Last Sunday morning found us in the car headed for Sequoia National Park. We had a great visit with my girl's friends, and we attended one of the Sunday worship services her team puts on for park visitors. We spent the afternoon with three of her friends driving to a few places, so I could see some of the park too. I took a picture of the roof she was on when she fell, as well as pictures of the bears we saw.
We have had a quiet week this week. I managed to slip in a couple of rides on the local trails. on my bike, and my girl and I took Pepper the excitable dog for a couple of strolls around the block, but mostly she rested. On Monday, she received an email from financial aid suggesting she apply for a scholarship that was open Tuesday and Wednesday, so we spent some time on the scholarship application.
Wednesday morning, I loaded the car and put the bikes on the rack and we drove to PA. My girl had time to rest and I took a bike ride in the afternoon. It was fun to ride across the bridge again. We had a pleasant dinner with my brother Wednesday evening. He drove us to the restaurant in his new car.
Thursday morning I had the bikes back on the car before 7 for my longest day of driving. The first stop was the airport, where they let me push my girl's wheelchair to the gate. By the way, she did pass the metal detector test even with the metal in her back. I waited until her plane took off to leave. After countless warm sunny hours of driving north on I-5, I finally reached the turnoff for my cousin's house, which is where I was when all this started. I am in there now, planning on heading for my sister's house and a graduation tonight, then home tomorrow. The weather is much cooler here, which I like. My girl arrived safely in home yesterday and her dad and brother and dog picked her up at the airport. I know she is happy to be home, and I will be soon too.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A return to the scene of the accident
This is where she landed, now she is looking for her socks.
She slid off the higher part of the roof between the windows. The story is that she was attempting to traverse from a friend's room to hers because her door was locked. This was not the first time she had done it. I am thankful she survived the fall.
Oh, look, my favorite socks.
Following the accident, my girl was treated to a ride in an ambulance on a backboard down this road. I did not drive up this road to the park, but she assured me that at points the road looks like it will not hold on to the cliff much longer.
This is the team she was working with minus her roommate who was working while we were there.
We stopped by a few scenic points while we were in the park. Here is the famous General Sherman tree, also featured above with people in the photo for scale.
On the trail to the meadow where bears find things to eat.
When they grow by meadows, it is easier to take a picture of a whole giant sequoia.
There were good things to eat in this rotting log by the trail. This guy seemed oblivious to the photographers until someone started taking rapid fire SLR shots and making lots of noise.
He took one look at us and went back to work on the log.
Among the roots of a fallen giant, a new fern reaches for the sky.
This bear preferred the food out in the middle of the meadow.
The wet environment toppled this tree, providing a view of the shallow root structure.
There were a few rocks in the park too.
Another bear who shunned the photographers.
Flowers on the way up Moro Rock (where I took the picture of the road.)
Lizard on Moro Rock.
Once a tree falls, it does not hurt the tree to cut a tunnel through it.
One last bear, found by the side of the road, shot from the safety of the car.
She slid off the higher part of the roof between the windows. The story is that she was attempting to traverse from a friend's room to hers because her door was locked. This was not the first time she had done it. I am thankful she survived the fall.
Oh, look, my favorite socks.
Following the accident, my girl was treated to a ride in an ambulance on a backboard down this road. I did not drive up this road to the park, but she assured me that at points the road looks like it will not hold on to the cliff much longer.
This is the team she was working with minus her roommate who was working while we were there.
We stopped by a few scenic points while we were in the park. Here is the famous General Sherman tree, also featured above with people in the photo for scale.
On the trail to the meadow where bears find things to eat.
When they grow by meadows, it is easier to take a picture of a whole giant sequoia.
There were good things to eat in this rotting log by the trail. This guy seemed oblivious to the photographers until someone started taking rapid fire SLR shots and making lots of noise.
He took one look at us and went back to work on the log.
Among the roots of a fallen giant, a new fern reaches for the sky.
This bear preferred the food out in the middle of the meadow.
The wet environment toppled this tree, providing a view of the shallow root structure.
There were a few rocks in the park too.
Another bear who shunned the photographers.
Flowers on the way up Moro Rock (where I took the picture of the road.)
Lizard on Moro Rock.
Once a tree falls, it does not hurt the tree to cut a tunnel through it.
One last bear, found by the side of the road, shot from the safety of the car.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Where was I when the lights went out?
In what seems like another lifetime now, I left home for triathlon in Corvallis, Oregon. I saw a few interesting things along the way, which I captured in pixels to share with you. Travelling along the north side of the Grand Coulee, I stopped at the museum at Maryhill looking for a restroom. I found a few other things, but alas, no public restroom.
They did have a lovely view of the river.
The neighbors like windmills.
I took the old road just east of Portland because I was not in a hurry, and I love the green.
Lots of other people seemed to have the same idea. Maybe that is because it was Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. I was surprised that I actually managed to score a parking place by this pretty one. Traffic was backed up for miles on both sides.
Later that day, I arrived at my cousin's house and spend a pleasant evening visiting with her family and some friends who were visiting from Virginia. The next morning, all my plans for the month of June changed. I may be able to pick up the pieces of some of them by the end of this week when I return to Washington. At that time, I will have three weeks to train for my next two triathlons.
They did have a lovely view of the river.The neighbors like windmills.I took the old road just east of Portland because I was not in a hurry, and I love the green.Lots of other people seemed to have the same idea. Maybe that is because it was Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. I was surprised that I actually managed to score a parking place by this pretty one. Traffic was backed up for miles on both sides.Later that day, I arrived at my cousin's house and spend a pleasant evening visiting with her family and some friends who were visiting from Virginia. The next morning, all my plans for the month of June changed. I may be able to pick up the pieces of some of them by the end of this week when I return to Washington. At that time, I will have three weeks to train for my next two triathlons.Saturday, June 12, 2010
Wrapping up our stay in California
Picking up where I left off a couple of days ago, my girl had a great visit with J complete with a visit to the mall in the afternoon. We watched Letters to Juliet together before J headed north with her mother. In the morning, I had the oil changed in my car, so it will survive the trip home. At the mall, I purchased a bike rack at REI, so I can bring our bikes home with me.
I spent much of the day Friday on the phone with various doctor offices attempting to obtain follow up appointments after my girl returns to Washingon. It seems that some doctors want to see her medical records before making an appointment. They didn't want to take my word for what happened and what had been done to her. I faxed the surgery report to a couple of them and managed to convince them to make appointments for her. Then we requested records to be sent to the doctors from the hospital, which seems to work faster than asking them to send us records and carrying them to the doctor. All is in order now.
Today we have been hanging out and resting. I worked with the bike rack and the car and the bikes, and I think they will get along with each other until I make it back to Washington. Tomorrow, my girl and I are planning on driving up to Sequoia for the worship service her team is putting on in the morning. We will spend the day in the park seeing the bits that are close to the road. It will be good for everyone there to see her up and about again so soon after her fall.
Monday and Tuesday we hang out here, then on Wednesday we load up my little Fit and head for PA for the night. We decided that the grand plan for driving my girl home was too much time in the car for her, so Thursday morning I drop her off at the airport for a direct flight home. I will head north after she is on the plane. I am not sure how far I will drive on Thursday, but I plan on stopping by my sister's house on Friday to see my niece graduate from community college. On Saturday, I head for home for the first time in three weeks.
I spent much of the day Friday on the phone with various doctor offices attempting to obtain follow up appointments after my girl returns to Washingon. It seems that some doctors want to see her medical records before making an appointment. They didn't want to take my word for what happened and what had been done to her. I faxed the surgery report to a couple of them and managed to convince them to make appointments for her. Then we requested records to be sent to the doctors from the hospital, which seems to work faster than asking them to send us records and carrying them to the doctor. All is in order now.
Today we have been hanging out and resting. I worked with the bike rack and the car and the bikes, and I think they will get along with each other until I make it back to Washington. Tomorrow, my girl and I are planning on driving up to Sequoia for the worship service her team is putting on in the morning. We will spend the day in the park seeing the bits that are close to the road. It will be good for everyone there to see her up and about again so soon after her fall.
Monday and Tuesday we hang out here, then on Wednesday we load up my little Fit and head for PA for the night. We decided that the grand plan for driving my girl home was too much time in the car for her, so Thursday morning I drop her off at the airport for a direct flight home. I will head north after she is on the plane. I am not sure how far I will drive on Thursday, but I plan on stopping by my sister's house on Friday to see my niece graduate from community college. On Saturday, I head for home for the first time in three weeks.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
A day of appointments
This morning started early for summer vacation, departing at 8:30 for our first appointment at 9:00 for minor adjustments to my girl's brace. The brace man added more foam to the back, which makes it more comfortable and less likely to rub her the wrong way as she puts it on.
I thought we had plenty of time between that one and the next one around the corner, but by the time 10:30 rolled around we did not have much time to wait for appointment number 2. This one was with the folks from the Trauma Team who were her doctors in the hospital. The purpose was to remove the Foley catheter and see if my girl could go on her own. Removal went well, and the waiting and drinking started. We had a break before our next appointment, so we stopped by medical records, who could not do anything for us because we did not have my girl's ID with us. We consoled ourselves with In N Out for lunch, then raced back by the cousins house to collect my girl's ID before her 1:15 appointment with her surgeon.
We discussed a few things and they removed the staples from her back. She is healing well, but I will still be applying a bandage to her back for a few more days. We forgot to discuss plans for driving home a little at a time, so we will be calling him back tomorrow to see if he approves that plan. If not, we will be checking airline schedules to fly my girl home. We did obtain copies of the surgery report from him, which will facilitate finding follow up care when we return home.
After drinking all day, my girl had still not peed, so we returned to the office for appointment #2 to check in. They wanted her to drink and wait another hour, which she did, but without success. When we went back to the office, they reinserted the catheter. We will follow up with a urologist when we are home again, but this is not unexpected considering her injury. We returned to the cousins house around 5 in the evening exhausted.
My girl found a new burst of energy shortly after 8 when her friend J and her mother arrived from Truckee for a visit. The girls will spend the day together tomorrow giggling and remembering all the good times they have enjoyed together.
I thought we had plenty of time between that one and the next one around the corner, but by the time 10:30 rolled around we did not have much time to wait for appointment number 2. This one was with the folks from the Trauma Team who were her doctors in the hospital. The purpose was to remove the Foley catheter and see if my girl could go on her own. Removal went well, and the waiting and drinking started. We had a break before our next appointment, so we stopped by medical records, who could not do anything for us because we did not have my girl's ID with us. We consoled ourselves with In N Out for lunch, then raced back by the cousins house to collect my girl's ID before her 1:15 appointment with her surgeon.
We discussed a few things and they removed the staples from her back. She is healing well, but I will still be applying a bandage to her back for a few more days. We forgot to discuss plans for driving home a little at a time, so we will be calling him back tomorrow to see if he approves that plan. If not, we will be checking airline schedules to fly my girl home. We did obtain copies of the surgery report from him, which will facilitate finding follow up care when we return home.
After drinking all day, my girl had still not peed, so we returned to the office for appointment #2 to check in. They wanted her to drink and wait another hour, which she did, but without success. When we went back to the office, they reinserted the catheter. We will follow up with a urologist when we are home again, but this is not unexpected considering her injury. We returned to the cousins house around 5 in the evening exhausted.
My girl found a new burst of energy shortly after 8 when her friend J and her mother arrived from Truckee for a visit. The girls will spend the day together tomorrow giggling and remembering all the good times they have enjoyed together.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Hallelujah, she is a free woman!
Yesterday was a long day, and last night was even longer, but my girl has been discharged from the hospital and is well enough to use my computer all morning. Now that I have these keys under my fingers again, I can catch up on the events of the day.
Sunday morning, I went to church with my nephew and his wife, while Aunt C and Couin J visited once more with my girl before heading north to Washington. After church, Cousin B and I stopped by Subway for some lunch. I ordered an extra large sandwich, in case I needed something for dinner, but my girl ate the second half for lunch instead. It is good to see her hungry and wanting food. It helps when it is the kind of food she likes.
She had been cleared for discharge with a catheter due to a urinary tract infection, but she still needed to move her bowels before we took her home. Without going into details, it took time, but something finally made it work. My brother D has said earlier in the week that he would stop by on his way from LB to PA on Sunday afternoon. He said he would come by mid afternoon. Around 7:45 we knew it was mid afternoon. We had a nice visit, after which I realized that I needed a 24 hour pharmacy to pick up pain medicine before I took my girl home. The nurse assistant and I consulted the internet to find the right Walgreens close to the hospital. They agreed to keep her until I made the run for the drugs, to keep my girl from having to make the extra stops on her way home.
When all was said and done, it was almost midnight when we returned home. I tucked in instead of turning on the computer. This morning, my girl was up and ready for breakfast and happy not to be in the hospital anymore. She was so happy in fact that she sat on the couch with my computer until a few minutes ago.
Life is good, but the adventure is not quite over. She has follow up appointments on Wednesday here to check her back and remove the catheter which we brought home. Then we will think about when she will travel back to Washington. After she returns home, she will wear her brace for three months and start physical therapy after six months when her back is completely healed. She will set off metal detectors wherever she goes for the rest of her life.
Thank you for your prayers. I appreciate your replies, even if I do not have time to respond to each one. I do share your messages with Diana. I will continue to add updates, but not daily. I will be sure post how the appointments go on Wednesday and when she is ready to travel back to Washington.
Sunday morning, I went to church with my nephew and his wife, while Aunt C and Couin J visited once more with my girl before heading north to Washington. After church, Cousin B and I stopped by Subway for some lunch. I ordered an extra large sandwich, in case I needed something for dinner, but my girl ate the second half for lunch instead. It is good to see her hungry and wanting food. It helps when it is the kind of food she likes.
She had been cleared for discharge with a catheter due to a urinary tract infection, but she still needed to move her bowels before we took her home. Without going into details, it took time, but something finally made it work. My brother D has said earlier in the week that he would stop by on his way from LB to PA on Sunday afternoon. He said he would come by mid afternoon. Around 7:45 we knew it was mid afternoon. We had a nice visit, after which I realized that I needed a 24 hour pharmacy to pick up pain medicine before I took my girl home. The nurse assistant and I consulted the internet to find the right Walgreens close to the hospital. They agreed to keep her until I made the run for the drugs, to keep my girl from having to make the extra stops on her way home.
When all was said and done, it was almost midnight when we returned home. I tucked in instead of turning on the computer. This morning, my girl was up and ready for breakfast and happy not to be in the hospital anymore. She was so happy in fact that she sat on the couch with my computer until a few minutes ago.
Life is good, but the adventure is not quite over. She has follow up appointments on Wednesday here to check her back and remove the catheter which we brought home. Then we will think about when she will travel back to Washington. After she returns home, she will wear her brace for three months and start physical therapy after six months when her back is completely healed. She will set off metal detectors wherever she goes for the rest of her life.
Thank you for your prayers. I appreciate your replies, even if I do not have time to respond to each one. I do share your messages with Diana. I will continue to add updates, but not daily. I will be sure post how the appointments go on Wednesday and when she is ready to travel back to Washington.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Even when I feel like nothing is changing, at the end of the day I realize how much progress we have made. I managed to fit in another bike ride today, which helps my sanity.
Today my girl was perky and cheerful. She texted me to request favorite foods from the store before I arrived, and enjoyed a drink from Jamba Juice I picked up for her during the day. She also nibbled at the In N Out fries her Aunt C brought back with my dinner. Eating is good, and as she eats more her appetite improves. We had a delightful afternoon with Aunt C and Cousin J who left Olympia, Washington yesterday afternoon with the express purpose of visiting my girl. They are heading home after visiting with her tomorrow morning for a short time while I am at church with her cousin's family praising God that I still have a daughter and that she is recovering so well.
My girl took her prescribed three walks this afternoon, touring the 9th floor of the hospital supported by one of the nurses and by me. She leaned on us much less this evening, and was walking much faster as well. It is wonderful to see her up and moving around. They took her away for a CT scan to see if there is something that they can do about her bladder function. We are awaiting results of that before discharge. If all goes well, my girl will be discharged tomorrow, but we have learned to take each day one at a time.
Thank you for your love and prayers.
Today my girl was perky and cheerful. She texted me to request favorite foods from the store before I arrived, and enjoyed a drink from Jamba Juice I picked up for her during the day. She also nibbled at the In N Out fries her Aunt C brought back with my dinner. Eating is good, and as she eats more her appetite improves. We had a delightful afternoon with Aunt C and Cousin J who left Olympia, Washington yesterday afternoon with the express purpose of visiting my girl. They are heading home after visiting with her tomorrow morning for a short time while I am at church with her cousin's family praising God that I still have a daughter and that she is recovering so well.
My girl took her prescribed three walks this afternoon, touring the 9th floor of the hospital supported by one of the nurses and by me. She leaned on us much less this evening, and was walking much faster as well. It is wonderful to see her up and moving around. They took her away for a CT scan to see if there is something that they can do about her bladder function. We are awaiting results of that before discharge. If all goes well, my girl will be discharged tomorrow, but we have learned to take each day one at a time.
Thank you for your love and prayers.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Another day in the hospital, small steps
Thank you for all your prayers. God is taking such good care of us down here, that I know He is listening to all of your petitions on our behalf. This morning, I even found time to ride my bike a few miles before I headed off to the hospital for the day.
Yesterday afternoon, they removed my girl's catheter and she tried to use a bed pan. This afternoon, they put the catheter back. Please pray that they are able to remove it and she is able to pee on her own before discharge. We can deal with the catheter at home, and they will remove it later, but it will feel so much better for her to come home without it.
My girl walked all the way down the hall and back twice this morning, she walked in her room at midday, and she walked down the hall and back again tonight. Each time she puts on her brace and gets up and moves it hurts a little less. Just after surgery, she was reporting her pain at 7 or 8 on a scale of 10. This evening, she said it was a 2 or a 3. Praise God that the pain is subsiding even as they are weaning her off the pain medication.
Tomorrow my sister will arrive from Olympia, Washington with her daughter to visit us. We are excited that they have driven so far to see us.
Yesterday afternoon, they removed my girl's catheter and she tried to use a bed pan. This afternoon, they put the catheter back. Please pray that they are able to remove it and she is able to pee on her own before discharge. We can deal with the catheter at home, and they will remove it later, but it will feel so much better for her to come home without it.
My girl walked all the way down the hall and back twice this morning, she walked in her room at midday, and she walked down the hall and back again tonight. Each time she puts on her brace and gets up and moves it hurts a little less. Just after surgery, she was reporting her pain at 7 or 8 on a scale of 10. This evening, she said it was a 2 or a 3. Praise God that the pain is subsiding even as they are weaning her off the pain medication.
Tomorrow my sister will arrive from Olympia, Washington with her daughter to visit us. We are excited that they have driven so far to see us.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
My girl walked today
This afternoon, my girl took her first steps since her accident. They were slow, and she had lots of support from two nice ladies from physical therapy, but she was on her own two feet moving under her own power. She is eating more, but she is still very sleepy and not very hungry. Some of that is the medication and some of that is just the healing process. She moved to a different floor this evening, which is a lower level of care and indicates that her condition is improving. Every time I see her, she looks better.
My girl is enjoying hearing from her friends on Facebook and on her cell phone. If she does not answer when you call, she is sleeping, or maybe even out for another walk.
We both are thankful for all your prayers.
My girl is enjoying hearing from her friends on Facebook and on her cell phone. If she does not answer when you call, she is sleeping, or maybe even out for another walk.
We both are thankful for all your prayers.
Why I am in California again so soon
For those of you who don't receive the email, here is what I have been up to for the last week:
I have been updating folks in scattered ways about has been happening since my girl fell off a roof early Monday morning. Adding copies of my emails to my blog gives everyone another way to follow me.
At 6:21 Monday morning, as I was getting ready to drive across town from my cousin P’s house to the start of a triathlon in Corvallis, Oregon, my phone rang. It was my daughter calling, barely able to speak saying she had an accident. She handed the phone to her supervisor, who told me that my girl had fallen off a roof and had been transported from Sequoia National Park, where she was employed this summer to Visalia via ambulance. They were about to move her to Fresno, where treatment would be better. At that point, they knew something was broken in her back, that her feet could move and that it was below the spinal cord. I made some phone calls, one to her father and another to her cousin’s wife in Fresno who is an RN. Cousin B spent the day Monday with my girl interpreting medicalese and running interference for a very scared patient. Knowing that a couple of hours would not make much difference, I did my triathlon before heading south.
I spent the rest of the day Monday, and late into the night driving through Oregon and a large part of California on I 5, switching to US 99 in Sacramento. All day I was on the phone with my girl and cousin B hearing what was going on and offering what comfort I could, then calling and texting everyone I could think of with updates and prayer requests. I spent the night in Merced, about an hour north of Fresno, when I could not drive any more. Tuesday morning, I was in my car early to be at the hospital before her surgery. Pre-op was at 6:30, and she wanted to see me before she went in. I spent about an hour with her in her room and in prep before they took her in. Cousin B arrived shortly after I did Tuesday morning, and we spent the day together at the hospital and shopping for a few things for my girl and some clothes for me. I had packed what I needed for two days and a triathlon. I almost left my computer at home. I still have my bike with me.
Surgery went very well Tuesday morning, and she has screws and rods in her back to realign her spine as it heals. They are permanent. The doctor projected three days in the hospital for recovery. He said the pain is most intense for the first two days after the operation. She has an open invitation to recover with her cousins in Fresno after her discharge until she is ready to travel. Tuesday night, friends from the park brought her bike and all her other stuff down, so it is waiting here for her. She has her cell phone, and she appreciates hearing from friends.
Wednesday, they made a brace for her, which she will wear for the next three months any time she is not on her back in bed. It will enable her to get up Thursday morning and attempt walking. She is concerned about the pain when she moves out of bed, because any time she even turns over or someone changes the sheets she hurts.
My plan is to stay in Fresno until my girl is ready to fly north, which I anticipate will be about three weeks. The doctor wants her to stay in Fresno until the staples come out, and I am not sure how long it will take after that until she is ready to sit on a plane for a few hours for the flight home to Spokane. I will be racking her bike and mine on the back of my little Fit and heading north again someday.
Today, Thursday, I will be spending the day with my girl again in the hospital. We thank you for all your prayers and the concern that everyone has expressed for her and for her recovery.
In answer to the other question everyone is asking, she was in her friends’ room next door chatting when her roommate left for the night and locked the door. This was not the first time that creative means were used to reenter her room. There were no screens on the windows, so my girl once again set out to crawl across the roof to her window. Unfortunately, this time the metal roof was wet and she slipped and landed on a pile of snow. Her friends heard her scream, and help was on the way immediately.
Throughout the whole experience, we have seen God at work, keeping this from being as bad as it could have been. She has lots of friends who have been praying for her in several states. We are hearing about friends and connections in Fresno we never knew about, or forgot were here. The story is not done yet, but that is as far as we have made it now.
I have been updating folks in scattered ways about has been happening since my girl fell off a roof early Monday morning. Adding copies of my emails to my blog gives everyone another way to follow me.
At 6:21 Monday morning, as I was getting ready to drive across town from my cousin P’s house to the start of a triathlon in Corvallis, Oregon, my phone rang. It was my daughter calling, barely able to speak saying she had an accident. She handed the phone to her supervisor, who told me that my girl had fallen off a roof and had been transported from Sequoia National Park, where she was employed this summer to Visalia via ambulance. They were about to move her to Fresno, where treatment would be better. At that point, they knew something was broken in her back, that her feet could move and that it was below the spinal cord. I made some phone calls, one to her father and another to her cousin’s wife in Fresno who is an RN. Cousin B spent the day Monday with my girl interpreting medicalese and running interference for a very scared patient. Knowing that a couple of hours would not make much difference, I did my triathlon before heading south.
I spent the rest of the day Monday, and late into the night driving through Oregon and a large part of California on I 5, switching to US 99 in Sacramento. All day I was on the phone with my girl and cousin B hearing what was going on and offering what comfort I could, then calling and texting everyone I could think of with updates and prayer requests. I spent the night in Merced, about an hour north of Fresno, when I could not drive any more. Tuesday morning, I was in my car early to be at the hospital before her surgery. Pre-op was at 6:30, and she wanted to see me before she went in. I spent about an hour with her in her room and in prep before they took her in. Cousin B arrived shortly after I did Tuesday morning, and we spent the day together at the hospital and shopping for a few things for my girl and some clothes for me. I had packed what I needed for two days and a triathlon. I almost left my computer at home. I still have my bike with me.
Surgery went very well Tuesday morning, and she has screws and rods in her back to realign her spine as it heals. They are permanent. The doctor projected three days in the hospital for recovery. He said the pain is most intense for the first two days after the operation. She has an open invitation to recover with her cousins in Fresno after her discharge until she is ready to travel. Tuesday night, friends from the park brought her bike and all her other stuff down, so it is waiting here for her. She has her cell phone, and she appreciates hearing from friends.
Wednesday, they made a brace for her, which she will wear for the next three months any time she is not on her back in bed. It will enable her to get up Thursday morning and attempt walking. She is concerned about the pain when she moves out of bed, because any time she even turns over or someone changes the sheets she hurts.
My plan is to stay in Fresno until my girl is ready to fly north, which I anticipate will be about three weeks. The doctor wants her to stay in Fresno until the staples come out, and I am not sure how long it will take after that until she is ready to sit on a plane for a few hours for the flight home to Spokane. I will be racking her bike and mine on the back of my little Fit and heading north again someday.
Today, Thursday, I will be spending the day with my girl again in the hospital. We thank you for all your prayers and the concern that everyone has expressed for her and for her recovery.
In answer to the other question everyone is asking, she was in her friends’ room next door chatting when her roommate left for the night and locked the door. This was not the first time that creative means were used to reenter her room. There were no screens on the windows, so my girl once again set out to crawl across the roof to her window. Unfortunately, this time the metal roof was wet and she slipped and landed on a pile of snow. Her friends heard her scream, and help was on the way immediately.
Throughout the whole experience, we have seen God at work, keeping this from being as bad as it could have been. She has lots of friends who have been praying for her in several states. We are hearing about friends and connections in Fresno we never knew about, or forgot were here. The story is not done yet, but that is as far as we have made it now.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Kites and cherry blossoms and more
These won't make you sneeze.
We visited at the right time to see the cherry blossoms and the kite festival.
It was a good day to take a boat ride.
There was some construction going on with the seawall in front of the Jefferson Memorial, so we followed this superhighway around to the other side.
Tall skinny monuments fit better in pictures.
They reflect nicely too.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt has the largest monument. We walked through it backwards, which I realized when we reached the beginning of his first presidency. Much thought was put into the design which memorializes the man and the times.
His wife was an accomplished woman on her own.
The man became larger than life.
More cherry blossoms.
Mr. Jefferson has an nice memorial on the far side of the tidal basin.
Close up shots are fun too.
The day ended with lots of kites flying around the base of the Washington Monument.
One group helped kids make kites to fly.
After making kites, we flew kites.
My parting shot for the day was the famous kite eating tree.
We visited at the right time to see the cherry blossoms and the kite festival.It was a good day to take a boat ride.
There was some construction going on with the seawall in front of the Jefferson Memorial, so we followed this superhighway around to the other side.
Tall skinny monuments fit better in pictures.
They reflect nicely too.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt has the largest monument. We walked through it backwards, which I realized when we reached the beginning of his first presidency. Much thought was put into the design which memorializes the man and the times.
His wife was an accomplished woman on her own.
The man became larger than life.
More cherry blossoms.Mr. Jefferson has an nice memorial on the far side of the tidal basin.Close up shots are fun too.The day ended with lots of kites flying around the base of the Washington Monument.
One group helped kids make kites to fly.
After making kites, we flew kites.
My parting shot for the day was the famous kite eating tree.
Monday, April 19, 2010
A monumental day
One day I took two boys to see which famous places we could see. The first one we found celebrates the Marines.
Two boys and a stick. We found lots of sticks.
Our next stop was a short drive and a long walk away. We climbed the hill on our own feet except for a little carry at the end.
We found several Kennedys and a fascinating flame.
There must be some family ties in here somewhere.
We drove around a long time before we found a place to park near this guy. 
I stood on a famous step to read about a dream. 
We found lots of letters in the names on the Vietnam Wall.
If we look close enough, we can see a reflection, or so a little boy said.
Ducks. Oh, and a pointy monument.
More than one monument has a wall of names.
The Korean memorial tells it like it was.
Two boys and a stick. We found lots of sticks.
Our next stop was a short drive and a long walk away. We climbed the hill on our own feet except for a little carry at the end.We found several Kennedys and a fascinating flame.There must be some family ties in here somewhere.
We drove around a long time before we found a place to park near this guy. 
I stood on a famous step to read about a dream. We found lots of letters in the names on the Vietnam Wall.
If we look close enough, we can see a reflection, or so a little boy said.
Ducks. Oh, and a pointy monument.
More than one monument has a wall of names.The Korean memorial tells it like it was.
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