A post from Joanne (typed by Toben):
I've missed a lot during the last six months--things I did not choose to miss. So I am slowly taking some things back. Last weekend on Saturday I got my nose re-peirced. They had taken the ring out while I was in the hospital and I've missed it. We tried unsuccessfully to put a ring back in but it had mostly closed up. The guy (Brian) tried to put a ring in the old hole but it just wouldn't go through so he just re-peirced it. And I am so glad! I feel a little bit more like myself.
It's a small thing but it is a big deal to me.
Another thing I missed was Emma's 10th birthday. Monday was her half-birthday so we decided to celebrate it this weekend since the girls were in Vail with my sister on the actual day. On Friday night we all went to a pizza restaurant called Carmines in our neighborhood. and then we went shopping to get Emma new bedding--we decided to do a complete room makeover! We repainted and redecorated from top to bottom with the help on Nana and Papa. We got it all done in an evening and a morning! Done by lunchtime! It looks amazing!
I am excited to do this and take something else back that I lost--celebrating Emma's life.
Other things on the list:
My birthday, Mom's birthday, Levi's birthday...not sure what else but that will keep us busy for a while for sure!
Audrey's birthday is coming upon August 9th, so we'll be in birthday mode for a while around here, especially since Toben's birthday is two weeks after Audrey's. This is turning into the summer of rehab and birthday celebrations. Oops. I sorta missed Easter too. Maybe I need to back a ham sometime soon.
i love you, my sweet friend.
keep taking things back. little by little.
Posted by: No.17 CherryTreeLane | July 30, 2011 at 01:00 PM
GREAT hearing your "voice" Joanne :-)
Posted by: NON-Superwoman | July 30, 2011 at 01:09 PM
Glad your getting back to your old self. Have fun celebrating again!
Posted by: Kimberly S. | July 30, 2011 at 01:27 PM
It is amazing when our God gives us a chance to capture what we thought was lost. :)
What a blessing to see you taking back what the enemy thought he had successfully stolen.
Posted by: Sharon | July 30, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Amazing Joanne. Keep up the hard work and know we are praying for you and we love you!
Posted by: Laura | July 30, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Love you and so proud of you too. Waiting for you to "take back" your San Diego vacation. Love Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Corsi | July 30, 2011 at 02:12 PM
What a great idea to have Toben type for you. That must make it easier. I, too, had to re-learn ways to do familiar things after my stroke. S -l-o-w-l-y many things came back. Don't be afraid to "use" others now to help you do what is hard for you. You're in my prayers as always.
Posted by: Marena Sheffield | July 30, 2011 at 02:40 PM
How wonderful! You are also starting to sound like you do in your posts from before :)
Posted by: Jennifer Lo | July 30, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Happy to hear you are getting these things back! Enjoy them to the fullest!
Much love,
Adrienne
Posted by: fuzzytop | July 30, 2011 at 03:05 PM
We can do this Joanne! Keep it up precious lady! Just like Marena said, I had to and still working on re-learning how to do things and some I have not tackled just yet. 16 months for me and still pressing forward. God is faithful and right with us in our journey.
Celebrate those wonderful birthdays! Have a great weekend/week! Much love, Sara
Posted by: Sara G | July 30, 2011 at 03:09 PM
YAY for birthdays and celebrations:) I'm so happy to see your post today!!!
Posted by: Tina Smith | July 30, 2011 at 03:15 PM
Always, always a joy to hear your blog voice! Thank you for taking the time to post!
Posted by: Betsy | July 30, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Happy to see you taking control of things that are important to you! I know that all of your family are thanking God every day for you! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!
Posted by: Theresa Roach | July 30, 2011 at 03:34 PM
Love hearing your voice...writing. For such a talented writer you writing is another voice. Thank you Joanne for taking the time to write and Toben for typing.
Posted by: Kimberly | July 30, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Go for it! :) It reminds me of a Dayspring Church (Australia) song "... May the vengeance of the Lord, take back what was lost".
Have a great weekend, and I am loving hearing you back at your little spot of cyberspace :)
Posted by: Seaweed & Raine | July 30, 2011 at 04:30 PM
So good to hear from you the last two posts, even with Toben's help. I'm glad you are little by little feeling more like yourself. You will stay in my prayers.
A "siesta" friend from California.
Posted by: Karene | July 30, 2011 at 04:50 PM
You go girl!!! I am so amazed at your recovery AND you spirit.
Very glad to hear from you... your posts are also missed!
Love and blessings!
Posted by: Dawn W | July 30, 2011 at 05:03 PM
What a great idea to write a post and have Toben type it for you. Your voice has been so missed here. And so good to see you taking back... Love, Pam
Posted by: Pam Romo | July 30, 2011 at 09:40 PM
So good to hear from you Joanne! Praying for you!
Posted by: Barbie | July 30, 2011 at 09:50 PM
U go girl!!! Take back all that is possible!! Birthday are always so neat when family's get together. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM!!
Praying all is going well.
Posted by: Patty McCabe | July 30, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Oh this is such an important part of our healing; to take control of stuff again and shout to the world "This is me, watch out world, I'm back!"
Much love.
L.x.
Posted by: Lynn | July 31, 2011 at 03:53 AM
Welcome back Joanne!!, I know you don't know me but I am a fellow sister in Christ and have been following your story since I joined your blog after your stroke. Toben did a great job of gathering a few more zillion reading to your blog ;-) Originally I found out because of Beth Moore's daughter, Melissa who posted on LPM's blog. Isn't life so cool how we are all in this together!! You have been on my heart and mind so much the last 6 months and it's finally great to hear from you first hand. But you tell Toben and your dad they have done a brilliant job!!!!
Lots of love, Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | July 31, 2011 at 08:47 AM
So good to really 'hear' from YOU! =) Not a bad way to spend a summer - birthdaying and healing. Celebrating life and striving for pieces of yours. Happy to hear about your nose ring - those little things mean a LOT, don't they? And three cheers for a good ol' Easter ham! I think that sounds lovely for a warm sunshiney August day =)
Posted by: anna | July 31, 2011 at 11:05 AM
It's so great to hear from you! Although I may not post as often, you are all still in my prayers. Now...where are the pix of the piercing and the room?! :-)
Posted by: Beth Petty | July 31, 2011 at 01:40 PM
You are amazing!!!! God is good!!!! What else is there to say?
Posted by: Erica | July 31, 2011 at 02:49 PM
I'm so excited to "hear from you" and to be able to see that you are returning more to some of who you used to be and that you are reclaiming your time - and having fun at the same time.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Posted by: Kim Feth | July 31, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Welcome back! Glad to see you taking charge and taking back your life piece by piece. Also love your wit. You have such a great attitude. You are an inspiration to me, and I am sure others as well.
Posted by: Crystal | August 01, 2011 at 07:47 AM
Glad to hear!! YOU GO Girl!!! Praying for you.
Posted by: Jodi Boyle | August 01, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Joanne,
I have been praying for you and I am amazed at how well you are doing. I love the attitude you have right now of taking back. I can honestly say if I were in your shoes, I don't know if that would be my attitude. You are an inspiration-even if you don't feel like you are. God is using you-even now-to further His kingdom.
God bless, Kendra
www.abusywomanslife.com
Posted by: Kendra Jarvis | August 01, 2011 at 08:27 AM
May God give you back twice in measure what you have lost Joanne. But in all that you have lost, may I also say, strangers like me who have witnessed this journey of yours have been amazed, awed and strengthened in our own walk with God with the faith, love and family that surrounds you. That is our gain. For sharing this journey with us, with grace and above all honesty in the toughtest moments, I thank you.
Posted by: abigail | August 01, 2011 at 09:32 AM
It is so good to hear from you! Glad you are beginning to feel like yourself again! We have certainly missed you here in the blogosphere.
Posted by: Fonda | August 01, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I am glad you are able to get back some of the things that make you you. That is so important. Keep on getting well and gaining in strength.
Lynn
Posted by: Penbleth | August 01, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Hi Joanne,
It's good to "hear" YOU again. You have been missed on here, and so happy for your continued recovery.
Still praying in Vancouver, WA.
Posted by: Teri | August 01, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Bravo from Switzerland!! Praying you'll be restored completely and healthier than ever before!
Big blessings,
Sibylle
Posted by: Sibylle | August 02, 2011 at 01:07 AM
I am so glad you are back at your blog and taking other things back as well. Step by Step things will come together for you and your family.
Posted by: Kelly Counihan | August 02, 2011 at 06:47 AM
A continual party sounds great! We just celebrated a birthday in our home and the kids are already mourning the loss of chocolate chip waffles and ice cream for breakfast :-)
Posted by: Julie | August 02, 2011 at 08:48 AM
Hey Joanne ~ What a gift to hear your words!
I'm reading Hind's Feet too. Thanks for mentioning that book.
Posted by: Sue Tell | August 02, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Back in Feb. I heard about your stroke Via; James & Ryan Dobson asking for prayer for you. Since then I have checked in almost daily to see how your progress is going. It is so nice today to read about you taking things back... Seems like a spunky/fighters attitude which I know is attributing to your progress. I dream of the day that I can attend a conference at which you will be speaking and sharing your story of healing and conquering.
Posted by: Lori | August 02, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Hi Joanne,
Sounds to me like you are going to be one busy lady taking in all that you missed.
I am so glad to see you recover and I just want you to know I pray for you often. You are a very blessed and loved woman. What an amazing husband you have, who loves you so much and a family and support group. You are very blessed.
Keep healing and pushing it.
Praying and praying,
<><
Posted by: Child of God | August 02, 2011 at 01:48 PM
How wonderful! Noah my oldest son his birthday is also on 9th of augustus. Happy Birtday for Audery and Toben.
Great to have you Back!
Posted by: Eveline from the Netherlands! | August 02, 2011 at 09:46 PM
Good for you! Taking things back is sometimes the best way to celebrate living. Hugs...
Posted by: Dionna | August 03, 2011 at 06:01 PM
You are so AWEsome Joanne! God must have something huge in store for you to put you through such a battle. Praying for you everyday!
Posted by: Erin W. | August 03, 2011 at 08:54 PM
I was rereading your posts from the beginning of the year. It was enlightening to read about the confirmation you were receiving about this being a year of love. While the challenges you've faced this year are beyond comprehension, it has certainly been a year of love for you, your family and friends. It sounds like you've also received an outpouring of love from people you don't even know. What a blessings that is. Out of everything you've lost this year, love has been in abundance.
Posted by: Melissa S. | August 06, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Hi you guys! I just wanted to say I am praying for you all. I know stroke recovery can be difficult...our little girl had a pretty major stroke when she was four months old. She is two now, and I cannot tell you what a walking (well, almost completely walking) miracle she is. God has shown us so much favor, as I know He is to you as well.
I also wanted to let you guys know about this amazing intensive therapy program that we took our daughter to. I have actually heard even more amazing things about the adult portion of the therapy...like, miracles...seriously. The therapist working with these patients is AMAZING, and he starts out every therapy day with the patient and team in prayer. They truly give Jesus the glory for the healing that takes place there. Anyway, to finally get to the point, ha, the place is called Melanie Massey Physical Therapy in West Monroe, LA, and the program is called IMOT (Intensive Model of Therapy).
They use something called the "neurosuit" on the patients...it is a suit that goes over your clothes and on your head, and it puts pressure on your body to help send signals to your brain to "wake up" your affected side. Then, therapy is done without the suit, and the patient feels much stronger. (Kind of like how baseball players swing a few bats before they swing one...makes them more powerful in the game.) Our daughter took her very first steps during this program, began using her right arm more, and she even became much more vocal.
Here are a couple of links:
http://www.mmptinc.com/kids_services_physical_imot.shtml
http://www.mmptimot.blogspot.com/
A lot of the examples on the site are of children (and, they haven't updated in a while), but my brother-in-law is a PT in the same town, and he said he has heard of unreal progress among the adults going through this program. You can choose between either a three or four week program, I think.
Also, just a little extra info for credibility's sake: Karl (who is the main PT for IMOT) was actually called to New York to implement this program on Dick Clark when he had his stroke!
Well, I just felt like I needed to share that with you guys. If you have any other questions, feel free to send me an email.
So thankful to hear of your progress, Joanne! God is SO good!!
Posted by: lindsey | August 06, 2011 at 07:42 PM
Lovely to hear from you, Joanne! Sending you lots of well-wishes and hugs from Singapore!
Posted by: Puva | August 06, 2011 at 08:06 PM