Actually I am not sure which part number this should be....I have lost track of how many rescues we have taken part in. But today was a record day, we did 2 separate rescues!
The first occurred on the way to Yosemite at about 11 am and was by far the most severe....we turned a corner on an icy highway to see a car that had just rolled over and gone off the road. We pulled over, got out our emergency kit and ran back to the scene. I took a look at the people involved in the crash while Jim went out to light flares. While standing there a couple more cars almost spun out.
Two people were in the car, that was now laying on its roof, with the windows smashed out. Both had gotten out of the car. It was a Dad and his teenage daughter. The man was bleeding from a cut on his hand and his head. The girl had one cut on the bridge of the nose that was not bleeding, however by the time we left the scene, her whole eye area was swollen and black and blue. I helped that man with supplies to stop the bleeding on his hand and advised them to move off the side of road for fear that another car would slide out into us.
No one could get any cell service to call for help so a passing car drove to the Yosemite entrance gate (about 4 miles away) and sent two rangers back. Once the rangers showed up, we moved on our way. We left with hopes that the two in the car accident would agree to receiving medical care because while we were there they were not interested in an ambulance, but they were in shock and not thinking clearly.
Then at the end of the day, when we were sledding, a young man approached us and asked if we could notify the ranger station on our way out that they were stranded. Apparently the man's young son put the end of a pen in the ignition of the car and broke it off. This left them unable to start the car!
So we went to the gas station in the area and had them call the ranger and advise them of the situation. We went back and told the man (and his young family) that the rangers were on the way. We checked that they had some food, water and enough warm clothing and headed home --hoping we weren't going to happen along someone else in need of assistance.
All in a days adventure!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sick Girl
"Remarkable.....Compelling....A searing insight into the battle to stay alive." - TED KOPPEL
I started reading the book, "Sick Girl" last nite and less than 24 hours later I am almost done with it....it is that compelling of a read.
The book tells the story of a 24 year old woman who gets cardiomyopathy ( a really sick heart) and undergoes a heart transplant at 25. While on the transplant waiting list (which lasts for 2 months), she gets engaged. One year, to the date, after the transplant she gets married. She later graduates from law school, adopts a son and goes 17 years living with the battle of surviving a heart transplant.
The battle is what the book is all about. Most folks think that when you get a heart transplant, you are magically cured. This book tells a whole different story. What you have is a new type of illness. One that comes with nasty medication, fear of illness and uncomfortable and life threatening medical procedures. All wrapped around the greatest fear of death.
The book is hitting close to home -- as you all know -- my dad had a transplant 10 1/2 years ago and much like the author of the book, has lived a remarkably healthy and long life since. But the message to me is what looks to the outside to be a gift and a really lucky guy is also a guy who struggles everyday with the medication, the fears, the limitations and the waiting for bad news from doctors.
I as a daughter, distance myself from that part of the experience, more and more as the years pass. I take for granted that Dad is cured - but it is really much more complex than that.
This book is a compelling read even if you are not close to a heart transplant survivor. I encourage you to find a quiet spot and read it. It will expand your heart and your mind.
"Sick Girl" by Amy Silverstein
I started reading the book, "Sick Girl" last nite and less than 24 hours later I am almost done with it....it is that compelling of a read.
The book tells the story of a 24 year old woman who gets cardiomyopathy ( a really sick heart) and undergoes a heart transplant at 25. While on the transplant waiting list (which lasts for 2 months), she gets engaged. One year, to the date, after the transplant she gets married. She later graduates from law school, adopts a son and goes 17 years living with the battle of surviving a heart transplant.
The battle is what the book is all about. Most folks think that when you get a heart transplant, you are magically cured. This book tells a whole different story. What you have is a new type of illness. One that comes with nasty medication, fear of illness and uncomfortable and life threatening medical procedures. All wrapped around the greatest fear of death.
The book is hitting close to home -- as you all know -- my dad had a transplant 10 1/2 years ago and much like the author of the book, has lived a remarkably healthy and long life since. But the message to me is what looks to the outside to be a gift and a really lucky guy is also a guy who struggles everyday with the medication, the fears, the limitations and the waiting for bad news from doctors.
I as a daughter, distance myself from that part of the experience, more and more as the years pass. I take for granted that Dad is cured - but it is really much more complex than that.
This book is a compelling read even if you are not close to a heart transplant survivor. I encourage you to find a quiet spot and read it. It will expand your heart and your mind.
"Sick Girl" by Amy Silverstein
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Dinner for 40
I did a little research and discovered that $50 donated to the food bank feeds 40 people a big xmas dinner, including ham, potatoes, carrots, green beans, rolls and fruit. Gracie and I are feeling pretty good at the thought that 40 people are going to have a yummy dinner on xmas nite because of the money we donated!
So, if you haven't donated yet, now is the time. This is the best part of xmas - giving to those in need.
So, if you haven't donated yet, now is the time. This is the best part of xmas - giving to those in need.
Gingerbread houses
Today was a cousin day! We got together this morning and made gingerbread houses. Here are the final products - Drew and Sam worked as a team and Gracie and Jack worked as a team. They turned out great! We had enough candy left over for a whole subdivision of gingerbread houses.
After the gingerbread houses we went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, which was cute.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Giving back
The other nite I was opening the mail and made a comment that I had not yet given any money to the second harvest food bank for xmas. Gracie heard me and and said she wanted to give some money to the food bank too. She talked about wanting to give meals to hungry people. So she went off to find her money stash and brought me $4! She said that would feed 4 people a good meal!
So I made my donation of $50 and added her $4 for a grand total donations of $54 - which I hope fills 54 bellys with a good meal.
So I made my donation of $50 and added her $4 for a grand total donations of $54 - which I hope fills 54 bellys with a good meal.
Monday, December 17, 2007
12 Years Old
This is Drew blowing out the candles on his 12 birthday. Handsome, isn't he? He is wearing his new Oregon State sweatshirt. He also received a Vans clothes, rip stick, SIMS game for Wii, a lego harbor and tech decks. He was a happy kid!Family Giving Tree
We have a tradition with friends to volunteer wrapping xmas presents at the Family Giving Tree. This year there were 30 of us and we went down this weekend for a 2 hour shift. We had a new task this year -- checking the gifts against a recall list. Each gift coming into the warehouse had to be checked to ensure that it had not been recalled. It was not the most glamorous of jobs, but it had to be done. So we spent 1 1/2 hours pounding thru a huge pile of gifts. Once we oked them the children ran them to the appropriate area in the warehouse. In the hundreds and hundreds of gifts we checked, we only found one recall. That's Jim with the Sharks santa hat with the suspect item -- it was a boys jacket from Old Navy. And you would have guessed he found the Golden Ticket! We were all so excited to actually find a recalled item!
I have to say, this event is my favorite part of the holiday season.
At the tank
Here are pics from the Shark Tank game a couple weeks ago. Drew's team won 4 to 5. As always it was a big thrill to watch them play at the tank. Thanks to all our friends and family who came out to cheer him on. We are truly blessed! Drew is the one that has the 7 on his back - he is actually #17.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A turning point
Jim was on the phone to the doctor tonite trying to get antibiotics for his very obvious sinus infection. Drew called me into the family room while Jim was on the phone and asked if you could die from a sinus infection.
He has been very concerned about both his parents dieing recently. He was worried I was going to die while in surgery. He even told me before hand that he was really nervous that I would die.
Tonite, I took the opportunity to sit down and talk about his feelings and about how he seems to really worry about one of his parents dieing lately. He admitted that he does worry. I asked him if it was because one of his classmates father died about a month ago very suddenly. And he had a team mate last year who lost a dad very suddenly. And our neighbor just died. He said it wasn't because of that but he didn't know why he worried.
His next words were, "can you die from a cough", which is Jim's other main sympton.
I am realistic when I respond and say that you could die from a cough or sinus infection if you had other issues, such as a supressed immune system but that a healthy young man like his dad would not.
The whole conversation makes me sad. Sad that his young, innocent life is quickly moving behind him. Each day he moves closer to adulthood is a day with new stresses and real life worries. Soon to be gone is the carefree, naive, wonderment that only exists in childhood.
It is timely that this conversation occurred 3 days before his 12th birthday, a birthday that should be significant for him but is also turning out to be quite significant to his mother. It is the first time that it really hit me that my little boy is really growing up and soon will be a man! WOW! What a "rock your world" type of feeling that is. My baby boy is really growing up.
And, I really like who he is becoming as he grows and matures. I cross my fingers that he keeps on the path that he is on because he is really poised to grow into remarkable man.
Happy 12th Birthday Drew -- I love you!
He has been very concerned about both his parents dieing recently. He was worried I was going to die while in surgery. He even told me before hand that he was really nervous that I would die.
Tonite, I took the opportunity to sit down and talk about his feelings and about how he seems to really worry about one of his parents dieing lately. He admitted that he does worry. I asked him if it was because one of his classmates father died about a month ago very suddenly. And he had a team mate last year who lost a dad very suddenly. And our neighbor just died. He said it wasn't because of that but he didn't know why he worried.
His next words were, "can you die from a cough", which is Jim's other main sympton.
I am realistic when I respond and say that you could die from a cough or sinus infection if you had other issues, such as a supressed immune system but that a healthy young man like his dad would not.
The whole conversation makes me sad. Sad that his young, innocent life is quickly moving behind him. Each day he moves closer to adulthood is a day with new stresses and real life worries. Soon to be gone is the carefree, naive, wonderment that only exists in childhood.
It is timely that this conversation occurred 3 days before his 12th birthday, a birthday that should be significant for him but is also turning out to be quite significant to his mother. It is the first time that it really hit me that my little boy is really growing up and soon will be a man! WOW! What a "rock your world" type of feeling that is. My baby boy is really growing up.
And, I really like who he is becoming as he grows and matures. I cross my fingers that he keeps on the path that he is on because he is really poised to grow into remarkable man.
Happy 12th Birthday Drew -- I love you!
brrr.....
My kids are nuts. Yesterday I took them to school and they wore shorts and short sleeved shirts.....it was 38 degrees!
Today Drew came to his senses and wore a sweatshirt - maybe because it was 35 degrees. But he was still in shorts!
The other parents must think we are abusive.
Today Drew came to his senses and wore a sweatshirt - maybe because it was 35 degrees. But he was still in shorts!
The other parents must think we are abusive.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Adding insult to injury
So it was not bad enough that I was down and out for 5 days recovering from shoulder surgery. On the 6th day, I came down with a nasty virus that made me feel like I had been run over by a truck. Fever, aches, chills, cold symptoms, etc. So now I have been down and out for over a week.
My shoulder is doing really well. Pain is minimal and I am getting some good range of motion.
My shoulder is doing really well. Pain is minimal and I am getting some good range of motion.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Recovery
Here is what I look like 2 days post-op. Doesn't look too bad! I am staying on the pain meds as prescribed. I don't want to let the pain get away from me. I am starting to move my arm a little bit. I swear that every hour it is getting better. Jim is an awesome nurse. But I wouldn't call him something sweet and kind like "Nurse Kitty" -- I would call him "Nurse Helga"! He shoots out orders! Actually the first nite I got really sick from the anesthesia and he slept on the floor in the family room so he could be close to me! He is a keeper!
update
surgery went well. no tears or repairs needed. just cleaned it out and shaved the bone. taking pain med and sleeping most of the time. jim is a great nurse and taking great care of me. kids are being really helpful too. dog knows something is wrong and stays close by.
Monday, December 03, 2007
On a leave of absence
I will be on a short leave of absence from my blog beginning tomorrow while I recover from surgery. Well wishes and positive thoughts are appreciated while I am recovering!
An odd allergy
Here is a funny story from my girlfriend Angie. It is about her daughter Peyton, who is in kindergarten. Here are the main players:
Peyton - 5 years old
Taylor - her friend, who is also five years old and coming to Peyton's house for a play date
Wilton - Peyton's 10 year old yellow lab
So last week Peyton told her teacher that Taylor was going to come to her house for a playdate but added that there is some concern because Taylor is allergic to Wilton's penis!
Remember, this is a 5 year old telling the story.
The real story is that Taylor is allergic to Wilton - a dog and PEANUTS! Not penis!
Peyton - 5 years old
Taylor - her friend, who is also five years old and coming to Peyton's house for a play date
Wilton - Peyton's 10 year old yellow lab
So last week Peyton told her teacher that Taylor was going to come to her house for a playdate but added that there is some concern because Taylor is allergic to Wilton's penis!
Remember, this is a 5 year old telling the story.
The real story is that Taylor is allergic to Wilton - a dog and PEANUTS! Not penis!
win pic
Here is a pic from the win (2nd place) this weekend.
I forgot to report that I got hit in the face with a ball at one of the soccer games this weekend. Right on the nose! OUCH!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Soccer tournament update
Drew's team came in second place in the tournament this weekend. They won all games but the last one. Drew played well - got a goal in each game except the last one - it was a shut out. All the kids were happy and went to celebrate afterwards at a pizza place!
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