I was so blessed to spend the last 4 days in Naples with Ann,my dear friend of 50 plus years. Really... 50 years ! We had such a relaxing time, shopping, eating, sitting on the beach, staying up and sleeping in. We even did a few "pool workouts" and spend at day on my favorite spot- Sanibel Island. The time together was perfect!
How do I begin to put the last 17 days into words? Up to this point I have just been moving forward, one day at a time.
Around 4:30 on Dec. 31st as I was driving home from Richmond, Ben called me asking how close to home I was. To make a very long story short, while no one was at home, Ed fell off the roof. Ben had returned from work and found him. Miraculously, he had gotten himself inside the house. He was helicoptered to Fairfax Hospital Trauma Center and 24 hours later he was released with 9 staples in his head, his memory slowly returning, a broken toe, a clear cat- scan of his brain and no broken bones-according to x rays. He was able to take baby steps.
Unfortunately, he was released on too much pain medication and we didn't realize that he was so badly hurt until Sunday morning when he could barely lift his head from the bed. He slept most of the day and began having serious spasms in his back. On Monday morning, I knew he was not getting any better. EMTs medicated him for his pain and transported to Loudoun Hospital. A scan showed a broken L1 vertebrae. The hospital would again keep him for 24 hours and get his pain under control. He was moved from ER to a room.
Driving home late that night I got a call from him.. except it was not him, it was Dr. M. using Ed's cell phone. Ed 's low oxgen level led to another scan. He had a "giant" saddle pulmonary embolism. He was moved to ICU and treatment began to thin his blood and shrink the clot. The kids and I prayed. Now the broken vertebrae was secondary.
Two days later he was moved to a regular room, received excellent care and was released on Friday evening.. a week after the fall. I began giving him heprin shots in his stomach twice a day (he said that I lacked training )! All was progressing....
By Wednesday, he was having severe pain in his left calf and returned to Dr. M to have it checked. Another scan revealed "compartment syndrome"- where blood/fluid are trapped in a compartment in his leg. The treatment? SURGERY....but that would be complicated, very complicated not only because of the blood thinner, but mostly because of the embolism. So the alternate plan was for his body to hopefully absorb some of the trapped fluid by elevating his leg for the next several days. Ed got a great report at today's visit with Dr. M. He said for the first time, he is actually "ahead of the curve." Truly, he's a walking miracle.
There are so many, many things we are truly thankful for: excellent medical care, helicopter pilots, Dr. M, wonderful caring friends and family with phone calls, visits, texts, food, flowers, cards and PRAYER, the kids all being home and most of all God's Healing Hand. Obviously, God has big plans for keeping Ed here :)
Oh- the above picture is Ed's New Year's Eve list written on the blackboard in the kitchen.... and below- Ann.... Jack Cat also loved the flowers!
Christmas was just wonderful... the first time in 4 years that all four children were together! A full day of fun, food and "togetherness". As Holly and her family were heading over to our house on Christmas morning, Ben said, "Too bad we don't have Santa hats." "Santa hats," I said, "Ben I have a whole Santa suit!" (I had snagged it for 75% off several years ago at Target.) So Ben quickly slipped it on and greeted Jack upon his arrival. Jack never made eye contact with Santa!
The entire event lasted no more than a couple of minutes. Jack definitely didn't recognize Ben and was a little tentative, but was very brave with the unexpected visitor.
Before we opened family gifts Ed introduced a new family tradition where we each shared our prayer request for the upcoming year. By the time it got around to me, I was in tears, so deeply thankful for my children and their relationships with the Lord.
After church on Christmas Eve, we revisited our old tradition of eating dinner at Kobe. Jack arrived wearing an elf hat!
Every Christmas I ask myself why I didn't take more pictures??? Well this year I spent way too much time Christmas Day in the kitchen, but here are a couple~
Pop and Jack enjoyed the Wonder Pets Sticker book~"The phone, the phone is ringing!"
Regina and her family stopped by for a visit. She'll always be family :)
As soon as Christmas is over, I'm ready to clean up and clear out. Yesterday and today, I cleaned out closets, sock drawers, and a couple of cabinets. It is so cold and windy, I just love being at home, nesting. Tomorrow I am tackling my sewing area.
Whenever I visit The Cottage, I am always so inspired! Ann and Linda are both so gifted as "pickers" and decorators! I just love all the cute vignettes.... everywhere you look, there is something old, loved and beautiful. I thought I'd share some of the pictures I took earlier in the month.
I bought this little red sleigh to add to my vintage sleigh collection!
This mantel inspired me to decorate with silver candlesticks this Christmas. I already had some, but I'm still searching for a few more.
Ann and Linda made several wonderful wreaths using vintage ornaments and trinkets. They sold quickly!
This miniature wicker chair makes my heart sing... so very sweet!
If I had a place for this dresser, it would have been loaded in my car. Love the color and carved drawer pulls.
I think my printed postcard pillows turned out really well. It's so much fun seeing those sweet old images on fabric! And this little cement girl fascinates me. I'm looking for a place where she could live this winter!
Last week Holly and I were in Wegmans and bought the new GLEE cd for Ed- He's a big big GLEE fan, just loves the music! It really is a fabulous CD- sounds very Broadway like and We Need a Little Christmas is the first song it plays. It peps me up, gets me going.... decorating and cleaning....sorting and shifting and stuffing (my many piles around the house)...wrapping and sewing and wining ...about having so much to do. Pepping me up is good, but what I really need is Silent Night!I need desperately to be still and remember God's precious gift to us.
Last night I went to hear The Chalk Guy. I sat still.. so still my legs were restless. Ben's message and talent were phenomenal! I took away a lot. What really resonates was this, "When we say Merry Christmas we are actually saying CELEBRATE CHRIST." But not just at Christmas, God has called us who have received his gift to celebrate Christ each and every day. I am planning to work less on my piles and more on my heart this season. To be still and silent and hear from God.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the exception of eating too much food. Isn't that ridiculous.. too much food? We are truly blessed beyond measure and not often enough do I slow down and reflect on just how much God has blessed me with. I am so thankful.
Having all the children together was great fun and old time confusion. The best part of the day? Well I didn't have to clean up a thing after dinner! I just sat, looked through the ads and wondered why people would get up and be at Khol's at 3:00 a.m. (I know.. all toys are 50% off!) Ed made us a cozy fire and we ALL just relaxed.
Ann and Jeanie
I always take bird pictures. They really fascinate me!
The Caccia's came over for dessert and Margy brought her yummie famous pumpkin cheesecake! The kids had a great time catching up with each other.
Betsy and Stephen arrived home last night to celebrate Thanksgiving and.......
Sunggies seemed like an appropriate gift!
Bets asked her "little sister" to be her Maid of honor! 
