Going Home!

Tomorrow I am being discharged from rehab and will go home for the first time in 2 weeks.

When Ryan and I rode off on his motorcycle for our date, I never imagined that I wouldn't return home that night.  I kissed and hugged both boys, told them I love them, and waved as they watched us ride down the street.  We had a fun dinner, followed by a ride around Grapevine, even across the Grapevine Lake Dam.  We ended up in downtown Grapevine, and bought a bottle of wine. 

We were so close to home.  In just one second, our lives were flipped upside down.  We were rushed to an ER in Plano, while calls were made to our parents.  Despite the pain, I was still worried about Riley and Eli, wondering how they would feel when they woke up.  They had never had a night away from Mommy and Daddy (well, Riley had one time, but he was too little to remember).  I was concerned mostly about Eli, since I was still breastfeeding him, and he is such a clingy mama's boy.  I knew they were in good hands with my inlaws, but I still worried. 

I was (and am) very thankful that night did not end worse.  It easily could have.  8 days in the hospital, and another 5 days in rehab, has given me a lot of time to think.  I try not to think about what could have happened, and instead, focus on the good. 

This has been a wake up call.  It is so easy to get in a routine in our daily lives.  It's easy to take for granted what we do have, and always seem to want more.  This has been a reminder that I have an amazing husband, 2 wonderful children, a great family, and the best of friends.  God has given me life, and He has blessed me with so many wonderful people to surround me.  And I am thankful. 

I want to leave you with these words, a song in fact.  "Blessed be Your Name" by Matt Redman.  Please lift this up as a prayer as you read.

"Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
 
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
 
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
 
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
 
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be Your name
 
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
 
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
 
Blessed the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
 
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord
Blessed be Your name
 
You give and take away
You gve and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord
Blessed be Your name
 
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
 
Blessed be Your name
From the risin' of the sun over us
To the settin' of the same
Though there's pain in the offering
 
Oh, blessed be Your name
Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be Your name"
 

Update 4/25/11

Ryan had his stitches taken out today, and was released to go back to work. After watching Riley at gymnastics for a little while, he is now on his way in to the office to take care of whatever paperwork he needs to fill out to go back f/t tomorrow.
I am currently waiting on the rehab to get the insurance stuff taken care of so I can be released from the hospital. I will be going to Contiuum Rehab in Flower Mound. It is a brand new facility, near 1171 and 2499. How long I stay will depend on how my progress goes. They said typical stays are 1-2 weeks. Please pray for strength during my 3 hours of rehab each day. I am nervous about the pain, but know I need to push through in order to go home.

Because of my injuries, I can not put any weight on my left foot. However, my right pelvic bone is broken. As of now, nothing has shifted, but please pray that everything stays where it is and nothing shifts in my pelvic bone during my therapy.

My mom is taking the boys to Wichita Falls this week so she can take care of a few things at home. When she returns, she is going to stay as long as we need her, which could be a couple of months. I will be in a combination of a wheelchair, walker, and crutches for the next 8 weeks or so.

I also ask that you say a prayer for the 16 year old driver who hit me. I cannot imagine how she is feeling right now. This is a very difficult learning experience, especially at such a young age. It's something she will live with the rest of her life. I pray that she is able to forgive herself and move on. I am struggling with the words I want to express to her, so I have put off writing to her. I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her family, as well as a kind note letting me know of their prayers. I am unsure of how to reassure her that I have forgiven her, and hold no ill will towards her. I hope that whatever words I do write help her forgive herself, which is the hardest thing to do.

While I have a long road to recovery, I know that God is with us. He was with us during the accident, and protected us. He has been with us during recovery, and will continue to be there through it all.

Thanks again for all of your concern and well wishes! It really means more than you know.

Keep your eyes open!!

Some of you may know, but for those who don't, I thought I'd share.

Ryan and I had a great date night Saturday 4/16.  On our way home, just a few minutes away, we were in a motorcycle accident.  There were 2 left turn lanes, we were in the one that could either go left or straight.  There was a car (behind us, that we couldn't see) in the left turn only lane.  When we were turning left, that car attempted to go straight, and t-boned us.  Ryan and I were both flown from the motorcycle.  My leg was crushed bewteern the car's bumber and our bike.  And apparently, I ended up on the car's hood and smashed my head on her windshield.

I could not get up, but Ryan was able to get up and walk.  He didn't realize it at the time, but he had a large gash on his left knee that was bleeding pretty good.  The fire department and ambulance came, and of course the police.  The 16 year old driver who hit us did stop (and yes, she is insured).

At the emergency room, they took me to get several CT scans, on my head, neck, back. both legs (esp my left), and my abdomen.  Miraculously, my left ankle was not shattered, like everyone suspected.  That was (and is) my source of pain.  My head, back, and abdomen came back clear, as well as my right leg (which is just bruised).

My pelvic bone is cracked, however, it is a clean break and there's not much they can do (other than make sure I take it very easy and don't knock it out of place).  There is also a clean break in my fibula (the smaller bone in my lower leg, not a weight bearing bone).

They gave Ryan both internal and external stitches to his gash.  He also has a huge bruise, which covers the entire back side of his left thigh.  He was released from the ER early Sunday morning, never admitted to the hospital.

The worst injury was to my left heel/foot/ankle.  Early Sunday morning, I was taken to surgery where they cleaned the wound on my heel (it was "degloved", meaning the skin and padding was pulled back, exposing the bone and achilles tendon).  They cleaned it up and put a wound vac on it. 

I had another surgery this morning to clean up and look at my heel some more.  They removed the deep wound vac from my heel, reattached everything, and put another wound vac on (this time just under the surface).  They had to add 2 screws to my ankle, even though it's not broken, the tendons are pretty messed up and need some help.  I am also wearing a soft cast/splint to keep it stable.

I will be here another couple of days, and may go to rehab for a few days before going home.  It all depends on how things go in physical therapy tomorrow.  I am not looking forward to the PT, since I know it's going to hurt....bad.  But, I'll do what needs to be done.  I'm having to learn to be still and let others take care of me.  It's usually the other way around, so that aspect is very hard. 

I have also been reminded of how many wonderful people God has surrounded me with.  So many prayers are being lifted up, offers of help around the house and with the boys, offers to wash E's cloth diapers, meals are even being made and taken to my house (where my mom is staying with the kids).

Things could have been much worse.  We were both wearing helmets and leather jackets, which saved us from far worse injuries.  However, this could have been prevented if the young driver of the car had paid a little more attention to the road signs, and to those around her.  This is something I'm sure she will never forget, and will have to live with the rest of her life.  I do forgive her, and hope that she is one day able to move past this accident.

As the weather turns nicer, please PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE AROUND YOU!!  Especially motorcycles.  More and more bikers will be out as the weather warms up.  Even with all of the safety gear, you are far more protected in your car than they are on their bike.  So what would have been a minor accident in a car, was a major trama on a motorcycle.  I can not even think about what would have happened had we not been wearing helmets.  Especially after learnimg my head crushed her windshield.

Thank you for the continued support and prayers!  We are definitely feeling God's love and healing powers.  I will try to keep you updated as I'm able to. 

I CHALLENGE YOU!!

I'm about to take a challenge.  I'm challenging YOU to do the same.  Read about the challenge HERE and  HERE.  It will take place May 23-30.

Have you ever used flats?  Have you ever hand washed your diapers?  Yeah, me neither.  But I'm about to do both, and I'm super excited about it!

In response to this saddening article, a challenge has been made to prove that diapering can be done at an extremely low cost by using flats.  The challenge was also made to prove that cloth diapering IS possible, even without a washer and dryer.  When I read the above article about how some families are washing out and reusing disposable diapers, I was inspired to start a program that's been stewing in my mind for several months now.  I had planned on waiting until later this year when things settled down.  But let's face it: things will never settle down.   As I'm typing this, there are families who are having to choose between diapers and groceries.  I do not want any babies health to be at risk because their families can't afford both groceries and diapers.  Why wait?

Then I saw this challenge, and I'm all over it!  Contacts have been made to get things started with the program to help local families in cloth diapers who cannot afford it.  This challenge will help me be able to not only tell people it can be done very inexpensively and without a washer/dryer, but I can share my own personal experience. 

So, do you accept this challenge? 

:::squeal:::

I FINALLY have a CLOTHESLINE!!!

I am so excited, can you tell?

I have been asking my husband to put one up for a year.  And now I have one.

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

I am excited to start saving some energy by line drying the diapers, and whatever else I can fit on the lines.  It was very relaxing doing the monotonous work of hanging the items on the line.  A good way to clear the mind.  I even did part of it with E on my back in the Pikkolo. 



I finally have a photo of my diapers out on the line.  I have always been a little envious of the beautiful photos I've seen on so many cloth diaper forums and pages!  Now I have my own to share!!




The pretty colors <3





I added some clothes to the 2nd line.  I ran out of room.  I need more lines...



I'll throw in the other project we did this weekend.  "We" being my husband, with a little help from Riley.

Riley enjoyed playing in the hole for the new tree we planted.

Making sure it's deep enough!

Watering the new tree:)