When Hope was 2 weeks, Hannah woke up crying with ear pain. Of course it was the weekend so we headed to urgent care that morning when they opened. Luckily our neighbor was working that day. I told her how Hudson had this bad cough and had had a fever for 3 days. She said we should bring him in, it might be pneumonia. I laughed, inside my head of course. Seriously, who gets pneumonia in the summer. Ha.
Well his fever got higher that night. So off to urgent care I went with Hudson the next day. The first thing the doctor asked me was if his cough was wet. I had to think about it. Jared is constantly having a dry cough, always clearing his throat. So after thinking about it, I said wet. After listening to his lungs, she said he probably had pneumonia. I was in shock! What?!
So we headed down for x-rays.
Yup, it was pneumonia. You've got to be kidding me! No wonder he was so sick!
I was worried about Hope, only being 2 weeks old! I was so afraid she would get sick because Hudson can't keep his hands off her.
My sick children!
So he was given an antibiotic. We did do another sports camp (he missed half of the first Skyhawks camp due to his pneumonia) and he did well. I start to notice he couldn't hear me. We took him to the doctor 3 weeks later and he had a severe sinus infection. So he got another antibiotic. Then we saw the ENT this week and he has fluid in his ears. He's on another antibiotic for 3 weeks, with a steroid, and then we'll evaluate tubes, tonsils, adenoids and clipping his tongue. Oh man.
Love notes from my Hud Bud!
So both kids originally got sick on the weekend, well that following Wednesday my mom came to watch the older kids so I could take Hope to a lactation and doctor appointment. Well during that appointment, she got a call that my dad had been in a motorcycle accident. He was a live!
Dad had driven up to Priest Tuesday night to ride with some neighbors at the lake.
Dad, Rod and Barry.
Well they were on their way to Metalline falls and dad saw a tractor on his left hand side. The three of them were in a line. Dad was in the middle. When he turned back to look in front of him (away from the tractor) a buck was there immediately in front of him. There was now way he couldn't hit it. So he braked, going about 40-50mph, and hit the deer. He fell and ended up in the oncoming lane. Here he is laying on the ground. You can see they have cut his jeans open. The bike is upside down.
The tractor
Dad was in the middle and Rod was behind him. He unforcanetly witnessed the whole accident but called for help. This is the line up of emergency vehicles for his accident.
They took him straight to Newport. He was really a Med Star call but fortunately the one of the paramedics was Med Star trained so he drove him to Newport. Mom was torn. She didn't know whether or not to drive up to Newport, knowing he would end up at Sacred Heart, or just stay put at my house. Jared's boss encouraged him to come home and I was willing to drive her up there. She was a bit shaky, scattered and scared. I didn't want her driving. Mom ended up staying put. Another nice neighbor at the lake, Michael and Kimber, stayed with dad and kept us informed.
The nurse called and here was the damage:
11 of 12 ribs broken on left side
both clavicles broken
Left ankle
Left tibia/fibia
Small puncture to his lungs because of the ribs
(which they had to put an tube into drain which is why he needed that special paramedic)
Dad was apparently quite the comedian joking that he wouldn't make it to trivia night at Priest and to text him the questions. The policeman on site following him to the hospital and said he was going to cite dad for hunting without a license. Dad had killed the buck. Funny guy! I guess the pain meds were good! The biggest complaint he had was the straight board he was on for over 4 hours. He just wanted off. They had to reset his ankle at Newport.
Dad's helmet! Thank God he had one on!
When they found out the damage he was loaded up and headed to spokane by the same paramedic.
Ready to roll! Michael had to help load dad in the ambulance because they were short handed. We got the call he was on his way and mom said she'd better go. I thought she had lots of time. I live 15 minutes from the hospitable. But by the time she got there, parked, and found the ER he was there. He got a ride with the lights and sirens!
When I first saw him I was worried he would have really bad road rash but this is what he looked like!
I was relieved. It was just all internal unfortunately.
Mom was happy to have her hubby alive!
He again was quite the comedian. He was medicated well:). But then they had to reset his ankle, again before they could operate on his ankle. They gave him the Michael Jackson juice, what he overdosed on. I guess it puts you out for seconds and then they reset the ankle.
Here's his ankle out of place:
After that he was getting tired and I knew it was time to head home. Plus I had a newborn:). He was getting hungry and wanted some food but mainly water! Poor guy laying on that hot pavement for a few hours and all the meds. He was thirsty! They eventually let him have something to drink!
I visited the next day and reality as setting it. He was in pain:(.
He had ankle surgery that afternoon
They put in a long plate up his tibia or fiber along with 9 pins and one screw (the long one by his ankle). He was glad to have that over with because his foot was hurting.
That night he was struggling to sit up in bed. When your ribs are broken it effects everything you do. You can't sit up, turn, laugh or talk. He had a revolving door of visitors this day so he was exhausted by night. Mom and I had dinner together. That's what I did when mom was in the hospital, I went in the evenings and had dinner with dad. It was nice for them to get away for a few minutes.
The next day she text me this!
He was out of bed! It might not look like much but it was a huge milestone!
Then the next day I get this picture:
Scooter man!
They said he could go home tomorrow. Mom and dad were both a bit concerned about how this would work in their house and in general, especially with the stairs into the house. Well he didn't go the next day but on the 5th day he did. He made it up the stairs with the bucket method.
Here he is, home!
We're so glad he's alive!
3 weeks later, he had his 26 staples pulled out. He will have to have the screw removed at some point. No date yet.
Dad's even started doing errands and visiting my house! Here is how he does the stairs with the bucket. It's truly an amazing concept the PT's came up with!
And then down the stairs, it's just backwards.
Hudson and Hannah had missed their Pops tremendously! Hopey too!
Backing out the door! Bye Pops! Thanks for visiting!
To date we found out the bike it totaled, which is a praise. It's the end of an era of Harley's for them. Dad's first Harley he bought at 18, in pieces, and stored in his friends basement. Then his mom asked to see his checkbook before he left for college and she saw he had bought the bike, that was the end of his first bike! From Harley rides to family Christmas pictures, we have lots of memories with Harleys. Pops is a bit sad. He said he would NEVER carry a passenger if he rides again. The passengers get thrown farther and have more serious injuries. Time will tell if he rides again.
For now, he's anxious to drive and have some independence. He has lots of free time these days which he's not used to. Time for a few projects, right dad?!
All in all we are so glad he's alive and getting around so well. He couldn't figure out why he was so tired this week. Well he had run multiple errands every day this week! He's really getting around well. Praise God! The prayers were amazing! Our God protected him, it wasn't his time. We're so glad we get more time with you POPS! Love you!
