Mothers Day....a perfect day!

Since the day my beautiful baby girl arrived every day has been a day spent being a mom. I've enjoyed the ride over the years (most of the time) and can't imagine life any other way.

Today was a particularly special day spent as a mother. It couldn't have been much more perfect!

When I asked my mom what she has in mind for today. Her answer: how about if we go hang out at the beach, take pictures and get something to eat down by the shore. Ummmmm...... hell yes I do!

So off we went headed to do whatever we felt like in Charleston RI. The sky was still a little overcast when we got there so we poked around at a little flea market we found.

That worked up an appetite so next stop was my new favorite restaurant - Matunuck Oyster Bar. What a wonderful place! It was a beautiful day so we waited for a table on the water. It was so beautiful between the sub shining bright, the boats and wild life around us and an incredible meal. The shrimp were as big as Madi's palm! So delicious and refreshing! The whole meal was spectacular right down to the creme brûlée!

Finally we were ready to go to our original destination - the beach! It was a little chilly by the water but still nice. It felt great to have my feet in the sand again. Madi splashed happily. It was a great ending to the day! We sat for a while and then headed back home. Happy and with the feel of salty air in your hair.

Happy Mothers Day to all!

Tis The Season...

Life is returning to normal for us. Well, I should say our version of normal. It's no wonder I dislike winter, nothing fun happens! But that's all behind us now!

The concert season has officially begun. The first of the year - for me - was Billy Currington. I real like Billy but my main reason for going was to see David Nail as the opener. Plus a newcomer Kip Moore was going. The show was at one of my favorite venues - the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.

It was also the inaugural drinking of GoGo....a delicious blend of I-don't-know-what that IS liquid sunshine. Kathie is the originator and keeper of the recipe and makes it perfectly every time!!

Kip Moore was fantastic! I knew of the one song he has out but that was it. Let's just say I downloaded his newly released CD on the way home! He was just great and will definitely go places!

Next up was David Nail. This man's voice is like velvet. I loooooove to hear him sing. He never disappoints and truly seems to "feel" the songs.

Billy was the headliner and lemme tell you, he put on a great show! Just amazing vocals, down to earth and overall fantastically fun. The people standing around us were all very nice and it just was a great night!!!

The other fun part about Warner weather is NASCAR racing. Chip and I decided to go down to NC for a few days to see the All Star Race. Blake Shelton is performing so naturally I got us the Golden Ticket to be stage side! 2 weeks and counting!!

One Foot In Front Of The Other...

...and that's just what we will do....

It's been a rather crazy week. I would never have survived without the help and support from everyone. We have crested the hill and heading back to the land of normal. Normal for us, that is....

Chip saw the ENT on Thursday to find out about his face. No surgery is needed to repair the sinuses or bones and it should heal on its own. We may need to see an oral surgeon of he's still not able to open his jaw fully in a few months. That is a bridge to cross when we/if we reach it....

The big day was yesterday with Dr Moser, the neurosurgeon. He is the Director of the Neurosurgery Department and one of the most pleasant, caring and just overall nice guy for a specialist. I've seen a LOT of medical experts in my time but none have come close to Dr Moser.

Dr Moser pulled up the MRI of Chip's spine and showed it to us. Fascinating to say the least! For now, Dr Moser isn't ready to say surgery is necessary. We will follow up in 30 days and re-assess his progress and decide tgen. So no surgery there either. Phew! What a huge relief. It sure seems like life will get normal again now!

Chip was cleared to drive and is thrilled with getting his "driving privileges" back. He's just going short distances but I can relate and say it does give a huge sense of freedom to be able to run to the store or practice or whatever.

So....we got good news after all!! Chippy is still not exactly comfortable and has a way to go. But he's heading in the right direction and improving every day, little by little.

Today was opening day ceremonies for the softball season. They had their photos done, a small parade, lunch and a game. The team plays amazingly well together. They are 3-0 and really "get it". It's so much fun to watch them. Today was no exception.

After softball Chip and I took a walk out on the track where he crashed. Seeing the tree and distance from what he thought was the cause of the crash only caused more confusion. It was rather odd to see it and listen to him talking about it, trying to piece things together.

It was a nice day for some outdoor activities even though a tad on the chilly side. It's also been nice relief now that we learned no surgery. Finally - some good news!

What A Difference A Week Makes

It seems hard to believe that a week ago we were in the midst of one of the hardest times in our life. Thankfully that is behind us now!! Life is gaining more normalcy every day.

After 2 days of calls I finally got all of Chip's follow up appointments made. We still have to deal with his broken face. Thanks to DKH we still need a face CT scan so the doctor can figure out how to fix his face, if at all. You can see a very clear dimple in his cheekbone now that the swelling is down which wasn't there before. It gives him character ;)

His broken thumb is improving slowly but surely so he has some use of at least one hand. Poor guy :(

Anyone that knows Chip knows he doesn't sit around well. He's going a bit stir crazy but learned the hard way not to push it too far or he WILL suffer the next day.

The sheer and utter exhaustion hit me like a brick wall on Monday. Maybe it was adding work into the mix, maybe it was my brain letting me relax knowing he was out of the woods.... Who knows but by 7pm I was sleeping on the couch. That was it, I was done! Everyone got sent to bed at 8 and I crashed. HARD.

Work has been so good to me. Yesterday I was told to take a few hours and nap on my couch. Sounds good, but it wouldn't ever work. It's still a very nice offer after all that I've missed and am behind on.

Last night Chip insisted on not setting the alarm to take his meds. If he was in pain he would wake up. The concept made me anxious because I don't want the pain to get ahead of him. But i agreed to give it a try and it worked out. He woke on his own right around the time I would have gotten him up. Somehow it seemed less intrusive on our sleep this way. He was doing okay this morning so I guess it worked out just fine!

I feel SO much better after 2 nights of good sleep, seeing Chip improving and just life being regular ol' life again.

Tomorrow we see his regular doctor to get him into PT and to have someone local to help with pain management. Then it's off to DKH for his CT scan. I don't really want to go back there but have little choice!

So....that's where we are. Holding up, getting through the days.

No News Is Now Good News...

At least, I think it is.... He's still in significant pain but is managing. He's alert, he knows where he is, who he is and all that fun stuff. Yay!

We are trying to stay on a routine to keep up with meds. It's worked fairly well. A few times it's gotten ahead of itself but nothing we haven't been able to get under control.

He says he didn't sleep very well last night. Its a fine line between having him getting up and around and also taking it easy and not pushing himself.

Yesterday was Madi's first softball game of the season. She's now playing on the major leagues and with a higher caliber of girls. She's doing so well and we are SO proud of her. Even with playing on a team of very experienced players, she got 2 RBI's and advanced players with her hits - even if she did get out.

After the game Madi and I went for mani/pedi's while Chip slept. It's was nice to sit and relax! The Annual Han & Bean supper was happening at the Hampton Fire Department. Chip LOVES to have that. He wasn't quite up for going to eat there so I got us take out and we relaxed watching the NASCAR race.

Today he says I need a break and is going to go to a movie with Madi, Chip's friend Dennis (who was and is a HUGE help with the boyish house stuff) and Dennis's daughter. I'm a little uneasy letting him out of sight and not sure I need to be alone for anything but he's insisting. I'd rather he go somewhere that he'll be sitting in a comfortable chair then anything involving "exercise" so I guess it's okay.

For now I'm happy he's staying at the same place he's been. Things haven't gotten worse so this is the best I can hope for!

Successful First Day Home

As thrilled as I was (and am) that Chip was able to go home it was also unnerving to suddenly be the nurse. It feels like when we first brought Madi home. You've had access to a nurse by the push of a button. At home you are on your own - no nurse call button. Eek!! Was I prepared for this? I talked to the medical staff a great deal to understand what risks there are, what sort of things to look for, what possible changes could there be, etc.

The one thing I knew without a doubt is that at home we'd be on a consistent schedule with pain meds to make sure we stay ahead of it. When we went to bed last night Chip felt we should wait till he woke up or was in discomfort and then take the meds. I've watched that process, it doesn't work. So we'd be setting an alarm to wake up for another dose. I did not want to be in a situation where I had to be working hard to get pain under control again. If I have to wake up at 3 or 4am, then that's what would be do. It worked very well. He was so happy to be in our bed, he seems to have slept and while he has pain, it isn't consuming him like it was. We are doing it - it's going to be okay.

Unfortunately while our system worked so well, my alarm did not and we over slept. Chip woke up 20 mins before the bus would come for Madi. WAKE UP!!!!! Move it move it move it! Phew. Got her off to school. Next up - to tend to Chip.

He had a good breakfast, we had meds on a good schedule, got him ice for his face, he had a nice long shower. Things were going well thus far.

Between his accident happening on Saturday morning and Easter on Sunday, much of the regular routine was off course. We were out of laundry detergent to attack the pile. We needed cat food and just...stuff. So I thought I'd get my patient out on a field trip. I wasn't ready to leave him alone yet. I told him he could cruise the electric shopping cart at Target. He said the one thing he wanted for lunch was fish & chips from the Courthouse. The guy hasn't had a meal he enjoyed in a week, we could do this!

The plan changed to lunch first and them I'd do Target after my relief nurse Madi got home. She's a great care taker, he was in great hands with her.

After the errands were run, it was time for softball practice. Chip insisted he wanted to go watch. I thought it would be a good chance for him to get rest in the quiet house but that didn't fly. He wanted to go. Okay, in the worst case we would be 2 miles down the road and he could be run home at any time.

We may have pushed it too far today. He's feeling more sore then he has been. So he had his "super duper make you sleep and drool" meds and went to lay down and rest.

I am so relieved to have him home, to have Madi home and back into our normal routine. He's certainly not in perfect shape but compared to where he could have been I am happy to have him in this condition!

I had talked with his nurse about the crash, the severity of his injuries and that she didn't recall seeing prior patients in dirt bike accidents who HAD full protective gear on. Most patients hadn't worn gear so it wasn't surprising they had injuries. She said it just shows how forceful the impact was. Here was yet another person who said his gear saved his life. Every penny spent on that stuff was worth it! He was alive - a little smushed but alive.

I'm enjoying some much needed down time. A glass of wine and the Lionel Richie country duets special is on. I may not be awake for long though! I am just so thankful to have my family together. They mean the world to me and the world is right again!! I thin we are over the hump - I sure hope so.

Here's to another peaceful night!