lil of this, lil of that...

[we have love]

So I have been seeing the pattern of me posting on Thursdays! I don't know why Thursdays always seem to be blog nights but they are. So, here is to changing that up a bit!

Friday I got to hang out with some of my lady friends while Ben went with the boys to my lil bro's all star game...



I tried a new recipe and it was YUMMERS! Tortilini cream soup...



Sunday night and into Monday brought some more fun weather...wind! I think over the night and into today we had wind gusts up to the 50's! Lights started flickering close to 9am Monday morning and then it was fine. This day was to be very busy and losing power was the last thing I needed! I took off to the Y while Ben was in therapy at the house and then came home to NO power! Arggg, we just went though this in the last snow/wind/ice storm and it was not my friend! At least we have hot water so I was able to shower but then I was freezing when I couldn't dry my hair! We got through the morning, had lunch and then when Ben was in ST I went to Starbucks to get some warmness! Oh that felt nice! Right after ST we hit the road to Gig Harbor to have Ben's first hyperbaric treatment.

When I last mentioned it people asked what was HBOT? I think most people know of HBOT because it was used for divers and such. What they have found for those that have traumatic brain injuries, wounds, autism, MS and so many other things...that when in a chamber (the type Ben is in) Ben is getting 75% pure oxygen. But the kicker is the pressure that comes along with the the oxygen. The purpose of the pressure is to shove the oxygen into the deep parts of muscle, brain, cells, tissue and such. I have looked into it before but I kept running into walls with it all. Recently some things just fell into our lap and we were offered some free trials to see how Ben did in the chamber. We have a few more this week. The closest location with this company is about 30 min away so we will either be going to that location or looking into renting one and bringing it into our home. It is a spendy process but we are praying/hoping that we can get it funded by some non profit military programs...to which I think we have one lined up. Please be praying that if this is to work for Ben's brain and body that it does and also that the funding would be taken care of! They actually had an extra chamber today so they asked me if I wanted to try it out too so I did. It felt good and like my lungs and abdomen were much bigger and full of air!




Tuesday morning it was up and at em to get back for another hyperbaric chamber! Ben had gone to bed about 930 (about 1.5 hours then he normally goes to bed) and me 1am...can you say energy! Ha, I don't want to fool myself but that is one thing they said we would get from the treatment!
Anywhooo, Tuesday we woke up to this...seriously, snow!!??!!



On the way to the hyperbaric center we saw a car exploding on the highway and were in gridlock for a bit. Thankfully we were near an exit and wiggled off and then back on...



Wednesday (today) we were up and at em again. I think the staying up to 1am a few nights before got to me because I didn't want to get out of bed AT ALL! I did.
We got Ben ready and then I got ready to go to bible study. Ben had therapy while I was gone and then when I got home he had about an hour before he was off to the gym for his next therapy. I took off and ran a massive list of errands...in the nasty cold rain!








We have been trying to get Diesel to sleep on his bed but he perfers the floor...just inches from his bed...



Ben has been getting tasks and completion dates in his assignment book that he is to check everyday and tell me what they are. This one was to wipe the counters and tables. I was just standing behind him to watch his balance...



In speech the other day they were watching an army jump and after Ben was telling A all about how he was a jump master and what his tasks were. I was amazed at all the steps he was remembering and how much he recalled!



Lots of veggies included in dinner tonight and a new tried yogurt that was AMAZING and super light...




Praise report...so we have been trying to get Ben to speak more in sentances instead of in a few words. Reading really helps him in this. He used to read one word at a time but now most times he reads the whole sentance without stopping!! It is easy for him to lose his place so if we use a piece of paper he does so much better! Yesterday as we were driving he asked what he had done wrong to be in this "situation" and it about broke my heart. I don't get why sometimes and he is starting to see that too. In his times of frustrations or when he questions things I have just encouraged him to pray about it...and out loud. This keeps me accountable to do the same thing. Well, we had a worship CD on Ben recognized one of the songs and started singing the chorus. After he sang for a bit Ben started praying...in full sentances!! I was in shock. It wasn't that he was praying in sentances but he kept going, on and on and on! All I could do is agree with him in pray as I drove in shock! It was amazing, I was humbled and yet again reminded of the faithfulness of God and lit another lil spark in my hope!

Ben's memory has been getting better...slowly but surely! He's to remind me to get his meds for him and most mornings he remembers. Nights are a lil more difficult for him because he is tired but he's been doing great! Other things in memory that he is doing well in is just day to day. Remembering what he did the day before, remembering the date...all these things are amazing and he is excelling in. Of course he has a long way to go but for docs who say he would make the most improvement in the first year after injury...well, those are just statistics and not our heavenly Father who heals!

The determination in Ben's heart to get through this is just solid. Yes he gets frustrated, asks the questions, but like he said the other day, "wifey, you just watch, I will beat this brain injury. I will not give up!" God has put that fighting spirit in him. He asks for break through, he prays for break through...we believe God will bring us break through!

Side note...I started this blog on Monday then after halfway falling asleep saved it and went to bed. But, it's Wednesday and its going up...and it's not on a Thursday!