Hi all,
My last personal post was back in June! I took the summer to spend a lot of time with Greg and the kids, we took a wonderful family vacation, and I spent a lot of time reflecting.
Last summer I was in the hospital, almost didn't make it at one point, came home from the hospital still very sick and it's taken me the past year to totally get rid of the infection in my body and although I'm infection free and doing much better, I am far from 100% yet! Last summer was hard on the family and they've spent the last year taking care of me. So, Greg had almost the entire month of July off from work and we went to Florida for a 2 1/2 weeks. We first spent a couple of days in Tampa and visited the Florida Aquarium and recovered from the drive down. Then we went to the Gulf coast and rented a BEAUTIFUL three story town home on Anna Maria Island, Florida on Bradenton Beach. (http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org to check out info, about this beautiful island!) You can see pics and info. of the town home we rented at http://www.vrbo.com/434635#overview, It was PERFECT for us because it had an elevator which Nick could use from the garage to all three floors in his wheelchair and we also used it to get our luggage up to the third floor bedrooms and bathrooms and laundry room and the groceries up to the second floor. One of the two pools at the Bradenton Beach Club (where the town home was) was directly across the street from out town home and we used the pool and hot tub daily after the beaches. About a three minute walk to the right led us to a gazebo on Tampa Bay which we loved and about the same distance to the right was the gate to the private beach and another pool right on the Gulf. The island is only about 7 miles wide and where our town home was, it was about two blocks wide. It is a barrier island between Tampa and Sarasota, so you are covered on all sides by water, so even though it was July in Florida, we NEVER got too hot, and we are NOT hot weather people believe me! There was always a breeze and it would rain about 30 minutes a day, usually in the afternoons, which cooled the place off even more. We visited all of the 7 beaches on the island, and spent full days at about four of them, going back to coquina beach the most, our favorite, and found several we liked a lot. We used Nick's beach wheelchair every day, which is why we always drive down and pull a trailer behind the van with Nick's power chair, beach wheelchair, manual chair for when we go places with just the van, and all of our luggage. Truthfully, we LOVE the drive! Because I was not up to doing much walking, we spent every day at the beach, then the pool, going to the shops and great local restaurants (no fast food on the island!), went to three movies at night, went to a GREAT boat ride on the bay and saw dolphins, sting and manta rays, got to get some shells on a sand bar in the middle of the bay with the crabs, it was AWESOME! We also went out to the private beach at night was listened to the waves, etc. We tried shark (tasted like chicken) and Isabella tried lots of other seafood local to the area. So, it sounds like we were very busy but we actually spent most of our time on the beach and in the water most of the days. It was very relaxing actually! We cannot wait to go back there someday and if/when we do, we want to stay in the exact same townhouse. We were able to cook some great meal there too! We needed the family time and it was really over due.
Nick turned 20 on August 18th and started his third year of college at UT. He is still majoring in business and minoring I disability studies. I can't believe he is 20! He started wheelchair football again this month. Isabella turned 14 on September 20th and started 8th grade. I can't believe she'll be in high school next year! She is in band, choir, and on student council.
One thing that has been on our mind is my Mom and Dad, NaNa and PaPa Jagel. My Dad is still in dialysis and my Mom has spent the past year trying to be cleared to donate a kidney to my Dad. Just before our trip, my Mom had to have surgery to remove pre-cancerous tumors and it went well and she's had to get off all of her medications for health issues she has and has undergone every physical and test you can imagine to be able to donate a kidney to my Dad. My Dad turns 73 in November and they don't usually do transplants on people after that age, so we are anxious for it to happen and are awaiting final approval from the transplant team. We have a family meeting this week at the hospital, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mi. We expect to hear something soon. As both of my parents are going to have surgery, it is stressful and we are of course worried but my Mom has her heart set on doing this and dialysis is really taking a toll on my Dad. From what my Mom said, they will need someone to be with them to help them 24/7 for about 4 weeks, so we will need to take turns with family members and Isabella really wants to help every weekend too.
So, as I mentioned I've been reflecting a lot on my own health, getting back to being able to function normally again which I am not yet ( I have some good days and a lot of bad days in a lot of pain and in bed), planning to help out and be there for my Mom and Dad as much as possible in the coming months, wanting to get back to "active" parenting again with the kids. We've just been in survival mode for much of the past year and I want to start being proactive and thinking ahead a bit, but still living in the moment with them. One thing I've learned is that all you really have is this very minute and all the planning in the world can be a nice idea but anything can change your plans at any minute and I'm really OK with that now. Once I get to the point physically where I can function through entire days again, I have to figure out what I am going to do with myself (work, family, etc.). Finally, I have been thinking about THIS BLOG!!!!!!
I have felt like I haven't had much to share and contribute the past year or two because of everything going on with my health and this has zapped me and for a long time, I was really "down" and not feeling like being online or blogging or anything. I've been wondering if anyone reads the blog, if I have anything new of value to share, etc. I love having a "record" of what's happened with Team Hyndman over the past several years. I also love to share good information that maybe someone will relate to or be able to use. So, I am going to keep trying to do this blogging thing and as I continue to get myself better, I am going to share the things Nick is going through and how these issues related to his disability affect him and our family, as well as information about our family. A great deal of it has already been shared but we're still here and things are still going on and I will get to a point eventually where I will have the energy to be a bit more proactive. For example, some of the things that are still REAL and ongoing issues for Nick include isolation and social issues, wanting to date and meet someone to share his life with, how family and friends are still there for him or not as their lives change and move on, Nick's need to become more independent in some areas still and our role in that, etc. I mean, Nick is in college and doing well but his life is still very lonely and isolated in many ways. He can be lonely even in a room full of people if he has no meaningful relationship with people. It's difficult to describe so I hope this makes sense. Also, I don't think Nick likes it when I talk about these things at times because it's like rubbing salt in a very old and ongoing wound. What can we as his family do to help him and how much do we do that? Well, I have some answers but not all of them. All that has happened has also had a great effect on Isabella as well. What many don't know is that she has a lot of OCD symptoms and has been struggling with a lot too and we are trying to figure out the best way to help her too. She has had a lot of responsibility for a girl her age with helping with Nick physically all these years, and helping out at home and with me a lot the past few years, cooking, taking care of me, cleaning. It's a lot for a girl her age and I wish I could change it but it happened. She is ALWAYS thinking of others in her family, friends, wanting to help animals and others, and I just think she needs to focus on herself more! She has some wonderful qualities such as kindness, helpfulness, empathy, caring, but it's been taking a toll on her and we want her to focus on herself a bit more. So, when I talk about reflecting over the summer, all of these things are what I'm referring to and I hope to find the strength and words to blog about them at a later time.
Please keep my parents and our family in your prayers! We would appreciate that very much!
Blessings:-)
Amy
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Toledo Crash Video Made By Chris Clarke on YouTube
Hi all,
OK, I am getting carried away with the videos, I know. I had to post this one, I love it. Turns out, if I'd ever taken the time to look on You Tube, there are a BUNCH of videos of The Toledo Crash posted by Chris Clarke, one of Nick's team mates.
Blessings:-)
Amy
Another One! Toledo Crash's Practice on 3/13/13
Hi all,
Found ANOTHER video I hadn't viewed of The Toledo Crash's 3/13/13 Football Practice. Nick's in the chair with white (and black of course) wheels and a dark gray shirt and khaki pants.
Blessings:-)
Amy
2012 Toledo Crash VS. Toledo Rockets
Hi all,
As I was looking for the April 21, 2013 game video / news piece to post, I found this 2012 video that I personally had never viewed before!
Blessings:-)
Amy
Thursday, May 9, 2013
We're Back!
Hi all,
I don't even know where to start as it has been so long since my past post! Thank you for anyone still reading this for your patience! As you may know if you've read my previous post, I've been ill this past year (actually before that even) and if I am going to be totally honest, it has really been a horrible year with my recovery. Hey, I want to be truthful and not just "put a socially acceptable mask" on what I write. I've always done that in a sense, at least in my personal life, "put a positive face" on (for lots of reasons) and tried to hide the truth about the tough stuff or keep it to myself and with all that has happened, I just have no desire to do that anymore. I want to continue to keep a positive attitude as much as possible, but I'm human. So, here is the update. I am doing a lot better but still working on my recovery. I still have a lot to do physically. I will be on my antibiotics for the rest of this month and then off of them for the first time in a year and have to get blood work every three weeks until the end of the year. I will probably at some time need another back surgery but I hope not anytime soon. Pain-wise, I am in constant pain between my back and Fibromyalgia and the only way my back pain will improve will probably be with surgery but it is not a 100% guarantee per my neurosurgeon and so I am going to try physical therapy and acupuncture which I am starting soon. I still have open wounds on my feet from Hilton Head (June 2011) burns on the beach on my feet, so that has kept me from doing the PT and more before now as well as pain and side effects from meds. I am weaning off of other meds too for pain and seizure meds, etc. but am having a hard time with that too. I am much more alert than I've been since last May when I went into the hospital, and I like that! I hate feeling "drugged up" and sedated. I have decided to go see a counselor/therapist too and am in the process of looking for one. I have no shame in sharing this, nor should I. Let's me honest.....being sick for so long, almost losing my life last May, being in constant pain, having to burden my family and loved ones with taking care of me and everything else (the house, meals, the pets) which makes me feel really guilty and badly and has caused a lot of issues, well, all of this has made me depressed. One more thing I need to deal with and I am going to do just that. I realize that I am not a "super woman" like some women are, I am just human and don't want to be a burden anymore, so I know I need help!! I am actually looking forward to the trying acupuncture, PT when I can, and talking to a counselor or therapist who can help me figure out where to start and go from here! Having shared all of that, these are the reasons I have not written or posted or kept on on Facebook or e-mail for some time now.
Team Hyndman has had a lot of things going on since my last post!!! We have a new addition to our family! Over the holidays/New Years, we got a new puppy, Olive Lou Hyndman. She is now 6 months old and is a Boston Terrier like our Oreo was. She is so fun, full of love, and a spit-fire! We love her and she keeps us busy!! Ozzie and Charger love her too.
Nick just finished his second year at The University of Toledo and is still a business major and wants to minor in Disability Studies. He's been busy this year with The Toledo Crash (wheelchair football team) and they played at Lourdes College and again against The University of Toledo football team and The Crash won and Nick got MVP for the game! They were on the news, which I'll post on here soon. He's been writing more music and recently spoke for a local school district in Findlay, Ohio for a disability awareness expo.
Isabella has been enjoying 7th grade, band and choir at school and she took the year off of dance this year and I'm not sure how she feels about that. I think she is trying to figure out what she wants to do, be social, get good grades, and be a 13 year old girl! She is still even more of an animal lover and such a big help to everyone in the family! She loves to cook, and cooks a lot of meals and bakes a lot. She's always thinking of others, doing things for others, and is not worried (at all) about being "popular" or self-centered like a lot of girls her age seem to be. She's super sensitive, which I think is one of her best qualities, and with maturity and experience, this will serve her and the world very well. It's hard to be so sensitive at her age though. She takes after me so I remember what that was like at that age. (ugh!)
A lot has happened with my Mom and Dad since my last post. (PaPa and NaNa Jagel) They just had to put their almost 12 year-old dog, Johnnie, to sleep this past week which was really sad for everyone. He had been my sister's dog, then my Mom and Dad's and he was very sick with cancer. The biggest news is that my Mom is a match for my Dad for a kidney. (I'm not up to writing all of the correct medical terms right now....) They are signed up at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. My Mom is having a tough time as she has to get off of her meds for Fibromyalgia so she's in a great deal of pain and is in the process of getting all of the tests needed to be able to donate her kidney to my Dad. I must admit, I have mixed feeling about it all because I worry about them both, but we are just here to love and support them in any way we can. We could still use prayers for them. My Dad is still on dialysis of course and is still helping Nick out as his home health care aide too. (wow!!!) He's still doing things for other people all the time even while in dialysis! My Mom is taking a leave from work with everything going on and how she's been feeling lately getting off of her meds, etc.
We were also sad that Greg's Granny Luther died this year. The kids called her "Great Granny" and when Bella was little she called her "Aunt Granny":-) It's sad because we think of Granny and PaPa at our wedding almost 23 years ago, Granny's wonderful cooking (her famous sweet potatoes and salads........) Things will never be the same without them but they are now together in heaven.
I believe I've covered the "major" happenings with Team Hyndman since our last post. Again, I hope to post more regularly and get caught up on some pictures soon too. (fingers crossed!)
Blessings:-)
Amy
PaPa Jagel and Nick @ UT vs. Crash Game
I don't even know where to start as it has been so long since my past post! Thank you for anyone still reading this for your patience! As you may know if you've read my previous post, I've been ill this past year (actually before that even) and if I am going to be totally honest, it has really been a horrible year with my recovery. Hey, I want to be truthful and not just "put a socially acceptable mask" on what I write. I've always done that in a sense, at least in my personal life, "put a positive face" on (for lots of reasons) and tried to hide the truth about the tough stuff or keep it to myself and with all that has happened, I just have no desire to do that anymore. I want to continue to keep a positive attitude as much as possible, but I'm human. So, here is the update. I am doing a lot better but still working on my recovery. I still have a lot to do physically. I will be on my antibiotics for the rest of this month and then off of them for the first time in a year and have to get blood work every three weeks until the end of the year. I will probably at some time need another back surgery but I hope not anytime soon. Pain-wise, I am in constant pain between my back and Fibromyalgia and the only way my back pain will improve will probably be with surgery but it is not a 100% guarantee per my neurosurgeon and so I am going to try physical therapy and acupuncture which I am starting soon. I still have open wounds on my feet from Hilton Head (June 2011) burns on the beach on my feet, so that has kept me from doing the PT and more before now as well as pain and side effects from meds. I am weaning off of other meds too for pain and seizure meds, etc. but am having a hard time with that too. I am much more alert than I've been since last May when I went into the hospital, and I like that! I hate feeling "drugged up" and sedated. I have decided to go see a counselor/therapist too and am in the process of looking for one. I have no shame in sharing this, nor should I. Let's me honest.....being sick for so long, almost losing my life last May, being in constant pain, having to burden my family and loved ones with taking care of me and everything else (the house, meals, the pets) which makes me feel really guilty and badly and has caused a lot of issues, well, all of this has made me depressed. One more thing I need to deal with and I am going to do just that. I realize that I am not a "super woman" like some women are, I am just human and don't want to be a burden anymore, so I know I need help!! I am actually looking forward to the trying acupuncture, PT when I can, and talking to a counselor or therapist who can help me figure out where to start and go from here! Having shared all of that, these are the reasons I have not written or posted or kept on on Facebook or e-mail for some time now.
Team Hyndman has had a lot of things going on since my last post!!! We have a new addition to our family! Over the holidays/New Years, we got a new puppy, Olive Lou Hyndman. She is now 6 months old and is a Boston Terrier like our Oreo was. She is so fun, full of love, and a spit-fire! We love her and she keeps us busy!! Ozzie and Charger love her too.
Nick just finished his second year at The University of Toledo and is still a business major and wants to minor in Disability Studies. He's been busy this year with The Toledo Crash (wheelchair football team) and they played at Lourdes College and again against The University of Toledo football team and The Crash won and Nick got MVP for the game! They were on the news, which I'll post on here soon. He's been writing more music and recently spoke for a local school district in Findlay, Ohio for a disability awareness expo.
Isabella has been enjoying 7th grade, band and choir at school and she took the year off of dance this year and I'm not sure how she feels about that. I think she is trying to figure out what she wants to do, be social, get good grades, and be a 13 year old girl! She is still even more of an animal lover and such a big help to everyone in the family! She loves to cook, and cooks a lot of meals and bakes a lot. She's always thinking of others, doing things for others, and is not worried (at all) about being "popular" or self-centered like a lot of girls her age seem to be. She's super sensitive, which I think is one of her best qualities, and with maturity and experience, this will serve her and the world very well. It's hard to be so sensitive at her age though. She takes after me so I remember what that was like at that age. (ugh!)
A lot has happened with my Mom and Dad since my last post. (PaPa and NaNa Jagel) They just had to put their almost 12 year-old dog, Johnnie, to sleep this past week which was really sad for everyone. He had been my sister's dog, then my Mom and Dad's and he was very sick with cancer. The biggest news is that my Mom is a match for my Dad for a kidney. (I'm not up to writing all of the correct medical terms right now....) They are signed up at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. My Mom is having a tough time as she has to get off of her meds for Fibromyalgia so she's in a great deal of pain and is in the process of getting all of the tests needed to be able to donate her kidney to my Dad. I must admit, I have mixed feeling about it all because I worry about them both, but we are just here to love and support them in any way we can. We could still use prayers for them. My Dad is still on dialysis of course and is still helping Nick out as his home health care aide too. (wow!!!) He's still doing things for other people all the time even while in dialysis! My Mom is taking a leave from work with everything going on and how she's been feeling lately getting off of her meds, etc.
We were also sad that Greg's Granny Luther died this year. The kids called her "Great Granny" and when Bella was little she called her "Aunt Granny":-) It's sad because we think of Granny and PaPa at our wedding almost 23 years ago, Granny's wonderful cooking (her famous sweet potatoes and salads........) Things will never be the same without them but they are now together in heaven.
I believe I've covered the "major" happenings with Team Hyndman since our last post. Again, I hope to post more regularly and get caught up on some pictures soon too. (fingers crossed!)
Blessings:-)
Amy
Our puppy Olive Lou Hyndman
(I love you Olive Lou)
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