Reflections

As I look back on the last year, specifically the last 2 months of 2007,
I feel like our family has grown so much,
loved and been loved so much.

When I think about the cliche sayings that people have said over time,
I can't help but wonder if their lives were touched with tragedy.
Although I had heard ALL of them before, they mean something completely
different going into 2008...

*Life IS precious, it IS a gift
*We don't know what tomorrow will bring
*Life IS what you make of it
*God does hold each of us in his hands
*Love IS truly the only gift

**Pic taken at The Royal Sonesta 12/2006 for Chaz and Claire's engagement party.

God Bless and have a wonderful safe last night of 2007.

Resting Day

Sunday is a rest day for LuBob. She does not have any therapy on Sunday's so she gets to relax and not have anyone ask her to get out of bed if she doesn't want to. Today, mom was in great spirits-I know because I spoke with her twice. She told me they were watching the Saints game and managed to tell me they were loosing. Dad said that she seemed to really understand the game, when he wasn't paying attention and something interesting would happen, Lu would nudge him and nod to the t.v.. She bleeds black and gold even after her accident!

We hope you have a wonderful last day of 2007.
Charles, Luisa and the kids

**Pic taken at Ousie's in Houston, 12/2006

Memory

Tonight I asked my mom if she remembers us telling her why she is in the hospital---and she did!!! Since her accident, her short term memory has not been in tact and tonight was the first time she was able to verbalize to me that she was hit by a car in front of Harrah's Casino. Of course, she still can't recall quite a bit, but she showed tonight that she is starting to have the ability to do so.

We heard from the nurses that she had another great day today. Tonight she seemed really tired, but we managed to giggle a few times over silly things. Andrew and Ava came up to see her as well, Andrew talked to her like she was a little girl and Ava wanted to eat her dinner. She loved every minute of it!!

Much love,
Luisa's Family

**Pic at the Hilton in Austin 08/04

My First Observation Day

Today I went an observed Luisa for the day. What a day we had! She talked more today than she has since the accident-to me and to the other therapists at the hospital. We talked back and forth all day, she told me she liked my sweater, told me the water I got her was hot, almost bit my head off when I cut her finger giving her a manicure (I am just a novice)-and lots of other amazing conversations.

During speech therapy, she got lots of fill in the blanks correct, and also was able to identify what people were doing in pictures. She did get some of the memory questions wrong, but it was the first time doing that exercise-that will come as the identifying pictures has. She walked twice today, very slowly but if you know my mom she walks slow anyway-she did great, I was a proud child standing beside my amazing mother.

I hope you all had a very special Christmas, thank each of you for keeping us in your prayers-they are very appreciated.
The Whole R&P Gang

**Pic taken today during physical therapy.

Mom's First Day Out

What a day! I would be hard pressed to find words (an occurence almost as rare as a lunar eclipse) to describe all of the emotions that we all felt today. It was such an amazing day to have mom right where she should be at Christmas, with us. The love in the room was so palpable, our Christmas miracle sitting right in front of us.

A few of the pictures from our Christmas 2007...

Merry Christmas!!

My family hopes that each and every one of you has a wonderful Christmas. I hope that you are able to find a moment today to feel the grace that blesses each of our lives.

We are in the process of checking Luisa out of the hospital for the day. Check back later tonight for a full recap on the day!
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Christmas pics from 2003-2006 in no particular order.

Andrew and Ava's First Visit

Today we brought Andrew and Ava up to visit mom and she had a smile from ear to ear when she saw them. It has been a little over two months since she saw them last, I am pretty sure we watched her have the best 10 minutes since the accident.

It has been about two weeks since I last saw mom. She continues to look really great and seems to have increased her ability to concentrate some as well. She and I had a few hours alone and we spent that time laying next to each other in her bed, I talked most of the time (I am pretty sure I talked too much). I found a magazine dad had brought up ( a New Orleans mag.) and started to go through it asking her if she knew what certain things were. She knew some things and others she knew but couldn't find the word for-I would tell her the word and ask her to say it back to me, most of the time she did repeat it to me. She knows that she has a BIG birthday coming up this summer, when I asked her she said "60" with about as much enthusiasm as anyone answering that question.

We hope that this season is bringing you lots of love and laughter.
The Ripoll's and Pippins'

**Pic taken at my grandma's (ain't there no more) Christmas 2004, right before we sang the 12 Yats of Christmas (a very fun night!) If the last sentence confused you, it is a very local sentence, I am sure I am getting a few chuckles from the kids reading this from NOLA.

Meeting Day

Today dad had a meeting with mom's team to evaluate her progress. "Team Luisa" feels that she is doing very well, in dad's words, "they are not ecstatic, but are happy with her progress." He has watched her do a lot today as he had a few weeks ago and she is definetly stronger, she walked up stairs and was walking better as well. She is feeding herself and eating really well now. Apparently, she reached up and felt her head today and asked dad "What's going on up here?" Dad started to tell her and she was confused after he said how she was involved in an accident. All in all, she is doing wonderful, or we think so.

I will be out of blogville touch for a day or two traveling.

Best to each of you.
Team Luisa's Family

**Pic taken in mom and dad's apartment, NOLA 06/05

Readin' A Magazine

Tonight on my nightly call mom was reading a magazine about New Orleans. It is unclear how much she actually understands about what she might be reading, but when she told me she was reading it sure seemed like she was interested in the topic. We talked about how excited we are to see each other this weekend, I am counting down the days. And she talked to Andrew and Ava and laughed at them while they were talking/singing.

I know that I write a lot about my conversations, but this is all I witness while I am not there. Please know that while it is amazing to talk to her, there are moments of confusion mixed in with the conversation, they are getting less and less but are still present.

And I guess with that, it's goodnight.
Lola's gang.

**Chaz & Claire's rehearsal dinner 03/06 NOLA.

Chatty Cathy

First, the business stuff.
The surgery went off without a hitch, mom got a little sick after, but has rebounded beautifully.
She has moved rooms-again, she's really taking a tour of the rehab facilities at Touro.

Now the exciting news.
Mom's cousin, Renee went to visit today and had a great conversation with her. Renee walked in and mom said, "What are you doing here?" Renee asked her how she was doing and mom said, "Well, I had a little surgery today on my trach." That is really the most consecutive words she has used, how thrilling. Her doctor came in and quizzed her a little bit and she got all of them right but the last one when she asked her if she was there because she is sick or was hit by a car and she shook her head no for both options. When Renee left and when her visitors, the Caro's left she told them both "Thank you for coming." She so polite, that mom of mine!

Miracles are occuring everyday in her life, but they also occur in all of ours too.
Peace
The Rips and Pips

*Pic taken at Barton Creek Resort 04/2007

I'm Busy

Yesterday dad went to Houston, so I talke to mom on the phone while Uncle Jerry was visting mom. I was talking to her and getting a little more than yes and no answers out of her. Suddenly I realized she was laughing and I asked her what I said that was funny, she said "I'm laughing at Uncle Jerry." I told her I was sorry to keep her from her guests, she told me ok and then I believe she hung the cell phone up (pretty iimpressive if she knew how to do that).

She is having a little surgery on her trach scar, the doctors feel that it is not healing properly so the surgery is mainly a cosmetic procedure more than anything.

Her rash is gone!!! After 2.5 weeks with it, thank goodness! Now they can take her off of the benedryl so she will not want to sleep all day.

6 days til Christmas, we hope to get a day pass to spend some time with mom outside of the hospital.

Best wishes on this humpday.
Lu's crew

**Lola and Andrew 11/04, in a restaurant in NOLA (of course).

How About Sushi Instead? (Mom Loves Sushi!)

Today was a big day for mom. She was switched from pureed foods to solids-so tonight she ate food that actually had shape rather than babyfood. It sounds like she enojyed every bite of it, my Lord wouldn't you if you hadn't eaten food in 7 weeks?

Last night dad and Uncle Jerry were joking around and dad said that mom was totally in on the conversation and at one point was cracking up laughing (he said harder than he has seen her laugh in a long time).

Some days are better than others in terms of her spirits, but we are constantly reminded of how blessed we are since she is really only about 3.5 weeks into rehab. WOW, it's overwhelming to think of how far she has come.

Keep the prayers coming!
LuBob's family

**Pic taken in our packed car 07/06

Pleasant Weekend

Luisa has had a good weekend. She had a few visitors this weekend-her lifelong friend Jeanne went up and saw her for the first time since she was in ICU. I know that she was so happy to see mom looking like mom. When I spole to her yesterday I told her I was shopping and asked if she was ready to get out there and spend some money, she said "Oh yeah!"

Today they were late bringing her tray of lunch to her and she looked at dad and said, "What's taking them so long?" Dad said that she seems to understand most conversations as people are having them around her. Today, Mrs. Cathy, Mr. John, Aunt Jan and Van were all talking about old times and she was laughing with them enjoying the stories.

I found this online today, if you have a chance, check it out. It is an amazing story about a man with a brain injury.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22279449/

As someone told me right after the accident, we are all in this life together.
Lola's crew

**Pic taken at Column's Hotel, NOLA 06/04

Mmmm, Sweet 'Taters

Tonight mom had her first pureed food that she enjoyed. She loved the sweet potatoes that she was served, which is no surprise because she was a fan before the accident. She is eating really well, so that can only be good news for her strength mentally and physically.

Andrew, Brad and I spoke with her tonight on the phone and she sounds really good. She is not much of a conversationalist, but I don't mind talking and telling her how much I and all of you care.

Since this is the holiday season, and it seems all of you enjoy this blog, I have an idea. All of you through this journey have asked God to help mom and us, so in order to give thanks for his blessings I ask that you do something nice for a stranger. Our lives have been touched by friends and strangers alike in this time, we all make a difference in others lives-the impact on someone can be huge!

Thank you friends.
Rip's and Pip's

**Ava's baptism 02/07

Superwoman

Good Morning Luisa's Loyal Bloggers. Sorry that the blog is late, had a dinner last night-and as they say 'tis the season!

Dad saw mom last night after missing Wednesday night because he was in Houston. He said that she looked better after just one day, she was more alert and could understand commands easier. He asked her to hold up two fingers and she did it, but looked at him like -can you give me something challenging here. That was the first time that she held up anything other than her thumb for us. She's also laughing a little bit, so evidentally she still thinks my dad is humorous.

Well, I guess this a two post day, so stay tuned for tonight's post.

Hope each of you has a nice Friday.
Luisa's Loyal Family

**Pic taken Ava's birthday party 09/07

Lu's Getting The Real Stuff Now

Today my cousin Rebecca went up and spent time with mom b/c dad is in Houston. She fed her tonight and said that she did really well swallowing her food. Luisa had 3 trays of food today, her first full day of food yet, of course with suppliments of tube feedings.

Her rash is getting better, I am sure she would say thank goodness.

Dad talked to her on the phone briefly tonight. She said his name for the first time!!!!!!!

Hope each of you has a wonderful day tomorrow!

Thank you family and friends (new and old) for taking the time to enquire about mom,
Charlie and gang

**Pic taken Dec. 2004 at Brigtsen's-NOLA

1st Observation Day

Today was dad's first day to watch mom go through her daily therapy routines.

First was occupational therapy. The OT came in and dressed her this morning, she told dad that she can pretty much put her top on by herself. Her bottoms are a little more difficult because her strength is still not there when bending her legs.

The speech therapist came in and worked with her for a while. She was holding up flash cards for my mom and they were pictures of things like a dog, horse, etc... Mom could not get the words out to name each thing. There is of course some confusion in her brain telling her mouth what to say-dad said she was just really frustrated bc he could tell she knew what the objects were. They served her lunch today, her first time to eat food (pureed) since the accident! He said that the ST was really impressed with how well she did. She chewed and swallowed really well. She even took the spoon and fed herself a few times and drank a little ensure by herself too.

The rash is hives we found out. The dermatologist told dad that since they have removed her off of any medication it is just going to have to take it's course, but it could take a week to clear up. The rash is not that big of a deal in the scheme of things, it is just really distracting to mom b/c she itches so bad.

Physical Therapy had mom last today. Dad watched her walk with a walker and therapists there to guide her. He said that she was supporting her own body and did pretty well with it. They took her on stairs for the first time and he said that she is just really weak, it was hard for her to bend her legs and lift them up the steps. She did this with full assistance.

All in all it was a really good day. It made dad realize that her road is long, but that there is a destination.

We are so thankful that there is a destination!


Picture is of my mom and my dad's mom (she passed away 01/2006), I can safely say they would both kill me for putting this picture up for all of you to see.

Step By Step

Dad talked to the case worker this morning and she told him that mom took 111 steps today with assistance. I guess she really is walking!

This update is kind of short b/c mom still has the rash, in fact it is worse today than it has been all week. Dad said she seemed really preoccupied with it tonight, itching it a lot. But, tomorrow he is going to be with her all day to observe her therapeutic treatments. I am sure there will be lots to say tomorrow.

Quite a few of you have emailed me wondering how to leave a message on the blog-I will try and explain the process to you.
1. When you log on to Lola's page and see the entry for the day if you want to leave a comment click on the comment areadown below, but before yesterday's post. Don't forget to sign your name!

2. Leave your comment and then type the word verification in the box (red distorted letters)

3. Choose your identity, if you don't have a google account just choose anonymous

4. Click publish your comment

Hope this helps, I think I have brought a whole new generation to blogville!

Best,
Lola's Family

The Talkin' is Startin'

Luisa is really starting to communicate, and doesn't seem, at least yet, to struggle for the proper wording. Today she talked on the phone to a few family members-the best was her conversation with Andrew. Andrew said "Hey Lo" and my mom said "Hey Love!" (she always calls him love and I wondered if she would ever do it again after the accident). To each person she spoke on the phone with, she spoke to them they way she would have before the accident, her inflections were the same and called each person the name she gave them before as well.

Oh, and she can read perfectly. I was reading the names on the tv and I felt her looking at me as if she was frustrated. I stopped and looked at her and said "Can you read?" She gave me the look that only a mother could give and said "Yes". We tested her and sure enough, she can read just fine. I asked her where I lived and she told me like nothing.

Later on today, while I was at the airport, I saw Reggie Bush. I called and dad gave her the phone, when I told her I gave him a thumbs up she said, "Does he have a nice personality?" How funny is that???

The blessings just keep coming from above!

Thank you friends for your continued support through this journey.
The Ripoll & Pippins Crew

**Missing from pic, Claire!

The Best Day Yet

This picture was taken today (Saturday)-to really give all of you a better idea of where mom is we thought we should share this with you.

When we got to the hospital today she was sitting (in a wheelchair) in the room with the rest of the patients while they were eating. She gave us a big smile and we all went to her room to visit. She told Chaz "I like your shoes" (LSU sandals) this was the longest sentence she has said yet. While the nurse was feeding her, the tube started to leek and before she could get there mom had already clamped the feeding tube. Thumbs up is not a task that is hard anymore-in fact she makes a face when we ask her to do it.

We were able to take her outside today (her first time since Oct. 31) we had a nice time and she really enjoyed the change of scenery (can you blame her). There were so many amazing moments in our visit-words are escaping me (yes me!)

Faith, Courage, Love
Luisa's ecstatic family!

Come On Kids

Alright, you know that we have a book already started for Luisa's progress-keep the comments coming. She doesn't just want to hear from Dad, Brad, Chaz, Claire, Uncle Jerry and I-leave a message for her!

Today Chaz and Claire arrived to see Mom and Dad. At one point Rachel, our cousin, told mom that her brother was coming to see her and mom responded "How do you know?" Talk about initiating converasation on her own! Mom's favorite expression before the accident was "Cher" to all of you non-cajuns, that is pronounced Sha. Today, Claire said that Mom said Cher over and over.

She looks awesome, but has a rash right now-all is good-


Keep the Faith.
LuBob's Family

*** Pic taken at Mr. B's 2005

Not Quite

Today mom had her first swallow test and she failed it. Not because she could not swallow but because she did not know what to do with the food when they put it in her mouth. Once she figured it out, she did swallow OK-it will come as all of the other blessing have.

Today mom's first cousin's visited her and she was very alert for them (b/c they were not my dad:)). She saw a picture of Andrew and said "Cute". Great response because that was just looking at him and not a prompted conversation.

Day by day.

Make That a Latte Please

Tomorrow they are going to start doing swallow tests on Lola. Evidentally today she had a small spoon of pudding and wanted the whole thing. Soon enough she will be asking the nurses to change her coffee for a latte with 1 equal and 1 sweet and low:)

Dad told her that when he was in Houston he had dinner with some friends and mom looked at him and said "Where?" That was all he got out of her tonight, but Chaz, Claire and I are going in this weekend so hopefully we can convince her to talk a little more.

Hugs,
The Ripolls and Pippins

She Did What?

Tonight my Uncle Jerry was visiting my mom and an aide came in and said "Hey Mrs. Ripoll, I saw you walking today." So my uncle asked the aide to tell him about it and she told him that mom walks with two physical therapists holding her, but that she is putting one foot in front of the other. WHOA!!!

It seems as though physically LuBob is coming right along. We were told that the physical aspect does seem to come back faster than the mental-our thoughts and prayers now need to be focused on her getting back to us mentally.

Until Tomorrow,
Luisa's Family

Short Update

Just a short update on this Monday night. Mom's fever has not come back-awesome news. Last night when my dad got back from the Saints game he walked in the room said hi and he got his first smile and also a thumbs up!!!!

I wanted to clarify the speaking to me yesterday by saying that it seems kind of reflexive at this time-if you ask her to speak she does not. BUT how great that she responded to me and said the right things at the right times!!! A month after our conversation was interrupted, I got to tell her I loved her.

I've said it a million times in the past month, but what a gift!

The Trach is Trash!!!!!!!

This morning mom's pulmonologist took her trach out!!! Not only that but she said hi to Chaz when dad held the phone up to her! Oh wait, there's more! Dad held the phone up later for me to say hi and she said "Hey Ra (she always calls me that)" I said I love you so much and Luisa said "Love you".

What a day, and it is only 1:00!!!

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Chin Up

MORE BREAKING NEWS 7:35pm!! Tonight dad asked mom if she wanted to put some lotion on her hands, she nodded yes, he put the lotion on her hand and told her to rub them together----- and she did!!!!!!!

BREAKING NEWS 6:45pm! Today dad said that mom took her glasses off, itched her nose, and then put her glasses back on.

This picture was taken in July 06 and we would chant "March, March" and Andrew ate it up. He and mom would march all over the place saying this for hours.

Since the accident, mom has been favoring her right side and dad said yesterday she has started holding her head straight. I guess her tone is starting to come back-yet another bit of great news.

Aunt Jan brought a Christmas tree to her room-she had a big smile when she saw it.

She had therapy this morning starting at 6:30, so she has been sleeping on and off all day today. She is watching in the LSU game right now with dad-Geaux Tigers!

***To view past posts, you just click on November.