Back To Work

I didn't really do very well keeping up on our blog while I was caring for Jason. The truth is, his recovery has gone so well, and he went back to work this week! His doctor has put him on light duty (paper work & phone calls) until June. (Which is excellent news considering that we were first told that he would be on light duty for possibly a year!) He is adjusting well to working in an office enviroment, although I've been told by the ladies who work with him in the office, that he jumps out of his chair everytime a "Fun Call" is heard on the radio. He just want's to be back in the middle of it all, and they have to remind him that he has to sit at that desk for 3 more months! No running off to "burglary in progress," or "high speed chases" just yet.

The best news came last week after months of waiting that Workman's Compensation will be covering the expenses of the surgery, time off work, and medications! What a relief, and answer to our prayers! When the phone call came, I was jumping up & down in the living room! You can't imagine our excitement!

The boy's are both doing great. Sawyer is excited to be playing baseball this spring on his "Uncle Brad's" little league team. It should be a lot of fun for both him and myself. He loves baseball almost as much as I do! Kayson is growing like a weed! He now is tipping the scales at 22 pounds-and I can't keep him in clothes that fit him to save me! He is only 7 months old, and wearing 12 month old clothes. He is for sure following in his brother's footsteps!

As for me, I have been busy with my Real Estate. It's a great time to buy if you can quailfy, because so many homes are on the market with everyone losing their homes to foreclosure. It's been really nice being able to stay home with the boys, and focus on my business, rather than working in the office, and worrying about every other agent's business. Maybe that's selfish...but I LOVE being home!

During Jason's 3 1/2 months at home with us, we have been able to do a lot of stuff around the house. I think he has painted almost every room in the house now-with exception to our bedroom, which one of these weekends needs to be done! We were also able to spend a few days in St. George & Vegas for Jason's birthday, which was a well needed break from the kids for me. I think I'm going to get used to the idea of him not being around much anymore, but I was spoiled having him home with me for so long! It's going to be an adjustment letting him work those 10 hour shifts again!

Other than that...we are all happy and healthy (with the exception of Sawyer & his ear infection). We are keeping our fingers crossed that this year only brings good things to our family!

Recovery

Jason was released from the hospital on Tuesday, and I have been busy ever since!
After the angiogram on Monday, the doctor told us that the surgery went so well, that they couldn't even see where the aneurysm was! The doctor wanted him to stay one more day to ensure that everything was going well-much to Jason's disappointment. He really was looking forward to coming home on Monday.
Tuesday morning he was up, showered, dressed, and telling the nurse he was leaving when I got to the hospital. We waited for a couple of hours before the doctors assistant came in to take the staples out of his head. WOW! That was not a fun time for me to sit & "listen" to those things coming out of his head. I actually had to sit down on the bed because I felt like I was going to pass out! He says that it didn't really hurt...but I don't believe him. He was just happy to get his discharge papers, and get out of the hospital!
It's been crazy at our house ever since, with having to get him his medication at certain times throughout the day and night, making sure he is not in pain, (or doing things he shouldn't be doing) plus trying to balance the boys...I don't think I've slept more than 3 hours at a time. I have had a lot of help from family and friends-and I really appreciate that.
We wanted to thank everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers, and also to our ward for all the meals, and babysitting that has been provided. We also wanted to thank the South Salt Lake Police Department, and Fire Department for all that you have and are doing for our family. It is humbling to both of us!

Day 6

Believe it or not, Jason has been moved out of the ICU!
When I got to the hospital this morning, the nurse had him unhooked from all the tubes and wires because he was doing so well on his own. He was able to get himself out of bed, walk on his own, and use the restroom. We waited until after the doctor came in and let us know that everything was going so well, that they felt it was best to move him up to the 7th floor. We had been told that this type of surgery usually requires at least a 2 week stay in the ICU, and another week under observation. It is truly a miracle that he has recovered so well, and they are talking about sending him home on Tuesday. We know this is because of all the prayers and support that have gone out for our family this week.
This morning, the hospital branch presidency for our church came and provided the sacrament for us, and then we were able to spend some time alone together with out the interruption of the nurses coming in every few minutes. We watched a movie (Jason using only one eye of course), and had lunch together before they shipped us upstairs. His new room is much bigger, and even has a pull out bed for me! Finally-I don't have to sleep in a chair anymore!!! This floor is very quiet, and Jason is finally catching up on the sleep that he has missed over the last 6 days!
They are still planning on doing the angiogram tomorrow, and even talked about taking his staples out of his head on Tuesday if the wound has healed up enough. (By the way, for those of you who were in on the wager of how many staples there are in his head...there are 48-I think Chief Snyder was the closest to that number!)
The highlight of Jason's day was that he was able to see the kids this afternoon. Kayson was more interested in looking out the window than looking at his dad, but he does have a rather short attention span. Sawyer at first was a little wary of seeing his dad look beat up, but within 20 minutes he was carrying on a conversation with Jason about "bad guys", and helicoptors. We are working on trying to get Constence down here, but it might be a little harder with her having to go back to school tomorrow.
We want to thank everyone who has helped us out this last week, and for all of you who we know will be helping us in the weeks to come. We truly have felt of everyones love and support for our family!

Day 5

Jason decided last night that he didn't want any more pain medication at all. He hasn't even really taken the Ibuprofen or Tylenol to help ease the pain. He figures his body is healing better on it's own, and he is in less pain when he is not throwing up. It is starting to make me feel guilty for grabbing a Tylenol for a little tiny headache when I look at the scar he has from his forehead down behind his ear! He is one tough guy!
Today was a GREAT day! Jason was able to walk around the ICU unit, eat solid food, and he finally got some sleep. The doctor told us that it is very possible that he could be out of the ICU as early as Monday, and out of the hospital by Wednesday! He is scheduled to have another angiogram on Monday just to make sure everything is as it should be in his brain, and then they can move him up to the 7th floor where he can finally see the kids. This news has kept his spirit up and he is anxious to get home.

Day 4

My sisters & mom have a tradition of going shopping on Black Friday, and I was forced to go this morning to get my mind away from the hospital. We had fun, but I was anxious to get back to the hospital.
When I got there, Jason was looking much better! Hopefully they won't keep him in the ICU as long as we originally thought. They are hoping to move him to a different room by Monday! He actually got out of bed & walked in the room, we had him sitting up in a chair for a little bit, and he even got a little sponge bath! We found that the best thing for his pain was simply Ibuprofen, and it has helped tremendously. The doctor came in today and removed his bandages (which hurt according to the not so nice words that came out of Jason's mouth!)His head is stapled from the middle of his forehead, all the way down behind his left ear. They also removed his drainage pump out of his ear, and put in two more staples. One of these days I'll have to count how many staples are in there, but my guess is at least 75. He started getting hungry around 5:00, so he had some beef broth & saltine crakers, and was able to get some sleep.
The ICU kicks me out between 6:30 & 8:30 so I went home to get some laundry done, and have dinner. The ward has started to make me some meals, so I don't have to worry about cooking. (Thank goodness!) Sawyer is doing great with his Aunt Mel-Mel, so I'm just going to leave him there & hope he continues to be good. Kayson has been with my mom, and I go get him at night so I can be with him for a little while.
When I got back to the hospital, he was still doing pretty good-just very tired. We went for a walk around the ICU tonight, and I had a hard time keeping up with him. He is finally on the road to recovery!

Day 3-THANKSGIVING

I got to the hospital this morning and stopped in the cafeteria to grab some breakfast to take up to the room with me, so i wouldn't have to eat alone in the cafeteria. The second i walked in the room, Jason immediately began throwing up, and told me to "get that crap out of here!" I felt awful I had made him hurt worse than he already did.
He told me that it had been a long night of horrible pain & nausea. Whenever he would take his pain pills it would make him nauseous, which would cause him more pain to throw up. So, he just choose to not take the pain medication. I guess I've lived with his stubborness for almost 6 years, so this didn't surprise me at all. The doctor had warned me that today would be the worst day of the recovery.
I left the hospital around 3:00 t0 g0 have Thanksgiving Dinner with my family, but I hurried back as soon as possible to be there with him.
Sawyer is having a really hard time understanding what happened, and why mommy & daddy aren't around very much. His emotions are starting get the better of him. I hope he will forgive me later on for neglecting him this week.
I got back to the hospital to find Jason sitting up & awake. He was talking to the nurse, and even kept down a saltine cracker, a couple spoonfuls of Jello, and some grape juice (Happy Thanksgiving!)

Day 2

I arrived back at the hospital before 6:00 am. Jason was very nervous and anxious about having brain surgery. He received a blessing from his father, my dad & Brad just before the nurses came to take him down to surgery. We all said our goodbyes, and walked out to the elevator with him, and went to the waiting room. Immediately the nurse came back & told us that the anesthesiologist called in sick & we would need to wait until we could get somebody there to knock him out. We went back up to his room, where he had even more time to worry, but luckily they were ready to go within 30 minutes.
The surgery lasted about 4 hours, and the Doctor says that everything went well. Once he got back up to the ICU, they let me go back to be with him, and he was obviously in a lot of pain, mostly in his left eye which was swelling up like a baseball. The nurse had a hard time finding a pain medication that would help, and it was hard for me to see him in so much pain. The only thing that seemed to help was for me to hold a cold rag over his eye and apply some pressure. It will probably be a long recovery.