Lucky to be alive!

Growing up in a small town I know how quickly word travels and when word travels, someone with a hang-nail may end up with a missing limb...LOL! With that said...

I'm sure many of you "heard" that Jamey was involved in (caused) a severe car accident about a week & a half ago. This is funny... Within 2 hours of the accident Jill received a call from a friend asking how Jamey was doing b/c she "heard" Jamey shattered both of his legs. Let me take a minute to set things straight. :)

THE CALL - I was at home folding laundry when my cell phone rang. When I answered Jamey's call, he screaming & crying in pain. I begged him to calm down & tell me what happened. After listening to him for God knows how long, I heard a male's voice. He said his name was Trevor & that he was with the EMT, then the phone line went dead...ugh! Minutes later (seemed like hours!), Jamey called back. Again he was screaming & crying but managed to tell me he was involved in a car accident. I didn't know any details about the accident or about Jamey when I heard a woman's voice say "We need to get him out NOW! The vehicle's on fire!" and then the phone line went dead again...ugh! As you can imagine, I was hysterical!!! The third & final phone call I received was from Amy; an EMT. Amy told me she didn't know the extent of Jamey injuries & that he was being transported by ambulance to the ER.

THE HOSPITAL - Jamey spent 5 hours in the ER. (5 of the longest hours of my life!) He was strapped to a backboard for 3 of the 5 hours before neck/back injuries were ruled out. Asides from many bumps & bruises, X-rays showed that Jamey's big toe was dislocated & his foot was broke in several places. After reviewing Jamey's x-rays, the ER doctor sedated Jamey, put his toe back in place, then transferred him to a room of his own for observation & pain control.

On Sunday morning, we met with an Orthopedic surgeon to determine how Jamey's foot would be repaired. After his exam, he told us that Jamey would have to stay in the hospital until his surgery b/c Jamey was at high risk for compartment syndrome. The doctor explained compartment syndrome as... The foot allows for an incredible amount of swelling but if the swelling is too extensive, it will cut off circulation to the muscles causing them to die. He said that if the swelling in Jamey's foot got any worse he'd have to perform an emergency surgery & cut "pockets" (long slits) in Jamey's foot to allow some of the pressure off.

Once in the operating room on Monday morning, they were able to rule out compartment syndrome...whew! The surgeon put the pins in Jamey's 2nd & 3rd toes (they come out the bottom of his foot...ewww!) to repair the broken bones in his toes & foot. The surgeon knew Jamey had a large abrasion somewhere on his foot & during surgery was able to determined its origin. Jamey's big toe nail broke off at the base of the nail bed & cut all the way down to the bone. So while Jamey was still sedated they cleaned the abrasion really well, then stretched Jamey's skin to cover the bone & stitched a "x" on the top of his toe, again to cover the bone, then sewed his toenail back to his toe as sort of a splint. If you ask me, it looks pretty freakin' nasty!

After surgery Jamey's blood pressure was at a dangerous level & he was again in an incredible amount of pain. Jamey had to stay in the hospital on Monday night for observation & pain control. After 3 very long days in the hospital, Jamey was finally released to go home on Tuesday afternoon.

Jamey & I both went through a roller coaster of emotions from the time of the accident until the he was released from the hospital. It was our family & friends who called, sent text messages & e-mails, and visited that helped get us through! We can't thank you enough!!! A special thank you to our family & friends that visited Jamey in the hospital or at home. It helped to brighten his mood & means more to us than you know!!! We love you!

Thanks!

Thank you to those of you that have e-mailed to say you're still thinking of & praying for Deena & Baby! It means a lot to all of us!!!

Deena's 34 weeks & still hangin' in there. Her contractions are getting stronger & more frequent everyday, which causes Deena to become more & more uncomfortable. From 32-34 weeks, Deena's dilated another 1-1 1/2 cm which doesn't sound like much, but in the grand scheme of things, its a lot!

Deena's feeling constant pressure now, which seems to be getting increasing worse each day. Dr. McKenzie was surprised to feel just how low Baby was at 32 weeks & now at 34 weeks, she isn't sure how Deena's keeping her/him in. She said when Deena walks, it looks like she's squeezing to keep the little one inside...LOL!

Because Regina Medical Center (Hastings) doesn't have a NICU, if Deena goes into labor within the next 2 weeks, she'll have to deliver at United. (its protocol) Deena's hoping to hang on another 2 weeks, but really its not up to her what happens next. :)

If Deena doesn't go into labor prior to 36 weeks, they'll do an ultrasound at her check-up to see if her placenta has shifted. If it has shifted, the placenta previa corrected itself & Deena will be able to deliver Baby vaginally. If hasn't correct itself, Deena will be forced to have a c-section. If Deena goes into labor prior to her 36 week check-up, they'll do an ultrasound immediately to determine how to deliver Baby.

After spending a couple of nights with Deena this week, I'm hoping she has Baby soon! She tries to hide the fact that she's uncomfortable, but it shows! She'll double over in pain from a contraction & I'll ask her if she's ok. Her response is always the same, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little contractions." Well its can't be that little if it causes her to double over.

On to the next topic... Thank you to those of you that sent e-mails, text messages or called to see how we survived the storm. (July 10th) Hampton was hit pretty hard, but we suffered minimal damage. Jill & Mike we're quite as lucky as we were. They lost many trees, their screen porch was ruined as well as the deck that surrounded it, and are in need of a new roof. Again, pretty minimal damage. My Grandma Kimmes' farm & aunt & uncle, Joe & Diane Meyers, suffered much more extensive damage than Jill or I. My heart truly goes out to them!

PeeWee League

Randolph's PeeWee League ended last night. This was the first year that McKenzie played softball/baseball. She's a natural athlete (which she obviously doesn't get from me!) and is good at everything she tries. The action shot was taken just as she hit a line drive that just about took the pitcher's (Rodney Braatz) head off. (Sorry Rodney!) It was a great hit! McKenzie loved hitting but wasn't real attentive in the field which frustrated the assistant coach - Jamey - lol!!! Stay tuned for pictures of Lauryn's last night of t-ball. (Thursday) I can't wait for the month of August when we won't have any weekly commitments. It'll be nice to go home after work & stay home if we want to.

Swimming Lessons

Collin told me last night that when he got up this morning, he was packing his bag & coming to my house b/c his dad had to work. I'm not sure why he thought he'd come to my house vs daycare...lol! Boy was he upset when I told him he couldn't come over b/c I had to work too. Poor thing! So to make it up to him, I took off this morning to watch him at swimming lessons. It was so cute! The little girl in the second picture is his cousin Katelyn. They're very close in age (just a few weeks apart) and best buddies! The two of them together are t-r-o-u-b-l-e!!!

A post with no pictures...

I don't think I've made many posts without pictures but this time I don't have any to share. Sorry!

I just HAD TO report that I passed my MN Life, Accidental & Health Insurance exam this morning... whoo hoo! On average, it takes most applicants 3 hours to finish. I was done in under 2! I didn't know if that was good or bad until I saw my results & apparently it was good! God I'm so relieved! I'm assuming my family is too. I was sooo crabby the past couple of days while I was studying. Sorry girls! (and Jamey too!) I don't know how working mom's also go to school. Since leaving college, I've contemplated going back to school to get my degree, but I don't think I've got it in me. To my sister Jill, who went back to school for her RN license while working full-time & raising 3 kids - props to you!!!

The girls have been taking swimming lessons through Randolph Community Ed the past couple of weeks. I drop them off at the school at 7:30, then the school buses them to Farmington to an indoor pool where they take their lessons. Its great that the school handles all of the running around for me, but at the same time it kind of sucks that I don't get to watch them. They assure me they're doing great, which may or may not be confirmed tomorrow when I find out if they've passed. ;)

My Godchild (and niece) Lexi went to New York last Friday afternoon & was on Good Morning America yesterday morning. I didn't see her b/c I was already at work, but I plan to watch it at Jill's. (she recorded it) Lexi was sooo excited, I think she called everyone of us! Hey - I'd be excited too if I were her!

4th of July

This 4th of July started off great & ended with a BANG - literally! I got up early (5ish) & set up chairs for family & friend on Mill Street, directly in front of my office. Its great sitting near my office b/c if the kids get too hot or need to go to the bathroom, they've got a place to go. After the parade we grabbed a quick bite to eat, again with family & friends, at Brewster's before heading to the CF Bear's game. The Bear's lost but nonetheless, we had a good time! After the game, we went to Jill & Mike's to take full advantage of their new pool. I'm surprised the girls haven't grown gills considering how much time they've spent swimming this summer!

When I said the day ended with a bang, it wasn't from the fireworks. My car was hit-n-run while parked in front of Jill & Mike's house. Mike was in the house when it happened, but didn't realize what happened until the car was pulling away. (he wasn't near a window) What kind of person does that?! I still get mad just thinking about it...ugh!!! Needless to say, from that point on, my 4th of July was ruined.

The pictures above are from the parade earlier that day. Don't you just love Lauryn's tattoo?! She loves me so much! And she thinks I should run for State Representative. Thanks for the vote of confidence Lauryn! The picture of Jamey & Kenzie was taken shortly after Chris Zimmerman DRENCHED Jamey. Chris was riding on the Reflections salon float & thought it would be funny to get Jamey wet. We laughed so hard! Well all of us except Jamey laughed. ;) You'll notice that Jamey has very little hair in that picture, thanks to Jill. (I still owe you for that Jill!) Jamey called me when I was in Florida & said he was on his way to Jill & Mike's so Jill could shave his head. I begged him not to but really what was I going to do about it. He was in MN & I was in Florida. Jamey's always had some sort of a styled haircut. Even though its been a month, I just can't get used to it & can't wait until his hair grows back!