Do you remember me?

[Brie]

Hello everyone!!!! Hope you remember me...it's Brie..... Riley and Ellie's Mom...     Seems like forever since I've been around, and I've missed all of you.

Hope you and your dogs are all doing well!!!!  Riley and Ellie are doing GREAT...can't believe "Baby Riley" is already 5 years old; and Ellie Mae will be 5 this July. Where does the time go?!!? 

I'll try to stop by as often as I can and get caught up on what's going on with everyone....

Brie, Riley and Ellie

[BEAU]

Yes, of course!
Nice to see you!

[JoeF]

Brie!  Brie who? 

welcome back.
No not welcome back...  Welcome Home!

[Metz]

I second that 

[patty]

I second that 

3rd it!! hi brie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[K9Krazy]

Hey you.  I still have a signed CD for you.   E-mail me your address & I'll get it to you.

[Carol]

don't be such a stranger.  I know Patty and Joe can be QUITE annoying, but ignore THEM and come on and chat with the rest of us NORMAL ppl. 

[JoeF]

don't be such a stranger.  I know Patty and Joe can be QUITE annoying, but ignore THEM and come on and chat with the rest of us NORMAL ppl. 

Carol... Normal....

[Marge]

missed you big time....

And I also came up with quite a creative way to get attention.   On Monday Feb 13th I had a hemorrhagic stroke to the motor cortex of my brain and almost died.  The underlying cause was an arterialvenus malformation.  A congenital defect where the arteries bypass the smaller blood vessels and go directly into a vein.  The vein becomes distorted and eventually ruptures.  There were never any sypmtoms and we had no idea the defect existed.  Despite the fact that when I got to the hospital where they did the surgery I couldn't move the left side of my body (and I'm left handed) and the motor cortex is the portion of the brain that controls voluntary movement the good news is that I am expected to make a full recovery, there don't appear to be any deficits, cognitive function, fine and gross motor skills all appear to be intact, and an angiogram done while I was still in surgery came up clear so there don't appear to be any other areas of concern and the chance of a repeat is low.

The neurosurgeon that removed the AVM has used the term miraculous to describe my recovery.  And right now I consider myself to be just about the luckiest person on earth.  God's given me a miracle.  I'll be here to watch my kids grow up.  And I look at it from the standpoint that I've been left here on earth to do something.  Perhaps touch someone's life the way mine has been touched.  Interestingly this happened while I'm in the middle of taking a course to become an EMT.  The nurses, techs and doctors at the hospital were all very supportive and we had some interesting conversations about how this impacts on my perspective in terms of treating patients.

I am back at my EMT class.  Though I'm needing a chauffeur as I haven't been cleared to drive yet (another 2 weeks or so) and probably another 3 weeks before I'm ready to go back to training dogs.

Before they released me from the hospital I was evaulated by all sorts of rehab specialists and physical therapists to determine if I had to go to a rehab facility before I came home.  In talking with the physical therapist I told her about training dogs in agility as a hobby and how knowing where your body is in relation to the dog and the jumps is important and she thought that was a very positive aspect in terms of my recovery as she sent me off down a busy hallway with people walking around, carts being wheeled around, patients in wheelchairs and she said I managed it beautifully.

Thanks to all my friends here for your support and messages of concern.  They are very much appreciated.

Hugs to you all
Marge

[JoeF]

Welcome back. So glad you are feeling better.

[patty]

Carol... Normal....

now i waaayyy 2nd that!!!!! 

[Louisa]

Marge, how wonderful! I really took to your message, I am struggling right now with going back to school for a masters in a business field or go after my true passion in nursing... I'm 26 so I hope I have time to do either.  My heart is really in that area of life, and hearing that makes me think even more.  God bless you in your recovery and I truly believe what you said to be true! He shows us his presence almost daily in tiny ways we don't see!  We have to see the big picture to see it sometimes and may he lead you where you should go from here.  Thanks for sharing!

[Carol]

Carol... Normal....

NOTHIN' CHANGES AROUND HERE!!! WELCOME HOME!!

[Carol]

Marge, how wonderful! I really took to your message, I am struggling right now with going back to school for a masters in a business field or go after my true passion in nursing... I'm 26 so I hope I have time to do either.  My heart is really in that area of life, and hearing that makes me think even more.  God bless you in your recovery and I truly believe what you said to be true! He shows us his presence almost daily in tiny ways we don't see!  We have to see the big picture to see it sometimes and may he lead you where you should go from here.  Thanks for sharing!

Absolutely agree, AMEN!!  Marge see my post under Patty's on a different thread, please.

[saucyaussies]

Marge, how wonderful! I really took to your message, I am struggling right now with going back to school for a masters in a business field or go after my true passion in nursing... I'm 26 so I hope I have time to do either.  My heart is really in that area of life, and hearing that makes me think even more.  God bless you in your recovery and I truly believe what you said to be true! He shows us his presence almost daily in tiny ways we don't see!  We have to see the big picture to see it sometimes and may he lead you where you should go from here.  Thanks for sharing!

Louisa, if you really want to do nursing, go for it!  I started my degree when I was 27.  I have one more year (and a bit) to go....whew!  Most people in my class are my age or older, and honestly I think that some life experience should be part of the prerequisite.  I really do not think that kids coming right out of high school are at the right stage in their lives to begin the nursing degree.  That's just my opinion anyways and only a reflection on my individual classmates.....so you are the perfect age to start!  I will warn you, it totally changes you....