Stairs, Cars & Walkers - Oh my!

Yesterday I kicked butt in physical therapy and I conquered the world of stairs. Okay there were only four stairs but with my heavy boot on to protect my broken ankle it felt like I hiked Mt. Everest. When I got to the top of course their were cheers all around the gym and lots of photos were taken.

During my time in Physical Therapy I have often sat back and had emotions of envy and jealousy as the more mature ladies and gentleman in the facility would cruise right in front of me in their walkers. I thought, when is it going to be my turn to get up and cruise with a walker. A walker? Who would have thought that I completed a half marathon in Moab in the fall of 2008 and now here it is 2010 and I have to learn to use a walker to simply walk.

Yesterday I achieved the impossible. I, along with my walker completed a 54 feet walk in the physical therapy gym! It felt great as the wind in my hair blew and as the sweat dripped down my face. I told myself this is it, I am going to make it to the Olympics. I started looking for the finish line and realized - 54 feet is not much distance but it was the distance in my heart that mattered because I had achieved a great goal.

Today - Sophie Lofie and Damon Doodle Noodle - parked their cars and I learned how to slide into the passenger seat. This means freedom! Once I got into Sophie's car - I asked her to hit the gas pedal and let's go to Vegas - Then I got into Damon's car and it was the same car I always remembered it to be. I then turned to Damon and said put the pedal to the metal and let's break away from this joint. However the fear of driving came back to me.

It is going to take a lot of bravery and courage for me to be in a car and drive places. Driving is something that is going to take a long time for me to work through. Please remember to not use your cell phones while driving. I have decided to take a pledge with my "sista" from Cali that no talking or texting is worth getting in an accident. We have decided to join Oprah's no phone zone to take the pledge, I encourage you to do the same. Also, remember to wear your seat-belt, I know that wearing my seat-belt saved my life.

Cheers!

It's me Corrine - I have taken over my own blog!

Hello everyone - I have decided that I should become the author of my own blog. I have never blogged before but there is no time like now right? I want to thank everyone for their support, prayers, thoughtfulness and friendship. This experience has taught me the kindness of others, helps to heal and helps to strengthen.

Updates: I am walking now. It is more like a hop-a-long. This is how it goes. I put my right leg down on the parallel bars and then my left leg hops to it because I now can put full weight on it. It looks kind of funny but when you haven't been walking for two months - it is amazing how great it feels to actually walk. I average about 40 feet but I continue to push to make it a little bit more during my physical therapy session. I am now doing two full hours of physical therapy a day.

Things that I have learned during my experience:
* Allow others to assist you when they can but make sure that you always set boundaries.
* A smile goes a long way to others that might need a pick-me-up.
* Singing "The Wheels on the Bus" might scare other elderly residents when transporting to a doctor's appointment. (Damon)
*Sleep Sleep Sleep
* An experience that you go through - might not be for your gain but it might help others to teach from your example.

(More to come!)

And the Healing Continues

Now that Corrine is out of the brace on her left leg she is also able to put full weight on that leg.  She can also put partial weight on her right leg.  She has taken her first steps.  I don't think Corrine ever thought this day would come.  It has also been nice to see Corrine without quite as much extra gear.  I can only imagine how nice it is for Corrine to have less bulk to have to move around with. 

Corrine I know it is hard sometimes to see the progress you are making on a day to day basis.  But you are doing amazing!  Keep up the hard work.  You are one amazing women!

Another Update

I just found out that Corrine has been able to get rid of one of her accessories.  She no longer has a brace on her left leg.  YEAH!!!!!   Tonight after her surgery Corrine was in the machine that helps her keep the motion going in her knee, they had it set to bend to 65 degrees.  And in PT today Corrine was able to bend it to 72 degrees.  Way to go Corrine!  Keep up the hard work.  You are doing a great job!!! 

Birthday Celebrations and Updates

Corrine and Damon have one nephew on each side of their family.  The first on either side.  They happen to be only 11 days apart in age.  They also happen to be turning 1 this year. Monday night we had a little combined family party for them at the Rehab Center so that Corrine could be involved in the festivities.  It was a lot of fun.

In the video neither of them seem to be too into the cake, but after a little coaxing both of them got into it.  I don't have the continuing videos, but they both had fun.  It is so funny how two boys can be so different.  Once Maddex got into the cake he dug right in.  Once Kai got into the cake he didn't dig in like Maddex he was very proper for a 1 year old. 

Corrine had doctors appointments yesterday.  They were very pleased with how her wounds were healing.  In fact they are healing so well that they are no longer having to use the wound vac on any of the wounds.  Yeah, Corrine is free from the wall again.  But her Orthopedic doctor was not as happy.  Corrine had to go back into surgery again this morning.  They had to break up the scar tissue in her knee.  It has kept Corrine from being able to bend her knee past 35 degrees, she should have been able to be up to 70 by now.  Everything went really well with surgery, the doctor was very pleased with the results. 

Livi Abighail Frazier Honored

Yesterday was one of the hardest days I have ever lived through.  It was so hard to to see such a beautiful little girl laying in such a tiny little casket.  Livi was beautiful in her mom's blessing dress with a headband on that included the Frazier plaid.  Corrine looked absolutely radiant.  She had this amazing glow about her.  Damon radiated love for both of these women in his life, his beautiful wife and his little sweet pea.

A Scottish bagpiper played as we walked into the chapel that was filled with so many people who love Damon and Corrine.  After a beautiful musical number of primary songs we were soon sweetly reminded of the plan of salvation or the plan of happiness that our Heavenly Father has laid in place for us.  We were reminded of the choice we made to follow the plan of our Heavenly Father and come to earth.  We knew it would be hard, but that we were given an example of how to live so that we could return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families once again.  Our Savior volunteered to come to earth, live a perfect life, then give his life so that we could have the opportunity to follow His example, repent and return.  It was then turned to Livi and how she volunteered to come to earth to save her mother's life so that Corrine could finish her mission here on earth.  Such a selfless act of love.  Damon and Corrine were also sweetly reminded from the words of the prophets that as long as they live a perfectly as they can they will one day be able to raise this loving spiritual giant from infancy to her perfect adult state.

At the cemetery after Corrine got to go 4 wheeling through the grass,  the bagpiper again played as Livi was brought to her final resting spot by her loving uncles.  A sweet prayer of dedication was given by Damon to protect Livi until the day she would again be brought forth from the earth at the time of the resurrection.  The ground was also dedicated to be a place of healing, that all those who were to come to that spot would feel the comfort of the spirit and be calmed in their troubled hearts.  In Scottish tradition the bagpiper played one last song to accompany Livi to heaven.  We then gave one final tribute to Livi as we released pink and purple balloons into the sky.

We love this little girl and can not wait until the day that we can once again embrace her and finally get to know her.  Livi we love you more then you will ever know.

We would also like to thank everyone who came to support Damon and Corrine and their family.  We would also like to thank again Personal Touch Transportation for getting Corrine where she needed to be.  And to Larkin Mortuary for all their efforts to make these last moments with Livi as special as they were. 

Funeral Updates and Directions

With the Funeral coming the end of this week there have been a lot of questions on how to get to the church were it is going to be held. 

Directions:
Coming from either north or south you are going to take I-15 to I-80.  Take I-80 eastbound.  You are going to get off I-80 at the 1300 S. exit.  Turn Left (North) at the stop light on to 1300 E.  You are going to turn Right (East) on to 2100 S. (right by the Sizzler).  Take 2100 S. east to 1700 E. Turn Left (North) on to 1700 E.  The address of the church again is 1889 S. 1700 E.  Parking is in the back of the building.

Map to Building

The times again as a reminder are- Viewing: 9:00 am -10:30 am with the funeral to follow.

We would also like to thank Personal Touch Transportation who will be transporting Corrine everywhere she needs to be that day. 

We greatly appreciate all the help that has been given in preparation for the funeral.