Good & Sobering News

Almost one week at home already. Thank you so much for all of you who have been following my blog and praying for me. Truly, as I have been sharing this past week with other, I feel that God has answered your prayers and helped me recover much faster. Remember, the first few days in the hospital everyone was telling me surgery for sure. Instead, I am at home already, watching my daughter watch "Wonder Pets" on tv and my 7 week old son take another nap (my other daughter is napping too).
So, along the lines of good news, I already had a Dr appointment today. The Dr said my previous Xray looked so good that I didn't need to bother taking another one today. That was huge news to me! It looks like I am over the hump regarding any surgery concerns and now I just need to heal...
....and that brings me to the sobering news. 6 more weeks on crutches before I see the Dr again to see how my fractures have healed. 6 weeks. I know, it could be much worse. It just means a lot of hanging out at home. No jumping jacks or break-dancing for at least 6 more weeks. And then I will need another month of physical therapy to get back to walking the Dr said. He said that most people he puts on crutches for 3 months and then at least 6 weeks to get back to walking ok. The Dr said I'm healing fast so he is optimistic. So am I.
So we looked at the calendar and my goal is to be "back up and running" just after Thanksgiving. So a good 3 months+ for my little trip into the ditch...
Bike ride anyone? ;)

I'm going home!

My friend Chris Daughtry sings a little tune that says "I'm going home, to the place where I belong...". That's the song I'm singing today. Though I am far from healed, I have made huge strides and I can do enough to be self sufficient at home. As you can guess - I'm pumped. Can't wait to be home with my wife and babies and just do what we do. Took another xray today. Please keep praying all follow up xrays show perfect healing and no need for surgery. Pray for no accidents in the home and my kids understand I am still a fragile work in progress. Thanks again for your prayers !
"Get up, take your mat and go home." Matthew 9:6

Sunday : 2 weeks here- my long short stay

Half of my skull is not missing. I am not the one moaning in pain down the hall. I am not confined to a wheelchair. I am not wearing a helmet nor do I need to wipe the uncontrollable drool from my lips. Nope. These are the fates of others I have been staying with here in the ARU. I was the mountain bike guy. I could've been one of the 2 motorcyle guys that have broken multiple limbs. They were here before me and they will be here when I leave this week.I spoke to a grateful mother yesterday. Her son was the one sitting innocently in his car at a red light with his pregnant girlfriend in the passenger seat. They watched as a car flipped and flew through the intersection and landed on them. She was able to step out of the car unharmed. His body needed to be cut out of the wreckage. He was the one with the helmet. Half his skull is currently is a deep freezer to allow for for his brain to swell and heal. They will reattach it later. I focused on the positives of his situation. The fact that drs have the ability to medically treat this young man's skull and save him is unbelieveable. The fact that one day he will be holding his healthy baby and telling him about this crazy chapter of his life is a blessing. He nodded in agreement. Wow. As I write this I almost get emotional. Truly thank you God. It could have been so much worse. Things happen so quickly in this world. It did to me. It did to the others here. So Sunday was my 2 week anniversary here at the hospital. A day off from therapy sessions. A day to rest. Mom, Mindie and the kids walked through my door in the morning. I could here angel voices coming from down the hall and I thought to myself someone here has a little one coming to cheer them up. I was that lucky guy. Rachel brought me an upside down caramel macchiato. My old pastor Graydon made a surprise visit. It was great to catch up with him. Nathan and his girlfriend alia visited again. They have seen me the first Sunday it happened, then one week later and then again a week later this Sunday (yesterday). It was cool to hear his opinion of my progress from week over week. A week ago seems so long ago now. But if you ask me if my stay in the hospital has been long I would say yes and no. Yes it has been long- long enough to make me appreciate things I will never take for granted again in my life: simple things like being able to put my feet on the ground and stand to walk. Yes it has been a long stay- just long enough to genuinely understand that my stay was actually a short stay and could've been so much longer.Again, thank you for your prayers.

another day closer to home

Not super eventful Saturday which is fine by me. Parents came, Louie Mary and Grace came and brought me Gatorade (thank you), and Mindie came at night. Louie watched me practice hopping into the shower using crutches (hopped over the shower curb). OT makes you practice these things before you go home which is a good idea. Got my wheelchair, camode, and crutches delivered yesterday. Nice looking all black wheelchair. Took me first unsupervised shower yesterday. Got the whole bathroom wet. Also put my feet down on the outside ground for the first time since the accident. Kinda weird to think I've been inside for 2 weeks. I'm ready to go home especially now that the go home goal date is in sight. At least I have some windows to look out. Another thing to not take for granted: fresh air.
Job 8:21 says "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."

the first finish line is in sight

After my scare was cleared up this morning I had another great day of rehab. I practiced getting in and Out of bed and used crutches instead of a walker. Getting up and down is getting a little easier each day. My first day of rehab was on wed and one PT told me I was looking at approx 3 weeks before I would be going home. Today is friday and the 3 therapists I worked with today all agreed that going home next wed is now an appropriate goal date! That means in 2 days we shaved off 2 weeks of rehab. I say we because I know you have been praying for me and God has answered our prayers. The decline of pain and my confidence and ability to move has increased so much in the last two days it seriously baffles me. But I am loving it. Just days ago the hospital bed was a small island prison that I could not move. In or leave. Today I could get up and move with minimal pain. I have been telling the impressed therapists that I have many people praying for me. Please do not stop. Going home next week would be awesome but just one of many lines I need to cross before I have a full recovery. I need to have my bones heal properly over the next few weeks to be completely clear of surgery concerns. Oh yeah. My sister kids and Mindie brought me dinner tonight. I kissed my chunky baby boy and had both my girls on my lap for their fair share as well. A great finish to a great day.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-"
2 Samuel 22:2-3

false alarm

Quick update. Dr informed me this morning that I have nothing to worry about and the nurses should've explained this to me better last night. I tested positive for MRSA a certain type of staph bacteria but I am not infected. Apparently everyone has some form of staph bacteria on them at all times. My particulare type is the toughest to treat with antibiotics IF it becomes an infection. Again I am not infected but they don't want my staph type to go next door to someone in the hospital who is already very sick and then gets MRSA and it turns into infection. Then it can be dangerous to that person. It is much less contagious when you are just a carrier and not actually infected. The Dr said simple hand washing is the best way to prevent transfer of bacteria and that the gowns and masks are over kill. Kissing my wife and babies is all good since they are healthy. Healthy people carry it all their lives sometimes and don't know it because they never get an infection from it. Dr said I most likely had the bacteria on me before I came to the hospital anyways. Its just protocol that they test everyone here at the ARU. I feel so relieved! Thank you for your prayers.

another up and down day

So I already had my title picked out for todays blog. It should have been "best day yet". Thank you all for your prayers because my pain is decreasing. My mobility is definitely increasing. All the therapists noticed today how well I was moving. They all challenged me to do more like getting out of bed all by myself, sitting down in a chair and on the toilet, taking the walker into the shower. I even put a sock on my left foot by myself. I had a natural high all day today. The OT told me if my progress stays at this rate I will be going home much sooner! Praise God. So pumped. My buddy Louie was about to come visit me tonight. And Mindie, Isaiah, and her friend Lyndsay were coming too. I was excited to show off how I can get out of bed up to my walker. My comfort and quickness using the walker has improved too. But jist minutes before they arrived the nurse came in to inform me that I tested positive for the worst kind of staph infection called MRSA. You're more susceptible in the hospital when you have tubes and in your nose and chest and other places like I did last week. So they let me know about it and it was like getting kicked in the stomach at the end of a great day. It didn't fit with the theme I thought was developing for me. Mindie arrived and started walking in just seconds after they handed me a 16 page info pack on this infection. Its contagious and you can die from it potentially. Sounds scary. I told Mindie to just stand in the hall as I told her the news. I didn't want her or Isaiah to come near me until I knew exactly what to expect and what is allowed. The nurses have not been much help in explaining it and a call to the Dr on call got a vague answer that I'm healthy so they are not going to give me anything to treat the infection. I hope I can sleep because I'm not gonna get any real answers til tomorrow. I know that MRSA is resistant to most antibiotics and everyone now has to wear masks and gloves to be in my room. Makes you feel special in the wrong kinda way. But I've also heard that its very common for patients to get this in the hospital and good health makes a big difference in the impact the infection will have on you. I hope I have nothing really to worry about. I just want to get out of here asap. As I write this my worries have subsided. I am hoping that's just the peace of almighty God just residing in me and. I read my bible and did a word search on my kindle for words like sick and ill. Jesus instantly healed many many people far worse off than me. Bottom line: its out of my control and God has already displayed his power and peace in me this last week and a half. Why worry? I just don't feel like it. Please pray for this infection to be gone completely and instantly so I can have my precious friends and family into my room to sit with me and tell me their stories. I really wanted to kiss my chunky baby boy tonight. I had to settle for blowing him a kiss out the window. Psalm 112:4,6-8 says "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright...Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear..." .

A.R.U.

So last night at about 10pm it became official. I graduated to the ARU here at UCI. That stands for Acute Rehab Unit. There's also AnUgly Rehab Unit. Sure glad I wasn't sent there. Jk ;). That's a praise because it means my xray. Showed I don't need surgery for now. Please keep praying I never will need it. I was a little intimidated that me and my pain might need be ready for so much rehab. You have 4 sessions with occupational and physical therapists every day. But today went great. First of all the ARU is in a newer building. My room is bigger with windows and AC. The nurses and therapists all work together and customized each workout just for me. It doesn't take long for them to see that I still have a lot of pain so they have been great today about working with those tough movements for me. If you're sitting down right now do this: move your left leg to the left about 5 inches and then bring it back to center about 3 inches. Thats what I was able to do today in my first PT session. Doesn't sound like much. But I'm staying positive because I feel I have made so much progress in the last few days since I have been able to stand. I sat down with help into a wheelchair for the first time. It was so nice to be mobile! My dad and in laws were visiting today during my lunch. They have a big open room with a plasma TV and wii for us ARUers to chill in. I also got my IV out of my arm so there is officially nothing foreign sticking out of my arm. Chest. Or privates holding me back any more. I also got some shorts and t shirts of my own today. Up til now its been those hospital "patient up front party in the rear" gowns. The true test of my will power and attitude came when I asked the physical therapist today how long before I'm ready to go home (ie able to get out of bed, go potty, dress myself ). He said 3 weeks. Wow. I was hoping for 1 week. Bottom line is I will go home when I know I am truly ready. There is no point to go home too early and not be able to get off the couch or go to the bathroom withn Mindie pulling me up and down. That's not an option. If I can go home sooner than 3 weeks so be it. I know I will be busting my butt Wach session to get home. I miss my kids and sleeping in bed with my best friend. That's you Mindie. Her hair smells good by the way. I took a handful of it today when she was visiting me and took in a big sniff of it. It smelled like home.
Here's a great scripture I need to focus on in my daily battles... "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not does not disappoint us..." Romans 5:2-5 .

breakthrough

What a day. First I got up and walked to my door! At the time it was a milestone moment. Walker used of course. My dad hung out with me pretty much all day. That was nice. Then the nurse saw how hard it was on me just to get out of bed. Who knew that uci has a full on lift team that just focuses on helping patients get out of bed and move. So now I am on their list. I don't think I really need them but its still nice to get so much attention now from the hospital. They do make it easier on me for sure. Once I'm to my feet they leave me alone until I need their help to lie back down. Today I also got evaluated and the thumbs up from both the occupational therapy Dept and the physical therapy Dept of the acute rehab unit. That's where I want to be transferred asap so my rehab will pick up. Ok so then I got up to walk again. Walking more than than once in a day was a first for me. It went great. I walked down the hall about 25 feet turned around and came back. I am learning to relax and catch my breath while using the walker. Oh yeah in the afternoon my coworker Kerry stopped by again with a few gifts and a get well soon card signed by several of the drs I visit for my job. How thoughtful right? So 8pm comes and my nurse tells me that my next pelvis xray has been ordered. Not only will this show if my fractures are healing or I need surgery but it also is the final step I need befor the rehab unit will accept me. This is good. So we need a no surgery thumbs up tomorrow. Please keep praying for that. Mindie and were talking and we are so blown away by the love and generosity our friends and family are providing. In short, it makes us want to be better people ourselves. More compassionate like you. Thank you guys. Please keep the emails and texts coming. Also comment on my blog! Its a fun treat to see who's commmented at the end of my day. Please keep praying for my pain and future rehab and safe healing. . . .
"When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recoginized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." Acts 3:9-10
.

liberated

2 things happened today that made me want to use my new born freedom to run up and down the halls but the whole cracked pelvis thing stopped me. But really, I was detached from my I.V. No more pole with bags of solutions and tubes running down into my veins. Of course the I.V. Stayed in for any future injections I made need. Secondly, my catheter came out! No more bag-o-pee connected to me. Although the idea of not having to get out of to go potty sounds pretty nice at times I won't cry now that its gone. Now I gotta stop drinking so much water so I don't have to go so often. Bottom line: I was liberated today. Progress feels good however small it is. Speaking of progress I stood with my walker today for like 25 minutes. My dad and brother were there to help me and cheer me on. My physical therapist didn't show up again and I didn't really feel like pushing myself but I know if I want to get out of here I have to do a little more than I did yesterday and push myself. Like other times, when I first stand up there is some pain aching and throbbing going on in my leg. It takes my breath away. I can't find a good stance to get comfortable in. I got a little emotional as one voice in my head, the negative one, brought to mind how a stupid bike ride brought all this about. How my week in the hospital thus far has had some real rough patches and how a few small steps with the walker could be considered very little progress at all. But the fighter in me, the positive voice of truth inside me, did not let me quit while I stood there hurting in that moment. I pressed on through it. I said positive things out loud to myself ..."just breathe"... "you're doing good". It doesn't matter if you're talking to yourself if you're telling yourself the truth - right? I know a guy in the past who endured a lot more pain for my sake. Do you know him? The Bible says in Philippians 3:13-14 something regarding this type of perseverance and choice to endure ... "But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal (to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus)." .

it happened

Todays highlight definitely had to be what just happened. Problem is, I can't tell you about it, its too personal. Some of my dear friends may know what I'm refering to and to you guys I say yes- the mother ship has landed.
In other news, I lost 10lbs today and my new favorite color is brown. Baby wipes have never really just been for babies right? Ok good. Again, like in so many other instances in our lives as husbands and wives, I'd like to thank my wife for her supporting role tonight. You were always by my side my love and I will never forget that;) for Better or worse right? For richer or poorer. If you asked me, they don't get much better or richer than that one ... .

you've been dismissed

This morning I awoke suddenly. It was 7am.I awoke just in time to make eye contact with Mindie just before we heard a group of people coming toward my open hospital door. She looked out the door from her angle and then said to me "he's here." though I had crust in my eyes from my deep slumber it registered that she was talking about Dr z. The elusive out of town til just now Dr z. He brought his posse with him ie interns and residents and who knows who else. Bottom line: it went great. He was nice. He had a plan. He validated the pain I have been having all week in me leg. He gave me hope. I felt like I was on a roll after my good day yesterday. I still do. But I must share what happened next. Like an analogy to the ups and downs I have had all week here at uci, the downer walked into my room no later than 2 minutes after Dr z walked out.some new lady introduced herself ad my new nurses aid. I get a new aid every 12 hours along with the nurse Change. 7am and 7pm. Anyways she immediately starts asking me questions about why I'm in the hospital and what happened. She shifted gears into questioning how I could be in so much pain. After all she said she hurt her pelvis in the past and she was up and walking with very little pain in no time.she flippantly said she would personally have me walking in no time. When Mindie pointed out that the physical therapist was the only one approved to help me get out of bed to stand she said she does physical therapy too but she's just not doing it right now while she's an aide. Yeah right lady. Holiday inn express all the way. So I told the lady she had no clue and dismissed her from my room. No longer am I taking this crap. No longer will let someone who has spent 0 time with me suggest they know my body better than me or let them size size me up. I have found than when in this much pain you must protect yourself and trust your gut instinct. You have one for a reason. In other cases your gut might lead you astray when you don't have all the info or when you are too emotional about the issue. But when it comes to flat out avoiding pain you and your body ie your gut instinct know "you" pretty well.anyways. Enough with that rant. Also dismissed so far is the thought "why did this have to happen?" dismissed are my neck brace and chest tube. Dismissed is withholding the words "i love you" from those that should be hearing it. Dismissed is underappreciation of simple pleasures like using a toilet, being regular, not having to tell a total stranger that you might have to poop in a bedpan soon and they will need to clean it up for you.yes. I have learned to appreciate even more. Like putting your feet on the floor each day. The last 2 days I have been able to put my feet to the floor and it feels so good. Never thought I would be looking forward to that but I can't wait til my pt comes agaain tomorrow and I get to stand up! Sounds crazy. But I can't wait to be reading this months fromm now when I'm able to wrestle with my girls on the floor. Go swimming in our pool. Go for a walk with my wife to the store. What are you looking forward to? . .

my first post my fifth night

Hello there. Its 122am. Uci fifth floor is quiet. I have a pillow under my butt on my right side to avoid getting bed sores. Pain level at a one out of ten. Not moving my leg so its ok of course.had a good day. Great turnaround. Started off in tears when Naomi asked me to come home this morning over the phone. It was sad because at that time I had no plan on how I was gonna get better and get out of here. But I hung up the phone and called on God. Put in the one worship CD Mindie packed for me and just breathed in and out for awhile.I decided I would let the sunshine in. Ordered a tasty hospital breakfast.then the rock called. Mindie said she was bringing her parents. And my sister and a ringer. My aunt Karolyn. To the hospital this morning. Long story short: hope. Family. Love and loyalty. Grateful. Plan. Communication. Drs respond. Pain pills increased. Physical therapy started. Ground touched. Sonshine.