Well that took less time than I thought. Home just over a week and already doesn't want me to visit. Frankly I'm shocked he held up the hole time he was in the hospital/rehab.

So tomorrow, on my way to or from my milk test next door, I'll drop off the last of the paperwork I have from the accident time and his money clip. I'll offer to cover for my aunt and uncle anytime they want to leave or get away. I'll stop in once a week and try to call, but I won't be going out like I have been. We'll see how that goes. I may not be going out at all.

Friends first family last just like always. So much for hoping for something different.

My dad is heading home today. My Aunt and Uncle are bringing him in their motor home because insurance wouldn't cover the ride, even after we checked on this BEFORE he went to UCDavis, and received the OK.

I'm going out to meet with the delivery people to take delivery of the hospital bed and wheelchair. They should be there this afternoon, maybe late morning if he hauls ass making his deliveries, we're last.

We have our fingers crossed he will be released early this AM. It's going to be a very long trip in the motor home even without my dad in there.

So it looks like, for now, things will calm down on the traveling front.

Rumor has it my daddy-o might just be headed home on Wednesday.
Which is GREAT. Only that means that the ortho in Redding didn't clear my dad for heavier therapy on the leg, which is kinda a bummer. He'll just have to wait till Oct.

Another swallow test and more x-rays are holding up the final decision. Swallowing means coming home with or without a feeding tube. He'd be happier w/o. Though the thought of coming home is making him very happy.

Me too.

Hi 4 dear readers

We are at the Kiwanis house in Sacramento. God help me this town blows chunks.
Obviously I have computer access here at the Family House.

First, yesterday when we were comming here we ended up on the wrong Interstate because I took a short cut which really was shorter, but I got nervous and got off of it before I should have and ended up in Vacaville, about 40 miles SOUTH of where I needed to be. Luckily the route back put me on I-80 which actually made my transition in Sac. much easier to find the hospital. About 2:00 my aunt called to tell me that Redding hadn't shipped our package yet (my dad) and he wasn't antisipated to leave until 4. It was 5 when we got to the Kiwanis house and we waited for work on my dads arrival. We got the call that he was in the air and where on the 144 acre campus we would find him. We arrived at the main hospital and found the tower, farthest from parking garage and main enterance, and floor, very top, that he was on. My aunt entertained me with stories of their trip to the Jack in the Box for lunch.
After about 30 minutes my dad arrived no worse for wear and we got him situated in his very private, ultra secure, pass through two door and scrub in the middle, room.
We left him last night knowing they were going to get a couple x-rays and put him back into traction on his neck antisipating surgery today or tomorrow.

This morning we got up at 6am. No really, I got up at 5:45. I just waited till the alarm went off to wake up Greg and to roll out of bed. We got up and went into the kitchen. (We went shopping last night {bad idea} and bought some groceries because we have a kitchen here) It was bagels for me and a mini pizza for Greg, plus SODA! We trudged across the parking lot to the shuttle pick up to head to the hospital by 7am, when we thought we'd meet the Drs. On the way my uncle called and wanted to see if I could call the shuttle they wern't answering their phone and were supposed to be running. The shuttle shelter has a direct line phone... no answer there either. But the little phone said to call police dispatch after hours. OK. So I did. Walla, shuttle. We made the trek 44 thousand miles to my dads room and found him sleeping. They had kept him up all night running tests, taking x-rays, putting him in traction.

Right now we are resting at the Kiwanas house. My uncle is with my dad. He feels pretty isolated and yesterday the severity of the surgery ahead started to set in. This AM when the BIG Dr came to see him it really hit him hard THIS IS NO JOKE. Serious. Bad. Could go HORRIBLY wrong. We are all hoping for the best, but you always plan and ready yourself for the worst. Well you try anyway.

The sad/sick part of it? It wouldn't have been as hard of a surgery if they had seen him sooner. It's an old break now. It's not healed by any means, but the tendons and muscles have hardened since this happened. If his attending in Redding hadn't decided to wait 6 weeks to follow up on him, even though we asked and asked it might have been different. As it is the DR here decided to x-ray his hip too. It's not his focus, but if it is in as bad of shape then it may need to be addressed too. I think my dad is feeling a little defeated. Like the last 8 weeks have been totally wasted. *Sigh*

I think we are all feeling a little defeated. Getting through this procedure tomorrow and knowing all this X's and O's function will make us all breath easier. But now that may be held up while they insert a blood filter in case the clots in his legs break loose, if they are still there. They will scan for those today and check his shoulder for a break!? The DR here does NOT think the pain in his shoulder is from the neck but from a possible rotator cuff (?) break. What the fuck? We've been asking about that shoulder since DAY ONE. And we were assured over and over and over.... no no no it's his neck, differed pain... blah blah blah. DR today says shoulder pain is not usually where neck injury pain is defered to. Grrrrrrrr.

So PLEASE pray to whoever you believe in that this surgery tomorrow goes well and that the DR and his team have a steady hand. (They should, most of them look 16!) They will go in from the back of his neck, then the front, then the back again to correct the whole problem, as long as my dad stands the surgery well.

Money is good.
10 less mouths to feed is GREAT.
Getting as much or more money for the goats as I offered a local buyer.... PRICELESS.

Dumb ass.

Last week at a glance.

• Finished up fair paperwork on Monday.
• Milk tested and learned on of my dads best friends passed away on Tuesday. Debated leaving for Redding immediately rather than in morning.
• Left early in morning to arrive for breakfast with Dad on Wednesday. Spent whole day other than nap time and took Greg shopping then. Also had to find self dress cloths for funeral. Found out self is minuscule-y smaller than self thought. Self should eat more.
• Spent Thursday with dad until nap time and then drove home. Ordered flowers for funeral before leaving. Witnessed dad cry more in 24 hours than I've seen in my whole life. Seriously debated springing dad for day to bring him to funeral.
  
• Went to saddest funeral I've been to in a very long time Friday. My heart breaks for the family. Made plans at goats for new buck pen.
  
• Spring cleaning in the fall today at the goats then at home tomorrow.

Next weeks plans?
Wash rinse repeat.

Ha! Now it's over!

One word about fair.

L
O
N
G

Holy hell. It's over though. I have a few more rounds of paperwork to get finished but I'm waiting on some paperwork to come in the mail in order to do that.

Tomorrow I go back on the schedule of testing and traveling.

I ache everywhere.

Today I ate my first real meal in 15 days. It was way too big. I think my stomach shrunk. But it did taste ohh so good. I'll be sorry in a few hours. My husband and son are emptying milk sample bottles so I am ready to milk test tomorrow, though Bill is going to start the herd for me and I'll some later to finish up. I need to rest still. I'm staying on my O2 most of today.

Edit: I just realized that makes it sound like I didn't eat for 15 days. No, no, but soda and jerky hardly count as a "real" meal. Or soda and Tylenol.