News From the Griffin World

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was full of family, laughter and food. :) I feel like all we do is eat.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that for anyone who is trying to swim: YOU CAN DO IT. If I can, you can. Swimming is going well and is a real sense of 'wow'. I can do the backstroke without any support. Even though I have a ways to go I was very surprised at what can be accomplished without hands and feet. It is a very strange feeling in the water but when you hold your breath, use your shoulders and forearms, anything can happen! I hope to have some pictures soon.

Pilates is still going well. Ellen: thank you so very much for your wonderful comments. I am happy that I am able to share my story with so many and feel so blessed that people like you are praying for me.

The golf tournament on Friday was fun. Mom and I rode in the golf cart following Nick, Matt, Dad and Richard. Again, this was for Limbs for Life. Because of product liability reasons in the US, the medical community cannot reuse or recycle prosthetics. This company provides these prosthetics to people who can't afford them outside of the US.

Also, I have several things going on in the background but are surprises for later. :) I am not just working out these days. I have discovered ways of living life that I never knew I could do before! It's great.

What awesome comments on the last post! Betty from Louisiana: good to hear from you again. So happy that you may have a house soon.

I wanted to comment on a post from Christy in Dallas. First of all, I want to commend you on you having a relationship with your biological mom. Adoption can be tough from many sides and it's neat that (regardless of how it happened) she is in your life. The fact that she is going through something so tough is a reason to understand her.


I hope I can answer your question. Start right now, as you read this, to understand that God has stepped into your mother's life also and the reason will show itself at some point. I never really knew what was being said but could feel loved ones around me. I don't know if it was just intuition or what, but I could feel their presence. I know how hard it must be to want her to acknowledge you but she will. My advice to you is to read and understand as much as you can. She will need your strength. Thank you for sharing, she is in my prayers. It is strange that you got in touch with my blog before she got sick. Please let me know if I can be a help to you or her in any way!

I really hope to help as many as I can and I thank everyone for the love and support, it's amazing.

News on my hands: I am going to have a minor out patient surgery on my right hand to shorten the length a bit. This is for prosthetic and cosmetic reasons. My recovery time is pretty minor so I may have prosthetics after the first of the year. This will hopefully be the last time I see the surgery room. Talk to you soon.

Love,
Jen

How Not to Draw Attention

First, I want to say that my uncle Randy really raised the bar with his one night stand joke on the last post. :) For those who don't know him, he can make you laugh at just about anything. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Okay, so Friday night Nick and I got great tickets to the hockey game. We get to the gate and start to go through the metal detector. Nick walks through just fine. I, on the other hand, wasn't so conspicuous. It was as if I had a few machine guns. As I was beeping like crazy I kept saying "I got nothing" and could not figure it out. Turns out, Fred & Ginger wanted to make a real debut at the hockey game. Nick graciously told security that I had prosthetics and we figured out that it was the metal under the skin. We definitely had a good laugh and good beer after that one!

Along with pilates, I am taking up the art of swimming this week. I am really encouraged to be doing this. It has taken a bit to find the right place/person. I think the two of these together will help me in so many ways. By the way, if you haven't heard, read up on the girl who is trying out for the Olympics and doesn't have legs. How inspiring is that! I really hope she gets in.

I have also been cooking lately. This has been an issue, as you can imagine. However, I have had a friend of mine spend time with me and discovered several ways of doing things.

For those of you that have seen You, Me and Dupree, this is a sense of getting my "ness" back. You have a lot of those moments going through this kind of thing. I used to wear heels, now I wear flats. I used to spend time with my hair, now I shop for hats. It's things like this that create a new you and the "ness" comes back. Once you get in your mind that your creating a new you, it becomes kind of fun. The only thing that will hold you back is your determination and love for yourself.

I am really excited for tonight. Nick & I are going to see BEN HARPER at The Majestic. We used to do a lot of this before I went into the hospital. It's starting to feel like everything is getting back to where it was before the big day. :)

Nick, my dad, little bro and uncle are playing in a golf tournament this week to benefit Limbs for Life. It's a great organization that benefits people/third world countries who can't afford prosthetics. This is a sore subject for me so I won't ramble other than to say it's a really great organization.

I had a great visit this weekend from my mom, grandmother and aunt. We played Trivial Pursuit and little Matthew had so much fun. It was a great weekend. My mom is spending the week with us which will be great.

Have an awesome day!

Love,
Jen

Happy Halloween

So I was going to tell you a few Halloween jokes. But, as I got to really reading them I realized that they are all pretty bad. Anyone have any good jokes? I had few Bush jokes but didn't want to get into politics on a day like this. :)

Since my last post, I have had a few new experiences while meeting new people. I do feel blessed to wake up everyday with the feeling of support. I honestly don't know what it would be like if I didn't have that. Because I have so much support, I have developed a communication with friends that really has helped me to grow.

That being said, I wanted to share with you, a common question that I get. Last night I was at dinner with a friend and the waitress kept glancing at my hands, as if thinking "how is she going to eat". My friends ask me if things like that bother me. I know I have touched on this before, but it all comes from within. I am human, so of course I have moments.

The thing that I have built strength on (besides family, love and support) is that I am still the same person I always have been, I just have a "story" now. This is who I am and I don't have a choice to not figure things out. I feel proud, at times, that I have fought so hard to stay alive and get to where I am today. We never know what someone has gone through or where they are going. I know and understand why people want to look. It's human nature and its the psychology of who we are.

However, if we choose to focus on the looks then it will bring you down. I have more important things to focus on during my day than a 30 second glance. Just remember that we all have a story and we can pay it forward emotionally as well. Things you do or say can really affect the next person because we don't know there story. Take time with people before we judge.

Have a great day, have fun with the kiddos, eat lots of candy and wear a costume it's good for the soul.

By the way, I am considering going as an amputee with my "Vote for Pedro" shirt. What do you think? :)

Love,
Jen

Strength in Determination

How did the pilates go, you ask? Great. I'm feeling like my ability to do more physical activity is finally getting back to where it used to be. Nick and I also worked out together at the gym. I'm going to be doing pilates and going to the gym wih Nick. Being around people that are so motivating with being healthy is such an awesome mind set.

However, I do have a funny story. Riding a bike for me is somewhat different than it is for you. My ankle is not flexible. So, when I peddle it is one flat movement. It is easier for me if the bike is set up with the peddles out in the front vs. a regular bike with the peddle right below you. That being said, Nick and I were trying to get me on a bike that was pretty hard to ride (peddle was below). I finally got on and it was a complete debacle. I couldn't stay on for very long as I couldn't keep my feet in the peddle. For what ever reason, we looked at each other at the same time and just laughed. I looked so out of sorts but I tried. I got off and just acted as if it was the bikes problem not me, ha!

So, I tried and realized that this one thing is going to be a bit more difficult but in time I will be on the road again!

You have also asked about the dog. This started several months ago with a special person who decided to take this on as a way to help me and my family. For those who aren't aware, getting a service dog takes anywhere between 9-12 months. It also takes a minimum of 3 months to even know whether or not a dog will work as a service dog (the % of dogs that actually make it is very small). The dogs actually choose you to an extent. The more time I spend with them, the easier it is to develop a relationship and see how they respond. The dogs are all trained to do a ton of things, regardless of your needs. Then, they will customize the training to your specific needs. As there really is so much I can do on my own , this is just an extra special treat to help me in those times that I do need help. Dogs will always make you smile. Thanks to everyone who is putting time into this project and for giving my family and I something to make our world even brighter! :)

The weather has been chilly here which is such a great atmosphere for reading. When I find a moment, I read (catching my mom's pastime). I have read something that I have been pondering and I want you all to think about it.

We are all trying to realize our personal legend or path, right? Then pay attention to what should be a coincidence vs. an omen or a "sign". Some don't believe in coincidence and I think I'm on the fence. Not to make this about me, but I wanted to give you some examples and then you apply it to your life.

What my family and I have gone through has been very emotionally charged and traumatic. However, the relationships that were developed in the waiting room (a lot) are ones that I and others will treasure forever. I have reconnected with great friends, is this a coincidence or god's plan? Nick was asked to be a part of Bentree at a time that it really mattered. The support we have received from them has been amazing and a great deal of the support had never met me. Coincidence or God's plan? I have gained a confidence in areas I never had before. Coincidence orGod's plan? Being a private person by nature, I have had to accept my situation (from a privacy perspective) as it's not something I can hide. This has made me able to open up in areas that were hard before. I have had the chance to be with family and friends and really laugh. These laughs were so needed and I know deep down these were guided laughs by the need to be in the big picture of life.

The experiences I have had and the people that are coming into our life has to truly be an omen. This has changed me in so many ways. If you really take a step back from yourself and look at the big picture, you can still take a deep breath and smile. There truly is a reason, always. :)

My thought for you is this: embrace the coincidences or omens and let them guide you. Whatever your thoughts are on this, if you think the best and believe in the fact that "this is where you should be", things will happen.

Have a great day!

Love,
Jen

Bend it Like Griffin

Bend what? :) As most of you know, before I got sick I really enjoyed riding my bike and doing yoga (योग). I have really missed both but am trying to find a way to get a bike set up. However, in the mean time, good ol' Walt has gotten me in touch with a pilates instructor and I start tomorrow. I am really excited.

Again, bend what? I'm not sure how this will work but I will definitely make sure Fred is securely fastened! Just getting back in this environment is going to be good for me. I am going to have a few classes and see where this takes me. :)

I am also looking into swimming again. A few mornings a week would be so good for the soul. We shall see, I'll keep you posted on this one.

Also, I am going with Ann (Walt's wife) tomorrow to the place that is working on my service dog. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the dogs. Hopefully I will have a dog soon. They are all so amazing.

I hope you all had a great weekend. I had a really great weekend with friends and family.

Love,
Jen