I work out

Dear Meagan,

Woo-hoo things are on the MOVE this week!  FINALLY got your surgery scheduled and your spring semester finalized.  You said you have class Mon/Wed/Fri and physical therapy Tues/Thurs.

I am SO proud of you and pumped that you are committing to physical therapy.  You have moved forward so much since all of your surgeries, and one of the last couple things to tackle is your physical rehabilitation.  As you know, because your tumor was on the right side of your brain, you have a slower/weaker left side.  I doubt you remember this but for the first 2-3 weeks after your first surgery, you had NO mobility on your left side whatsoever... you couldn't even wiggle your toes or fingers! And then you finally started wiggling them, and eventually you could slowly start to walk again.  That brought on the days of the pimp cane!  I'll never forget decorating that cane! So much fun-- I still like to call you Phyllis from time to time :) haha

Now, with help of your brace (if you still wear it?), you can walk very well... but your left side is definitely less coordinated than your right.  Soooo committing to physical therapy twice per week is an awesome thing to get your body strong again.

I would say the number one benefit of you doing physical therapy is strengthening/coordinating your left side.  However,  as you know there are SO many benefits to exercise outside of your specific needs.

Here is a list of seven benefits of exercise from the Mayo Clinic:

1.  Exercise controls weight. 
1. Duh :)
2. Exercise combats health conditions and disease.
1. It's true! It helps prevent various health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. But on top of that it also reduces your risk of cancer, depression, anxiety, and arthritis.
3.  Exercise improves mood.
1. El Woods said it best (in Legally Blonde), "Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make people happy."  Exercise also improves confidence and self-esteem!
4. Exercise boosts energy.
1. Exercise helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues so your entire body can work better- giving you more energy to accomplish everything you need too!
5. Exercise promotes better sleep.
1. Girl! You know this one is a bonus!  You and dad have those sleep issues but MAYBE when you start exercising regularly with physical therapy they will go away (or at the least they will improve).
6. Exercise puts the spark back in your sex life.
1. No comment lol.
7. Exercise can be fun.
1. So right now your going to be doing physical therapy, which is fun due to all the benefits.  But eventually you will be feeling strong enough to add something fun to your exercise routine.  Find what you love to do in the exercise world and stick to that. Maybe you'll find you love walking out doors or lifting weights with the meatheads or playing tennis with mom.  With our dance/cheer background, I personally love doing group exercise classes like zumba or yoga!

Enjoy your new adventure! Your making great forward progress! Keep it up :) Love you, and see you Sunday for Mom and Amanda's bday celebration!

XOXO,

Brooke

You can do it!

Dear Meagan,

Hey girl hey :) So I heard you have been super tired lately... you said you think it may be your kidney. Honestly, the vitamin D levels may be playing into it as well.  Either way, they are both fixable!  The vitamin D is already on the way to getting better and mom is figuring out when this surgery is going to happen to get your kidneys back on track!

Here's the deal, I know you are feeling kind of tired and you are unsure of your schedule this semester with this pending surgery.  However, we don't know when the surgery will be, so you have to keep living your life and fulfilling your responsibilities until the surgery.  So tomorrow make sure to go to your writing class and explain to your teacher that you have an upcoming surgery, but you still want to attend class until you have it.  Who knows, you may only be out a couple of days and still be able to finish the semester.

All I know is that you started making FORWARD progress and we should definitely keep it that up.  Look at all you've been through, you made it through the entire last semester with your kidney and back pain, you can do this one too! Promise!

Meagan I could write and write and write until my fingers fall off but in the end YOU made the decision to move forward and YOU have to be the one who makes sure that you follow through with that decision!  If you are feeling tired, then you need to figure out why and get on track to fixing it.  However, in the mean time you should definitely keep carrying on and fulfilling your dream of finishing your degree!

You can do this- keep pushing forward! I love you!

XOXO,

Brooke

New Semester!

Dear Meagan,

Hey girl hey :) It was so so sooo good to see you this past weekend!  I think we got to celebrate 'Christmas' together more this year than normal, even though we weren't actually together Christmas day lol. It was also fun to see you out and about with your bowling league, I'm glad your having so much fun doing that :)

Tomorrow starts your SECOND full semester of college post-surgeries.  You must be so PROUD of yourself (I know I am proud of you) for successfully completing your first semester and now it's on to the next!  I believe you said your taking German and writing... both should be a blast :)

To make sure you do just as well this semester remember to set goals based on your academics and keep reviewing those goals like we talked about last week in the blog.  That's all for now girlie, short and sweet.  I just want to wish you the BEST for this next semester.  You are a rock star and your going to rock out this next semester! The progress you made in 2012 is so astonishing and always makes me smile :) BUT 2013 is going to be even better for you!

Love you girl!

XOXO,

Brooke

New Years Goals

Dear Meagan,

Hey there girl :) Sorry I'm a couple days later in the week than usual on the blog!  Just got back from Christmas in Miami... It was a lot of fun, and very warm, but I missed you guys for sure!

Well New Years Eve is RIGHT around the corner... it is time to reflect on 2012 and determine your goals for 2013 :)  Take 30 minutes to an hour and physically write down a few goals for 2013... make sure to include financial, spiritual, relationship/family, academic, physical, and any other personal! phew!

Once you have written down the goals post them somewhere in your room, where you can see them daily. It will really help to read them everyday so they are at the forefront of your mind.  Seriously review them about once a month and see where your at and where you need to go.

Things are getting better and better for you Meaggy and if you keep setting goals, you will keep achieving them!

Below is a poem to help you accomplish your 2013 goals! Love you girl! I'll see you Sunday for dinner :)

XOXO,

Brooke

Climb 'Til Your Dream Comes True

by: Helen Steiner Rice

Often your tasks will be many,
And more than you think you can do.
Often the road will be rugged
And the hills insurmountable, too.
But always remember,
The hills ahead
Are never as steep as they seem,
And with Faith in your heart
Start upward
And climb 'til you reach your dream.
For nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the courage to try it,
And you have the faith to believe.
For faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill,
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God's wisdom and will.
For faith is a mover of mountains,
There's nothing that God cannot do,
So, start out today with faith in your heart,
And climb 'til your dream comes true!

Holiday Love & The Christmas Spirit

Dear Meagan,

So the last kidney surgery was postponed but whenever it is rescheduled for, it will go well :) Now we just gotta figure out when you get to rock that thing out! 

I don't know if you noticed, but it seems that all of Michigan caught the Christmas spirit this year, and it's great isn't it! :) People are just in a better mood- and I have a non-professional theory! haha

I've told you about Gary Chapman's five love languages before.  In his books, he explains how people give and receive love in five different languages, and that it is important for families and couples to 'speak each others language.'  I'm going to argue that the holidays fulfill EVERYONES love language and therefore lead to the Christmas spirit and the joy of the holidays!

Here are the five love languages and how they are fulfilled by Christmas:

1) Receiving gifts- Ok, this one is very clear.  Holidays are a huge gift giving time.  So anyone who's love language is receiving gifts, is just on cloud nine at this time of year!

2) Quality time- Outside of giving gifts, another huge thing we do around the holidays is spend quality time with our families and loved ones.  I got to celebrate with you last weekend (which was awesome- thank you again for that amazing scrapbook) and people all over the world are flying and driving to visit their families.  Therefore, those whose love langague is quality time, are also feeling very loved around the holidays :)

3) Physical touch- Along with seeing family is lots of hugging and kissing and hand holding!  Also couples are probably getting a little intimate at this time of year as well :) haha... I dare you to count how many hugs and kisses you get at Aunt Lizzies on Christmas, more than any normal day I'm sure! So you can see why the physical touches are feeling extra loved as well!

4) Words of affirmation- During the holiday season bosses are thanking their employees, families are telling each other I love you, and strangers are wishing each other a great day/holiday.  On top of that, people are getting heartfelt cards and letters from November- January.  The words of affirmation people are definitely loved during this season!

5) Acts of service- Ok, think about the last month... true or false: more people have opened doors for you than the rest of year. I'm not sure about you, but I've really noticed it this year!  People are just more helpful during the holidays, whether it's offering to help with dishes or doing small favors for strangers like picking up a dropped pair of gloves. People just do things more for each other at this time of year- so the acts of service people feel loved too!

On top of all that, people everywhere have the opportunity to GIVE love using their love language during the holiday season, by doing all the above listed things... making them feel even more warm and fuzzy! It's a vicious yet amazing cycle :)

SO be aware of all this love going around and embrace it! Here's the challenge: bring it into the rest of the year! Imagine how different the world would be if the 'holiday spirit' was just the normal spirit of our town, state, country and world-- it can happen!  I challenge both you and I to keep the holiday spirit year round-- I think we can do it, and change the little worlds around us :)

Love you Meagan! Have a great Christmas-- I'm sad I won't be with you ON Christmas day but our celebration last weekend was amazing (& delicious)! I'll call you Christmas day girlie :)

XOXO,

Brooke

Moving FORWARD

Dear Meagan,

Congratulations Meagan Ann from Japan! You finished off your first semester of class since your diagnosis and I could not be MORE proud of you for doing so :) Raise your right hand.... and pat yourself on the back! hehe- I can't wait to see you on Saturday to give you a big congratulatory hug. You did a BIG thing this semester- you took a GIANT step forward- and there are so many more to come!

So we have ONE more 'obstacle' to tackle on Tuesday and then you are home free.  Just one more small gig to take care of this kidney thing once and for all!  As always- I'll be there by your side before, during, (well in the waiting room) and after. I wouldn't miss a chance to support you for anything in the world! As I've said time and time again your are a CHAMPION and a FIGHTER and this minor thing is cake walk at this point!

Before that thoughhhhhh we are going to celebrate family Christmas on Sunday! Woo hoo! I am super excited to see you and can't wait for some Kruse n Muer-- yummmmm-- get ready to eat like 5 lb of bread haha :)

So that's all for now chica-- I still can't believe how far you've come and more importantly, how far your going! Keep taking those steps FORWARD everyday!

XOXO,

Brooke

Carly Rose Sonenclar

Dear Meagan,

Thought I would switch it up this week and do something fun!!! Last week on the phone I was telling you about this AMAZING 13 year old girl on X Factor who is GREAT at what she does (singing) but I am also going to tell you what else she is great at!

But first watch her audition...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffyZNW7Ra7M


WOW RIGHT!!! Soooo amazing :)

The great thing about Carly is that she is not only great at what she DOES, she is also so LIKEABLE and genuine which makes her talent more 'effective' than someone who may have the same voice as her without that likeability factor.

The even better thing about Carly is that she is just like YOU :) You are also great at what you do (helping others/german/fundraising) AND you have the likeability factor! You are your very own X factor hehe :)

Love you Meag! Keep up the great work... now go watch some more Carly Rose, she's an inspiring little one.  Here is a couple more of my fav's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OOSIec9ehk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75VM6vxQlk8

ENJOY!

XOXO,

Brooke