Life, Is a Miracle, and Embracing All it Has to Give Us - 2018

December 22, 2017 - Four Days after the Accident, ICU

December 23, 2017

December 27, 2017.  Neuro Floor

December 27, 2017

December 28, 2017

December 30, 2017 - TBI Rehab Floor

January 3, 2018.  The View from my spot at the Hospital Chapel

January 6 2018.  Jake teaches us to play rummy

January 6, 2018.  Sami and one of her besties

January 6, 2018.  Sami and Annalia. 

January 13, 2018.  Me.  Back Home.  One day after Sami was discharged

January 14, 2018.  Sami and her boss, Garla.  Haines Sell Rite

How lucky we are to be at this point in our lives.
So many thoughts.  So many emotions.
Both of my kids were in a horrific train vs. car accident, on Dec. 18, 2017.
Jake 'walked away' from it.
Sami took the impact, and was thrown 30 feet from the vehicle.
We spent close to a month in the hospital, 2 1/2 hours from home.
I lived in a hotel and in her various rooms.
She is back home, still healing, and still has a long way to go, but she is back home!
Thanks be to God!
Yet, I am struggling with this stage of our relationship.  She sees me as the one who is treating her like a 12-year old.  Her words. She gets aggitated with me and frustrated.
I am holding my breath. I feel like I am walking on egg shells, and then remember to take a breath, breathe deep, in and out. And, I cry later.  When I am alone.
I yearn for the girl that was my confidant.  That loved to hang out with me, and that was comfortable and relaxed around me.  Now I seem to set her on edge. 
I have to take a step back and remind myself of what she went through and that she has a traumatic brain injury.  That is just a stage in her recovery.
This girl is alive.  No broken bones.  She surpassed all the doctors expectations.
She is a miracle.
They thought she would be in the inpatient rehab facility for 4-8 weeks.  She was in for 2!
Thank you God.
Thank you, for hearing our prayers.
Thank you for this miracle.
Thank you for second chances and the plan you have for her, and for us.

Help! My Daughter Wants to go to college in Hawaii

Sami with her new Jeep Wrangler

With her Gang.  She is third from the left

2nd from Right - Prom girls - they went w/o dates.

Sami's bedroom at my house

FFA Banquet Night - at the podium

Getting Ready to take the stage - as the MC for Graduation

Prom

With two of her besties - yes.  Guys.  The one on the left is going in the Army, the one on the right is going to Utah to study engineering. She has a gang of friends.  Lucky girl.

With her bestie of besties.  Who will be going to school in Boise, Idaho.

My oldest will be a senior this coming year. It will be a crazy, busy, beautiful and painful year.  Most of her friends were a year ahead of her.  This could be a challenge for her.

We have lots on our minds:  College for one.  How to pull this off.  I say we - because she is wanting to go to Hawaii and be a Marine Biologist.  I want her to follow her dreams.  Go for it.  Take that plunge.  No regrets.  YOLO.  I would love for her to be within driving distance.  Hawaii is $1,000 flight round trip.   Secretly?  I hope she goes to OSU, Corvallis.  It's only a six hour drive - or so.

And, I can't afford it.  But she is at the top of her game right now:  4.0 GPA, Natonal Honor Society, ASB President, officer in FFA, plays basketball and soccer.  This is the time for her to take advantage of all her hard work and use it as a springboard for scholarships and opening doors.

On the table: For her graduation gift we are a going to Spain over Spring Break - a school trip (she went to Greece in 2013)  so her trip will cost less than mine.  But I am not sure I can afford 'my' travel.  I came up with the idea to cancel Spain for both of us, and instead to go to Hawaii to check out the University, the program, and for her to get a flavor for life in Hawaii. 

She said she really want's to go to Spain.

Oh boy. 

Not sure what our next step will be.
This is one of the 'big things' on my mind.
There is another, but I am trying to keep that second to this.
Thanks for listening.
And if you have any advice, please, share.

Sweaty Mess and The Humble Teachings of Defeat (HS Soccer)

Sami (in purple) had to 'stay on' this girl

Then there was this other girl and Sami ran up to deal with her too

She was a sweaty mess

As in REAL sweaty, on a Hot, Summer Saturday, game at 2pm

Her coach, giving her some tips (Sami is one of 2 or 3 top players on her team)

This tells a lot.  She was ready for it to be OVER at halftime.

More tips

Yep.  The coach's girl

Sami has entered the world of High School Soccer.  A world apart from our lovely 'Y' soccer that she has played since 1st grade.

She is a bit upset that she did not make the Varsity Team with her BFF.  Nope.  She is on JV.  However, she is one of the star players.  And boy, does she work hard, having to make up for those that don't know the game.

Saturday was rough on our girls.  They played a kick-ass soccer team that danced around them.  Our girls were beat.  AND we only have 9 girls, with no extras to sub.  And all freshmen!  Horror.  Heck, our Varsity team only has 1 senior and a smattering of other grades - and heavy on freshmen.  The other team kept putting in 'fresh' players every 15 minutes, and about 5 or 6 at a time.  They killed them.  Ditto for the Varsity team as well.  STOMPED

But, it was a good teachable moment - about what another team looks like and does when it truly works together. 

Last night the coach had a party for all the girls.  I am glad.  I think she did the right thing in just celebrating them for their hard work and effort. 

Love that coach.