Car replacement

So today I want to talk about cars! I say that because as you probably know I had to replace my old car recently. Just to remind you why I had to do this I will just briefly tell you what happened to the old standby. We were driving back to Utah from our trip to the East when, in Gary, Indiana, my car decided to blow a piston or something like that. Anyway, we took it to the shop and were told that it could be fixed for a lot of money, but that it would probable break down again soon. So we decided to cut our losses and just rent a car to get back to Utah.

Now its two months later and we've decided that it has been long enough with just Summer's old standby. So we went car shopping. Thankfully I married Summer and she was able to do some sleuthing on the internet. She found a great car with only 35k miles on it. We took it for a spin and checked it out on Carfax.com. It check out so we bought the thing and now its sitting in our driveway. I think its a pretty neat little car.

Also, just as a side note, we recently went up to Logan and did a double date with Summer's sister and her husband. Part of the activity was bowling so I've posted a few pictures of the event.

Back to the News

So I think we've deviated from the blog subject a little the last few post. The subject being my hubby and his recovery. I assure you the deviation was not intended. My man is making amazing steps in recovery. For anyone out there who has dealt with a "long-term disability" I imagine your smile grows deeper at every little change and improvement. So right now, I have lots of reason to smile. Will's ability to retrieve large amounts of knowledge at the blink of an eye is returning. I am not longer the smarty pants out of the two of us. He can retrieve information from the precincts of his mind that I couldn't retrieve even if I learned it 100 times!

I have been so focused on other things returning I forgot that the memory piece needs to be just as pristine as the rest of his abilities-- watch out Ken Jennings ;) (ps why is it that all the smart people come from Utah.... just kidding out of state folks :).

So Will has blogged briefly about things that should be shouted on the roof tops. His volunteer work at a free clinic, his joining a toastmaster's club, his church talk, the lesson he gave in a sunday school class, his attendance at two to three morning reports a week, his new goal to take step 3 in a number of months and his chart to study a 100 hours so we can reward ourselves with a trip or something neat like that. The list goes on (actually I am keeping one cat in the bag because we don't know how it will turn out-- so keep your eye out for more developments-- i hope i hope).

I will add a couple of details to the afore mentioned activities. The clinic: many volunteers are behind the desks and counters organizing and doing paper work...my husband does that but he also gets pulled from that position several times throughout the day to translate for the doctors-- better than shadowing participating.... so cool! Will's sunday school lesson: teaching is much different than presenting. He prepared his lesson and discussion points and was able to lead the class in a discussion about the topic. I hear he did great (I couldn't go cause it was Elders Quorum-- the third of three meetings in our church -- the last meeting is the one where the guys separate from the girls). His talk: Well I have to say I was the first to talk and he was the second. I stuttered through my discourse and forgot to end with the answer to the question I presented at the first. My hubby and I then performed a musical number (him on the piano me on the violin) then he got up and took no time at all to let the congregation know my little missed detail (the entire conclusion to my talk ;). He often catches me when I fall and I am soo grateful for that. His 100 hour chart: Ok I admit it was my idea. But heck any reason to go on a vacation is a great reason for me ;)

To end I tell you Will is getting there. He isn't all the way back but he is still recovering. He is still going. And in the meantime we are having the time of our lives

Keep watching and praying,

Summer

ps The above photos are my little niece playing in our apartment-- we have a toy box and treats to persuade our nieces and nephews to come down whenever they visit the parents. The other pictures are of Will Skiing and me snowboarding. On this particular ski day we taught two nieces and my sister(for her birthday) to ski. My two brother-in-laws also came--It was a great!

pps Below is more of Will's photography genius-- two of our cute nieces and my sister and her husband.

New Year

Well, its the new year and a time for new beginnings. This year one of my new beginnings is being a member of toastmasters which is a club designed to help its members with public speaking. I've already given a talk in church and I think being a member of the club will help me give better ones in the future.

Another new beginning is living in our downstairs apartment. We've done a lot of remodeling of it and I think it looks pretty nice. If I do say so myself. In any event I'm sure I will have lots of similar projects throughout the coming year.

Also, with the new year, comes Summer and my anniversary. I love Summer and hope to make this year the best one I've spent with her yet. That isn't to say that next year won't even be better, but I think you get the picture.

In any event, its now a new year and I hope that it is good for all of us. We each have our personal struggles, and at times the future looks bleak, but I think those are just short moments and if we endure them well I believe we will be blessed.

The Spirit of Christmas

I have to admit, I had a rough Christmas season this year. I was busy deflecting colds, we were working out family issues, looking for jobs, hoping to reinvent our future (not in residency this next year), finding renters, fixing up our parent's basement, and the list goes on. The whole part where the Savior is born in a lowly manger with no crib for his bed, I missed that. It is so easy to miss the most important things in life. There are so many distractions, so many people to blame, so many problems to complain about. I guess the real "secret" to life, that is not really a secret at all, is that it is meant to be hard-- the Savior was not born into a life of glory and comfort. He was born in a manager. But that birth made all the difference, that birth made it so "hard" wouldn't be "too hard" and that once the "hard" was over, we would have our families (and the other relationships that lifted us through the difficult times) forever. Christ was born so that we might live. So on my Christmas list for next year is to stop fretting and instead lift someone who has been forgotten in the Christmas haste. Wish me luck ;)

Above I've posted pictures of some of our "non-stressful" Christmas moments (cause those are really the only moments that last anyways). You'll see my brother-in-law on a chair directing the very wiggly grandchildren in a Christmas Nativity. Will also took the picture of my dad with one of the grandkids at our yearly walk through the Ogden lights on Christmas Eve. There is also a picture of me making fun of my sister's "skinny pants." I love them but I feel like I am back in Jr. High! And last but not least I couldn't help but post the picture of Will with his new snow shoes! I think he likes his present -- but I have to admit it was very "me" driven. I love snowshoeing!!! And for the past few years he had to wear my pink snow shoes while I wore my old snow shoes. I get my snowshoes back, and now we can spend our winters hiking the Wasatch Mountains!

House painting

This is just a quick blog to let you know how our repainting is coming. For those of you who don't know we moved into the basement apartment of Summer's parents about a month ago. The apartment consists of four rooms: a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a bedroom. So far we've got the bedroom done (except for the accidental paint chip I put in the wall) and the bathroom is nearly done as well. Fortunately the kitchen did not require a lot of work (at least as far as I can tell), but the living room still has a few touch ups to be done. Mostly we have to put the baseboards back in and I think Summer's Dad wants to put the stone above the fireplace in. In any case its looking good and hopefully in a few days it will be presentable to the world. The pictures above show us repainting the bedroom and Summer wants me to note the improvement in the color choice--green to brown with a chocolate brown accent wall in the bedroom.

Sleep appointment

Before we left for Ohio we actually got approved for a sleep study and went to be tested. Dr. Simpson, however, did not have room to see us after that appointment, before we left for Ohio. As a result the follow up visit was today. Both Will and I were dreading attending the appointment. Will because he thought the doctor might tell him that because of his "sleepiness" it would be difficult to ever return to be a doctor. I was unexcited because of the pre-Ohio drama with mandating us to take the test and not wanting to write a letter saying "he seriously doubted that Will had sleep apnea" even though this was the case. So thus followed the back and forth with trying to get it covered under insurance. In the end it was covered and Will of course did not have sleep apnea and did not have narcolepsy.

The appointment actually went very well. Dr. Simpson was surprised, as is the case with many doctors, that Will was much more alert than a few months earlier and that he did not look sleepy during the appointment. With these observations, and my comments on maybe we look for alternative careers in medicine he told Will -- "You are young and your brain will heal, don't give up on becoming a doctor, even if it took a few years. Be patient." He then quoted what he thought was said by Winston Churchill-- "Never give up!"

I have to admit this was a vote of confidence we sorely needed as the past few weeks have been especially difficult (depressing). On top of this good news--- Will signed up to volunteer weekely in a free clinic today. They are very excited to have Will on board and he will be shadowing doctors, taking vitals, etc...

The above pictures are Will and I at Temple Square. The lights were enchanting. ps the Goattee was my idea-- he wore it for at least four hours before I demanded he shave it ;)

The End....Another Beginning

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, with hardly a minute to type. I'll start with the last leg of the trip and let Will tell you the end of our trip. After Gettysburg we set up shop at Will's sister's place in Brooklyn, New York. What a city to live in. The drivers in New York are crazy the buildings are covered in spray paint, and parking is nearly impossible. Even though it was a little bit of a culture shock for me I have to say I felt a richness and culture there that was totally new and exciting. Will's sister's place is 125 years old. Everywhere you look there are cathedrals, bakeries, gift shops, libraries, and authentic restaurants. After spending a few days in Brooklyn and taking my first ever to visit Trader Joe's, it was time to head into the center of the Big Apple. Will and I spent an entire day touring New York. It was soooo much fun. We started out by doing some temple work at the New York Temple and then we walked across Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum where we spent hours visiting a few of the exhibits there. Then we took the subway down to Times Square and ate our first New York Bagel and slice of New York Pizza. Times Square at night is buzzing with activity and the lights are magical. After taking it all in we were 45 minutes early to Wicked. I will spare you my rants about how it was the most amazing musical I have ever seen. Just know that I have been singing the broadway tunes without ceasing ever since that moment ;).

We left for Utah the next day. Will will tell you the rest of that story. As for our future, it is still very much unwritten. Because of our experience in Ohio, things have felt as if they have regressed. We have felt and continue to feel lost. The questions and advice continues-- "why don't you try this...." or "do you have a back up plan...." --- as we are still unsure as to what the fastest way back to full recovery is or where (if ever) the recovery will stop these questions will remain a mystery for the time being. In the meantime while we have experienced loss and stumbling blocks, the reality is that Will continues to experience extraordinary recovery-- his wakefulness improves everyday, his personality exhibits itself more all the time, and lastly he remembers more and understands more than he ever has before. This story is far from over -- it is only beginning.. We're revving up for another go :) So keep praying and keep reading. We love you and thank you for all you do to help us in this journey.

Ps I've posted the pictures of the above mentioned activities. We have also set a new goal to have Will blog as well. I am very glad he has consented to do so, he is definitely my better half. I am soo lucky to have him :)