Brainstorm Studio Midwinter Clearance SALE!!!

Everything is on sale in Lisbeth's Etsy shop!

Check it out! Great Valentine's Day gift ideas, or maybe a special midwinter treat for yourself to lift your spirits! Tell us you came by way of Not Bad Thing in the comments section when you make your purchase, and we'll include a free gift!

Back to the ER

Bandage with a numbing agent applied to the head wound.

Super glue in lieu of sutures. Works for me!

Lisbeth's helper Karen keeping watch, waiting for the wheelchair to take Lisbeth out to the car.

Brave and beautiful Lisbeth.

"Chadder" cheese soothes all ills...

Milkweed agrees.

I was working in my studio on some paintings about Lisbeth's last trip to the ER when her one-on-one helper called to tell me that Lisbeth had just had another bad fall during a seizure. I quickly yanked off my painting apron and told them I'd meet them at the ER. Evidently Lis had one of her "no warning" grand mal seizures where she goes down like a felled tree. These are the worst - no bending at the knees, no initial crying out, just BOOM. Straight down. She and her helper were in the kitchen about to make some banana bread, when Lis crashed into the refrigerator door, face first.
She's banged up but OK. Breaks my heart what she endures.

Lisbeth's Story on Calvin's Story

Brunswick, Maine writer Christy Shake and her son, Calvin.

I have the great honor of being featured today on Christy Shake's noble blog, Calvin's Story. Christy writes:

My son Calvin was born six weeks early with significant neurological problems of unknown origin. When he turned two he was diagnosed with epilepsy, which eclipsed all other adversity we had yet encountered. No drug or dietary treatment has completely controlled his seizures and they continue to pummel our little boy. The seizures and drugs have stifled his development and there seems to be no end in sight to this nightmare. The only hope is a cure. On behalf of Calvin and the three million Americans who suffer from epilepsy please help bring us one step closer to that dream.

Auntie Lis

Lisbeth enjoyed lunch out with her niece Cecilia and nephew Calvin yesterday ("Brother Eben's little kids" in Lis speak... :^) And Ceci and Calvin enjoyed spending time with Lisbeth and Milkweed at Lis's place after lunch. Lisbeth is feeling better since the Risperdol reduction. She's been sleeping good - no more Benadryl - and her mood has been great! It's been two weeks since the first reduction - we go down another notch tomorrow. Fingers crossed, we may be onto something that's actually improving things!

Lisbeth & Milkweed

Letting Go

Kathe Kollwitz

Lisbeth is emotionally so very young and she is an adult. She has her own support system, her own higher power, her own life. I have to be careful to take care of myself, to have a large part of my life be separate from Lisbeth's, the same as it is with my four other adult children. I must constantly determine where and when I am needed and step back and let go when I'm not. Easy? Noooooo..............

Now We Wait

Lisbeth in a staring seizure...

Dad waiting for the window of opportunity to administer 1 mg Ativan...

Kneeling at the Altar of Patience...

We finally did get it into her, so now she will rest and hopefully clear up...

Lisbeth's Milkweed Shrine table...

Garry and I saw Lisbeth's psychiatrist last night, then brought the orders over to Lisbeth's staff at her house. While there, we helped to give Lisbeth an Ativan for staring seizures. We are stopping the Benadryl, and starting a slow decrease of the Risperdol. We will wait and see what happens. If her rage attacks recur, we spoke about the possibility of trying another anti-psychotic once Lisbeth is off Risperdol, one that does not cause EPS: Seroquel.

Sigh.

To quote Lis, Hard to know...