He Committed!

Big news for my tiny family!

My son, T.K. has committed to a school! When I went to college, I had to fill out applications, write essays and pay the application fees, not my 6'6" 306lbs. son... he was recruited and offered 5 full athletic scholarships. Notre Dame of Ohio, Tiffin U., Fairmont State U., Walsh University and U. of Findlay all offered him full scholarships.

I am so proud of him, tired from the journeys and tours, but so proud!

He made his decision and committed to the University of Findlay, he will be an Oiler!

I really was pulling for Faimont in West Virginia, but he did not want to be so far away from me, since I have been ill.  He is my thoughtful boy!

He is going to be in Pre-Physical Therapy and then go on to Findlay's grad program for PT.

What an exciting ride it has been and once again.... so proud of my boy!

The Best Medicine!

I saw this on a buddy's blog and it really was fabulous and wanted to share it out there to my followers. Just 30-60 minutes a day will do wonders to our health!

ENJOY!


  

Mid Day Tea Break

It is going to be a good life, it is how we chose to make it good!

A Bit of Motivation!

‎"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' "

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Day by Day

For some reason this has been very hard to learn... "day by day".

I want things right now. I am a hard worker, but I am a person who likes instant gratification, a sad trait.

Having a stroke has really made "day by day" stick.  I had to work hard to get my right hand have the little movement it has, I have had to work hard to learn to read once again, I have had to work hard to learn to write again... learn my number again, increase my memory, increase my memory (hehehehe), etc...  It has been a long  14 months, but I have grown so much... the little things that bother me, I am letting them go, I worry about my own problems before other's issues, I have learned to say "no" (which is so very hard to do!) and I take time for myself.  I may not have the social life I had before, but I like spending "me" time... the knitting, beading and walking I do are therapeutic and are helping me heal and get stronger.

Day by Day...  I am increasing my knowledge of this statement, day by day.

My special and strong willed right hand!

My lovely left hand, she has been a trooper !

Heavy Hearted

I am an upbeat person, I have flaws, who does not have flaws.

I am a stubborn person, which is why I believe I have come so far in my stroke recovery.

I have learned to allow others to help me, this was difficult for me, I like to do things for myself (just like my even more stubborn daughter!).

I take pride in my recovery, I have saw other stroke survivors at the hospital and therapy appointments that do not do their homework or challenge themselves.  I have worked so hard everyday to have what little material possessions, they are material... not people, family, friends... this is what matters, sure, I LOVE getting new Pandora beads for my bracelet or browsing Vera Bradley purses at the mall... but it is just stuff.

BUT... I need to get ugly of a hot second! ...

What gives me a heavy heart is the people touching my family and life in a negative way.  Jealousy and materialistic characteristics are getting in the way of their own hard work.  In life, hard work shows and taking the easy way out does not get you very far.  This person or two are really hurting me and my best friend.  Money comes and goes, but family is there forever... these people are the lowest people I know and wish they knew what hard work was and would focus on their problems instead of putting them on us.  Work hard to get what you want, do not try to bully others and take what they work for.  These people are so ugly in my eyes and that sad thing is that they claim to be God fearing individuals, would Jesus ruin someone's life for money... would Jesus break apart a family.

Any type of recovery is tough... health recovery, money recovery, loss of a loved one recovery... any type of recovery takes work... so please... keep my tiny family in your prayers and send your fabulous positive vibes our way so that this cancer in our lives decides to make the right decision and work on their own issues and leave us out.

Stress is a killer, the silent killer and I do not need this stress in my life.  Handle your problems, seek help if needed... but never find the easy out.

I am taking the high road and not dragging this ungodly person's name through the mud, but she or these people need to clean up her own family and leave ours alone... stop pulling on our purse strings an move on. I have also noticed that even with my aphasia, I can clearly say... BITCH and F***ING BITCH comes out quite clear also. I have learned forgiveness and letting go through therapy and that life is too short... but this forgiveness will be a long time coming, if any forgiveness... but I will let it go... I will let these people out of my life and their stress!

I am now stepping down off the soap box... it feels good to vent on the internet! Sorry for being a slight bummer.

Putting my Fingers to Work!

I learned how to knit an infinity scarf! (a cowl!)

It took some figuring out and how to cheat to do it, but I did it. It took about a week to complete.

I am ever so happy to be able to get my right hand and fingers to work together to do this.

I feel so good when I get my final products done... it is so satisfying!

I have just started working on Eloise's infinity scarf (or cowl) she said I can't make one for anyone else until she gets one! I love my sassy daughter! She picked out the ugliest colors of yarn, but she loved the colors!

TIRED!

All I can think of is Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles, singing I'm so Tired! I am so tired, the fatigue is getting better, but I went two college visits with my son over the weekend.  An official visit to The University or Akron for 3 days and Walsh University on MLK Day.  I am ever so happy my son get the opportunity to get play collage football (for FREE!!!!!!! YIPPY!!!!!), but I am no spring chick any longer and I am a stroke survivor... so these were very long days for me!

The U. of Akron visit was very fun.  My dad came along too, which was nice, we stayed at a Hilton Hotel, but there was no rest... it was like being on a planned activity vacation... no rest, just go... go... go! Steak dinners, tours of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, bowling, basketball games, football watching on TV, prime rib, breakfasts... it was great! Now if only Akron will offer a scholarship to him, then it will be perfect for T.K.. We will find out by this weekend.

When we went to Walsh University, it is a small school and did not roll out the red carpet, but he would get a great education here. I was a fan. The walking tour after 3 days at a bigger school, really tired me out.  But I was a super trooper for my son and I can't be any prouder of him!


We are off to Findlay University tomorrow, all of these school have offered him full scholarships for football.  I am excited to be able to watch him play football at the college level and even more happy that he will not have loans.

I am a little bummed that he turned down Fairmont State University in West Virginia, but this is his choice, not mine.

I am looking forward to this weekend and being able to catch up on some rest... once again, I rocked my energy level this week for my boy and did a good job pushing my limits!

Curves

Curves, Yes... I have them, but this post is not about my chunky body.  I have tried Curves and have went 15 times and to be honest, I HATE IT.  It is just not for me, I really hate the circuit, it is 30 seconds at each station... too quick, give me a minute. I feel good when I leave, but it is not a match for me, I need a tread mill, an elliptical machine, Nautilus machines, a track, a pool... just like the YMCA. But damn the Y for being so expensive!  My doctor wants me to be more active, I have insurance, so I think Kaiser should pay for it, their slogan is "Thrive"!

Another reason I can't stand Curves it because I am the youngest person there, so what... I am not there to make new knitting friends... but when I signed up, I was HONEST and told the lady my health history, I am learning that the STROKE box on medical forms is the kiss of death... the first day I was there, I was on my first station and I hear.... "She is the one that all the strokes, keep an eye on her!" ... really, so all the other old ladies had to talk to me about how young I am to have a stroke and told me all about their health history... YUK! I just want to be Lori, chubby Lori who just wants to lose weight.  As the youngest Curves member, seen to me, I am now known as the "Stroke Gal"... really! (who says gal!?)

I would really like to join the YMCA, but I may just have to start using the high school's weigh room, it is free to the public from 7-9PM 5 nights a week and has everything I need, but the pool.

I have been walking, I like it... I like my iPod and talking to myself during the walks, you know you do it too.

I have been not eating after dinner, except I had 3 little pieces of a Willy Wonka caramel chocolate a few nights ago... no one's perfect.

The Y would be perfect... and it would be great for the whole family, too bad it costs so much money... but I will stick with working out my body and being more active the whole year.

Oh, my fabulous brother got me a Pilate's ring for Christmas, it is my favorite.  I use it every morning, it is great for stretching!

Left V. Right

I was talking about my right brain today with a co-worker, I am very thankful that I had a left hemisphere stroke, not that I wanted to be a stroke survivor, but that I love that I am a right brain person! Your right  brain is in charge of imagination, being random, subjective and intuitive... it totally sums me up. I have really struggled learning to re-read, write and speak, not to mention that I still can't do any type of number problems or math... but the struggles were worth to be me still, the silly, immature, artsy Lori!

Sounds crazy, but I am proud to be a right brained learner... I love art, music, building, not following directions, laughing, dancing... I may never win a noble peace prize... but I warm my family and friend's hearts and that means the world to me!

With some internet research I found this helpful information and how my brain works!  I am thankful for the internet and how much I have learned through my recovery!


Right Brain Characteristics

Here are some of the basic characteristic traits associated with the right brain.

* Random! ... me
* Intuitive! ... me
* Holistic! ... me
* Synthesizing! ...me
* Subjective! ... me
* Let's not forget whimsical, hyper, disorganized and lead by my feelings!!

Left Brain Characteristics

Here are some of the basic characteristic traits associated with the left brain.

* Logical
* Sequential
* Rational
* Analytical
* Objective


As I read the below characteristics... it is like reading a book about me, I have discovered that I most likely bother left brain people!

Right and Left Brain Differences

* The right brain is intuitive, meaning it is led by feelings, while the left brain is analytical, meaning it is led by logical approach towards problems.

* Right brain tends to make lateral connection from the derived information, whereas left brain tends to make logical deductions from the derived information.

*The right brain is visual, stressing on music and pattern, while the left brain is verbal, stressing on words, numbers and symbols.

* Right brained people struggle with mathematical formulas and words to express themselves, while left brained people are very good at memorizing mathematical formulas and also express them pretty well.

* In people with right brain domination, organizational skills are very poor, on the other hand people with left brain domination are highly organized.

* People with right brain don't give attention to minute details, but people with left brain tend to focus on each and every minute detail and step taken.

* When given a task of assembling a particular thing, right brain people will start working promptly without reading the instructions, while left brained people will carefully go through the instructions and then start working.

* When people with right brain communicate, they tend to make many gestures with their hands, contrary to which left brain people hardly use gestures when communicating.

* Right brain is designed to listen to 'how' something is being said, while left brain is designed to listen to 'what' is being said.

* Although right brained people don't rationalize things they do have the tendency to question the rules, on the other hand left brained people never question rules, instead they readily accept them.People with dominant right brain have difficulty in prioritizing things which makes them execute things in hurry at the last moment, whereas people with dominant left brain are well versed with planning the future which makes them be prepared well in advance.

PJ is a left brain and I am a right brain... it is so seen! I love my left brain guy... organized, anal, details, makes plans... we all have mistakes! With practice, I can be a stronger balanced brain, PJ does try to show me, I just am stubborn... I will get it.

Earrings

I made earrings! I really did!

I have been trying to manipulate the wire for a while now with no luck, but with patience and trying and trying and trying I finally did it.

I was able to use my "special" right hand as the support with the pliers and it worked.  I was able to make 3 pairs of earrings.

Of course I had to use my healing stones in them, the hoops are black onyx, the peace signs have tiger eye and the evil eyes (my favorite and MOST CHALLENGING) have dyed agate.

I am so excited and I beat my disability in this round! I am a level 1 earring maker, but I did it and I am ready to make some great ear jewelry!

HELP ME!!!!!

Today is January 9, 2012 and I want to pull my hair out.  I miss the warmer weather and I miss the sun!  Eloise is driving my insane! She has a lot of energy and it very difficult to have her housed in without taking bike rides and trips to the park to rrrruuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnn around!

Tonight we have played dominoes, colored, made frozen pizzas and played with her troll dolls and it is only 6:53 PM.  We made necklaces, she loves anything art and I love art which it great, but if I could have only had her make the necklace on a tread mill!

I do not know if I can do this all winter... I need an outlet for her energy in our small house! I am tired, her dad is hiding in the bedroom and TK is up in his room... I wish we had running room in the house.  She needs a runner like a dog!

We play doll house, Barbies, computer games, art EVERYTHING, cook, play board games... all the time and she just needs fresh air and she needs to release her energy!  I love her energy, but this is challenging, I may have to start jogging with her!

I have to think of what I did with her last winter while I was home on sick leave. If I did it last year while rehabbing from a stroke, I can figure out how to release her energy this winter... I am MOM, hear me ROAR!

A Stitch in Time...

I am knitting again... HOORAY!!!!!

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either.”
― Elizabeth Zimmermann

Who is Elizabeth Zimmermann, I don't know, but I am knitting again!  I have re-trained myself!  I can only use the looms, but I am so happy with this.  Is was very difficult to learn how to use my right hand, I still damn this hand, but we are in it to win it in the big picture!

I now basically just hold the loom with my right hand and manipulate the yarn and needle with my left hand.  It took awhile to practice, but the practice paid off! I have made 3 scarves and 2 hats in 3 weeks.

What an obstacle to conquer! So proud!

I am a proud knitter!

Vacation Time

I had some vacation time over the Christmas and New Year holiday... it was great!  I would love to be a stay at home mother, it is a dream of mine, but darn this economy, I work, I am good at what I do, but I would love to be home concentrating on my little family and my children's education and activities... sounds corny, I know... but I loved falling back in love with knitting over the vacation, worked on homemade ornaments, making cupcakes, then had Cup Cake Wars with Eloise, cleaned out my pig sty closets, cooked, college visits with T.K., used my Pilates ring in the morning, napped, went to the park and played outside with all the kids on Christmas day, planked a tree (hehehehehe), went to the zoo and went to the movies... it was a joy!  I do not have bags under my eyes, I did not worry about visiting schools on the East side or worry about what to wear to work... it was wonderful!  I was so happy to be home... The only thing that would have made it better is if I had some time to myself... everyone was home, even PJ.  Since he works in other's homes,  no one wants a re-modeler in their home over the holidays!

I am ecstatic about knitting again, it was a bummer trying to do it with my "special" right hand, but I am relearning how to do it using special need hand... I love it, it is so relaxing and it makes me happy to give someone a gift!

So, it is back to work and school again for my family, but I am still thankful everyday to have what I have!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

I took a while off from writing, just did not feel it, I had a block. I like sharing my thoughts on the key board to you, but I did not have anything to share. Now that the holidays are over, I can share my thoughts with you.

First, I have to express my thought on the Christmas/holiday thing... I say Merry Christmas or actually I like to say Happy Merry Christmas, why, I do not know... but why is it so bad to say Merry Christmas... I celebrate the holiday, I personally understand that Jesus was not born in December, he was actually born in the spring... but I understand that it is the time we celebrate his birth... many folks celebrate Christmas, many are not Christians or even religious at all, but the celebrate the holiday of Santa Claus and gift giving. I have co-workers who are Jewish and receive Christmas cards from them, I tell them Happy Hanukkah... all is good, I also work with Muslims and Buddhists... they do not celebrate the Christmas holiday, but they seem to be happy to wish me a Merry Christmas. I am a person to share my happiness to others when they are celebrating their holidays... Boxing Day, Ramadan, Yom Kippur, Pongal... I may not celebrate these holidays, but I am open to learn about them and caring enough to ask about the celebration... knowledge is power!

One of the reasons I enjoy attending the Universal Unitarian church is that it is very open, I am able to learn and embrace any new religions and they holidays, my children are able to learn more about the world and people other than North East Ohioans... this is special to me, I love that I will have well rounded children that will be open to other's religions and cultures.

At our house, we have dreidels, I made a menorah, which we need a new one, but I love that I have told the story of Hanukkah to my children. I do not understand some of the holidays, but they are pretty close to those to the ones I celebrate... the Hindu holiday Pongal, is very much like Thanksgiving, it is about harvest in India.

I believe with a little bit of compassion, I do not think that the elders in our lives do not have to stop saying Christmas tree and call it a "holiday tree".

I am now stepping off my holiday soap box. Good day... God bless, Shalom, , Paz, Dios te bendiga and Bog te blagoslovio.