FULL OF HOPE

Just 'cause I think these are cool. :)

So, I have several days to catch you up on.  And let me tell you, we have been busy.  And by we, I mean Valerie.  :)

Tuesday, we had an appointment with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Duma.  This was a follow up to the brain scan that Valerie had when the doctors were trying to locate the cause of her nausea.  They ruled out brain cancer, but saw a .4cm dot that they just wanted her to get checked out to cover all possible bases.  Dr. Duma looked at Valerie and said, "You have not impressed your neurosurgeon today. And that's a good thing."  :)  His impression is that it is a tiny area of her brain that just never developed.  He said it's quite common and he'll do another scan in a month or so, and then again in 6 months just to make sure.  If Valerie's brain looks the same, then he's right.  I get the feeling he's right a lot.  He even printed out a picture of her brain for us to take home.

The most intelligent, most beautiful brain out there.  The
small black spot right in the middle is the "suspicious"
culprit that our doctor thinks is just empty space.

You know that Valerie has been painting the closet doors.  Well, when I got home Tuesday to take her to Dr. Duma's office, I noticed the living room looked different... empty kind of.  Then I realized that ALL 6 of the doors were gone, the tarps were put away and the card table with all of the supplies was gone.  Paint fairies?!  Valerie had moved ALL of the doors back to their respective rooms - she had put away all of the supplies - and Mom Paget had washed, dried and put away all of the tarps.  Paint fairies indeed!!!

I told you about a care package we got from our friend
Charla, her husband Michael and their adorable kids, Karis
and Titus.  The package came with a disc of pictures - this
one was on it... here are Karis and Titus with a message to us.

Valerie has been more involved in every part of "regular" life.  She's been on the computer doing assessments for her contracted job - she's been online looking at furniture - one day she biked to the bank and the library (probably about a 3 mile trip) - and today she is in North Hollywood working.

WHEW!!!

She is doing more and more everyday.  What I am now trying to make sure she does is listens to her body.  She has reached a point where she knows she CAN do things, but her body still gets tired and needs rest and she starts to think she's just being lazy if she rests.  I keep telling her that her body is still quite busy fighting to stay healthy and she needs to listen and let it rest when she feels tired.

One of Valerie's sisters, Michelle, arrives tomorrow.  More help in attacking some of this house stuff so that Valerie has at least ONE homey space soon!

 Thank you all for reading, commenting, and continuing to offer support and love.  It means the world to us and you have been unwavering.