SoMe Of ThE nOt FuN sTuFf

       After a few weeks in the ICU one of the nurses noticed this weird movement that would run down Aaron's shoulder, through his arm, and down to his hand. It was just on the one side. It wasn't long before they were able to give it the name of mycloclonic seizures. One of Aaron's neurologists worked hard to finally find two therapeutic doses of medication that would control the seizures, which we also found out were common with brain injuries.
   
      Once we moved out of the ICU to Wauchula…somehow, somewhere one of Aaron's doctors felt we should be able to take Aaron off one of the two medications to control seizures. (This was a good thing as the one medicine they discontinued wasn't supposed to be used for long term.) Aaron had no problems after going to one medication and every time they examined him and did any testing there seemed to be no more signs of the seizures we had seen in the ICU. We were elated! 


       Fast forward to the facility in Winter Haven almost two years later…what do you know I go out of town for one of the first times since the accident for fun and Aaron has a full blown seizure. This was something we had not ever experienced and truthfully, I thought we were way beyond this point in his recovery so it was pretty stressful. (Especially since seizures can cause falls and with a brain injury, another fall could be devastating for Aaron.) I had left about 10 hours earlier when I got the call. There was a lot of drama surrounding the first seizure and trip to the hospital but thankfully my school secretary was available to go and sit with Aaron at the emergency room to all hours of the night. Did I mentioned that the hospital wouldn't tell me anything because of HIPPA and Aaron was not good on the phone at that point?! 

       From that day on, Aaron has continued to have what our current neurologist has diagnosed as "breakthrough" seizures. I had some of my own theories but since I haven't been able to prove them 100% I will keep quiet, anyone who has ever been a caretaker or parent can probably relate! It seems as if when Aaron gets a mild infection it can easily cause full blown seizures, the infections that would leave those of us who are healthy miserable and might cause us to miss a day of work. Again, it is something that comes along with a brain injury and is unfortunately unpredictable.

      Aaron has had several seizures over the past three years and they never get easier. After each one I go back to worrying and as time goes on, I almost forget to worry about them just in time for another one to sneak up on us. He doesn't seem to remember them, which I guess is a good thing. He has fallen during one. I have witnessed one myself. He has also been sent to the hospital on more than one occasion due to a seizure. 

       Last fall, we were having way more "stay-cations" at the local hospital than either of us would prefer.Throughout this past few years we have learned that due to strong infections, the quick fix for Aaron is to have a strong dose of IV antibiotics which are usually started in the hospital. When they feel Aaron is improving then they are able to send him back to the rehab where they have the ability to monitor the infections closely and continue the antibiotics. Aaron was in the emergency room and then admitted twice in two month time period. There were other complications that made it a little more stressful and anyone who has sat in an emergency room knows how much fun that is. 

     Aaron's neurologist was able to recommend a newer medicine shortly after the last trip to the hospital to go along with what he was already taking. Fortunately it was the perfect match because as of 11/16/13, we have been seizure free for an entire year!!!!!!!!! This also means we don't have to go to the neurologist as often, we have been upgraded to every six months and the last check up we literally spent five minutes with our doctor (who is awesome by the way)! While I hope we stay seizure free, there is always the possibility that Aaron could have another but I will take ONE YEAR without a seizure as a HUGE accomplishment! 

    Here are a few pictures documenting our first hospital 
stay-cation last fall. He was much sicker during the second trip so there were no pictures from then. 

Aaron kept asking for shorts,  I'll be the first to tell you that he is NOT a good patient to have lol! 

Sweet friends from small group brought milk shakes and french fries to Aaron to make him feel better! 

tOo MaNy CoOkS iN oUr KiTcHeN???

     For those of us who know us well, you know that Aaron and I were not very good cooks before his accident. Aaron could do Chili's, I am not talking about the soup, and I could do a nice big bowl of cereal any night of the week. The few times I actually remember cooking and enjoying a real meal at home together after we were married was our first Thanksgiving in Florida in 2007 and I thought you would enjoy the pictures documenting this once in a lifetime event, see below! 

Frying our first turkey, Thanksgiving in Florida 2007!

I honestly think this was the first and last time we actually sat at this table to eat dinner together!

    As I was saying, we are not top chefs! Even now, with our craziness, not much has changed. I never thought I would consider McDonald's one of the main food groups and I still love my bowl of cereal no matter what time of day it is! 

   We were just hanging out at the house tonight. I was wanting something sweet and Aaron was bored, pretty typical for the two of us lol! I had recently been to Walmart and got sucked into the fall aisle. I ended up leaving with a bag of orange and black chocolate chips along with other unnecessary fall themed items. 

   I decide to make cookies. Who better to assist me than the person who was complaining they were bored (well at least until he realized that the Ohio State game was on)?! I also thought this would be good therapy... I am pretty sure there are many days that Aaron probably wishes over and over that he hadn't married an elementary teacher! So here are just a few shots of Aaron actually cooking in our kitchen but don't worry I was supervising, I mean helping!

Adding the ingredients!

Mixing them up!

One of the best parts, licking the beater!

Team work...getting the dough ready for the pan!

Almost ready for the oven!

Mmmmmmmm!!!

     For those of you who might get some cookies, please note that Aaron DID wash his hands before, during, and after cooking! Who knew cooking at home could be so much fun!? Maybe next time we should try making dinner! 

   

LaSt LaUgH!

    One of the blessings is that we can pretty much find humor in anything these days...even sneaking into the women's bathroom together where there's no other bathroom for me to go in and help him! 
    Here are just a few things that have been said or have happened recently that have made for a good laugh! If you knew Aaron before the accident you know that he had a great sense of humor and he was very sarcastic! 

Me: (pulling into the rehab to take Aaron back one evening)
Aaron: Home Sweet Home!

Me: (sneezing)
Aaron: I think you are allergic to me

Me: (driving in a questionable neighborhood, car zooms down the road at our intersection) Drive it like you stold it!
Aaron: If you live around here you probably did!

Me: Dancing in the car. 
Aaron: That's all you got?

Me: (parked in the "doctor" spot at the rehab on the weekends)
Aaron: Dr. Royer 

wHeRe Do YoU sEe YoUrSeLf In FiVe YeArs?!

FIVE years later!!!

    Recently I had a conversation with one of Aaron's college friends and we were talking about how long ago the accident was. He was telling us about recent job interviews he had and how they seemed to ask this popular question, "Where do you see yourself in FiVe years?" Think about it for a minute.....it's not an easy question is it?!

    I know that if you had asked us this question just a few days prior to June 16, 2008 you would have gotten a completely different answer. Even just days after June 16, 2008 I could have never imagined telling you that we'd be where we are today. FiVe years seems like such a long time ago, then again it has seemed to go by so quickly! 

    Lucky for us God had this because we sure couldn't have done this without Him and I don't think I always give Him the credit He deserves! At first we had doctors telling us that the first year was where we would see the most progress, then we heard the first two years, then somewhere along the way it became the first FiVe. I am pretty sure that since then we have heard the word indefinitely used to measure the timeline for progress that Aaron could make. Well folks, we've hit FiVE (and are still seeing improvements) and feel blessed with every single second, minute, day, and year! 

     I asked my favorite photographer, Beth Carter, if she would help me get some new pictures to share for this blog. Lakeland Regional Medical Center staff were the ones who saved Aaron's life and I couldn't think of a better place than where it all started. On a side note, we have been invited to LRMC Trauma Awareness Day each year, one of the gifts Aaron received was a t-shirt that I thought would be appropriate for this photo shoot! (Check out the close up in the pictures that follow!) 

In front of Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

I can not tell you how often I go through our pictures from 2008 to present day and see what an amazing story they tell. Each picture, along with each year, reminds me that we have both survived through this craziness annnnnnnd Aaron has gotten just a little closer to being that same old Aaron we all know and adore! 

Sporting his LRMC Trauma Survivor Shirt!

   
    In FiVe years we have come a LONG way and I think Aaron would agree on these FiVe things...


OnE: Our lives haven't been easy (or where we thought we'd be) the past five years but we have learned a lot along the way. 

TwO: We are thankful for all of the progress Aaron has made that no one could guarantee that we would see. 

ThReE: We share our life with so many wonderful people that have helped us in big and small ways and shared our lives in good times and bad! 

FoUr: Anything is possible! 

FiVe: God is good ALL the time!

The fountain in front of LRMC where we took family pictures while Aaron was in the hospital! 

   

    I recently found a quote from Sonia Ricotti and I thought it was the perfect way to share my answer for the question I asked in the beginning of this entry. In five years, I hope to be able to continue to "Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be." 

    I can't wait to share what the next five years has in store for us! Where do you see YOURSELF in five years? 

All pictures are courtesy of Beth Carter Photography  at http://www.bethcarterphotography.com

cHeErS!

    This all started back at my staff Christmas party in '08, just a few months after Aaron's accident had happened. This was during the time where Aaron was not able to travel outside of his rehab facility. I reluctantly went, although I really wanted to go, I knew it wouldn't be the same without Aaron.

   I'm not sure exactly how it happened, if I remember right, I was drinking a beer before dinner and it was sitting on the table (almost empty) in front of me. That's about the time when my co-worker's husband, Jerry, came up to me with a smile on his face and a fresh cold beer in his hand! 

    Little did I know, that this was only the beginning of him taking care of me at our many social gatherings. From that night on, Jerry always made sure I was taken care of...with a smile and a cold drink! 

   Last week we went out for one last drink before we all started our summer vacation and went our separate ways. I had gotten there late and had ordered a water. I was chatting with people on my side of the table, not even paying attention, when I turned around here came Jerry with a smile on his face and a cold drink in hand! 

   It's truly the little things that make this journey just a little bit easier...who knew how much a smile and a cold drink could make my day over and over and over again?! Thanks Jerry and Dee for always being so sweet and putting a smile on my face! 

tHe BeSt A mAn CaN gEt?!

There is an OLD Gillette shaving commercial..."Gillette, the best a man can get!" and it came to mind as I started brainstorming for this blog.

For some reason, I think Aaron would agree that I am NOT the best a man can get when it comes to shaving his face! Shaving a man's face is something that I never thought I'd do, shaving my own legs is bad enough!


Going back to our ICU days...it only took TWO nurses to shave Aaron! I remember laughing in the middle of our craziness as they both took on this task!

Sometime in Spring 2009...it was my turn to try and here is a picture before my first attempt at shaving a man's face!

Just a few years later...my cute little baby face. We cleaned him up good or maybe I messed it up, I can't remember! 

Practice makes perfect and I am becoming a pro at this shaving thing, I am a little better now that Aaron can actually help by telling me what to do!