miracles with paws.

~Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy

A Fond Farewell

Friday night we bid a fond farewell to one of the finest families you would ever want to meet. Karen and Gary Jarvis and Craig, "Cam", Jessica, Ross and Zack. They are moving to California to be near Karens parents in Loomis which is in the northern part of the state. How much they will be missed is beyond belief, but then I have been thinking about how selfish it is to want them to stay, when they are so excited about going. Everything seems to have fallen in place for them, although, secretly I wished something would have happened to convince them it was the wrong thing to do. (See, I told you I was selfish) Gary and his son Cameron were our home teachers for a couple of years and now Gary and Ross come to see us monthly...without fail.


When we first moved here and we backed that big huge U-Haul truck into our driveway, Cameron Jarvis was the first one here to help us unload. He was about 13 then and not a really buff kid but he worked so hard to help us. He introduced himself as our home teacher and said that his dad wishes that he could be there but he was working. Then, people started coming out of the woodwork to help us unload and it took only about two hours.


From that point on, for the past (nearly six) years Gary, Cameron, Ross and Karen have been there for us whenever we needed them. Gary has said many prayers on our behalf and when Norm was in the hospital, he came nearly every day. He talked to me daily and constantly expressed his concern and desire to help. He organized some the of the men in the church and came over to plant our onions and peas, because I couldn't be home to do it. This kind of love and compassion wasn't only directed to us, it was the whole ward.


Someone said at the party, that Gary and Karen always made them feel like they were special to them. I was a bit saddened because I thought I was special to them, but then after I kicked myself for being more selfish, I thought how awesome that family is, for everyone in the ward to think that they are special. And ya know what.....we are. We are all important to Gary and Karen and they are special to everyone. I am trying really hard, to figure out how not to be sad for myself and my family, and the ward, and in turn, be happy for them. They are excited to make this move, and if it makes them happy, then I'm happy....at least I think I am. I'm trying.


I expressed my saddness to one of the other members of our ward, and he said, with all the wisdom that I don't have..." the Lord will fill that house with someone who needs us and we will need them". He is probably right, but in a way, I feel sorry for the family that moves into that home because they have huge shoes to fill. That house has been a house of love and warmth to
so many people.


And there is Jessica Jarvis who shall ever remain with us in the lessons she has taught us of strength, courage and love. She has survived her traumas because of her Heavenly Father, of course, and her own desire to overcome, but also because of the devotion of awesome parents and brothers.


I don't have any pictures of Craig (on a mission), Cameron, (about to go on a mission), Ross, who will be preparing to go on a mission in a few years and Zack who keeps them all together. I wish I did, but, I won't forget any of them.


I had a chance to sit and visit with "Cam" a while back, and how I will treasure that time. What a wonderful young man he is, and how he has prepared himself for the world. It has been a real treat for me, to know him and to call him my friend. He will always be a special friend.


Good bye Gary, Karen, Craig, "Cam", Jessica, Ross, and Zack. Out of sight but not out of mind, and forever loved. We are happy for you, but will miss you terribly. Have a wonderful life in Calif. We are here and we will not forget.


How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. ~Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie

Thank you!