I can't believe I didn't blog about this before!

Today is Thursday August 27, 2009 and I can't believe I didn't think to blog five days ago on Sunday, August 23, 2009 because theoretically it was a very special day in my life; a very momentous day to be exact.

August 23rd is the FIFTEEN year anniversary of my car accident! Fifteen years ago I lie comatose in a hospital bed, with a two fractured femurs, my neck fractured in two places, and four mangled, busted toes, not to mention a very serious Traumatic Brain Injury, and not expected to even make it through the night. Yet, here I am. Sprawled across my big, beautiful, red couch, typing away on my laptop. Talk about feeling blessed. Talk about feeling lucky. I'm living a FULL life, working hard, hoping to make my mark on the world, and I feel like I should never complain about anything, ever. Ever again. Any issue, any bump in the road, any struggle is just minor compared to my state fifteen years ago...

How's that for perspective?

Double-Chocolate Bran Muffins (another healthy recipe)!

Double-Chocolate Bran Muffins
3 C wheat bran (divided)
1 C boiling water
2 C buttermilk
2 eggs
1 ½ C sugar
1 C canned pumpkin
2 ½ C flour (I used whole wheat)
½ C cocoa powder (I used dark chocolate)
2 ½ C tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 C chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate)

Measure 1 C bran and 1 C boiling water into large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add buttermilk, eggs, sugar, and pumpkin. Whisk until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine flour, remaining 2 C bran, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until combined.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients gradually, while mixing gently. Add chocolate chips. Spray muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min. Cool in pan for 5 min, then remove and place on wire racks.

My personal memoir is DONE (that's right - finished/complete/you can purchase it right here!)

My BIG day has finally come! I'm screaming with excitement. Buy yours right now at:

http://www.lulu.com/content/6145926

Lack of sleep = misery

Of course, this is a true equation for anyone.

Life just feels worse when your tired. Cognitive deficits are further aggravated with fatigue, which brings me to my main point: I'm not thinking very well today, because I DIDN'T SLEEP VERY WELL AT ALL LAST NIGHT.
It's my new sleep medication (no more Ambien, as it stopped working), and I'm having an allergic reaction to this new stuff. I swallow the pill, feel tired, lay in my bed, and then my sinus' clam up so badly, I can barely breathe. It's miserable. Call me crazy, but I can't sleep if I can't breathe! What happened to my blissful sleep?
Excuse me while I go eat something healthy for an energy boost so I can make it through my day. I'm so tired, and I wonder how I think I'm going to be able to walk today in my pink pumps (they are very cute though!)

Jennifer express irritation with snail mail

ARRRGGGHHH! Picture yelling, screaming, flaying arms from side-to-side incessently. That's me trying to wait patiently for my proof copies in the mail. SNAIL MAIL. It's so slow. Am I over-reacting? I received an email from the publisher that my order was shipped on July 30th. Today is August 4. Okay, okay I AM over-reacting. It's only been four days (giggle giggle). I guess it's just an indication of my excitement that any day now, I will officially be a published author.
I'm a sore loser at the waiting game!

Last night at B.I.G...

I'm always amazed by other survivors at the Brain Injury Group (hence the name B.I.G).
This is a support group for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors. My group meets in Murray, UT and is hands-down the best one in the valley. I love hearing everyone's comments because I always think, "I feel like that too!"
Last night one comment in particular caught my attention. A survivor said, "I'm 5 years post-injury and I don't remember what I was like before (the injury). I mean, I remember, but I don't think about it at all because I am who I am today, and I must go forward with that." Don't take that as an exact quote, but that's the gist of what he said.
It got me thinking. First off, he is 5 years post-injury. I'm almost 15 years! When I was 5 years out (think year 1999!), the effects of my injury were all consuming. I constantly tried to do things that aggravated my brain injury (things like too much info at once, spending time in large crowds, traveling to foreign places, and never-ever getting a full night's sleep). I lived my life as I knew how, and how I knew was from experience - from the way I was pre-TBI. And I'm not that woman. After years (at least 10) of learning how to accept how my injury had changed me, I can finally say that I feel 100% exactly like him.
I don't think about it at all because I am who I am today, and I must go forward with that.
WORDS TO LIVE BY. AMEN!

PUBLISHING: so close I can smell it.

Today I received my "proof" book in the mail. Check it. Check it. Check it. That's what I've been working on. I found two formatting errors, so NOW I have to WAIT for the publisher to fix it and then my dream will become a reality.

After five years...my short, little memoir will be available for purchase! I'm so excited - I love the front cover and the back cover. It's bright yellow - which at first I couldn't stand but now I think it's perfect, and reminds me of a smiley face sticker. Bright. Happy. Smiley. Positive. I wonder if you'll think my book is positive. Please let me know! Check my blog or website www.Jennifermosher.com for the official announcement, which is just days away!