Isn't the human body amazing?

Nevermind the elasticity of the brain or its ability to bounce back for intense injury. There are more common miracles, which we must realize. Here is a forward from my dad.


"Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women.

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants. Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong',

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull___ …….



Best Wishes,

Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX"

I am a lucky woman to be able to say that I really don't relate to this woman. Yeah, I've been know to have "intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior" but those are typical enough that I really can't blame it on my period. Maybe my hormones are just out of whack all the time? I must say, I'm convinced my injury affected my pituitary gland, and that affects your hormones. But my time of the month can't be used as an excuse for my erratic behavior (or Audi purchases) or borderline abusive verbal occurances. That just comes naturally. Just remember that next time you don't think my husband is incredible.

New!

I am going to be honest with you guys.

I bought a car. The reason not everyone knows this is cuz I'm scared of what people will think. Because its an Audi. People will think I'm a rich, spoiled, brat which isn't completely true. I am a brat. But the only reason I was thinking this car wasn't a good idea was because I knew I would give people the wrong impression. Everything else has been perfect! The car is more than wonderful.

This is a picture someone else took of this particular type and year of Audi. And its the same color. I don't have the time to take a good picture of it. I do have the contacts and resources, just not the time!

Its a 2002 A6 Allroad Quattro Wagon and I couldn't imagine a better car. Really, it was more affordable than one would think and we got it for 4 or 5,000 below blue book value. I'm just afraid if people see the car I drive they'll think of me in a different light.

There is a reason I am telling you this on my brain injury blog. I lost all of my independence when I got hurt. And having a car will make me feel like I can do more. I feel like I can't do anything for myself anymore. This way I can grocery shop and buy Christmas gifts without having to drive my husband to work and then come back home and blah blah blah. And I get to feel so hot in my car. Literally. I have seat warmers on all 5 seats and a steering wheel warmer and all. And I can plug it in at night so the engine stays warm. My husband mentioned that "so and so as well as so and so only have one car. Why can't we?" And I had to explain that I have emotional and independence issues and you can't compare me to many others.

So there is my confession. And it makes me happy!

Laser Tag

Eddie and I love to dress up. Dressing up can make any event that much more fun! So a trip to a friends birthday party to Laser Assault made for a perf opportunity to play like three year old girls putting on there princess outfits. So this is how we ended up...like ninjas.

In case you were wondering, that' a panty hose on my head. We had so much fun getting ready! But playing was also a blast.
But my husband a I both learned a lesson. We shouldn't have let me run around in the dark with lots of other people. I went around a corner and ran smack into my friend and the impact made my head hit the wall. And I got a huge goose-egg with a little cut and it wasn't to far off from where the horse kicked me so it almost really hurt me. It could have been really bad. But in my friends defense, I shouldn't have been there. As evidenced by the coma, I must have a soft head. You'd think I'd learn...
It is so sad to me that I have to live my life without even playing little kid games cuz its too dangerous. Eddie feels like he shouldn't have left my side. I feel like I need a babysitter but maybe I do. Or he thinks I should have worn a helmet, which would have helped.
I have this thing now that I've been hurt. I get surprised really easy and I jerk my head back, no matter what. Even if I expect it (so I'm really not surprised) or if its Eddie, who I really trust. So I kept jerking my head all over the place wacking my head against the wall. I hit my head pretty hard that one time and a couple little times too. Man this disability is so not fun. I don't think many handicaps are though.

More

I just think its interesting how much Jill slept during her immediate recovery. She said she would get exhausted in about 20 minutes and sleep for about 6 hours. That wasn't too far off from my recovery. But I barely remember when I could only stay up for 20 minutes. But I do remember my nurses encouraging me to stay awake for longer periods of time. I remember showers exhausted me! People shower in the morning to wake up but I would shower (often times for occupational therapy! As if showering could even be my occupation!)but I would shower and then go back to bed and cuddle up and fall asleep, usually with my hair still wet.

Lets expand on this showering experience. The Occupation Therapist (usually a girl named Kelly) would shower with me, or a nurse would, or my mom, or sister, and once my cousin, Jamie. How embarrassing is that?! All dignity...gone. There I was....all naked...for the world to see. But my husband swears he didn't see me naked or topless or anything until we got married, so thats good. He would leave the room when they gave me a sponge bath. which, from what I hear, wasn't as often as one would hope.

More Book Club

Jill Bolte Taylor said something else that was interesting:

"Even though my brain remained lined with filing cabinets, it was as if all the drawers had been slammed shut and the cabinets pushed just beyond my reach. I was aware that I knew all this stuff, that my brain held a wealth of information. But where was it? If the information was still there, I no longer could retrieve it."

I'm very jealous of Jill (well, maybe not) because she got to see what was going on. She got to see the deterioration of her brain. I never experienced that. One second I was breaking a horse, the next second I was in a hospital room. And my Dad was telling me "Bree, you were in a coma. A horse kicked you in the head. You can't walk or talk." I tried to tell him he was all wrong, that I was fine, but I couldn't get the words out. I tried, but it wasn't coming out. My head didn't hurt, and all I could think was "I can talk just fine, but I'm not going to talk to you. Cuz YOU did this to me." I was denying it because I felt fine. So fine that it never occurred to me to try 3 X 5 in my head, which I'm sure I couldn't do and would have proven to myself that things weren't right. I remember when I could talk Eddie would ask me "What's your birthday" and I would answer (very sure of myself) that it was "Oct. 12th" and then the next day I would say "January 3rd." I knew that it wasn't the same day as I said the day before, but I couldn't remember what I said. I thought "this time I am right!" but my birthday is March 24th (remember that for next year!).

So I just wish I could have been more aware of what was happening to me. She was conscious the whole time. I wasn't. But she also said that she wished she could have been unconscious the whole time for the pain. So I was lucky there.