Tuesday December 16

What a long day.

We were up early and got all the kids ready for school, and Dad and I left for the Hospital at 7 a.m.

The kiddos were awesome.

Porter had a hard time at the beginning.

But Madi took care of the kids until she had to leave for the bus.

She took them to Vern's house, and Vern took them to school when it was time.

I was really worried about how going to school was gonna be.

Mornings are always kind of hard around here....everyone wanting to stay home.

But everything went great.

Vern said that Cassi was an awesome big sister and a big help!

*****

We got taken right back to the prep room when we got there.

But then we waited there until 11:30!!!!!!

It was a LONG time!

We were sched for surgery at 9:30.

Guess that didn't go as planned.

Anyway.

They took him back and I just had to wait.

More.

I did get most of my Christmas cards addressed......

I am late getting these out!

Life is so crazy right now.

More than crazy, actually!

Anyway......

Vern took Porter with her after school.

And I continued to wait.

The doc came to talk to me finally at 2:30.

He said that the surgery was much more challenging than what he had planned.

He said that there was so much scar tissue.

Scar tissue from the injections and shots he has gotten over the years.

Anyway, the scar tissue kind of fused the bulged disc to the nerve root.

This made things really hard.

They had to do a lot of digging.

Messing around with that nerve.

Trying to clean up as much scar tissue out of it as possible.

The doc was pretty sure he would have some loss of strength.

But I wasn't prepared for when the rolled him in the room (at 5:30) and he was in a super lot amount of pain.

And he couldn't feel his whole right leg.

Completely numb.

The only thing he could think about was, "What if it never comes back!"

"What if I can't be a firefighter"

"What if I can't take care of my family"

It broke my heart.

But you have to imagine the irritation and inflammation that nerve has got to have.

It just needs time to heal.

But all Brent had heard were the stories of people coming out of surgery feeling awesome and wanting to do flips.

That's what he was expecting.

That's what he wanted so badly!!!!!

So when that didn't happen, it was a bit devastating.

*****

Meanwhile.....our kids are being picked up from school by Stacia.

Stacia also took Cassi to her audition for "Annie".

She is so excited about it.

There are 60 spots, and something like 280 tried out.....

But she had fun and she will be ecstatic if she gets a part.....but she will be fine if she doesn't get one either.

Then Madi got Port from Vern after school and they all hung out at Stacia's.

She fed them dinner and they headed home around 7:30 and got homework done, and all ready for bed.

They were all so awesome.

More than awesome.

*****

I didn't want to leave dad.

I hated to see him like that....in so much pain, and nothing helping.

He finally kind of got settled and was getting tired.

So I got him what he needed and left, and got home around 9.

The kids were all happily hanging out together.

They were nice to each other and eager to tell me about their day and to ask questions about dad.

It sure was a blessing to have it all work out with the kids today, and for them to all get along as beautifully as they did.

It sounds silly, but really a small miracle for me on a day that we really needed it.

*****

Oh and at the beginning of the day, I got a text from Heather saying she had stuck a pizza in our fridge.....and there may have been some beds made as well.

Yes, I was mortified that she saw our house in such bad condition.....but Thankful for the time she took and the love she has to take care of us like that :)

I am also very glad she came over because the wind had blown the door wide open.

So that was good to not have to heat the outside all day long.........

Thanks Heather.

I know you know I am not clean, or organized, but I also know you love me anyway.

I appreciate that.

*****

I had so many texts today with well wishing and prayers sent our way.

Treats brought over to my kids.

Like I said earlier, all the running around of my kids to school etc.

The kids being sweet to one another.....

So no, today did not go as planned.

It could have been better in the surgery department.

But man oh man.

We sure have a great group of people who take care of us.

I am so grateful.

The kids and I have special prayers for Daddy tonight that he can get sleep, and start to heal and that tomorrow will be a better day and we can see the other side of that tunnel.