The Eagle HAS Landed

Friends, I write this to you with a little bit lighter heart-today, we have received confirmation, mom's bone flap is now in Houston!!!!!!! We are hoping to have the surgery performed on Wednesday, at long last!!! We'll know more Monday-stay tuned.

Dude

Tonight mom sounded better than she has all week. She was more talkative than she has been-at one point I asked her who was talking next to her and she said, "I don't know, some dude." That was the first time I have ever heard her use that word to describe a man-we laughed. She says thank you for the continued interest in her progress-we all do.

Many blessings to you and your loved ones.
The Rips' and Pips

**Pic taken 2/08, celebrating Chaz's big 3-0, late entrance to the picture, Andrew.

Three of a Kind

Well, my dad is in the safety business-and since mom's accident, we are taking safety to a different level-helmets for everyone!
Mom spent a lot of time watching the kids ride their bikes this weekend, she was more quiet than normal, but very happy to be with us. Saturday she changed Ava's diaper, helped us make salad and managed to squeeze in a cat nap. Yesterday was also a hard day physically on LuBob, today she was much more strong and able-one thing we have come to realize, we can't judge one day from the next-just be thankful how far she has come.

Best!
Luisa's Family

Rewriting Policy

I know that I filled you all in on our finding the bone flap a few weeks ago-but the bone is still in New Orleans. So... thanks to some crafty work by done by my wonderful sis-in-law, Claire, she was able to find out what the status is on Lu's noggin. Basically, the hospital is having to rewrite policy on how to deal with transferring a body part-they have never sent anything out of the city, much less the state. Evidentally, they are going thru great lengths to make sure it is preserved properly through it's passage to Houston. Hopefully we will have a date on the surgery, finally, some time in the next week or two!

We have all talked to mom on the phone this week and she is sounding good. Chaz asked her yesterday if she remembered visiting her home with us a few weeks ago, and she responded, "You mean the house on nenan?" Which is the street you turn on the get to their new house, impressive! Her short term memory is better than it was just a month ago, but is still inconsistent. We pray for it to become stronger, knowing she is improved so much already.

We will all be spending time together this weekend.

That is truly where she belongs, with us.

Love,
Team Luisa

**Pic taken July 06-NOLA

Hi Friends and Family

This is the longest I have gone without a post on the blog!

Since mom is the furthest she has been from us (distance wise) it is hard to find out a lot of information on a daily basis. All I have to tell you during the week how she sounds from the short phone conversations we have-I wish there was more, for me and you.

Sunday dad brought LuBob to their new house in Houston and they just watched tv and chilled out together. She helped him fold some clothes, she has to wash and fold her own clothes in Galveston. Monday, she sounded tired and kind of down. It was the first time I have really heard her down in the dumps, which is good b/c she has been so indifferent up until this point. So it is kind of good to hear that she is understanding her limitations. Today she was much better, she told me that she just had a bad day yesterday.

We hope that all is well with you and your families.
Charlie, Luisa and the kids

**Pic taken in Houston two weeks ago.

First Outing

The rehabilitation center that mom is at takes the patients out on Saturdays as a form of recreational therapy. Today, they went to the beach-this serves as a way to get the brain injured patients back into society-we are just glad she isn't just sitting in the hospital ALL day.

She sounds really good, seems to be doing really well. Dad said she looks good, but tired, she has to do almost everything herself at this center, very different than her previous two hospitals.

Keep her and my dad in your prayers.
Best,
The Rips and Pips

Life's A Beach

Mom has touched down in Galveston, thanks to dad. She is getting acquainted with her new digs-she has no room phone at her new place, so talking to her is going to be challenging. I hope to be able to update you all three times a week, but if I have no information, there will be no post. Dad and mom both have a video phone that they can use on the days he is not visiting her, but otherwise it is work, work, work... until she comes home to us.

If you have any questions on how to reach her, email me.

Have a blessed Friday.
Luisa and her family

**Pic taken last February, four generations.

Beach Bound

By the time most of you read this tomorrow, Luisa will be settled into her new digs in Galveston. The new rehabilitation center she is going to is called the Transitional Learning Center, it focuses on transitioning brain injured patients into society again. Mom will be taking trips around the city, shopping, washing her own clothes and everything else that we do on a daily basis-all of the things that you and I just do automatically, without thinking of each step that we take to get a task completed.

She is doing well, really starting to hold information in her head longer and longer each week. I asked her tonight what time dad would be there tomorrow and she told me he said he would be there early-he said that is exactly what he told her.

So tomorrow, a new path in Lola's journey begins.

Happy Valentine's Day
The Rip's and Pip's

**Pic taken this weekend (mom looks ready to take the field with her helmet!)

1st Mile

Mom walked a mile today! She and her PT, Jen, walked around the TIRR campus and chatted along the way. She told Jen that she had a good weekend and that she liked her new house-pretty impressive!

I shouldn't share this with you blog readers, but it is so darn funny it is something I want to remember so if I write it here I will see it in the future in book (the blog will eventually be a book for mom). The other night, it was close to 8 at night and mom is not quite as sharp at this time, I asked her what she had for dinner and she told me "Margaritas and Burt Reynolds." Well, today I saw it was Burt's birthday, so Happy Birthday Burt!

Regards,
Charlie and the kids

**Pic taken on Sunday.

Luisa on Location

Good evening or good morning Luisa's blog buddies.

We had a great weekend and got LOTS accomplished on the new house! My dad's sister and brother helped us unpack 30+ years of boxes, thanks to them and our stronger than strong dad we made their house a home. Dad felt so good about where we were in the process he decided to bring mom home today to show her their new house. She really liked it, or at least she acted like she thought dad's choice suited her well. After the house we brought her to one of her favorite restaurants in Houston, it was her first public outing since October! We did not know how she would react being in such a loud place, she was quiet but really enjoyed herself. Chaz ordered a tuna appetizer and she softly slid her plate over for a taste:)

Here is a short video of our little miracle.
Luisa's team

I Told You So

Like I said last night, one day at a time.

Today mom had her meeting with the surgeon who will replace her bone flap. We were hoping to have it put back in before she is moved to Galveston, but that was not in the cards. Luisa has had a rough time getting the original scar to heal, that is why you always see her head wrapped in the pictures. Well, the doctor felt that the incision is still too fresh, since it is just healing up. The surgery will happen at the end of the month, or early next month-we hope!

So, Thursday, LuBob is off to the original capital of Texas.

On we go...
The Ripoll's and Pippins

**Pic taken, Easter, March 05

Ash Wednesday

Mardi Gras isn't exactly how Luisa would have chosen to spend it, but we always have next year-thank goodness. Dad met with her doctor today and she told him that they are very pleased with her progress. She is getting stronger and also starting to slowly retain information.

Tomorrow she has her long awaited neurosurgeon appointment. Her surgery will take place in Houston, I will let you know the date when we know. Right now, the plan is for her to be released from TIRR next Thursday, she will then go to Galveston to continue her tour of rehabilitation facilities. This particular rehab. focuses on transitioning people with brain injuries back to society. The date could change, and hopefully it will if she has her surgery next week.

One thing we have learned from all of this, one day at a time.

Peace,
Lu's Crew

**Pic taken 01/2008 at TIRR

We Found It!

You might be wondering why this is the title. In a nutshell, since the accident dad has been worried about if our mom's bone flap (medical term for her skull) is still in the hospital it was removed in. Well, after some beautiful work done by Chaz and Claire, which called for a visit to the ICU at University, the bone flap has been located! We are trying to get an appointment with the surgeon asap, evidentally word has it that the doctor would like to put it back in sooner than later.

Mom's increased her time and speed on the treadmill to 10 minutes at 2.0, she'll back back doing spinning classes in no time:) I think her hair is growing in a little like Tom Brady's haircut-it is very cute on her. She's doing well, please keep her, and my dad (who is moving into their new house this weekend) in your prayers!

Love,
Luisa's Family

**Pic of Andrew pulling Lola.

Houston Visit

We (my husband and kids) got here today and had a fun visit with mom. She was very excited to see the kids, but they wear her out in about 30 minutes. Andrew held her hand and walked with her for a few minutes, until he started pulling her down the hall telling her to speed it up. She is doing well, we were talking today and I told her that I was going to leave the hospital pretty early this evening and then I asked her if she had any questions for me, I would answer anything she asked, she said, "yeah, what time are you leaving?"

We are expecting some news in the next week regarding the replacement of her skull-thank goodness!!

Best,
Luisa's Family

**Pic taken today!