Are we on to something?

Good morning!

Short post this morning, but I wanted to share this link with you all....let me preface this with saying....Ryan and I have had many, many conversations over the last 5 years about our situation and whether or not walking again is in the future or not....although walking again would be a remarkable and miraculous climax to this journey....we have always tried to be realistic and come to terms with how things are for us, right now.  Settling into a "new normal" doesn't have to be permanent, but I think there has to be a good solid check in with reality so one can get through their day and not be disappointed that things didn't change when you crawl into bed at night.  This concept is not unique to our situation and if you've ever had to deal with an obstacle in your life that was less than ideal, you know, at least to an extent, what I'm talking about. 

So....although we've come to terms (on most days) with how things are (for right now)...that doesn't mean we don't still have hope that things could change...if not for Ryan and "us" but for the other and future paraplegic/quadriplegics out there. 

This breakthrough in research is amazing...hats off and thank you to all of those people out there who are working for advances, breakthroughs, changes and making financial contributions to make things like this possible.  None of us know what's in store...we must live each day as best we can...with optimism, a smile and a rooted belief that anything is possible.  Just like I never imagined Ryan and I would be in this situation....I cannot imagine what the future may hold for us.  Our proverbial glass is well over halfway full.  Thanks for helping us get there.

SCI Breakthrough at Christopher and Dana Reeve
Another article

Our wild weekend

HELLO!

How are all of you?  We hope you're coming up with some fun summer plans and enjoying the start of warmer weather!  We've seen the sunlight a little more in the last few days but the gusty winds have made it difficult to be outside...Harley is a big dog yet I've still contemplated getting him a jacket and loading the pockets with rocks....the things we do for our children :)

Enough about the weather, let me update you on our wild weekend in Great Falls, MT...

Two summers ago I was able to take part in a nursing internship in Butte, MT.  There were only nine of us, but for 10 weeks we lived in close quarters, spent almost every moment together thus becoming close, quickly.  One of the girls in the group was getting married this weekend...in Great Falls...so off we drove...

We left Saturday afternoon....Harley had a puppy sleepover at our friends John and Ann's house...he was exhausted last night...evidence that he had a GREAT time....thanks you two for watching him!

It takes close to three hours to get there...I love getting in the car with Ryan and embarking on an adventure...some of the best memories I have of our relationship in its earlier years are of packing the car, driving and enjoying the wind in our hair...I'm so thankful this ultimately hasn't changed...after Ryan was injured there were times that packing the car was not enjoyable.  We had so much more stuff to pack, there was figuring out where we could/couldn't stay and there was the actual job of packing the car.  Wasn't that a boy job?  I did not love that it was now largely my responsibility...it was a job I wanted to give back to Ryan and one he desperately wanted to TAKE back.  So fast forward to the current road trip adventures...we've learned how to pack light and pack fast.  We know we can make any overnight accommodations work, whether or not they're ideal and I no longer mind packing the car.  In fact, packing the car clicks well with my self diagnosed OCD...I can fit all the bags in just the right spots...and packing the car makes me feel tough...girls CAN definitely do boy jobs.  I'm sure Ryan would love to re-assume his old responsibilities, but he makes the best of things and always finds ways to help out when we're getting ready to embark on an adventure...I think we're a damn good team.

Back to Great Falls...the wedding was lovely...short and sweet but lovely all the same...it was fabulous to see a dear friend on her special day...we said our goodbyes after a few hours, checked into our hotel and headed to a much recommended Great Falls hot spot.....The Sip and Dip....what a hilarious place....we sidled up to the bar, ordered up a cocktail and tried to contain our excitement...we were about to see our first, real life mermaid!  Yes, I said it MERMAID!  The wall behind the bar has two large windows that look into a pool...a beautiful mermaid swims past the window, swims through hoops, waves, smiles and poses for pictures...if ANY of you are EVER in Great Falls, MT I highly recommend checking this venue out...if the mermaid wasn't enough, our ears were entertained by the likes of "Piano Pat"....a lovely old gal singing her heart out as her fingers tap dance across the keys of her organ.

Needless to say, we had a great time on our 24 hour adventure....we made it back home, collected our doggie and ended up on the couch...no we are not old, but we don't bounce back like we used to...we watched a fun/heartwarming flick, Legendary, had a miss mash dinner and turned in early.

Thanks for reading, have a great week and enjoy the photos!


The Mermaid!



Knowing no one but the bride, we entertained ourselves with the infamous iPhone.

  

Kind of a hunky chauffeur...



So much to sniff....so little time...

You called?



Quite the trailblazer at the dog park.



Harley says hello...

Good morning everyone!

It's been a long/busy week since I've written to you...not much interesting news to update you all on...just busy, regular old life stuff...but there are definitely times in my life that I can honestly say I appreciate the routine, mundane activities that make up my day.  You can count on days like this...sometimes "uneventful" is just perfect.  Does anyone agree?  Last week was full of work for Ryan, dinner at night, exercising me, exercising the dog, going to the store, cleaning the house, working the weekend at the hospital....gag if you want after this next comment, but it has to be made...no matter how ordinary my day may be...I ALWAYS look forward to Mr. Rigard coming home at night, sitting at the table, talking about our day, making plans and just being together....I hope each of you has something like that to look forward to in your day. 

We did have our friends John and Ann over for dinner last Wednesday night...I tried out a few new "Paleo" recipes on them...overall it was good...the recipes were very yummy...next time I would perfect the appearance of the meal....hence the reason I'm not sharing any pictures with you today!  Ha ha.  We dined on:  Salisbury Steak, Garlic & Herb Mashed Cauliflower, Bacon & Dill Sweet Potato Salad and Thumbprint Cookies (with medjool date filling) for dessert.  Definitely recipes worth checking out!

Just got back from the gym...it was a grueling workout today...worth it in all ways...but grueling all the same...now that my head is cleared from the weekend at work, I feel able to reflect...I guess I'm feeling "very deep" and "philosophical" today...don't we usually only get this way after one too many beers?  Not that, that's every happened to me or you before...right?  Anyway....I recently took care of a patient who is very, very sick and it struck me how she had only 1 visitor in all the time I cared for her...it made me want to spend more time in her room, doing the little things...even if we weren't having thoughtful conversation, at least I felt I could offer her my physical presence if nothing else...it made me sad and it made me want you all to know that Ryan and I will NEVER stop appreciating all of you and your presence in our lives...in good times and especially during the bad ones...when there aren't the right words to speak, thank you all for just BEING THERE. 

To end on a light note....as I promised....Harley says hello...

My canine philosophical genius...he's the one pondering something deep...

Cloudy with a chance of....snow

Hello everyone!

Well, we made it out for a bike ride...the roads were dry but the clouds came and went...often blocking the warm sunshine we were craving...it was nice to get out together despite the fickle weather.  Ryan tried out his friend Neal's "Force R" handcycle...Ryan applied for and was awarded a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation...he's putting it towards a much needed and upgraded handcycle.  The one he's getting is a used "Force R" (see link for a description) but will still be a year newer than the one he rode yesterday.  He was significantly quicker (I stopped to take these pictures and couldn't catch back up to him) which, pun intended, got the gears turning about entering in some races this summer.  I will definately keep you posted on that...

Almost peeling out!

Biking Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, MT

I couldn't catch him at 20 mph!

 
Today was a lazy day...it snowed, then would get nice, then would get cold, then would get windy, then nice again....oh spring time in Montana.  Harley enjoyed a romp at the dog park and we organized the garage...now to get things ready for the work week...Check out some of the yummy things we ate today...guess I wasn't so lazy we didn't eat well :)

Bacon, coconut milk with pureed strawberries, avocado and egg muffins...
yummy breakfast!

Tuna salad with homemade mayo and guacamole on lettuce for dinner.

Presentation is everything...now that I've braved posting some food pictures I hope to make them LOOK beautiful and delicious...check out these links and the blogs that I follow...such yummy, easy, healthy meals! 

Till next time...have a fabulous week everyone!