Cold and Healing

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

Brian has recovered much. He slept with little pain for the first time since this journey began on January 30. He tells me that he is a side sleeper and has found it difficult to sleep on his back. There is now the ability to bend his knee much farther than before. Driving the car was not painful as it has been in the past days. Today he even said he sat in class and did not have pain, however his leg is still sticking out in the aisle and he walks with a decided limp. But there is hope in the air for healing.

Because it was eight degrees F. with a biting damp wind in the morning, I went with Brian to drop him off closer to the door He would not have to hobble so long and far as he made his way to the building. Because today’s class was not so late in the morning I was able to park only two lots away instead of three. I will admit that I was glad to get to the shelter of the school building.

I had brought a book to read as well as some puzzles. At some point I realized that there were no clocks around so I tried to pull out my phone to check. Oops, it was not with me. Brian would not be able to call me when he was done. He had suggested that I go get the vehicle just before his class ended and wait at the sidewalk. I also did not have on my watch. After noticing that more students were coming in the building following a lengthy lull, I asked someone with a phone and learned that it would be only about ten minutes before I needed to be at the pick up point. It took a while to get out of the parking lot as there was a lot of activity there. Brian was waiting as I pulled up so it was good timing even without a watch and a phone.

Just how did people survive in the old days?

Paula 

Yesterday

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

Sophia decided to stay home with me yesterday. Brian wanted me to drive him to school and then help or accompany him on some food shopping errands. He felt that Sophia would be quite fine waiting the hour in the car with me. Because his class was later in the morning there was no parking close to the building, but I parked in the east forty.

Waiting was fine as Sophia enjoyed sitting in the generally off limits front seat. These kids who have grown up with the child seat in the back do not get to sit up front with the grownups. Around us, I was astonished to see how quickly this distant lot was filling with cars. We had arrived while there were still choices.

After about 20 minutes I realized I must go to the bathroom, however I was not sure that Sophia could walk fast enough to get me there in time. Brian had mentioned that we could go to the McDonalds on the last corner before the school.  I decided I had better go there. After putting on Sophia’s shoes, convincing her to go the back seat, and buckling her in we took off.

I am not much attracted to food in most eating establishments in the US, but felt that since we were there, I had used their facilities, and it was cold out that we should get something. Sophia liked the picture of the hot chocolate, but I passed on that. Their yogurt parfait fit into my idea of something acceptable to eat, however Sophia was not sure about this parfait thing. Even after telling her what it was I decided I would only order one in case she would not eat it.

After getting to the table she found she liked the yogurt and granola. She does not like blue berries so I used a straw to push those on to the lid. She likes strawberries, but declared these frozen almost thawed berries to have a mush feel and therefore unacceptable. Those joined the blueberries and became mine as they appeared in the cup. She continued to eat up the rest of the yogurt and granola.

I had been wondering how to spend so much time in this place waiting for Brian, but Sophia without any urging from me managed to take almost forty minutes working her way through this small parfait. Perhaps I could learn something from her about loitering over food. I tend to eat at the races with Leroy.  It was just perfect timing when Brian called letting us know that he was ready to be picked up.

Paula

Life Goes On

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

Some have asked how Brian was injured. He was playing basketball, leaped up, and collided with the bony parts of another player. This occurred a week and a half ago. At first he thought it was ok, then after a trip to the emergency room, he still thought he was able to handle it, however pain and trauma increased rather than decreased so he called for reinforcements. Even though it is too bad that he was hurt, it is good that Leroy was free to bring me up since we only have one working car at the moment. Good too that I do not have a job. I have one now don’t I? I expect to go back to Iowa the first part of next week. Monday is a hard day to leave here because there is no day care that day. So I will be considering ways to get back to Cedar Rapids on Monday night or some time Tuesday. I believe that I have already checked the bus schedules and they are not good connections. So perhaps I will go and then wait for Leroy to fetch me from about the halfway point.

Some asked what school goal Brian has. He would like to be a physician’s assistant. Because computer programmer Brian had not taken any science classes as an undergrad he is almost starting over. It will take him several years to go to the end.

Just so you know I was not relaxing too much yesterday, here is a list of what I got done. Brian was in class, Jen was at work, and the kids were at daycare. First I gathered garbage in the house, took the can to the curb, and proceeded to pick up dog poop. Just because I grew up on a farm does not mean I enjoy dealing with manure. I found that I was gripping the shovel handle extra firmly, feeling grossed out the more I looked around the back yard, and distressed at how much was left to do. It was indeed an accomplishment when I got it done.

I also folded a bit of laundry, hung up a bit of laundry, and took care of dishes.

For my leisure time, I worked on Sudoku and read a book. All in all it was a good day.

Paula

Update on Brian

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

Brian had an ultrasound yesterday. The new (and fourth) diagnosis is that it is just a very extensive and therefore painful thigh hematoma. The recommendation is that he walk on that leg. “What about the pain?” He wondered. Brian is concerned because the pain pill is a narcotic and he does not want to become addicted to it. Because of the extent of the swelling he is unable to bend his knee to any great degree. That is really what is restricting his movements. Getting in and out of the car, picking up Logan when he is on the floor, and sitting at a table are the biggest challenges. As Brian said, “I almost wish it were a tear or blood clot so it would explain all of this pain.” It is hard to have such a big deal over just a bad bruise. One or more of the Doctors did say that it was a spectacularly big bad muscle trauma.

Back in Iowa, Leroy had his first day at the new job yesterday. Last night he reported being very tired. So much new to learn that he is not sure that he retained all of it. That should strengthen his brain cells. Wouldn’t want them to get weak after all.

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Minnesota. Brian got down the double stroller and I took both kids to the park. Sophia could move around independently on the equipment and even in the sand. There she collected sand on her lower pant legs, shoes, and mittens. Logan, with his big clumsy boots on, was almost rooted to one spot. I did help him go down the slide, but got tired of lifting him up. Then he crawled a little on a swinging bridge. There is not much flex to this bridge, so it is not a big deal. He looked through a Plexiglas tube, spun some wheels, and generally took in the scene around him.

I am so happy we went yesterday because Brian tells me that today the high is to be 25. It was warmer than that when we woke. Besides the kids are at daycare today. Why do the kids go to daycare when I am here to help? It gives me a break, Brian can study in the quiet house, and it helps maintain a routine. I will take the stroller and pick them up for the walk home giving them some outdoor time in spite of the cold.

Paula

Helping Out

February 3, 2012

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

First of all I should tell you that today is Leroy’s birthday. It has been a long time since we have been with any of our children for this event. There will be apple pie and games. What could be better?

This morning we took the kids to daycare then drove Brian to his class so he could be dropped off close to the door and not have to walk such a long distance to get there. Brian did not say much but he and I have very different driving styles. I suspect in his mind I fit in the old foggy category and he fits in the too fast, too close to the car ahead category in my standard driving manual.

We then went grocery shopping with Brian. At one store the worker told him to use one of the motorized carts. On that cart he moved with little speed and much finesse. I had not really thought about how one would have to maneuver those machines to get in certain freezers and other places. We people who walk with ease need to be thankful.

February 4, 2012

I could not finish this letter yesterday. Continuing that report on Brian; the diagnosis is a muscle tear, level three. He will have an ultra sound on Monday for a closer look. Recovery at the most could take 12 weeks. Brian is certainly hoping for the shorter time. He finds it painful to move, sit, bend, or lift heavy objects. Logan is considered heavy.

Leroy is going back to Ely/CR as he starts work on Monday. The weather is expected to be fine. Now I just hope he can stay awake for the four (or perhaps a bit more) hour trip. I plan to stay here for a week to ten days. I suppose we are all hoping that Brian has a quicker rather than a slow recovery. But always people hope for that don’t they?

Paula 

In a Fog

New Brighton, MN

Hello,

We got up early expecting to leave by 6:00. Leroy’s sister informed us that it was foggy and slick in some places. Loading the last things in the car, helped us to see just how little visibility there was. For a change we decided to be sensible and wait an hour when the sun would be up hopefully lighting the way a bit more clearly.

As we left it was indeed easier to see. Fortunately there was no slickness that we noticed. The fog varied from thin to such limited visibility that we wondered if we were alone in the cocoon.

Leroy had carefully scraped off the ice without damaging the new metal windshield wiper piece. Just think that plastic piece was replaced by metal; who knows, it might even outlive the car. At one point I noticed that the radio antenna was flapping wildly. After a bit pieces of ice flew off and back over the car. Ice was still at the top. The layer would gradually build back up followed by wild shaking and the middle section of ice flying away. There was no ice on the windows or the hood that we could tell.

In the mean time we are driving though this fog that at times was so thick. The question is what speed should one drive? On the two lane road Leroy drove the speed limit and one person passed him. On the four lanes he mostly drove the speed limit with some reductions from time to time as it swirled more thickly around us. Many people passed us. We did come upon a slow car that had their flashers on. Is that safest? It was scary to think of being so slow that someone might plow into the bumper before they would realize that we were there.

We dropped some bags off in Ely at our next temporary home. On the county road we did see some cars in the ditch. On this two lane road it was much slower going through some of the thickest fog yet. I started driving at that point. About 40 miles later we came to a much lighter fog so I thought it was all over, but then we were again enveloped in a fog so dense that I twice had to ask Leroy if he thought there was someone in front of us. He agreed that there was a car there.

We were surrounded by the mist for four and a half hours. At that point it was almost the abruptness of coming out of a tunnel into the bright sun. Leroy called it a wall of fog. We drove in the sun for two hours. Then Leroy said, “Look ahead.” There was a bank of tan fog or smog. We passed through the wall and for that last hour we were again in the fog, not as seriously as that to the south, but enough that we both felt the urge to keep scanning the road ahead for any unusual event. It certainly helped Leroy to stay awake.

I can certainly understand how those multi-car pile ups happen with people driving the speed limit or more when they can only see a few yards in front of them. They are trusting there will be nothing to impede their progress.

We are grateful to be here. Brian is indeed hurting. I was wrong it is his thigh muscle not his knee.

Sophia was excited to see me and Logan is adjusting and coming closer all of the time.

Paula

Life in the Fast Lane

Sperry, IA

Hello,

I wanted to bring you up to date, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Just let me say that Leroy and I have some temporary housing and no long term arrangements. We were not impressed with anything or rather it did not feel like the right place. But one of them may turn out to be it.

Tomorrow we will be driving to Brian’s house to help him. He hurt his knee and is unable to lift Logan who is not yet walking all over the place. Perhaps it would be worse if he were.

Than brother-in-law, Rex while home from the hospital has not recovered at the anticipated fast rate. Concerns, concerns!

I still need to relate the saga of the second car that is not yet able to move from the spot it is in. At least that is just a machine and not a human body that needs care.

I am still thankful that Leroy and I are well and healthy. We are certainly putting miles on the car. Tonight we are in Burlington so I can write to and Leroy can pick up some more clothes from the storage unit. He feels he will not be suitably dressed for work. Hopefully those clothes will just pop right out of the storage unit and into his arms. Right?

Paula