Christmas is over

Been a long time since I have written on this site. I forget I need to keep up with things. We had a great time before Christmas as we went car shopping in the snow a good 4 - 6 inches of very wet snow infact. The Lawter's came and picked us up in the height of the storm and drove us over to the dealer so I could test getting in and out and how they fit the 6 footer of our family. As you can guess we easily turned the salespeoples heads in the showroom as Bethany wheeled me in. I guess lowman on the totem pole got us and he patiently took us around, wiping off the windows so we could see the details on the car.... Needless to say I was soaked by the time we got done. I found a great deal from my friend Steve in California and we drove down to San Diego to pick up our new 2005 Chevy Trailblazer.
The feeling of freedom is an amazing tonic for the homebound..... I could write a whole book on what it has been like the last two months and the areas of my life that have been affected. If it were not for my beautiful daughter I am sure I would be nuts now. She has made a difference in my life and I am truly grateful for her sacrifice.
Our Christmas was quiet and simple. We had wonderful gifts to open over the 12 days prior to Christmas from our Santa Sleighrider, bless their hearts for thinking of us an their generosity - it made a difference. We went and saw 'Marly & Me' and laughed and cried, what a cute movie.
I am doing better, just got released to stand up in my moonboot cast and start taking steps 'as tolerated' ....which means it hurts like you know what, but I step anyway. I am pretty sure the physical therapy is going to hurt more than anything, but it is so much better to be able to walk then not so no matter what - we are doing what is needed to get my life back....and that is exactly how it feels.

Secret Santa

So Saturday Night Mum and I are sitting home.
We had been watching Movies all Day.
We had watched Jurassic Park the night before and then when I woke and was cooking I put in Lost World and then Jurassic Park III, then we watched Get Smart and were watching Christmas Vacation.
We were both doing our own things, I was crocheting, mum was looking over house details, when she got a text from an unknown number.
it said "There are presents in your driveway, get some help to bring them in!" (I can't remember it exactly)
I blow it off as a spam text, thought that did not make much sense to me- just out of curiosity I peek out our front window to the driveway, and there was a plastic tub of presents! I do a double take, I then tell mum that I'm going to check it out- I walk out and sure enough the plastic tub is still there- I hadn't imagined it!

I stand for a moment a bit dumbfounded, and then proceed to pick up the presents- I falter- it was heavy! I look around surreptitiously I spot a white van on the corner- there is no one in it (or they were just ducking!) It is the only car parked on the street. I walk inside and present the presents to Mum- she's a bit shocked too. I go to look out the window again, the white van is gone. (;])
We look at the two presents on top of the plastic tub- they are addressed to us individually, with instructions "Open on Christmas" We look at the tub
An envelope is taped to it- with the words "Merry Christmas! To: Janine and Bethany- Open me First!"
The card inside says
"Presenting...
The 12 Days of Christmas.
On each day you will find a number and a small roll of paper.
The number indicated which day you open the gift.
On that day unroll the paper, read the prose,
then open your gift!
Begins today!
Merry Christmas!"


It was pretty cool.
We opened our first Present- It was a Yankee Candle, Red Apple Wreath, it smells amazing.
So we are really Excited!
I'll post pictures and the prose.
The presents are wrapped beautifully! and the little cards with the numbers & prose are equally exquisite.
Yesterday it was two scarfs (which was amusing because I was currently crocheting a scarf!) We wore them to church, and they kept us stylish and warm!
Today it was three Christmas books- which was wonderful because Mum and I had just been lamenting over the fact that our Christmas books are packed away in storage with all the commotion going on with our house.

Anyway we want to thank our secret Santa, it was a lovely surprise, and so nice- especially since getting around is harder than usual.
So

Thank You!!

Update

So, Mum is home now, she was released Nov 21.
and since then she's been in my care. (and Heavenly Fathers of course)
Let me tell you the first week and a bit- it was like having a baby.

we've had a lot of laughs.

Now she's progressed to a toddler. She can dress herself and do other things on her own.
It's been nice coming home from school and having her home. I just wish she didn't have to be in a wheelchair to do it.

We've had a lot of help from our ward- they've been amazing yet again.

Brother and Sister Henderson, brought us some coldstone last night. :]
amazing stuff something called afterdinner mint.
It was so sweet of them to think of us- and get us hooked too! (it's their favorite)

I keep meaning to post pictures I have some of Mum with the puppies from when she was in the hospital and pictures of all the flowers that were sent to her. Even the pictures from when my Deseret Book store closed!
Well I'll get to it after finals.
Oh yeah finals! yay.

Well I've got to go get mum up for church.
cheers everyone!
and Merry Christmas!

I'm Alive

First thank you to all friends and family who have reached out to us this past week. It makes the challenge easier to know that you are there. My adorable sweet pea has been an anchor to me through all of this. I could not have accomplished what has been done on my own and I have full confidence in her ability. She is such a blessing in my life. I am so grateful for all who have reached out to her, feeding her and talking with her.....it makes such a difference. I know this is a challenge for her and she is such a noble spirit and person I know this will give her more experience and refining and what means even more to me is that I know she will recognize the blessing.
Heavenly Father truly blessed me in this accident, it could have been so much worse! It was a shock and feeling of isolation as the car came crashing into me and the incredible pain I felt; but there in the crowd of people He sent an angel, someone I was acquainted with of whom I have great respect for. When I saw her face I felt comforted.
I didn't accept my position until yesterday and that is when it hit me. I am injured and it will be a struggle like I never dreamed of until today to get me back to normal. That is the goal and I am doing my best to make it happen.
Rehab is hard work, all kinds of little obstacles pop up and we will take them as they come. Your prayers are much appreciated. I work hard from 6:30 a.m. and have been going to bed at 7 pm so I can keep my strength up.
Please forgive me if I don't get right back to you. I will continue to post as I can. Love to all. Take care and thank you again. Janine

How She's doing.

I was so caught up in thanking you I forgot to say how things are.


Well when Rebbecca and I got there- she hadn't been moved to the rehab part of the hospital yet, 2 hours later she was moved.

She was a lot more chipper today. Maybe because she had someone else to talk too besides little old boring me. :]

She is ready to get better and get home- partly because she's going crazy and partly because she doesn't want the hospital bill to be $987,290.83, and She misses the little ones. They miss her too.

So she was moved from a single room to a room with a roommate!

I left her there with out portable DVD player and bunches of DVDs (some ours, some from Elsa who sweetly supplied us with DVDs and some frozen food for me, oh and kit-Kat's. which I have been craving.)

Anyway- I miss her, a lot.
I am really grateful that she didn't get seriously injured.
I don't know what I'd do without her- besides of course curl up in a corner for a week (that would be all the time she would let me :] hence my love for her.)

So that's all so far.

Here's to things looking up!

Sunday's at Church

So woke up this morning- glad that I had an extra hour of sleep because I needed it.

Got ready for church. Ate on accident, then I realized it was fast Sunday- but since I hadn't been eating much anyway, I figured since I ate already, I should just really eat. then maybe I wouldn't faint or get dizzy.

Anyway I go to church, feeling sad that she wasn't there.

[Something funny, people keep coming up to me asking me how I am, and how I am getting along without mum- I say "oh well it's lonely" (or something like that) they reply something to this extent "yeah now you have to do the dishes and the laundry, and keep the house clean..."
This amuses me because, 1. they are trying to lighten the mood. 2. because my mum has had me doing my own laundry since I was 12- laundry is not a new concept. I've been cooking by myself for at least as long as I've been doing laundry. Living in a single parent home- I've cleaned a lot. Actually just being in a single parent home has prepared me a bit. Mum was really the reason for it all anyway.
So it's not the fact that she's gone that's making me lonely and sad- it's WHY she's gone.]

Started leaking a bit.

Then Sis. Gutherie came up to me and asked where she was- I told her and she immediately asked how she was, and invited me to diner. ( Which I couldn't go to their house for, I was at the hospital- but they were so sweet to actually bring it to me! The food was great! I was grateful!)

Then Sis. Kanet asked me what she and the sisters could do to help.

Then multiple Sisters offered to give me rides home from the hospital.

Rebbecca took me to see mum, and stayed there a good 3 1/2 hours!

While we were at the hospital, Sis. Hoagland called and asked if I needed a ride home.

My ward is awesome.

I used to be against saying one ward was above the other- but I've got to say it, I've got the best ward ever. I am so grateful for our ward family and their willingness to help out. They are awesome.

My family is pretty amazing too.
My Aunt is so sweet- worried that I'm not getting food, she's sending some money to help.
My Grandmother calls to make sure I've doing okay.
Love them.

So to anyone who has helped us- from both my Mother and I- Thank you!!
We really appreciate it, and hope to be able to return our gratitude and the service to you.

How Things are Going

So, Mum is still in the Hospital.
I think if I posted pictures of her or even took pictures of her- she would be mighty annoyed at me. So, maybe later.

Let me just say without the moral support of the family I might just be in a corner crying. Our ward is pretty amazing too. They have been really really great about giving me lifts to the hospital.

Our Home Teachers especially, Brother Hoagland drove me all around on Thursday, to go to the Hospital, Car impound, mum's work.

It was a long day- from 10:30 to 4:30.

Then Friday, Roger dropped me off at the hospital, and I was going to take the bus to church for the ward Halloween party (Mum was insistent that I go), but then Sister Hoagland called and said she was going to be in the area around the hospital, and asked if I needed a ride.

Then on top of that she took me to her home and fed me some food (I have not been very good about feeding myself- I just forget. I know weird.) Then took me to the ward party.

Amazing.

Then later, after I was home and time and thinking again. My Grandmother, and Aunt called to check up on me- offer moral support.

Then Nancy called to take my mind off things and distract me- something she is a pro at.

I am so grateful, for the support I have had.