jjohnson

Only suggestion is: please when you post, could you use a larger font, it is hard to read the words.... I have major problems with my site from the Brain Stem Stroke, Thanks. Hugs, Jan

:welcome: to the world of blogging. Your post was beautiful, I just love flowers and what they represent to me. I remember you from the newsletter. You are very blessed with such a gift/talent from God. Thank you for sharing with us. So, write on and I shall be one of your fans and read, read, read, read. Hugs, Jan Believe In Miracles and SOAR

DONNA: CONGRATS ON HIGHLIGHTED BLOG OF THE WEEK. WAY TO GO GIRL.

Hi there Cindy: So happy you have joined us. We will share our experience, strength and hope with you and we will learn from you. I stroked November 2003. I am a Brain Stem Stroke Survivor and I was in a coma and on life support. When I came out of the coma, I awoke to me being one hundred per cent paralyzed. Therefore, as ou can imagine, my hubby freaked out BIG time. He doesn't want me to try to do anything for myself, and now years later, I hear you need to do more for yourself, it is never easy for us. I am trying to do more for myself, I had some firsts last week and it felt great. I am wheelchair bound myself, and I hate it. I am trying to walk more and more and I just keep trying. Keep up the good work and Believe In Miracles and SOAR, There's nothing to it but to do it. I know you can, you have us behind you. God Bless, Hugs, Jan

Good Post Girlfriend. I can so relate. My one claim to fame were my boobs, no silicone here. hehe I had em before anyone else did. I hated them back them. I hate em now. what the heck. I have always used a front hook due to my muscular dystrophy and even after stroke. I did use a sports bra for the longest time after my open heart surgery and brain stem stroke. can't wait to hear your next story. I am thinking when I die, I shall donate them for boob transplants for the less fortunate gals who can't afford silicone. Plus, guys like the real deal. You need to share with me how you lost 70 lbs. Please, I'm all eyes and ears to learn how. I need to do that. Love ya, Jan

Donna: I will have to sign you up for the Stroke Power Chair Olympics... you would win for sure especially with that special added feature just for "show" the foot down feature... you cease to amaze me girlfriend.... Good for you. I am so happy and proud of you. There's nothing to it BUT to do it and you did it twice ..... way to go. Maybe Willie will use you in his next video. "On the road again ... in my power chair, can't wait to get on the road again." No holding you back now. WORLD, LOOK OUT, DONNA IS OUT AND ABOUT. Love n Hugs, Jan

Ruth: I think it is wonderful Dick has experienced happy and fun and joyful moments. It is a blessing you were able to get out for a bit and enjoy the peace and joy of going out to places you haven't had the opportunity to do for such a long time. You put yourself on the list and God was there all along making sure everyone was alright. Your daughters are such angels aren't they and helpful. Yes, You had many blessings that day and I am sure there will be more to come. Just Believe In Miracles And SOAR. Beautiful Blog entry Ruth. I am keeping you all in my prayers. I know my hubby is my Caregiver and I know how tired he gets. Caregivers are our angels sent from heaven to take care of us. Hugs, Jan

:Clap-Hands: :Good-Post: :cheer: BRUCE.... you did it.... I'm so proud of you. You did your first BLOG. WOW, I am so happy for you, you are going to enjoy this venture so much. Take care and I'm so happy I'm getting to know you. There is a chair with your name on it in my chat on Monday evenings. God Bless and keep that blog flowing. Good Job. Believe in Miracles and SOAR There's nothing to it BUT to do it.... which you did. whooo hooooo Hugs, jan

My dear friend, You are a flower in my garden of friends here on StrokeNet. Put those "Civilians" out of your mind and take in the positive energy here. The past hurts, hangups are over, done with, gone. Just focus on the positive energy here. When people don't like me, or care for me, I have the "Duck Therapy", I just let it roll off my back. It is their loss, cuz God don't make junk. I was teased and made fun of all my life. It was hurtful, but that was then and this is now. I know my worth and I must be pretty strong as I came across the Biggest Bully, Brain Stem Stroke. I am so happy you have started blogging. It is a wonderful healing for me. I can't wait to read your story and going on's in your wonderful life. I am sorry you had to feel the pain of those people, The best thing we can do is pray for them that they will, one day, learn tolerance and how to truly love people. It's only then that there will be total peace in the world. God Bless, Congrats on your first blogging experience. ENJOY, Hugs, Jan

Girl, I so enjoy flowers and the beauty of them. Butterflies are one of my favorite things to watch, My Sister-in-Law, Betty, has a beautiful garden and they just all gather there. It gives me peace to see all of God's beauty sprouting up all over the place. Your hard work will pay off when you sit and enjoy the blossoms. Yes, plse take pics as I would love to view them. Look how far you have come. Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy, Thank God for friends. :friends: :forgive_me?: :forgive_me?: :forgive_me?: :forgive_me?: :forgive_me?: Without friends life would be like a garden without flowers. God Bless, Love n hugs, Jan

Life is not about what was lost, but about what I've still got.... Breaking it down I feel Life is not about what the Beast, Brain Stem Stroke, took from me..... It IS about my journey since that fateful day in 2003 and what God has carried me through and what has come back to me and the ability to continue my journey. I haven't blogged with what has been going on in my life lately so I feel I want to share that in this post. Last week was a bit stressful for me as there were three people who died all on Sunday. My friend that stroked a year and a half ago that I mentor and spend time with, her husband (they had separated) died, his landlord found him dead on the floor, he died from a heart attack. She wanted to spend the day with me on Tuesday so I had her over. She is doing really well. I just ask God to carry her through. She is such a blessing. My other (used to be really good friend) hubby died the same day and she found him on the floor, it looks as though he might have taken his life, I was going to go to his service but I didn't have a ride, well, I had gotten one and then they changed their mind. I think it was a sign for me to stay home and take care of Jan. Can't be all things to all people. I was going for the children's sake, they are 13 and 10. I know what an impact it left me when my Dad died and no one came to his service. It truly hurt me to think he went through his whole life and no one cared enough to pay their respects to him. He was alcoholic.... It was then and there I vowed I would make a difference in my life and touch others. I spoke to Cindy yesterday and explained why I wasn't there. There are a few things I am going to do to help her. We used to be the best of buds, however, since my stroke that all changed. Plus, she has two daughters and she got involved with Girl Scouts, etc. the interests of the girls and she made friends with those people. I have to realize that was the past and this is the here and now. I want to lend her my help as I lost my hubby when he was 39, her hubby was 42. I was around her age when Paul died so I want to share my experience, strength and hope with her. If I can help ease her pain and help her along the way, then I want to. I went to see my Cardiologist last Thursday and she has some concerns, so this Thursday I am going for a few tests so if you could keep me in your prayers I would truly appreciate it. I love my Cardiologist and I trust her and feel very comfortable with her. She is the one that did my pre-op work up when I had my surgery last August. While leaving her office heading home, I saw the most awesome sign. It read, Life is about creativity and that is just what I am doing, Making the most out of each day. I sat outside for four days straight a week ago, when the weather was so beautiful, however, the pollen truly got me and messed me up. I so enjoyed sitting out and a few people came up to talk with me and a new neighbor came up and introduced herself to me and said she would like to get together with me and get to know me. WOW, someone wants to get to know me..... I was truly blessed. Then we have hit a rainy patch, so I haven't been able to sit out. Saturday, my dear friend Lisa came up from Virginia to spend the day with me along with her two children. She totally takes such good care of me and puts me first and calls them "Jan's Day" whatever I want to do we do. I tell her it should be about her children but she says they agree .... It's let's go spend the day with Jan. Everything they do is for me. I just feel so loved and well taken care of. She is the one who is taking me to the Ocean next month. We had a wonderful time. I haven't laughed that much in quite a while. The kids just go along with the plan and we all have such fun together. I thank God for the blessing of her. We met while working at Hughes Aircraft. She helped make my shower better accessible for me and finally, at long last, I have shower bars up. YEAH, now I won't be afaid of falling. I would hate to have to call 911 cuz I fell. I don't think that would be a good experience. It's bad enough when I fall as it is. The one thing I got to do yesterday was make my Ryleigh Olivia a bear for her upcoming birthday. She is pink and adorable as can be. I taped a little something special and they put it in the paw and when she finds it, it will say: Hi Ryleigh, Happy First Birthday, We love you, Mom Mom and Grandpop and Harley Wayne was very happy to see the bear and said that was really a special idea. I got a little T-Shirt that I put on her that says Happy Birthday and I picked out a little Birthday Cupcake with one candle on top that you put on the bears hands. All in all, it is so adorable. I tell you what, whoever ame up with that idea of Build A Bear was a genius. They have ten dollar bears but the cost comes in when the kids see all the little outfits and shoes and so on and so on. The clothes are very costly. But, I wanted to make Ryleigh a little bear because it is her first birthday and this way she will have it as a special gift from Mom Mom and Grandpop. I so enjoyed watching all the children making their bears. It is so cute, you pick out what you want to build, get in a line and they stuff it, but first you have to pick out a satin heart and give it a kiss and make a wish, then they put it in, then if u want to record a lil saying, etc. then after it is sewed together, then you take it to the wash and dry section, there, you wash your bear and then dry it off, then it is ready to dress, etc. the very last stop is the adoption section. you get a birth certificate and all, it is really a very saavy adventure. They had a birthday party going on and the kids were all going wild. My lil Harley lost his favorite toy his Baby, I am thinking Sandy, she comes to help us out during the week, might have picked it up to throw out. I pray not, we have told her before to just leave it as that is his security blanket. Sure, it is yucky, sure Harley has chewed Babies tail off, his ears are gone, and his head is mostly off, but still that is his fav thing. He is walking around all sad looking, we have looked everywhere. I had gotten him a new one last year but he won't give it the time of day. Tonight, Wayne got it and threw it and he did run after it and picked it up and took a few steps then dropped it and looked at us as if he was thinking and trying to say to us: No way Jose, I'm not gonna fall for that go get fake baby thing. I am smarter than that. We have looked everywhere, it is no where in site. My power wheelchair is coming Monday. I am so excited. Only problem is Monday it is suppose to be rainy. I hope it will not start until I take my first ride and see how it is while the people are still here. It is my ticket to freedom ....whoooo hoooooooooooooooooo I plan on going down to the bay daily. Wayne is having a problem with that. He isn't comfortable with me going by myself. I explained to him I will bring my cell phone, a bottled water, etc. It is only a half a mile from my front door. I, personally, need to leave the nest of Brain Stem Stroke House arrest. I need to spread my wings and go down to the bay and enjoy my days. I told him I appreciate all the special care he has given me since I came home from rehab, however, I need to do this for myself and that GOD with me carrying me. Look at the awesome job he has done. I have a feeling, he will let me get down there and then he and Harley will be spying on me. I hope he understands my feelings .... I want to feel as though I can make strides in my recovery. The other day I was in the store and I saw the words Independent on a really cute little pillow that you put on a door knob, it is pink and green and has little bells on it. When I saw it I thought WOW I really want that because of the word on it and yes, I am trying to get Independent. So I looked at the price of it and it was only three dollars, so I have it right here beside my computer. I look at the word every day thoughout the day and I focus on that word. The Beast, Brain Stem Stroke may have taken my perf vision and I can no longer drive, BUT, I can progress in my recovery. I am trying with everything in me to become Independent. I think Wayne is having a hard time with it. I truly understand. But, I need to try. It was really neat being with Lisa because since she doesn't see me regularly, she has an honest view as to how she thinks I am doing. She said, Jan, you have really improved since the last time we were together and she went and explained in what ways. I said, really, you could tell all of that? She said YES.... She made my day. I think because Wayne sees me on a daily basis, he doesn't see it. So, thank God for little miracles. It has given me the boost I needed. So, world, up and onward I shall go. She also shared with Wayne the ways she feels I have improved. We will be leaving in a few weeks for the Ocean. I'm so excited about our trip and it will give Wayne time for himself. He needs that. But, I know if he is this concerned about me going a half mile to the Bay, goodness, maybe I shouldn't tell him I might go surfing and shoot the curl and hang ten. What do you all think? :roflmao: All in all, I am truly blessed I have a Caregiver who truly cares. My Cardiologist told me she feels he has Caregiver Burnout. I totally agreed. I wish he would go to the Caregiver chat and read the posts about it. I have printed out some info for him. I have two ladies who come weekly, so that is helping out. They are a blessing. Well, gang, I need to try to get some sleep. It's like Christmas Eve and I'm getting my wheelchair today. But, I need to get some rest. I hope the weather holds out until I get my first ride in so the person bringing it can fix things if it is needed. Thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope things are going well for you. Please keep my friends in your prayers, Fate's wife, Cat, Amy's Mom, Nancy, A Liver can be found for Lindy's transplant, For Mary and Cindy on the loss of their hubby's, for my tests on Thursday. For Harley that we can find his Baby. For Wayne to start feeling better and for his Drs appt this week and his possible upcoming surgery. For peace in the world. For our Leader, Steve Mallory, for continued good health. For all our members. Thanks for stopping by. Y'all come again,ya hear? :sleazy: Believe In Miracles and SOAR

:friends: There are two ways to look at every situation in life: Is the cup half empty? Or is the cup half full? It is amazing how our perception can be changed by our attitude. For example, think about God and then look at these letters. N-O-W-H-E-R-E You can assume that God is NO WHERE. Or you can believe that God is NOW HERE! Follow this advice and you can improve your life: Always remember that you are loved, even when it doesn't seem like it. Believe in yourself and your values. Don't sell out when things go wrong. Don't let anything get you down; always bounce back up. Set goals for your future and never settle for anything less. Realize that there are others in the world with much bigger problems than you. Appreciate the good things in your life, and be thankful for the time you have with your loved ones. Spend more time with your family and friends. Appreciate the simple things in life, and don't get caught up in material things. If you follow that advice you can't go wrong! So the next time you're looking at a situation in your life: Is the cup half empty? Or is the cup half full? Be an optimist and see the cup as being half full. Before long, your attitude will rub off on others. You can make the world a better place by simply making yourself a happier person. If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours. Here's one to get you started. Have A Terrific Day! Hugs, Jan Believe In Miracles And SOAR

God is no stranger in faraway places, He's as close as the wind that blows on our faces. It's true we can't see the wind as it blows, But we feel it around us and our heart surely knows, That God's mighty hand can be felt every minute. There is nothing on earth, that God is not in. The sky and the stars, the waves and even the sea, The dew on the grass, the leaves on a tree, Are constant reminders of God and His nearness, Proclaiming His presence with crystal-like clearness So how can we think God was far, far away, When we feel Him beside us every hour of the day? We have plenty of reasons to know God's our friend And this is one friendship that time cannot end! Believe In Miracles And SOAR