Dimple's Discoveries

Schmidt is my favorite TV character in a show called New Girl. In one of their best episodes he sees something he wants, and in his limited view of the world he's furious that he can't have it and throws a tantrum. Later on he gains the proper perspective to move forward, but not before fixating on it and getting seriously injured in his pursuit of it.  (Click the link below to watch a clip) Why can't I have the things that I want?!   I feel like Schmidt. I've had some recent setbacks that have really thrown me for a loop. Tyler has had to install nanny cams throughout the house to film any seizure activity I have so the neurologist can see exactly what's going on. I have new meds that make me sleep like a narcoleptic goat. I want things right now that I can't have: I want my seizures to stop, and I want my seizures to stop so I can have a baby. I want these health problems to stop interfering with my job performance. I want my body to calm down...

I’m sure you’ve all seen the newest addition to our family, Miss Cassie Jo is our 2-year-old German Shepherd. Here’s a little bio on her: She is a rescue who most recently has come from Missouri. She has also gone by the names of Java and Luna Mae, she has an incredibly smart mind and absolutely uses that to her advantage. She is spoiled beyond belief, and loves to whine if she feels neglected (even if we petted her 34 seconds prior). She is learning and working on several new tricks, her favorite is to sit, and her least favorite is the command to focus. That being said, she will do every trick in her book for hot dogs! She is also my new service dog in training, or SDIT for short. Day 1: She sniffed around a lot. She stared at us and we stared at her.  We started looking for her at the end of November (ish). I have three main triggers for seizures: Low amounts of sleep, low blood sugar, and stress (an ugly cycle of stressing=seizure=more stressing about another seizure...

        Four years ago I went on my first emergency call with police to a domestic violence scene. One call was all it took, and I knew I was made for advocacy. At 18 years old I had already seen my first case of domestic violence at my job in a geriatric center where I literally jumped between the victim and her abuser (do not try this at home!), and knew deep in my soul that I could do this for the rest of my life. I have seen some of the darkest horrors human beings can inflict on each other. I have cried with victims as they've shared their stories from hell and fought PTSD as a result. I've held clients as they shake after a night terror or assessed injuries to determine medical care. For years I've mediated conflicts, counseled endlessly, and encouraged and empowered women to rise from the ashes. Looking back makes me wish that the 24 year old woman I am could write a letter to the 18 year old girl I was, so here are the five lessons I've learned as an advocate...