I'm back - kind of!

I’m not fixed and I certainly don’t have spell check figured out but I am writing just the same. My left hand has become more graceful and dominant while my right side has issues. I won’t be driving for a little while because of it, even if I felt mentally good enough to drive.  Which I don’t.  
 

Saturday, May 11, Pete took me to Ben’s annual birthday bash: a marvel movie, this one being Iron Man 3. He didn’t mind being seen with the one who couldn’t walk or the eye patch. I still haven’t taken the time to get a handicap decal so he had to drop me off and park. It was a great night despite the case of emergencies. (noise cancelling headphones, crystallized ginger, preggie pops, oxicodone, blanket, and hospital  space-saving  throw-up bag). It made me brave enough that we went to a park monday night just to enjoy summer.

We visited Dr. Shelton, Thursday May 16, and I failed the tests miserably on the right side. He said the temperature issues on my left side and the control on the right side are both cerebellum issues. He ordered a ct scan to rule out water on the brain (hydrocephalous) and ordered physical and occupational therapy to help.  My eye looks good for its condition and I got more patches.  

I have been getting my breakfast and filling up the dishwasher as a novelty. I’m not much help but at least I’m not much as a burden either. I waddle upstairs to put the kids to bed sometimes but I rely on others to do laundry and clean bathrooms.  Anything really important. The boys are taken every school day because I still take good naps. Even Christian knows the routine.  He tells me he cries for mommy and daddy but he has a house and he sleeps there. L But he says it in a smiley “reassure me” way.

 That is all I can type out as a left hander, double vision, kind of gal. As long as you are forgiving I will write more often.

The long road

With the kids back home and work starting up again, I've struggled to find the time and energy to update the blog. After this entry, I think I'll try small updates on a regular basis just so everyone can keep up on Mandy's progress.

She is walking a little more each day, but still feels motion sickness almost all the time as her body adjusts. She has times of frustration and the blues as we realize this is going to be a long-haul effort but she is pushing through.

Amanda is starting to get some feeling back in the right side of her face and tongue, but she still can't move anything (smiling, eye blinking, etc.) on the right side of her head. The right side of her body(arm, hand, leg, foot, etc.) still don't work like they used to but it seems to be slowly (very slowly to Amanda) improving. Her speech is much better and it continues to improve although there is still a pronounced slur.

Understandably, Mandy struggles at times with not feeling as pretty and useful as she did before the surgery, and yesterday she broke down for a little while. After a good cry session (her first one she would remind you!), she picked herself back up again and continued to practice walking on her own.

In a perfect display of timing, she shuffled to the kitchen table and opened several cards and gifts that reminded her people are still thinking of her and praying for her. That makes all the difference for her.

Thank you to the good friends and family that have been and continue to be so supportive and kind. She still has a long road ahead of her, but the thoughts and sweet gestures really lift Amanda up. We haven't been able to specifically thank people individually, but please know your efforts are noticed and so appreciated.