August 29th....
Hi everyone. I am a little slow at getting the
results of yesterdays doctor's visit to everyone. The children all have
upper respiratory infections- coughs etc. and yes, they have shared with
the rest of us. I stayed up all night Saturday and Sunday with Joshua as
he was coughing so hard he was throwing up which required numerous bed
changes and bathes and the washer was going all the time. Sarah and
Stephen went to the doctor yesterday also for their school physicals and
all was well with them. They both had to have some immunizations. Jackey
came home from school went to bed and did not get up until time to get
ready for school this morning but she did look like she felt better.
CHRISTIE has been feeling under the weather but we did go to her
doctor. appointment in Omaha. Dr. Lynch was very meticulous in her eye
exam and carefully explained to us everything. The bad news is she will
always be blind until stem cell research goes forward. However, she did
say it would be wise to continue to wear the sunglasses to protect the
retina just in case something came along in the future. After all Christie
is young and you never know what the next 5-10 years may bring. The images
she had been seeing she probably did see but there is no way to make that
a continual thing or rehab it into an everyday event.
JOSH continues to send email and they are getting a little longer.
The reports I am getting from Quality Living are in the form of e-mails
and all that work with him sound good. We are not moving forward rapidly
but they are going the extra mile. Some of this I probably did not realize
they were doing before since I am not there everyday and now we have a
good or rather excellent line of communication open and it is better for
all of us and I am so grateful...
We are getting closer to the move in date for our new home. Prayerfully
funds will come in for the two bedrooms in the basement for the children
and also the fence around the backyard...again, for the safety of the
children. We have lots of people willing to do the labor, I just need to
come up with the money for the materials so please pray for us... Of
course we can make due without those things, however, it would just be
nice if it was there when we moved in...That way the children could play
outside some without me having to stop everything and go with them; I
could just check on them. Also, having a girls and a boys bedroom would be
wonderful giving them a little more space...
Well guess that's about all the news from here. Once again thank you for
all your thoughts and prayers. THANK YOU for taking this journey with our
family.
MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.... MARY E BRASFIELD
August 25, 2007
HI everyone! I must say it feels like I am
neglecting you when I only type once or twice a week now. I realize there
is not as much news as there was at first and yet I miss the time I spent
reflecting as I put my thoughts together to share with you.
The children are all doing well in school. We seem to have the morning
routine down very well getting everyone where they need to go on time. In
the evening it goes pretty smooth right now but in a couple of weeks we
will be adding God's Kids Club for the 3 older ones and then Stephen
joined Cub Scouts and that will be one Thursday a month so we will start
having little blurbs in the routine. But that is okay because as we are
going along Christie is adding to the things she does to help so all is
going to work out just fine...
CHRISTIE is still going to the Commission for the Blind three days a
week. She is getting better at traveling/walking, on her own. She does
still need encouragement but I try to make her walk without holding on to
me whenever I can. She has to stand on her own and I do her NO FAVORS by
allowing her to hold on to me...She made beds for me one morning....sure
she was scared and they were not perfect, but the step was made and HURRAY
FOR HER.... She received a tape player from the library for the blind so
she can listen to cassette tapes of books. She is now writing short notes
to people to keep her handwriting skills up. MY BRAVE LITTLE
MIRACLE....WHAT A BLESSING SHE IS...
JOSH looked really good today when we were there. They have been
working very hard with him this past week or so. They now have the staff
in House 2, trained to use the pivot disk to transfer him so no more use
of the hoyer lift at last. As I said before they are working with him on
the computer and I email him everyday and we do get a short reply back.
Each day is a little longer and we praise God for that.... The rec center
had games out in the commons to play this afternoon so the children all
joined in playing games, even baby JOSHUA practiced throwing a football.
Residents and visitors alike had fun. Josh stayed out for about an hour
then indicated to me he was tired and I asked if he was ready for a nap
and he kind of nodded his head. So after everyone telling him good-bye I
took him in to his room. For some reason was harder to say "see you
later" today than usual. He hugged me and shook my hand and then laid his
head on my shoulder. I just did not want to leave and yet knew we must...
I told him to keep getting better and someday he would be home with
everyone and taking care of the children again. Told him we were proud of
him and knew he was working very hard and to keep it up.
Well that's about all the news from here. We are getting closer to the
new home. I sign on SEPT 12th. Then prayerfully I can come up with the
money for the material for the two bedrooms downstairs and the fence
around the backyard. It would just be nice to move in with everything in
place and not have to re-arrange all the furniture several times. Don is
in no shape to help and of course with Christie being blind she cannot
help move beds down the stairs so that leaves me. So my thoughts are it
would just be nice to have everything in place the first time around. We
will have to wait and see though how it all works out.
Thank you everyone for all you thoughts and prayers. Thank you for all
the acts of kindness and gifts that have been sent our way. Last but not
least, thank you for taking this journey of miracles with my humble
family... We have been truly blessed by the love and support that each
person has shown for our little group and THANK YOU just seems so very
inadequate yet we must say it over and over to make sure everyone knows we
mean it and so we do not miss anyone....
MARY E BRASFIELD
August 20th
It's Monday again and another week is off and
running. The children all had a great day at school. They are so very
very cute walking down the street to wait for the bus. We are blessed
with a wonderful high school girl that has been our neighbor since we
moved here and she walks them to the bus for us. The children just love
her. I am getting back into the routine at work and also getting used to
the peace and quiet of the office. At first my narcolepsy was really
giving me some problems after being used to all the hustle and bustle of
the house but the last few days have been much better.
CHRISTIE had a good day at the Commission for the Blind. She is a
little overwhelmed at all she has to learn over; how to get around and
cook etc. She is, however, determined she will do it and I am sure she
will. Everyday she picks up a little more here at home. She is helping
put the children to bed and this morning she fixed Sarah's hair. With
encouragement and praise she is moving forward. A gentleman from the
commission from the blind ordered her the New Testament on cassette....she
is very excited about that... We need to get her a few more things, but we
are waiting to see what we find out from the eye doctor on the 28th.
JOSH is doing OK. I sent him an email, just filling him in on the
little daily details, like I used to tell him. Michelle read him the
email and then me typed back "JB" before he got too tired ,and they sent
it to me..... CANNOT begin to tell you how great that was. IT IS A START,
and prayerfully everyday will see improvement.
Well it is late so I better go for tonight.... THANK YOU ALL for your
continued thoughts and prayers. Thank you to those that have taken this
journey of miracles with us and may you continue to do so. If you have
not signed our guest book yet please do so, Christie just loves for me to
read them to her and there is a scrap book being made for the kids from
this we site.... THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS........GOD BLESS....MARY E BRASFIELD
August 19, 2007
It is four months today that our lives were changed
forever...Some days it seems as if it just happened and then others it
seems as if it has been a lifetime.. We have had so very many miracles
and yet so many sad moments. We have been blessed in so very many ways,
renewing old friendships, new friendships, support from places we do not
even know, those who are taking this journey with us through thoughts and
prayers... and so many other ways I cannot even mention them all...
The children enjoyed their first two days of school. They looked so very
big heading off to school and seem to be adjusting to it very well.
Saturday they went to two soccer games during the day and then to a
Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game with our church in the evening. I did not
get to go to the baseball game because I had a migraine but Stephen
brought home a baseball! They were so very tuckered out...
CHRISTIE is doing good. She is going to start going to the
Commission for the Blind three days a week. She is trying very hard to
put her life back where it was before the wreck and I encourage her to
take one step at a time.... She wants to do it all at once and
sometimes not in the correct order. She is strong, brave and very
motivated so I know in the end will do very well...
JOSH has started to use the computer when he is in the rec hall..
His new email addy is
brazierjosh@yahoo.com, if anyone should want to email him... I was
excited when they told me he grabbed the mouse right away and began moving
it around. He does have some difficulty with it but they are working with
him and got him a keyboard with the key guards on it like the litewriter
had... So maybe we will be able to communicate with him during the week
before long... They did not say if they were using the pivot disc to
transfer yet or still using the hoyer lift...
They did take him out to a movie and lunch on Saturday since most of the
residents were gone from the house...
Well that's the news from here.... Tomorrow starts another busy week for
us. Thankfully one without doctor or dentist appointments.. Will not be
long though and Gods Kids Club will be on Wednesday evenings so that will
add to our routine... September 12th is the closing on the new house and
the kid's furniture is due in on the 13th so will be very very busy around
that time and hopefully it will take some of the stress away when we have
a little more room...Of course also will be a little more to clean...My
prayer still is that we can get the back yard fenced quickly so I do not
have to worry about the children and that busy road...
I know I have asked everyone for so very many prayers for my children and
our personal lives but I would like to ask for one more.... Josh's ex-step
dad Bill Cichoke is having some health problems that are potentially life
threatening and I really do need his help with the children and
grandchildren so if you could say a prayer for his health and getting the
help he needs with the VA and all I would appreciate it.....
THANKS for all the thoughts, prayers and acts of kindness you have sent
our way.... Thank you for taking this journey of miracles with us...Mary E
Brasfield
August 16th
Hello! It feels as if it has been a long time since
I have updated everyone. Time just passes so quickly and I feel as if I
get nothing done. Sarah had a lovely supper at El Toro's for her birthday
last night. They all looked so cute and grown-up heading for the school
bus this morning; made me realize how quickly the years would go because
it seemed just like yesterday when it was Christie I was sending to the
bus for the first time. My heart ached a little, wishing Christie and Josh
could see their little princess climbing those steps like a big girl with
her brother and cousin. Every joy in our home also has a bittersweet side
to it now. This evening after school brought another proud moment.
Jackey was the only one with homework. It was a game, "Don't Feed the
Elephant", which was played with 13 Tootsie Rolls. The object was to not
pick up the last one. You had to play 3 games. After the third game she
said "now we will split the candy since we all had a good first day of
school"... YES TODAY WAS GOOD>>>>
JOSH: Quality Living called to say they were taking him off his
Ritalin. When I called this evening to check on him, they had him sitting
in front of the TV again, watching a movie at 9:00 PM after
promising there would be no more TV. They also talked about
transferring him instead of using the Hoyer lift and that was last Friday,
only to find out tonight they are still using the Hoyer lift because he
cannot be transferred by only one person. So I am finding out the things
they told me would happen still are not happening after a week. For Josh
that is not good. Every day we lose means important time for him... I just
want people to be as devoted to him as they need to be, putting him in
front of the TV and walking off and leaving him is not acceptable!!!!!
SO If YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG YOU KNOW WHAT'S
NEXT.... WE ARE GOING TO FIND SOMEWHERE OUT THERE THAT WILL BE DEVOTED TO
JOSH AND HIS RECOVERY>>>>>> HE RESPONDS IF YOU SPEND THE TIME WITH HIM....
IF ONLY I HAD THE TIME AND MONEY TO DO SO I WOULD ... BUT ALAS I cannot or
we would do so... PRAY PRAY PRAY FOR AN ANSWER> At this point it does not
matter if he is close to home or not. What matters is that we get JOSH
back...
Well enough said on that subject. Seems as if things are never as they
seem and to keep good care going you have to be able to observe and watch
to make sure people love and care for your family as much as you do....
Yet the one phrase I remember and always try to adhere to when I take care
of patients is you treat every patient as if they were a MEMBER OF YOUR
OWN FAMILY.... I JUST WISH EVERYONE DID THE SAME.
Better close for tonight.... GOD BLESS everyone for all the thoughts and
prayers. Thank you for taking this incredible journey with us. Thank you
to those who have gone the extra mile for my children and I know there
have been those who have done just that, I realize not everyone takes the
easy road....
Mary E Brasfield
August 12th
Well here it is Sunday evening and I am finally
sitting down to rest a spell. I have spent all day going through clothes
for the children and getting the dressers and closet arranged for school.
With 4 children it was an all day project to get rid of the too small and
go through what people had brought, what was handed down etc., but at last
it is all done and they are ready to go...
Went to Quality Living to see Josh and must say we did not have a real
good visit. Again he was not very responsive. He did give a couple of
thumbs up but not nearly as interactive as he had been in the past.
Friday when I got the report from them they did say there was not much
change from when he was first admitted. They are going to try some
different things and see what happens. One improvement is he had the
barium swallow and is now able to tolerate ground food instead of the
pureed diet. He still has difficulty moving it from the front of his mouth
to the back to swallow it however so must drink lots of fluids to assist
with the movement of the food. His weight is back down to 143 pounds so
he is still getting the tube feeding boluses to help prevent any further
weight loss. Wish I could be there every day to encourage him like when
he was at Madonna. Please continue to pray for our JOSH!!!!!!!
Christie has her eye appointment on the 28th. In the meantime I had
noticed she would directly look at me when I spoke to her, so I had
started asking her if she was seeing anything. Come to find out she had
been seeing some things but thought it was just her imagination, so we
have been doing a lot of talking about things she sees and low and behold
she does see some things!!! Today she asked about an Ivy in my kitchen and
described it perfectly... SO THERE IS SOME HOPE YET!!!!! She verbalizes
she never sees people just objects and tonight she was asking about the
light fixture in the bathroom and again she was right on target down to
how many bulbs were in it. So we now talk about what she is seeing every
where we go.... REHAB via MOM... Lets just pray I am doing the right
thing...
THANKS FOR ALL THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.... THANKS FOR TAKING THIS JOURNEY
OF MIRACLES WITH OUR FAMILY.... GOD BLESS YOU ALL. MARY E BRASFIELD
August 8th
Hi! Well here it is the middle of the week and a
down hill slide from here, I wish... It has been an early to rise week for
us. Stephen had a dentist appt. at 7 on Tuesday; Christie had to be at
the hospital at 7:30 this AM and tomorrow Jackey has a 7AM dentist
appointment, so we are getting lots of practice at getting up and around
at 5:30 and 6AM. The children are actually doing very well with it.
Myself, I have the routine going fairly smooth with 3 of the 4 baths
completed prior to supper so that after supper only 1 left and brushing
the teeth before bed... YEAH!!!! Then I get out everyone's, including
Christie's, clothes for the next morning and life is good to go....That
way while everyone is dressing I am making beds and things look fairly
decent in the evening. The children are going to daycare and love it and
Joshua will continue after school starts. An extra expense but grandpa
just cannot take care of the kids. This way I do not have to worry as
much while I am at work...
Christie had her IVC filter removed today. The procedure went great
although we did have a little bit of a wait. It was a little irritating
at first due to some miscommunication but all is well now and just an
unfortunate incident. After all we had a good visit while we waited.
Josh is doing great according to the staff. He was to have a barium
swallow today and as of yet no results. I will call first thing tomorrow
morning and see what they found out. Staff reports he is very quick to
grab his drink off the table and help himself, actually any drink that is
within reach. We may go to see him on Friday if all goes well. It is
certainly difficult at best seeing him only once a week. I miss those
couple of hours every day and the interaction and bond that was formed.
BABY STEPS BABY STEPS will soon make one GIANT STEP for our JOSH!!!!!
Well that's about all for tonight. Thanks for all the thoughts and
prayers. Thanks for those who continue to take this journey with
us...MARY E BRASFIELD
AUGUST 4TH
We did not make it to Omaha to see Josh today and it
sure makes it seem like forever since we have seen him. The staff reports
he is doing well and sends his love which does make us feel a little
better. I am so impressed with the way they call and email us and are
good to also send pictures when they have them. They do strive very hard
to keep us involved even though we are at a distance and have a very full
schedule here.
CHRISTIE is doing fine. Has decided to go three days a week to the
commission for the blind as five 8 hour days is just to much for her right
now. She gets very very tired and so will try three and see if that helps
out some. Then of course she may have some other therapy after she has
her appointment at Madonna so that will also take some of her time. Then
when she goes for the second opinion on her eyes, prayerfully there will
be some eye rehab to get started. She is doing very well at getting
around the house and doing things for herself. Things will continue to
improve every day and of course as her confidence builds so will her
horizons...
Well that's about all the news from here. We are still making progress on
the house, of course it would be nice if it were all done and we were
moved but alas that is not the case.
Want to thanks everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Thank you for
taking this incredible journey of miracles with our family. Hope you have
been as blessed by this journey as our family has....
Mary E Brasfield
August 2, 2007
Week two at work is almost done and I am
surviving.... Stephen had a dentist appointment at 7AM Tuesday morning and
I must say, it was a slight challenge having everyone up and ready and
everything done by that time......but we made it. I was even at work on
time and next week we have two dentist appointments on Tuesday and
Thursday. Christie then has an appointment on Wednesday at 7:30, so lots
of early mornings coming up....
We are getting everything in order for the new house... Just keep praying
mine sells quickly... Still need to figure out how to come up with the
material to make the two bedrooms downstairs. We have people who want to
help with the labor but we still need the material. Then it is very
important for us to fence the backyard as it is on a busy highway and we
need NO MORE accidents in this family.... So, I will keep praying! So far
GOD HAS BEEN VERY VERY good to us. I know that just what He wants for us
will come to pass...
JOSH is now eating a pureed diet in the dining room at the house... So he
is still taking baby steps.... That is our prayer...baby steps with no
backward steps. He is also using a dry erase board and picking the
correct answer when given multiple choices. ..Again another baby step and
we are singing praises to GOD for all the miracles He has given to our
family....I want so much for both Josh and Christie that sometimes I
forget to pray GOD's WILL BE DONE... and that I promised
disabilities I could live with and would help them live with....So baby
steps forward and I am happy and keep them coming....
Thank you everyone for all the thoughts and prayers they do mean a lot to
us.... Also for those that have taken this journey from the beginning hope
it is blessing you as much as it is us...... GOD BLESS YOU ALL. MARY E
BRASFIELD
P.S. The next birthday in our home is Sarah Brazier she will be 5 on
August 15th.....
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