Therapies, Appointments, & So Much More!

I go to the JMU speech clinic to help with my...speech. My wonderful case manager hooked me right up to get me into this program! I have been working with a sweet student, Avery, and she tells me a little about her classes and she is quite knowledgeable! I already feel optimistic about this semester and I've only just started!

Yesterday we met and we worked with a straw for a little while. Ones with normal lip closures might be scratching their heads at this one! But I have a hard time with lip closure when I drink from a straw. I physically cannot do this. So when I drink from a straw, it's on the right side (my stronger side), and I have to curl my tongue around the straw to direct the flow of the liquid. If I don't, it will come spilling out of my mouth.

We worked on closing my lips around the straw in the center of my mouth and on the sides. I could only use my lips, not my teeth and not my jaw, and I had to let it hang. We are working on strengthening my bilabial muscles and in doing so, it will definitely help my speech overall.

We then worked on some exercises. We did breathing exercises and exercises using my diaphragm. All of this to work on my pitch and fluency of sounds. To me, I definitely don't have a normal pitch anymore. I feel like I sound more child-like. So getting my normal talking voice back would be great!

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My eye appointment today went so well!! He said my eye is so unbelievably straight. Especially when compared to how crossed it was before!!!

I still see double vision though and have a hard time focusing. But my brain and retina are so used to me seeing double for the past two years that they now have to play catch up.

Hes hopeful by my next appointment that they'll do just that. Who knows maybe for the next appointment we don't have to schedule another surgery and I can get prism glasses! But eye drops are definitely something that is indefinite for me. I already put the drops in my eyes twice a day and my husband puts in the lubricating ointment each night. That is something I'll have to add onto my list of reminders with no end date!

But overall, today was great. He was so happy with the results and I even told him that when people see me they exclaim that my eye is straight!

He told me not to wear the glasses I wear anymore to help me see single vision because my retina and eye needs to strengthen so everything can catch up! ONLY wear the eyeglasses if I ABSOLUTELY need to.

After my appointment, the hubs bought me a celebratory drink. Not a "drink" drink, but a Starbucks drink! I really like them and since I don't do caffeine anymore (not good for the brain healing), I only drink them for celebrations or if it's been a REALLY LONG day.

Then we went shopping! Since I have to buy a dress for the Gala this month put on by Brain Injury Connections, we went out shopping and I successfully found one!! I'm ready for the Gala :)

Today really has been a good day and one to celebrate :)