ALEX Speaks:
It seems to be snowing and raining simultaneously? as I write this.
We walk the city streets, creating threads of ideas that will inspire and encourage Todd for the immediate moments and those in our future. We are actually starting the day (out and about) a bit earlier than I have managed in some time really. We spend some of our time anticipating what lies ahead (as if that is possible). All we know for sure is the year ahead of us clearly requires both rock strong faith in Todd and the team that equals his healing and a great deal of love. Todd looks at our faces and believes what he sees. If you show him fear, then he fears……..if you smile his face brightens up. Please remember this as we are all one day reunited……
For the last few weeks I have practically begged the doctors to consider his demonstratively high levels and multiple dosages of epileptic medication (always wondering what is the important things to fight for). The dosages climb and with it so does the drowsiness. I have seen Todd over these four months in a much more communicative and stronger place as have others. Johnny and Dr. Pepijn have helped me see that to make even the slightest changes at this time could be a risk to Todd and our eventual return home. The changes could easily tack on an additional two months to our considerably extended time here……….and I really do not want to witness 3 seasons here in Amsterdam. So we must endure the heavy drowsiness and weakness that are the known and recognized side effects of each of the 3 medications Todd is currently taking and allow for the fine tuning as he is treated at home. Todd’s father has also helped me find a bit of peace on this subject……. Like I have mentioned before, I can occasionally became anxious and frustrated especially when you witness a barrier going up that limits Todd’s ability to amp up his recovery and demonstrate to all what he is capable of…….some of which we have seen, others which are still to come. Another way of seeing this, is Todd is being given the time he needs to gain strength and power… he is resting up. It takes time to adjust to change.
JOHNNY SPEAKS:
So we had the sweetest day yet here at the AMC. Alex and I got to the hospital a little early today to get him spruced up for his mum. Annie held his arm and let me tell you, when you see that woman smile, you can see that there is some very deep and healing energy that is flowing into Todd. The love on her open peaceful face made our corner of the room a little bubble of quiet and warmth. Toward the end of the day, after Annie and her wonderful host Truda had left, we were left with Todd in bed. I worked his arms for a bit, which calms him down, and then Alex massaged his feet and legs. When I suggested Alex give him a little face massage she went for broke and snuggled right up with him, her face buried in his neck. She asked me to put his hand on her back, and there they lay for quite a while, Alex feeling Todd’s arms around her for the first time in months, and the expression on his face becoming more and more serene. I could tell he was breathing in her pure love, radiating with bliss. I quickly found something interesting to look at out the window. So I think we gave Mr T a pretty good dose of the essential medicine. Between these two ladies, he is floating on the calm that will help him get through the rest of his stay here. A-yup. It was a good day…
Love and hugs and what the heck else do you need?
Johnny
p.s. Today is Groundhogs’ Day and leave it to my barely bigger brother Johnny to take my joke and run wayyyyyyyyyyyyy to far with it! So basically he arrived here with nearly a weeks worth of Mac N’ Cheese and of course the film Groundhog’s Day. I can still see the smirk on his face when I found that movie in the goodie pile! OH NO!!!! Johnny: OH yESSS! So tonight we will lovingly harass and pick on eachother while I am subjected to my very own joke becoming a reality. It will be the cheeeesiest!
February 2, 2008 at 11:27 am
THIS JUST IN!
Today was Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter in 2008. More than 30,000 people gathered in the central Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney to witness the event and cheer the most famous groundhog in the world. Punxsutawney Phil was taken out of the tree stump on a hill called Gobbler’s Knob and brought to William Cooper, President of Punxsutawney’s Inner Circle, who is the only one that could “speak” to the groundhog. Cooper read the prediction scroll: “As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be.”
us crazy americans…..
February 2, 2008 at 3:09 pm
The ground hog ain’t seeing his shadow here in Oakland. I guess we can all be glad that we are not in Chicago (brrrr very very cold. Cold and rainy in the bay area.
…ok unless you are in Chicago.
Like the ground hog, burrow in and take care.
Kisses to all. John, good to hear your reports and that you are finally by Todd’s side. Todd is in good hands with him mom leading the pack.
much love,
babaLou
February 2, 2008 at 9:11 pm
02/02/08
nice
*
February 3, 2008 at 11:38 am
Just had an interesting and inspiring conversation with my friends, Donna and Arthur, that I wanted to share…
A friend of theirs is recovering from an injury similar to Todd’s. This guy had also had bouts with seizures and similar complications afterwar. Their stories sound very parallel.
Their friend, a musician and graphic designer, is now on the mend after lots of physical therapy. In relearning how to do all the things he’d once done, he started to enjoy the process of discovering new methods, new workarounds and new ways of approaching once familiar tasks. He’s been so successful because he finds the whole process of learning how his brain now takes in and processes signals quite fascinating.
This is how I imagine Todd will approach his own recovery and relearning process…by implementing and experimenting with new and different systems until he finds the ones that give him the results he is after. For a guy who studies networks, who could be better equipped than Todd to design some ingenious roadmaps for himself through this new territory?
I can’t wait to see what to see what he comes up with…
February 3, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hey Guys,
The days are getting longer and the little spring flowers are beginning their push. Strawberries will be here before we know it. (Those ones January ones from Mexico don’t count.) I envision that same vital energy moving through you, generating new cells, building and repairing. The generative strength of the earth is moving in your favor and bringing you with it.
Love, peace, strength and patience,
Jessica
February 4, 2008 at 3:55 pm
So much time has passed by and i guess for us out in oakland it can come easy to temporally forget all that has happened in the past 4 months. I miss the company and good conversations. This time has taught me that the heart most definitely grows founder when you are away from something that is good in your life.
on to there things
Well My solo show went up last night. It looks good. I am really trying to break out of photographs just bing another image on the wall and well so far i am doing well. I wish you guys could be here to see it all come together in one place. I will take many pictures and send them your way. My goal for the next few months is i would like to make a semi robotic arm using my skin and hair and when you blow on it the hairs would stick up. not completely sure why i want to do this maybe just to see if i can but i think it might be fun and thats the best part.
well anyway i have a few touch ups that i need to do at the gallery so todd, alex and john i miss you all and im send love across many miles to find you guys. Oh and the sun is out here in oakland and there will be no rain for a good week hows that! but lows are still below freezing brrr…
much love all
deanna
February 6, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
February 6, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Love to everyone; I know that the guests Johnny and Annie make a great combo. They each have some of the strongest healing focus I know. Together, wow. Make sure Alex gets some too, right? Patience is no picnic.
May you all receive rich rewards today, even though your efforts will certainly also pay off in the long term. Happy New Year, as Baba says. Terry McGovern (doctor of Chinese medicine) reminded me that we are transitioning from the crazy Fire Pig year into the more restorative Earth Rat. may that work for you in a very personal way.
February 7, 2008 at 8:40 pm
theres no place like
is where the heart is
sweet home