We're Still Here!

Hi all,

It's been almost four months since my last post as I've been concentrating on my recovery and working on getting my health back. (see my last post for details if you don't know what I'm talking about! :-) ) I am slowly and steadily getting better. The doctors said it could take up to a year to get the infection completely out of my spine as it is in the discs. I am no longer having to use a walker unless it is for longer distances, and I now have to work on getting my strength and stamina back! The worst part for me is the side effects of the strong antibiotics and seizure meds, as well as the pain meds I am on. I am not able to drive yet so it's a bit difficult on my family as I have to depend on them for rides, etc. Top be honest, I feel like a burden to them but I am grateful to be alive. I just have to keep my thoughts positive. I am so grateful to my family and friends for their prayers, cards, help, etc.

A lot has happened in the past four months. A few highlights:

• Nick turned 19 in August and is in his second year of college at the University of Toledo. He is thinking about changing his major (more on that later) and we are struggling with needing a personal care assistant to help him with physical tasks at school that he is unable to do on his own. So far, no luck. We are taking it, literally, week by week and basically my husband, Greg, my Dad and Greg's Mom have taken him and taken notes, etc. for him. It's stressful for us but he's worth it. We have no idea yet how this will be resolved, if it will at all. Nick is playing wheelchair football again with the Toledo Crash.
• Isabella turned 13 in September and is in 7th grade. She is still in band and several other activities at school. She decided to take this year off of dance. We are a bit sad about it as she has been dancing for the past 7 years and she loves it but she feels it's too much with her school activities and homework and to be honest, we are having trouble getting her there as I cannot drive yet and Nick is in school and we rely on us and family to be with him when he is. Isabella made the decision though, having nothing to do with that. We hope she'll decide to pick it up again next year and if not, finds something else she is passionate about. She's a bit of a perfectionist and we are working on this with her. She wants to do everything perfectly and this puts a lot of pressure on her. We went to Kalahari Resort (a local indoor water park we've been to many times before and we just love) this past weekend to celebrate her "13th" birthday (we went up to Lake Michigan for Nick's 13th) and we had a blast. It was a much needed time away as family without stress. I couldn't do a lot of the things I would normally do but I did the wave pool and lazy river and was "there" with them. Greg and the kids were a little more adventurous and had so much fun. I was able to get a lot of rest. It was just a really nice time. I kept thinking to myself, as I do often now, I came close to not being here for "this" and was so grateful just to be there with Greg and the kids. I have many moments like that now.
• Sadly, our 11 year-old boston terrier (our first family dog), got very sick with cushings disease and the medications we tried for his treatment didn't work. He went downhill very quickly and it was painful to watch, so we had to put him to sleep in August. We were (still are to be honest) heart broken. It was so hard to watch the kids go through that as well as our two other dogs really miss him.

So, it's been a challenging year since I got sick in May and right now, we're just in survival mode, doing what we have to do to get through each week. We find when we go through times like this, nothing gives us more comfort than being together, the four of us. It's like we NEED that and as long as we are together, we are "ok". So, we decided to try to simplify things whenever we can this year, not do so much, stay close to home and spend as much time together as we can. I have to continue to make it my number one job to get better so I can be able to pull my weight again and help Greg and the kids. Right now, it's hard to do every day things still, so I feel really guilty that everyone has to kick in more. We are a team. I always say it and we call ourselves "Team Hyndman". That has always been the case but it has never been more clear to me than it is now. I am grateful for that more than ever!

Finally, my Dad, "PaPa Jagel" to the kids, has been struggling with kidney failure and is beginning dialysis and is on the list for a kidney transplant. He has been Nick's home health care aide for years not which has been good for him and for us. He's still doing it but we are just taking that week by week too. The most important thing is his health and we are aware we may have to make other arrangements if/when he is not able to do it, but we don't know when or if that will be and we just want him to be healthy and well! So, we are asking for prayers for my Dad, Jim Jagel, and are greatly appreciative for the prayers he's been receiving from our friends and family! Please continue to pray for him and his good health! Thank you! :-)

That is it for now. I'm sure I probably left something out but I've hit the "major" developments with Team Hyndman since my last post. I probably won't be posting as much as I used to for awhile, while I am continuing to get better and I am starting physical therapy soon. I will make an effort to post as much as I can though and not let so much time go by. There are so many "disability" issues with Nick I'd like to touch on that we are facing with him in college, trying to get his social security benefits straightened out (such a mess since I've been sick and was unable to deal with it like I should have!-UGH!!!!!!), etc. I will write about those things when I can. Also, Nick has a new song he put together on YouTube, which I'll have to get the info. for a post it. He still loves to write songs and express himself through music.

If anyone is actually still reading this blog, thank you for hanging in there with us! We appreciate the support!

Blessings:-)
Amy