Sooo, 3 months. Wow. Let's see...
Levi has been released to go back to work. This means that the disability from Lincoln has stopped. I'm not sure how long the Worker's Comp will continue. Our income is now at about
half of what we need. Levi has been putting out a lot of resumes but nothing yet. This is a bad time for anyone looking for a job.
On the bright side, he was called as the Executive Secretary in our ward.
Hillary is enrolling in The Art Institute of Salt Lake (working on the financial challenge of it).
Emily is starting her senior year! She is in a nursing program (concurrent enrollment class) also a child care class along with German 2, college prep English, general fiction, US Government, and seminary. She is really excited for this year to start.
For Morgan the year has sort of started. She tried out for the high school soccer team and made it! She went to the high school's camp to learn from an Aggies star player so she could make the jr. high team. She wound up making the high school team. She has never played soccer before. She will also start training with the high school cross country team in the morning. She played her first soccer game yesterday and has two more games this week. Still ahead are jr. high basketball and track/field. She wants to try out for the high school play but if she can't she will try out for the jr. high.
David is having a great summer hanging out with his friends. He is excited to start school. He will continue in public school as I will likely need to get a job. He is into Rune Scape and is very good at it. He is trying to decide if he wants to try out for anything, maybe track. I'm thinking he might need to watch his back with Morgan on the field with a javelin in her hand! lol
I don't remember if I already posted that Ali and Jordan moved to Reno. They have added to their family. They now have a dog named Max. Lilly (the cat) is warming up to him.
Jen and Steve are expecting their 5th child. It is a boy and they are thinking about naming him Samuel Levi. When Levi was in the in-patient rehab and not yet very lucid the grandchildren came to visit. He knew them and visited a little then asked, "where is their little brother?"
Their youngest, Abbie, was only about 3 1/2 mos. old and they had no plans for another. Silly grandpa. Well Abbie and Samuel will be just under 15 mos. apart. I'm not sure how Jen will be able to run her preschool after the baby is born in Oct. but I know she will pull it off somehow. Steve will be graduating in a couple of months! Yeah!
Me? Couponing, crocheting, running after the children, still Enrichment Counselor in Relief Society.
Well, I think that's about it.
ttfn
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May 7th 11:28 p.m.
Levi had his follow up appointment with the surgeon that worked on his elbow. They took out the stitches and worked to straighten his arm. He got dizzy from the pain. He was surprised that they shaved his arm. They then sent him to get a custom brace to wear for about 5 weeks. It will take probably a year for the nerve to heal. He may be able to drive and go back to some sort of work in about six weeks.
I hope all of you are doing as well as he is! :)
ttfn
I hope all of you are doing as well as he is! :)
ttfn
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
April 29th 10:23 p.m.
Levi's surgery went better than expected. Dr. Groebs had originally thought he would remove the errant bone then he would have to do a tendon graft and put in about 4 pins and move the nerve. Levi would have an external apparatus during the healing time. When the dr. got inside to look at it he found that the bone was not interfering with anything and he could straighten Levi's arm completely and bring it all the way up (fist to shoulder). He said all he had to do was fix the nerve. So he will probably be in for some heavy duty PT pretty soon. The surgery was about 3 hours and was done Monday afternoon. The dr. gave Levi 5 Rx's. but so far he only needs 3. I think the anesthesia put Levi back a little. It may take a week or two to get back to where he was mentally before the surgery. Rehab said that happens with brain injury patients. He will start vocational rehab pretty soon. I think he might be driving as soon as his elbow heals. That will also likely be when he will return to the workforce as this is the end of the physical healing. So that's it for now.
ttfn
ttfn
Saturday, April 25, 2009
April 25th 1:21 a.m.
I wrote this in response to a friend's inquiry and thought it would be a good idea to use it here. Sorry for not posting for so long.
David is back in school at Kennedy. I couldn't keep him focused with therapists coming and going all day. Morgan is involved in theater and sports. Emily is looking for a job and getting ready for her "behind the wheel" test for her license. Hillary is getting ready for graduation, YEAH! Ali and Jordan are getting ready to move to Reno. Jen and Steve are expecting their 5th baby! The last two will be just under 15 mos. apart! As for me, I just keep plodding along. It still hurts to cough hard or sneeze but everything else from surgery is healed. Levi got his brace off Tuesday and the eye dr. said Levi has the eyesight of an eagle. If he gets new glasses he'll have the eyesight of a peregrine falcon! ha-ha. He does still have a little bit of double vision when he looks way to the left. He will have surgery on his elbow. They will move a nerve and remove some bone that doesn't belong. We still struggle with some things pertaining to the brain injury but that healing can go on for a couple of years.
So, that's it in a nut house, I mean nut shell.
I'll post to update re: Levi's surgery. He doesn't seem to have any interest in posting, he has been on his computer looking for a job.
ttfn
David is back in school at Kennedy. I couldn't keep him focused with therapists coming and going all day. Morgan is involved in theater and sports. Emily is looking for a job and getting ready for her "behind the wheel" test for her license. Hillary is getting ready for graduation, YEAH! Ali and Jordan are getting ready to move to Reno. Jen and Steve are expecting their 5th baby! The last two will be just under 15 mos. apart! As for me, I just keep plodding along. It still hurts to cough hard or sneeze but everything else from surgery is healed. Levi got his brace off Tuesday and the eye dr. said Levi has the eyesight of an eagle. If he gets new glasses he'll have the eyesight of a peregrine falcon! ha-ha. He does still have a little bit of double vision when he looks way to the left. He will have surgery on his elbow. They will move a nerve and remove some bone that doesn't belong. We still struggle with some things pertaining to the brain injury but that healing can go on for a couple of years.
So, that's it in a nut house, I mean nut shell.
I'll post to update re: Levi's surgery. He doesn't seem to have any interest in posting, he has been on his computer looking for a job.
ttfn
Friday, April 3, 2009
April 3rd 12:16 a.m.
This was in my drafts. I guess I never finished it, but here it is.
I guess Levi doesn't want to post just yet. He has filled his days with therapists, volunteer work at D.I., reading, and walking...lots of walking. He had a consultation appt. today re: his elbow. Dr. Groebs says he might not get full range of motion back. The goal is to stop further damage to the nerves. So surgery is planned. It sounds pretty involved, incisions, pins, and an outer apparatus for about 6 weeks. They wanted to do it the 20th but Levi has an appt that week with Dr. Larson (Dr. Reichman's PA) to see if he can take the brace off for good!
David is back in public school. He is not doing any of the work and he got suspended for drawing a mustache on his friend's picture. I think he's having a great time. He apologized to his friend who was not terribly concerned but the teacher was quite distraught. He wrote a note to her and will take it when he returns today.
Morgan is finished with basketball and the play. She received her first review. It was in the school newspaper and was a quote from a teacher saying that Morgan Allen was fabulous. I'll have to get the paper from David so I can give the exact quote. She is now in track and the first meet was cancelled due to snow. :( She also is playing soccer with the YW
I guess Levi doesn't want to post just yet. He has filled his days with therapists, volunteer work at D.I., reading, and walking...lots of walking. He had a consultation appt. today re: his elbow. Dr. Groebs says he might not get full range of motion back. The goal is to stop further damage to the nerves. So surgery is planned. It sounds pretty involved, incisions, pins, and an outer apparatus for about 6 weeks. They wanted to do it the 20th but Levi has an appt that week with Dr. Larson (Dr. Reichman's PA) to see if he can take the brace off for good!
David is back in public school. He is not doing any of the work and he got suspended for drawing a mustache on his friend's picture. I think he's having a great time. He apologized to his friend who was not terribly concerned but the teacher was quite distraught. He wrote a note to her and will take it when he returns today.
Morgan is finished with basketball and the play. She received her first review. It was in the school newspaper and was a quote from a teacher saying that Morgan Allen was fabulous. I'll have to get the paper from David so I can give the exact quote. She is now in track and the first meet was cancelled due to snow. :( She also is playing soccer with the YW
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Feb. 5th 11:06 a.m.
Hi to all,
Levi got a release from his dr. to do volunteer work at D.I. so he is there right now. I think he is really excited about it. He also taught in the High Priests group on a couple (?) of Sundays and he was just called as a ward missionary. He will be going door to door meeting people and cleaning up the ward list! I'm a little worried because he is still working out the personality function but in his setting apart he was blessed that the people would like and trust him. So.. look out neighborhood!
Morgan's first game was Monday and Valley badly beat them. Her first home game was yesterday and they badly beat Kearns! The Valley game was something like 58-28 (?). I had to take Hillary to work at half time yesterday and didn't make it back until the 1st qtr. of the JV game (which we also won). Morgan got to play as a sub in both JV games also. She is a very tired girl these days!
Well, this blog is becoming more about the family as Levi's progress is slow but steady. I am turning it over to Levi. He can post from his point of view and share his feelings as he sees fit. I think I will start my own blog where those who want to continue reading about all of us, from my perspective, may do so. Thank you Kathy for setting this up for us and for your care and support. Also, Thanks to Jen, Ali, and Emily for helping with it and posting when I couldn't. Thanks to all who have followed and commented. Your support has been so uplifting. It really helped keep us going. You know at the end of Home Makeover how the people always say they can't thank them enough? I know how they feel. There aren't sufficient words to express our heartfelt gratitude for all that has been done for us. As I leave this blog my hope is that all of us will remember that we witnessed the blessings and the will of Heavenly Father. His blessings continue with us and they are there in your lives. Look for them, recognize them and be continually grateful to Him that loves you and gives liberally.
If you would like to follow my blog, e-mail me at kellynlevi@yahoo.com and I will send you an invitation. That is if I can figure it all out. It has got to be esier than facebook, right?
Again, thanks for everything. ttfn :)
Levi got a release from his dr. to do volunteer work at D.I. so he is there right now. I think he is really excited about it. He also taught in the High Priests group on a couple (?) of Sundays and he was just called as a ward missionary. He will be going door to door meeting people and cleaning up the ward list! I'm a little worried because he is still working out the personality function but in his setting apart he was blessed that the people would like and trust him. So.. look out neighborhood!
Morgan's first game was Monday and Valley badly beat them. Her first home game was yesterday and they badly beat Kearns! The Valley game was something like 58-28 (?). I had to take Hillary to work at half time yesterday and didn't make it back until the 1st qtr. of the JV game (which we also won). Morgan got to play as a sub in both JV games also. She is a very tired girl these days!
Well, this blog is becoming more about the family as Levi's progress is slow but steady. I am turning it over to Levi. He can post from his point of view and share his feelings as he sees fit. I think I will start my own blog where those who want to continue reading about all of us, from my perspective, may do so. Thank you Kathy for setting this up for us and for your care and support. Also, Thanks to Jen, Ali, and Emily for helping with it and posting when I couldn't. Thanks to all who have followed and commented. Your support has been so uplifting. It really helped keep us going. You know at the end of Home Makeover how the people always say they can't thank them enough? I know how they feel. There aren't sufficient words to express our heartfelt gratitude for all that has been done for us. As I leave this blog my hope is that all of us will remember that we witnessed the blessings and the will of Heavenly Father. His blessings continue with us and they are there in your lives. Look for them, recognize them and be continually grateful to Him that loves you and gives liberally.
If you would like to follow my blog, e-mail me at kellynlevi@yahoo.com and I will send you an invitation. That is if I can figure it all out. It has got to be esier than facebook, right?
Again, thanks for everything. ttfn :)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Jan 24 12:26 p.m.
Thank you Pattersons for your comments. :)
Jen, Laura, and Lynn I'll e-mail you about your questions.
Thank you so much to our Allstate Ins. agent, Lisa Eshleman, and her asst., Becky! After taking care of all the issues with the theft of Levi's radio, they sent us a gift card and said we should go out to dinner when Levi felt well enough. How sweet they are! I'm not sure Levi felt well enough, but we took Hillary to Marie Callendar's for her birthday. The food was really good and the waiter was so cute he made Emily forget for a second what she was going to order! Ali and Jordan came and we had fun. :)
Levi is looking into doing some volunteer work for the church. We're thinking maybe D.I. or the pasta plant or something. The bishop spoke to them and gave Levi some papers I haven't looked at yet. We are hoping he can help in the office to continue to stimulate the frontal lobe functions.
He went to the eye doctor this past week. The doctor was disappointed. He thought the alignment issue would be better by now. Levi said it was better for about a week then for the last two weeks it's been bad again. The dr. said that would make sense if Levi had been really sick or had taken another bad fall but since neither is true he wants to wait a little longer until there is no change at all for a couple of weeks. At that point he will either do surgery or make some prism glasses that will correct the problem.
More fun for Morgan. She went through emotional agony trying out for the basketball team at school. We got her to school by 6 a.m. to try out and she made the first cut! Then she was more nervous to have to play against the 9th graders, ooooh! There were a lot of girls trying out. We got her to school again at 6 a.m. for the final cut. They weren't supposed to find out until the next day but the announcement was made over the intercom during 4th period. The surprise announcement was almost dreaded, the suspense nearly unbearable! Her friends were all patting her on the head and shoulders saying, "you'll make it. It's o.k. don't worry". And they listened...."someone, someone, someone, Morgan Allen". They couldn't hear who else made it as the entire classroom erupted in cheers! YEAH!!! About 1/2 the practices will be at 6 a.m. yeah! We are really proud of her! She went to talk to her director after school to see if it was going to interfere with any of the rehearsals for the play. Her director said that her coach had already checked on that and everything should be fine. Also she (the director) said she had known since that morning that Morgan had made it but she couldn't tell her. :)
David has been doing much better on his assignments so we went to an outing with UTVA at the Classic Fun Center on Friday. Just as we were getting ready to leave a lady on the skate floor fell. I got up to help her but someone got there first. The lady helping the fallen one yelled," call an ambulance!" David ran to the counter to tell the mgr. who came to see what had happened. He called 911. I still couldn't tell what was wrong until another lady said,"look at her ankle". Her knee was raised and pointing up and to the left. Her foot was pointing behind her. I keep seeing it in my mind. You would think it wouldn't bother me so much at this point but it really does. I was joking with David on the way there that he better not break anything or I would have to tear it off and beat him with it! He thought that was terribly funny. We don't think so anymore.
I should have written that before the basketball so I could close on a happy note!
Levi and I are going grocery shopping now so ttfn and everyone take care and be careful!
Jen, Laura, and Lynn I'll e-mail you about your questions.
Thank you so much to our Allstate Ins. agent, Lisa Eshleman, and her asst., Becky! After taking care of all the issues with the theft of Levi's radio, they sent us a gift card and said we should go out to dinner when Levi felt well enough. How sweet they are! I'm not sure Levi felt well enough, but we took Hillary to Marie Callendar's for her birthday. The food was really good and the waiter was so cute he made Emily forget for a second what she was going to order! Ali and Jordan came and we had fun. :)
Levi is looking into doing some volunteer work for the church. We're thinking maybe D.I. or the pasta plant or something. The bishop spoke to them and gave Levi some papers I haven't looked at yet. We are hoping he can help in the office to continue to stimulate the frontal lobe functions.
He went to the eye doctor this past week. The doctor was disappointed. He thought the alignment issue would be better by now. Levi said it was better for about a week then for the last two weeks it's been bad again. The dr. said that would make sense if Levi had been really sick or had taken another bad fall but since neither is true he wants to wait a little longer until there is no change at all for a couple of weeks. At that point he will either do surgery or make some prism glasses that will correct the problem.
More fun for Morgan. She went through emotional agony trying out for the basketball team at school. We got her to school by 6 a.m. to try out and she made the first cut! Then she was more nervous to have to play against the 9th graders, ooooh! There were a lot of girls trying out. We got her to school again at 6 a.m. for the final cut. They weren't supposed to find out until the next day but the announcement was made over the intercom during 4th period. The surprise announcement was almost dreaded, the suspense nearly unbearable! Her friends were all patting her on the head and shoulders saying, "you'll make it. It's o.k. don't worry". And they listened...."someone, someone, someone, Morgan Allen". They couldn't hear who else made it as the entire classroom erupted in cheers! YEAH!!! About 1/2 the practices will be at 6 a.m. yeah! We are really proud of her! She went to talk to her director after school to see if it was going to interfere with any of the rehearsals for the play. Her director said that her coach had already checked on that and everything should be fine. Also she (the director) said she had known since that morning that Morgan had made it but she couldn't tell her. :)
David has been doing much better on his assignments so we went to an outing with UTVA at the Classic Fun Center on Friday. Just as we were getting ready to leave a lady on the skate floor fell. I got up to help her but someone got there first. The lady helping the fallen one yelled," call an ambulance!" David ran to the counter to tell the mgr. who came to see what had happened. He called 911. I still couldn't tell what was wrong until another lady said,"look at her ankle". Her knee was raised and pointing up and to the left. Her foot was pointing behind her. I keep seeing it in my mind. You would think it wouldn't bother me so much at this point but it really does. I was joking with David on the way there that he better not break anything or I would have to tear it off and beat him with it! He thought that was terribly funny. We don't think so anymore.
I should have written that before the basketball so I could close on a happy note!
Levi and I are going grocery shopping now so ttfn and everyone take care and be careful!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jan. 14 6 p.m.
Let's see.. what's been happening..? Well, therapy as always. Still, forms, forms, forms. And thank goodness for them! Morgan (our youngest daughter) got a part in the Jr High play. I can't say yet what part until she can first tell Alison! It's the end of a semester and there is no school Friday or Monday. Yeah!! I have a pres. mtg. in less than an hour. I joined Facebook. Can't really figure it out. Scheduled my dr. appt for the 28th. I will probably have surgery on Feb. 6th. Hillary will turn 18 in one week! So, here we go, pressing on toward birthday, prom, and graduation. And hopefully find a decent used car. Wow we will actually be looking for 3 in the next 18 months! Levi will want his back in a few months so I'll need my van back (actually it needs to be replaced so that's 4) and Hillary, Emily, and Morgan will all be going different directions to school and work. I think I feel ill. Obviously we will need to continue to be masters of juggling! :) Maybe I won't need a car, I'll sit at home going quietly(or not so quietly) insane!
Levi got the news he has been dreading since he came home. Cookietree has to move on and they have replaced him. When he is ready to go back to work they will see if they have anything open. In the meantime, we will start paying the full amt. of our insurance premium beginning in Feb. Thank goodness, again, that we can as I am having surgery, and we are still dealing with getting an evaluation and treatment for poss AD/HD, keratoconus , and a possible ortho issue. (it's looking like not so quietly insane!) lol
I need to get ready for my meeting so ttfn.
P.S. Morgan just spoke to Ali. So I can tell you she will be the wicked witch in a version of The Wizard of OZ! YEAH!
Levi got the news he has been dreading since he came home. Cookietree has to move on and they have replaced him. When he is ready to go back to work they will see if they have anything open. In the meantime, we will start paying the full amt. of our insurance premium beginning in Feb. Thank goodness, again, that we can as I am having surgery, and we are still dealing with getting an evaluation and treatment for poss AD/HD, keratoconus , and a possible ortho issue. (it's looking like not so quietly insane!) lol
I need to get ready for my meeting so ttfn.
P.S. Morgan just spoke to Ali. So I can tell you she will be the wicked witch in a version of The Wizard of OZ! YEAH!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Jan. 7 11:31 a.m.
Wow! Time can really fly when your busy. We made it through the holidays and enjoyed them. The children got some really cool things for Christmas and used/played with them for several days before they became tools of punishment/bribery.
We have been to a few more appts. for Levi. He had a(n) x-ray of his back done at the request of Dr. Reichman's PA. Then we went to get another CAT scan of his brain once the approval came through. A couple of days ago we went for a swallow test and yesterday we saw Dr. Reyser (rehab dr.) Levi also spent a couple of hours at Cookietree to see how much he could remember and accomplish.
Levi passed his swallow test! No more dietary restrictions. YEAH! Dr. Reyser said his back looks good in the x-ray. I was really hoping for that since he had a couple of falls. :( Dr. Reyser also pulled up the CAT scan and showed it to Levi and spoke very candidly about the damage.
Levi has been very low since his visit to Cookietree. I think it was difficult to realize some limitations. He has been working with his speech therapist this morning on work related topics (finally). I think up 'till now the focus was on getting back to a regular diet. With that accomplished they can focus on the work place issues. In retrospect, we could have dealt with the diet longer and focused on the work issues earlier. 20/20 hindsight.
Dr. Reyser felt the work place therapy would be a great benefit to Levi's continued improvement. He also said that the PT needs to get more aggressive with Levi's elbow and shoulder. Miete, the case manager from Rehab w/o Walls, said that means the PT can start living up to her title, Pain and Torture, or Pain Terrorist!
Levi had another x-ray of his elbow last night after the visit with Dr. Reyser and in about a month Dr. Reyser will evaluate the progress of the therapy and do an EMG on the elbow and shoulder. We have a follow-up with Dr. Cook (eyes) coming up this month and one with Dr. Reichman in February. Oh, I hope I didn't make the appt. with Dr. Reyser on the same day. I'll need to check on that.
Levi looks like some sort of celeb. when he goes to his appts. He has quite the entourage. There were four of us accompanying him last night! Two from Rehab w/o Walls, one from Worker's Comp, and me. He should wear sunglasses and a hat and turn his collar up to really look incognito. Maybe we all should! lol
Well, the speech therapist just left and it is lunchtime. I'm still not dressed yet! I've been going through the papers collecting all the coupons for grocery shopping I need to do today. The children are going to Temple Square tonight and I have a presidency mtg. so I guess I need to get moving!
TTFN
We have been to a few more appts. for Levi. He had a(n) x-ray of his back done at the request of Dr. Reichman's PA. Then we went to get another CAT scan of his brain once the approval came through. A couple of days ago we went for a swallow test and yesterday we saw Dr. Reyser (rehab dr.) Levi also spent a couple of hours at Cookietree to see how much he could remember and accomplish.
Levi passed his swallow test! No more dietary restrictions. YEAH! Dr. Reyser said his back looks good in the x-ray. I was really hoping for that since he had a couple of falls. :( Dr. Reyser also pulled up the CAT scan and showed it to Levi and spoke very candidly about the damage.
Levi has been very low since his visit to Cookietree. I think it was difficult to realize some limitations. He has been working with his speech therapist this morning on work related topics (finally). I think up 'till now the focus was on getting back to a regular diet. With that accomplished they can focus on the work place issues. In retrospect, we could have dealt with the diet longer and focused on the work issues earlier. 20/20 hindsight.
Dr. Reyser felt the work place therapy would be a great benefit to Levi's continued improvement. He also said that the PT needs to get more aggressive with Levi's elbow and shoulder. Miete, the case manager from Rehab w/o Walls, said that means the PT can start living up to her title, Pain and Torture, or Pain Terrorist!
Levi had another x-ray of his elbow last night after the visit with Dr. Reyser and in about a month Dr. Reyser will evaluate the progress of the therapy and do an EMG on the elbow and shoulder. We have a follow-up with Dr. Cook (eyes) coming up this month and one with Dr. Reichman in February. Oh, I hope I didn't make the appt. with Dr. Reyser on the same day. I'll need to check on that.
Levi looks like some sort of celeb. when he goes to his appts. He has quite the entourage. There were four of us accompanying him last night! Two from Rehab w/o Walls, one from Worker's Comp, and me. He should wear sunglasses and a hat and turn his collar up to really look incognito. Maybe we all should! lol
Well, the speech therapist just left and it is lunchtime. I'm still not dressed yet! I've been going through the papers collecting all the coupons for grocery shopping I need to do today. The children are going to Temple Square tonight and I have a presidency mtg. so I guess I need to get moving!
TTFN
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