Thursday, July 11, 2013

I had an appointment at the dentist this morning.  It seems the impression for my crown was lost and I had to have a new one made.  The last one kept falling out.  I hope this one is better.  Afterwards I went to the bank and then on to the hospital.  Lloyd was there when I arrived talking to James about the job he is doing for him at Desert Highland Golf Course.

They came and got James around 11:30 to take him to the surgical waiting room.  I went with him.  We waited until 1pm for them to finally take him into surgery. His anethesiologist is Dr. Gilbert and his surgeon is Dr. Ortega.  Just down the street in downtown Scottsdale there is a jewelers called Gilbert Ortega.  I just thought that was funny. 

Sheri came to stay with me and brings me a drink.  We go for a ride and end up at McDonald's for a hot fudge sundae and a chocolate dipped cone.  She waits in the surgery waiting room with me until around 3:30.  She leaves to take her boys to Hamilton pool.

Josh and Evan at Hamilton Pool

I wait until after five o'clock when Dr. Ortega finally comes in to talk to me.  He tells me that James has three metal plates in his leg which will stay and a screw to attch ligaments which may come out. He said he had two bones that were completely shattered. ( Later I learned that James also has a rod in his leg.)

While I was waiting for James to come out of the recovery room I went down to the cafeteria and met Zaki.  He didn't know the surgery was today and he came for a visit.  He waited for awhile and then decided to leave.  He is very pleasant to talk to and we had a nice visit. 

James finally returns to his room around 7pm.  He is miserable!!  I stay until 8:30 when he finally goes to sleep.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

I got a call from Presidential Realty today about getting our house ready to put on the market.  I told them this wasn't a good time and to call me back next week.

On the way to the hospital I stopped by Lois's to get an apricot pineapple pie for James.  I arrived at the hospital around 9:30, my usual time.  James had a Slimfast shake and apricot pineapple pie for breakfast.

For lunch I got turkey enchiladas and green beans for lunch but they were both disgusting.  Luckily Sheri and Kim were on their way over and they stopped at Whataburger and got us each a Whataburger Jr.  Yummy!  After we ate lunch Sheri, Kim and I left to go to Sweet Tooth Fairy to get cake bites and cupcakes.  On the way we stopped at See's and got dark chocolate almonds and dark chocolate truffles for James.  When we got back from the trip, Sheri and Kim visited awhile and took some pictures.

We have such sweet caring daughters!

After Kim and Sheri left James and I played a couple of rounds of Five Crowns.  I won both so I am afraid it didn't do much to cheer James up.  

James has his second surgery tomorrow.  He sent me the sweetest text this evening:

"Goodnight sweetheart.  Be sure to ask in your personal prayers tonight for the Lord's tender mercies to bless us with more of the love and passion that keeps us close and in each others hearts and minds, and which helps us remain hopelessly in love with each other.  The love I feel and experience with you so often for me, is a sacred feeling which can't be described in words.  It leaves me with a feeling of gratitude never to be forgotten; a feeling which I can only attempt to describe as euphoria because of the lack of adequate vocabulary in the English language to express it. The bottom line is you are loved beyond my ability to express with words alone.  

Good night sweetheart!"

This almost made me cry.

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

I was up at 6:30 this mornng.  I took a shower, washed my hair and dried some clothes.  I left for the hospital around 8:45 after having prayer and scriptures.  I went to get gas and then went to the bank.  I stopped at McDonald's to get James some oatmeal for breakfast. 

James is tired and sleeps most of the morning while I am there.  At 1pm Scott West from Presidential Realty comes by to talk about selling our house.  We signed papers to list the house for $446,000.  I am a little disappointed because I wanted to sell it right now, as is, to the investors for $360,000. 

Trina and her kids came by for a visit this afternoon.  They went to look for a See's candy store but could only find a Godiva one at Scottsdale Fashion Square so they brought James Godiva chocolates

 Addy, Rowan, and Ruby

James and I had salad and chili for dinner from the grill.  I left around 7:30 for home.  Sheri invited me to go get Froyo with her, Alex, Evan and Max. 

I went to bed around 10pm. 

Monday, July 8, 2013

Happy 21st Birthday Jared Ammon!

On the way to the hospital I stopped at McDonald's for a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.  When I got to the hospital I went to the grill and ordered James a veggie omelet.  He liked it but really doesn't have much of an appetite.  I got him a toothbrush at Walmart this morning and after breakfast I helped him clean up in the hospital bathroom.

James is on roommate #3.  His name is Eric.  He was in a car accident recently.  His leg had an infection and he broke five vertebrae.  Something was fishy though.  He just decided to get up an leave the hospital.  He didn't even last a day.  At one point someone from the hospital finance department came in and asked him some questions.  He said he makes a penny a card in royalties and last month he made $20,000, but he doesn't really have a place to live.  

I went to CVS this afternoon to get some adhesive for my temporary crown which keeps falling out.  When I returned Stacy, Dallin, and Joshua were visiting with James.

Dallin visiting with James in the hospital

Grandpa and Joshua

We had a nice visit with Stacy and the boys.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of Stacy.  After they left Zaki Shakir came by and brought James an orchid plant.  

James got a new roommate this evening.  His name is John and they think he had an appendicitis.  He and James got into a bit of a war with the TV's tonight.  John was watching something and then James decided he wanted to watch but he couldn't hear because John's TV was too loud so he turned his TV up and then John turned his up.  Finally I said: "This is ridiculous, let's just turn our TV off."  We were trying to watch War Horse and John was watching Dark Shadows.  

I help James get ready for bed and then I leave to go home.  He texts me but accidentally sends it to Zaki.  This is what he said: "Goodnight, babydoll."  I told him I hoped Zaki's wife didn't see the text because then she really wouldn't trust him.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

James and I were both sad to miss our meetings today.  Kim, Brian, and Joe attended fast and testimony meeting in the Vernon ward.  Kim sent me this text: : Brian, Joe and I went to your ward today.  It was one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been too.  You have an awesome ward!"  We really do have an awesome ward and I surely do miss it.

Laura called.  She and Dave are still in Idaho but she wanted to check on James.  Also Lois and Dawn visited this afternoon.  The walk to the room is quite long and I think it discouraged Lois from coming again. 

The doctor came in and said the second surgery would not be tomorrow because the swelling has not gone down enough. 

Rowan and Darrel came by for a visit.  Rowan watched Sponge Bog while Darrel visited. 

We actually ordered James's first meal today.  He ordered cod but said it was so overcooked that it was rubbery. 

James got a new roommate.  His name is Harold.  He has a bad cough because he smoked for 50 years.  I hope he makes it through the night.

I went back home to Chandler around 7:30.  Joshua was outside playing in the sprinkler.  He says: "Hi Grandma, have you been to the hospital and to Church?  I said, well Joshua, I have been to the hospital but I didn't get to go to Church.  He says:  "I didn't go to Church either."  I said, "Oh, that makes me said."  Joshua says: "Why?" 

Stacy fixed me a nice dinner.  Chicken, rice, corn, and biscuits.  It tasted good.  I watched The Next Foodnetwork Star.  Chris went home.  I wanted it to be "Pie Man" Rodney. 

Kim sent me a picture of the sunset and said it was raining. 

I miss Vernon

Saturday, July 6, 2013

I got updates from Trina throughout the night regarding James's surgery:  This text was sent at 12:50 am:
"He's out of surgery.  I just talked to Dr. Ortega.  He was able to place screws and bars.  They are going to watch the swelling every day.  They will do a ct scan later today to figure out the extent of the injury.  After the swelling goes down the earliest would be Monday, they will go in and place a plate and nail.  (They actually placed three plates and a rod.)

 Recovering from surgery

Exterior hardware

3:16 am. "They got him to his room.  He's eating ice.  His nurse is great.  I'm not going to stay because the room is tiny and he has a roommate.  There is nowhere for me to be, but he's good.  They are giving him pain medication now.  He is in room 410."

I got this message from James at 3:54 am: 

"This is my new home for about a week.  They will do another surgery on Sunday or Monday. (They weren't actually able to do it until Thursday).  Please bring me some garment changes, and shirt and pants and socks.  They cut off my clothes.  Please bring my medicine as well.  You are the love of my life!  Trina stayed with me all night.  Darrel is very blessed to have her.  I'm so drugged that it took me 30 minutes to do this text."

I left Vernon around 8:00am.  I stopped in Show Low to get gas and wash my car and to get something to eat at McDonald's.  I got this text as I was coming into Payson: "Where is my sunshine?"  I texted back: "On my way."  "What does that mean?"  "Payson."  "Be careful."  "OK."

James is so happy to see me when I finally arrive.  He is in alot of pain and very tired.  His nurse, a young black girl named Ryan tries various drugs for pain.  

This afternoon Tricia and her kids, who are in town, come for a visit, and so do Trina and her kids.  

James had a roommate, a hispanic man by the name of Ernie, but he checks out at the end of the day.

I stay until 9:30.  James wants me to stay but there is really no where for me to stay.  We ask the nurse about the empty bed and she said if I did use it we would have to pay for it.  Well I guess not.  I really do hate to leave but I need some rest so I can be here for him tomorrow.

I am going to close with a quote I saw today on Facebook by Mother Teresa:

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway."

Friday, July 5, 2013

It was overcast this morning and looked like it might rain.



James went out and chopped down another dead tree and hauled it away to be burned later.



I tried to do some catchup on my blog.  I am 18 days behind.

The boys played Rockband and Alex took a break to meditate.



Brian has a sinus infection and his medicine is not working.  He went into town to get a new prescription. 

Kim was in the kitchen making spaghetti tacos and I was sitting at the dining room table when a bat flew through the room close to her face, and then to mine.  We yelled and James saw where the bat went out through a crack in the ceiling near a log in the living room.  He had the boys bring in the big extension ladder but then realized he did not have any foam to seal the hole.  Another reason to go into town today. 

When James and I went in to town we made the following stops: Walmart, Home Depot, Express Fuel for gas, Big 5 Sports for a ping pong table, (obviously we took James's truck), and Show Low Motorsports to see about getting a windshield for the Razr.  We talked about full or half and decided we would come back tomorrow and get a half windshield.

Owen Taylor came by for a visit this afternoon.  He has a Razr just like ours!  He has a half windshield and mud flaps.  He told James he got them on Ebay a lot cheaper than what they are selling them for at Show Low Motosports. 

Around 5:30 or so, before dinner, James, Kim and I went on a Razr ride to Buckley Springs.  James was so happy.  He loves being out in nature and he loves the new Razr.

Antelope



 When we got home I was putting my jacket on a hook in the entryway when I heard a loud crash!  James had climbed up on the ladder to put foam in the crack where the bat came in and the ladder falls and his leg gets caught between two of the rungs as he comes down.  He broke it in three places.  You could see a bone sticking out.  I think that is called a compound fracture.  The sad thing is the room was filled with people who could have held that ladder for him but he didn't ask.  Kim was at the table doing a puzzle, and the boys were playing Rockband.  Brian was also in the room. 

We decided it would take too long to call an ambulance to come and get him so I put the seats down in my car and made a place for him to lay.  Brian and the boys helped him out to the car.  Alex got him a jacket because he was shivering, probably from shock.  I gave him two hydrocodone pills to help with the pain.  Michael came with me in case there was anything he could do to help.  He is so sweet!, and Brian followed behind in his car.  Brian also called ahead to the hospital to alert them that we were coming.

James said the worst pain he felt up to this point was when they put an air cast on him before they lifted him out of the car.  They tried to straighten his leg before putting it in the cast and that was what was so painful.

 Putting the cast on.

 

 

He was taken to a room in the emergency area of the hospital.  They took some x-rays and determined that he needed to be air evaced to Scottsdale because of the nature of the injury.

 

 

Sheri and Ian and the rest of their boys were on their way up when this happened.  Sheri had Ian drop her off at the hospital so she and I stood and watched the helicopter leave before going back to the cabin. 

 

 

Darrel and Paul met James at the hospital and gave him a blessing before his surgery.  Trina came and waited until the surgery was over and they had him in his room before she left.  I am so grateful to all of them for being there with James when I couldn't be.  I went home and tried to sleep so I could go down early tomorrow morning.

 

I was also grateful to Brian and Michael for going with us to the hospital and for Sheri for driving me home.  It has been a long day.