Since I have forgotten the weeks I'm on, I figure I'll just make up random titles! Thanks everyone for your support and continued reading. We have had some very interesting developments this week. First, Dad saw the neurologist this week and they took a new CT scan of Dad's brain. The bad news is Dad has a permanent hole the size of a quarter where the brain damage was. The good news is the neurologist thinks Dad should make a full recovery. Apparently, the neurons in the brain will connect around the hole and Dad will regain his speech. I just can't believe how amazing the brain is. Dad has a giant hole in his brain and he will be alright? Crazy!
While visiting the University Hospital Dad was able to meet several doctors and nurses who helped in his care while in the Nero Critical Care Unit. He also got to see the room that he had occupied while there. Dad thought this was the coolest thing ever. He has talked about it all day long. You can only imagine his delight to be able to say "Thank you" to those that helped him live.
We have been going down memory lane about the accident quite a bit this week. I spent the evening with Dad last night and he wanted to know what I did while he was in the hospital. I told him I would sit with him and sing to him. It's hard for Dad to comprehend what happened. Can you imagine what it would be like to be apart of an accident but unable to empathize (is that the right word or is it sympathize) because you can't remember it. That has got to be the weirdest feeling ever.
On the other hand this Saturday we got our new sound system equipment. Dad was extremely jazzed to start setting up the equipment and start learning how to use it. Dad was so excited that he was ready to start up our open mic night this Friday! He was ready to get on the phone and make calls and send out ads. We had to reign him in a little and we compromised by having a jam session with a few of his good friends! As for Dad's benefit I will keep you posted as that progresses. We need some time to get familiar with the sound system, how to work it, how to arrange, the best set up, etc... It's going to be awesome when we finally open.
Mom stays very busy taking care of Dad. I can't believe how busy they are. Dad has speech therapy, then vocational therapy, then a support group meeting, then the foot doctor, then... it just goes on and on. I can't believe how much Dad needs. I am amazed with how well Mom takes care of Dad. It is not an easy road to take care of someone.
Flipping things again, Mark, Dad's old friend came out today and took Dad up to Snowbasin to watch some snowboarding competitions. Dad had a great time and couldn't believe how much Snowbasin had changed. I hung out with Mom and Dad all day today. We didn't do much, just talked and tried to relax while my kids screamed all day!
Oh, I did notice something funny that I have been doing lately without even thinking about it. Whenever I am near Dad I always stand close enough to him that I am touching him. For instance, the other day I hung out with Dad and he was sitting on the couch. Well, instead of sitting on the other side of the couch I sat down right next to him so that we were squished to one side. I didn't notice until later that evening when I went to sit down and did the same thing. I don't know, I think it's just nice to feel his warm arm against mine and to think that I almost lost that. One dan't take anything for granted...ever.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Oh Heck I can't Remember the week I'm on
Hey Everyone, hope you all are still reading this. I know it has been a couple of weeks and I apologize. If I don't write on a weekly basis I believe little things get lost. So I will try not to do that again! For myself and my little family things have been crazy hectic. I just got a new job and so my day consists of being Meyer Family Children Coordinator, NDJH ZAP (North Davis Jr. High Zero's Are Prohibited) Coordinator, Husband Supervisor, again Meyer Children Coordinator, Chef, then Sleep Manager! I have thought about writing everyday and get a sick feeling in my tummy each night I go to bed and again have forgotten to write. So it is now 9:49PM and kids and hubby have fallen asleep. So finally I get a little time to myself before I crash and I'm excited to fill everyone in on what has happened these last 2 weeks.
Well, New Years was fun and not to chaotic! I spent the evening at Mom and Dad's house. We decided to make a big batch of Spaghetti in case Erin came over. Dad and the girls watched "Coraline Jones," as Sage would call the movie. (Sage loves the part that Coraline mimics her mother!) Dad loves watching movies. He says he sees things differently then before. Perhaps he has a new perspective on life? Perhaps he just appreciates things we take for granted? Perhaps the damage in his head unlocked some new function that he never had access to? Who knows. But it is so fun to watch Dad watch a movie with Sage and Ramie. He comments on everything and gets the kids all excited for what might happen next. I love to listen to Dad watch movies. He will say "oh, wow, she is beautiful," or "oh, he loves her." It's almost like a kid watching a movie. The kids like it too, because usually we adults tell them to be quiet and watch, but Grandpa talks as much as they do!
Dad has not lost his taste for good food (or telling people what they need for their recipe!) Mom and I made a quick Spaghetti, we were more focused on eating then extreme flavor! Dad wasn't too impressed with our sauce. He ate a little then said he wasn't hungry. It just needed a bit more salt. Besides Spaghetti always tastes better the next day when the spices have had time to sit. After dinner, Dad seemed pretty tired and wanted to go to bed. He asked Mom if she would wake him up but she has had experience waking Dad up before and he isn't very nice about it! So we all headed over to Erin's house while Dad slept.
At Midnight we banged pots and pans and lit off some illegal fireworks. (If any cops read this illegal is a misprint.) We decided January is the best time to let off these frowned upon fireworks. This way with the snow on the ground they won't start a giant fire! Hee hee. Mom and I left Erin's house directly after midnight. When we got back Dad was still in bed. I do think he got up at some point and tried working his Facebook, but Dad was too tired to make it to midnight. Sage and Ramie and I stayed the night.
The next morning we had a delicious Crowley breakfast with bacon, sausage, grits, and eggs sunny side up! After breakfast, the girls and I helped Mom put away her Christmas tree. Dad watched and kept saying it had been such a great tree.
So that is about all in the way of big events. Dad continues to get better, baby steps everyday. Yes, Dad has lost a lot of his songs. The newer ones he never wrote the words down, so we are having difficulty helping Dad remember those. Does anyone have the words or can remember any of the song that Dad wrote about himself? It was really funny, the last line of the chorus went "I don't give a heck about that." I've been trying to help Dad remember his songs. When he has a Brain Surge (that is what I call them) I grab a piece of paper and write down everything he is remembering at that moment. Then I hope next time he gets a Brain Surge instead of starting from scratch we can start with what we had already remembered together.
Dad's guitar playing gets a lot better each day also. This weekend he played "Down to the River to Pray" with Steve our other guitarist in church. They sounded AWESOME. Then today Dad told me he pulled out a couple other songs that he was beginning to remember.
OH, I think in February, I haven't set a date. We are going to have a benefit for Dad. Soon we will be opening our open mic. night and coffee. When we open I also want to make it a benefit for Dad. So spread the word and come listen to Dad (maybe) and some local artists play. We will be selling Dad's CD to help raise some money to help my parents with medical bills. We would love to have as many people as possible come. If you can't make it the night I schedule, you will still be able to buy a CD. I will let you all know more about this as I get things more solid.
Ha Ha, so last weekend on Friday Jan. 8th Matt (hubby) and I piled Dad and the girls into our Subaru and took a drive up to Idaho. Dad has been wanting to play the lottery ever since he started talking. Since last Saturdays draw was for 25 million I figured that it would be a fun drive to play the Powerball. Dad had a great time. We drove up to Malad, Idaho. On the way we talked a lot about Dad's songs, his accident, working for the railroad, Pocatello, and more. On the way home we stopped off at Smith and Edwards (it's a sporting goods store and more.) Dad had a blast in there looking at the fishing gear and different odd and ends. It was so funny because Dad has to ride around using the wheeled carts and Ramie and Sage like to ride on his lap. Dad gets a kick out of driving the girls around. Needless to say we didn't win the Powerball...this time. Next weeks is up to 30 Mil.
I can't wait until Dad can get his cast off of his foot so he can get around better. We think he may need surgery though. The bone doesn't seem to be healing and still gives Dad a lot of trouble when he removes the "Boot."
Well, that's all for tonight, my arms are getting sore from typing. Let me know if you all are still following. Sorry, I hope the next one won't be too long coming. Love you all.
Well, New Years was fun and not to chaotic! I spent the evening at Mom and Dad's house. We decided to make a big batch of Spaghetti in case Erin came over. Dad and the girls watched "Coraline Jones," as Sage would call the movie. (Sage loves the part that Coraline mimics her mother!) Dad loves watching movies. He says he sees things differently then before. Perhaps he has a new perspective on life? Perhaps he just appreciates things we take for granted? Perhaps the damage in his head unlocked some new function that he never had access to? Who knows. But it is so fun to watch Dad watch a movie with Sage and Ramie. He comments on everything and gets the kids all excited for what might happen next. I love to listen to Dad watch movies. He will say "oh, wow, she is beautiful," or "oh, he loves her." It's almost like a kid watching a movie. The kids like it too, because usually we adults tell them to be quiet and watch, but Grandpa talks as much as they do!
Dad has not lost his taste for good food (or telling people what they need for their recipe!) Mom and I made a quick Spaghetti, we were more focused on eating then extreme flavor! Dad wasn't too impressed with our sauce. He ate a little then said he wasn't hungry. It just needed a bit more salt. Besides Spaghetti always tastes better the next day when the spices have had time to sit. After dinner, Dad seemed pretty tired and wanted to go to bed. He asked Mom if she would wake him up but she has had experience waking Dad up before and he isn't very nice about it! So we all headed over to Erin's house while Dad slept.
At Midnight we banged pots and pans and lit off some illegal fireworks. (If any cops read this illegal is a misprint.) We decided January is the best time to let off these frowned upon fireworks. This way with the snow on the ground they won't start a giant fire! Hee hee. Mom and I left Erin's house directly after midnight. When we got back Dad was still in bed. I do think he got up at some point and tried working his Facebook, but Dad was too tired to make it to midnight. Sage and Ramie and I stayed the night.
The next morning we had a delicious Crowley breakfast with bacon, sausage, grits, and eggs sunny side up! After breakfast, the girls and I helped Mom put away her Christmas tree. Dad watched and kept saying it had been such a great tree.
So that is about all in the way of big events. Dad continues to get better, baby steps everyday. Yes, Dad has lost a lot of his songs. The newer ones he never wrote the words down, so we are having difficulty helping Dad remember those. Does anyone have the words or can remember any of the song that Dad wrote about himself? It was really funny, the last line of the chorus went "I don't give a heck about that." I've been trying to help Dad remember his songs. When he has a Brain Surge (that is what I call them) I grab a piece of paper and write down everything he is remembering at that moment. Then I hope next time he gets a Brain Surge instead of starting from scratch we can start with what we had already remembered together.
Dad's guitar playing gets a lot better each day also. This weekend he played "Down to the River to Pray" with Steve our other guitarist in church. They sounded AWESOME. Then today Dad told me he pulled out a couple other songs that he was beginning to remember.
OH, I think in February, I haven't set a date. We are going to have a benefit for Dad. Soon we will be opening our open mic. night and coffee. When we open I also want to make it a benefit for Dad. So spread the word and come listen to Dad (maybe) and some local artists play. We will be selling Dad's CD to help raise some money to help my parents with medical bills. We would love to have as many people as possible come. If you can't make it the night I schedule, you will still be able to buy a CD. I will let you all know more about this as I get things more solid.
Ha Ha, so last weekend on Friday Jan. 8th Matt (hubby) and I piled Dad and the girls into our Subaru and took a drive up to Idaho. Dad has been wanting to play the lottery ever since he started talking. Since last Saturdays draw was for 25 million I figured that it would be a fun drive to play the Powerball. Dad had a great time. We drove up to Malad, Idaho. On the way we talked a lot about Dad's songs, his accident, working for the railroad, Pocatello, and more. On the way home we stopped off at Smith and Edwards (it's a sporting goods store and more.) Dad had a blast in there looking at the fishing gear and different odd and ends. It was so funny because Dad has to ride around using the wheeled carts and Ramie and Sage like to ride on his lap. Dad gets a kick out of driving the girls around. Needless to say we didn't win the Powerball...this time. Next weeks is up to 30 Mil.
I can't wait until Dad can get his cast off of his foot so he can get around better. We think he may need surgery though. The bone doesn't seem to be healing and still gives Dad a lot of trouble when he removes the "Boot."
Well, that's all for tonight, my arms are getting sore from typing. Let me know if you all are still following. Sorry, I hope the next one won't be too long coming. Love you all.
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