3 Months To The Day

Well, we have all been on this little journey together for three months now. So much has happened, we have been blessed that it is almost all positive. Now if we can just get that short term memory to kick in, we will being taking great strides.

I was talking to mom tonight and I told her that she had been keeping something from us. Of course, she had no idea what I was getting around to, but evidentally she walked on the treadmill the other day for a little over seven minutes. She can be so modest:) Physically and cognitively she is still moving forward.

On the last day of this month, may each of you know how appreciative we are for your support and prayers.
Charlie, Luisa, Robin, Brad, Chaz, Claire, Andrew and Ava

**Pic taken Christmas 04, Chalmette, La (house flooded 08/29/05, Gizmo went to dog heaven 09/07)

Hi

Yesterday, Luisa had a CatScan, she has not had one yet in Houston, it was probably just to get an idea on if anything has changed since her last one. Dad said that all went well, mom wanted to talk more about a little girl in the doctor's office than her own ct-scan. Tonight, she sounded good. She was telling us that she ate catfish for dinner and asked me what time I was leaving for dinner (I had told her earlier that I was going to dinner with some of Brad's coworkers.

Hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
The Ripoll's and PIppins

**Pic taken last weekend.

***Sorry, picture posts the right way on my desktop, don't know how to fix it:)

All Is Well

This weekend was a good weekend for mom-she has some visitors and seemed to have good visits with each of them. Chaz and Claire left feeling better than they have yet about mom's future. The biggest difference in her in the last few weeks is that she is initiating conversation rather than just sitting and waiting for the next subject to come up from whomever is talking to her. She seems to fluctuate with her ability to remember things i.e.-- this weekend, at the hospital, my family was walking with her down the hall and I happened to be on the phone with her, she out of the blue told them that a picture of a past patient on the wall lives in Austin. I had told her that the previous weekend, she had no idea where she had heard it from, but she did recall the picture. On the flip side, sometimes when you ask her what she just finished eating, she can not tell you. It is for this reason that I wrote last week to pray in thanksgiving for how far she has come, but also for her short term memory to come back to her.

We all have ups and downs in life, it is how we grow (evolve) as people.
Lola's Crew

**Pic taken 9/07/2006-Ava's Birthday

Lu's Moved

Just an FYI, in case you are trying to call or visit, my mom has switched rooms. Please call the hospital to get her phone number or room number-seems as though this is pretty par for the course with rehab. units.

She is having a great weekend. Chaz and Claire are visiting her, so I am sure I will have new pictures tomorrow to post.

With Gratitude.
The Ripolls and Pippins

**Pic taken 03/06 the weekend of Chaz and Claire's wedding.

Katie Who?

Hello Lola's Faithful Bloggers!
This afternoon when I spoke with Luisa, I asked her if she realized that she was not able to remember things. This was her response, "No, I really didn't until Katie Couric told me that my memory was not working properly." I said, Katie Couric, do you mean your doctor? She laughed and I asked her if she thought her doctor looked like Katie, she said no, I have no idea why I said that. Just a small example of some funny things that come out of her mouth.

Things are going well, a discharge date has been set for February 15-the destination after that is still in the works, we'll let you know when we have a better idea (more than likely she will be going to another type of rehabilitation facility but this one focusing more on transitioning back into the world).

Everyday is a gift!
The Rips and Pips

**Pic taken last weekend, the helmet Luisa has on is something that she must wear anytime she is out of her bed. This protects her skull since she does not have her bone in yet.

I'm Watchin' Something

This afternoon I was talking to mom on the phone and we had a really nice conversation. She asked me if I had heard about Heath Ledger's death-yes she is still up on current events. We chatted, she is generally more interested in hearing Andrew and Ava in the background than hearing me babble on. Well, about 5 minutes into our conversation I told her that she was being quiet so I would let her go (I thought she was tired) she told me, "I'm sorry I am watching the stuff about Heath on the TV." Funny stuff!

Dad met with her "Team TIRR" today. Her doctor told him that they were very happy with her progress in the last 5 days. The therapists see her engaging more-so we are still progressing forward!

Your continued support is so appreciated.

Hugs,
Charles and the kids

**Pic taken 01/20, I know she is my mom, but I don't think I have seen a prettier brain injury patient:)

I Recall

Monday was mom's first full day of therapy at TIRR-boy did they wear her out, she was asleep for 7:00 last night. The very good news is that yesterday I called her in the morning and she had already had PT, I didn't even have to ask her if she had therapy, she remembered and told me all about her therapist. She has not done this before, usually if you ask her if she has had therapy she kind of thinks and looks off into space because she can't remember. The most encouraging part is that later last night she told my dad the same thing she told me so she still remembered all those hours later.

One thing that I have not mentioned is how much mom laughs. Her sense of humor is very present, even more so than before. We have had some major belly laughs in the last few weeks-sometimes at her expense because she does say some things that are random (last night she she told me that the hospital fish she was eating was Kentucky Fried Chicken Fish). Hey, if you can't find humor in the small things, the hard times are 10 times more difficult.

Have a laugh for LuBob today!
Her Family

**Pic taken 10/04 Andrew's first day home from the hospital.

A Dinner Conversation With Lola

Yesterday, Lola had a great day. She was very talkative, asking questions and laughing up a storm. She has a great time hanging out with Andrew and Ava and had a 15 minute (very) normal conversation with her brother on the phone. Today she starts her first full day of therapy at TIRR.

I'll keep you posted on any new developments.

Have a great week.
Luisa's Family

Went Off Without A Hitch

Good Morning
Yesterday, mom's transfer day could not have gone any better. She was quite emotional leaving Touro and her brother, but once we got going she did REALLY well. The new hospital, TIRR, was wonderful about learning mom's case as soon as we got there. She was evaluated in the first three hours by her OT, PT and Primary Doctor. Each person was nicer than the next, we did learn that mom is still suffering from what they call Post Traumatic Amnesia, this means that her short term memory is really not functioning properly. I ask that your prayers be concentrated on bringing her short term memory back, we know that it will happen-each day she becomes more complete.

So, all is going to be great in H-Town.

We look forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Best,
The Rips and Pips

Au Revior Dear Friend

The journey started just three months ago
There have been plenty of lessons learned and poboys eaten (unfortunately)

Mom has been blessed a million times over
The Lord has held her gently in his generous hands.

Our time at University will supply many laughs and stories for years to come
Touro was just the beginning of the recovery process for mom
To all of the medical care attendants, we thank each of you for
saving our wife, mom, lola, sister, aunt and friend.

In our old friends, you have reconnected with our family
in our new, we welcome you to our lives.
You have each shown us the beauty in humanity
Our hearts are filled with joy.

Tomorrow a new
The Lone Star State awaits
BUT
The Crescent City has always been home for mom-it still is.

**Pic taken at the Royal Sonesta 7/2007

Update-For a More Exciting Post Scroll Down

Luisa had her Nucleur Medical Test yesterday on the fluid I mentioned last weekend and it came back negative, thank goodness! She has also gotten the go ahead to be transfered on Friday, so this part of her journey will be coming to an end soon. More reflections on this later...

***Pic taken 01/13/08

I'm Walkin', Yes Indeed

Another short video of mom this weekend. Sorry that you have to view it with your head cocked to the side.

No word yet on the transfer, hopefully we will know something tomorrow.

Many Blessings,
Lola's Family

A Message From Luisa

We had a wonderful weekend, wanted to share this with y'all. To view hit the play button right after Pips.

Enjoy,
The Rips and Pips

Hi From NOLA

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with Luisa. She was pretty quiet (not out of the norm), but was happy to see all of us. We talked with her doctor yesterday and she said that the bone has not been replaced in her head yet because there is an infection in her original incision. The doctors want to make sure that the infection is completely gone before they open her up and insert the rest of her cranium. They performed an MRI on her to make sure that the infection had not spread to her bone, they did not see any evidence of this but did see a pocket of some kind of fluid on the side of her head. To rule out any kind of puss in her head they are going to perform a nuclear medical test. I saw the swelling over Christmas on the side of her head and felt like it was smaller yesterday than a few weeks ago, so hopefully it is just water and her body is absorbing it.

In other news... Dad is putting a plan together to transfer mom to TIRR (Texas Institute of Research and Rehabilitation). We had hoped to move her there all along, and since they are not putting her bone back in her head-we are going to move ahead with our plan. The move will hopefully happen late next week. We will keep you posted as new info comes in regarding this issue.

Thank you for your prayers and support.
Lola's Family

**The pictures are confusing me, I can't remember which ones I have posted before. So if this has been posted before sorry for the boring repost. Pic taken 2/2007 after Ava's baptism.

No Big News Is Good News

So I haven't posted in a few days because there hasn't been too much to tell. Mom is doing well, she sounds great on the phone. I told her we (Chaz, Claire and I) are going to see her tomorrow and she told me "I'm anxious to know what time you get in." The three of us are so excited to see her, we are hoping to meet with her doctor to get an update on her progress, I'll keep y'all posted.

Until Then, Have a Wonderful Friday.
The Rips and PIps

**Pix taken in Destin 08/2005

Hello!

Yesterday, I called LuBob on her hospital phone early in the evening, and she answered my call!! That was the first time she has picked up the phone all by herself. We talked for a little while, she told me that Dr. Oz was on Oprah-I laughed. Andrew got on the phone with her and said, "Lola it is so good to hear your voice." All she could do was laugh-so cute!

This may sound silly to some of you, but with the close of the college football season last night I could not help but reflect on the past few months. It seems like yesterday, but also a million lifetimes ago when we watched LSU play Alabama in the ICU waiting room (with more than 25 of our closest friends and family-yes, we bring the party to hospitals too). Mom was not awake at that point, we were still holding on by a thread-and now she is talking, laughing, crying and walking. It has been a hard three months for us, it was only fitting that last night LSU win the national championship in the city that mom so loves.

Geaux Tigers!

**Had to post this pic again. It was taken Oct. 6, the night of the Florida game.

Great Day, Better One Tomorrow

Luisa had a great day today. She was much more talkative early today than she was yesterday. Chaz told mom that he ran into some LSU players last night and she asked him if he saw Nick Saban. He thought that was so amusing and told her that he was no longer our coach, but he coached for Alabama now. She was pretty upset to hear this and asked Chaz what everyone thinks of that move, he told her that the sentiment is that he is an (insert curse word here). She laughed so hard, and he got quite a kick out of it as well.

Humor is wonderful medicine for the soul!

Geaux Tigers!!!!

**I had to change it up a bit tonight with the pic. Lola wouldn't want it any other way.

Day Pass

Today, dad was able to get mom a day pass so that they could spend some time together. They just hung out at their apartment for hours, doing what they usually do. I think it was probably very therapeutic for her, b/c she was resistant to get out of the hospital, but he convinced her that it would be good for both of them. Chaz found a ticket to the "Big Show" so he was able to spend time with them as well as our Aunt Jan and Van (mom and dad's best friend's). She seemed to enjoy the day, dad said she was quiet, but I am sure it was overwhelming and scary for her to be there.

I spoke with her a few times, and as usual she is more talkative on the phone. She asked to speak to Andrew (for the first time since the accident) and loved hearing his voice.

So, she continues to do well. Your prayers are needed and appreciated everyday by each of us.
Charles and the kids

**Pic taken in 03/06 NOLA, Italian American Parade (after Chaz & Claire's wedding). Pic shows Aunt Jan and Van!

Looking Better Each Day

Dad had a short visit with mom tonight, but he said that she seems to "wake up" more each day. A week ago she was not asking any questions, and she seems to be slowly coming round to more understanding of the world around her. She was making a confused face when she did not know the answer to things and he said that she seems to be doing that less and less.

Love,
The Rips and Pips

**Pic taken at Andrew's 1st birthday party. Mom thought it would be a good idea to put birthday bag over him to protect his outfit from his birthday cake-Andrew did not!

9 Weeks

Today has been 9 weeks since mom's accident. It is amazing to see how far she has come in such a short time. My family (and my mom would be the one to vouch for this) does not have the gift of patience-although it has been difficult, I think she would be impressed with the 3 of us.

Tonight I asked my dad to give me something to say, we don't get updates on a daily basis, so it is hard to have interesting topics every night. So, he gave me this... When he walked in her room Luisa looked at him and said "where have you been?" And when he told her he was going to go she said, "Where are you going?" His answer to that was to wash your clothes, to which she laughed. He told me that she is definitely talking more, it is still slow going, but she is starting to initiate conversation.

We still have big hills to climb and lots of exciting news ahead of us-but thank God the major medical setbacks seem to be out of her way!

Hugs!
Lola's Family

**Pic taken June 04 at Adrienne Screen's wedding!(thought you would like that Adge)