I was talking to Brandi on the phone- she was sharing about how a friend of hers had just lost a sister. As we talked, she said, "I hate how life can change in a second." I agreed.
5 minutes later the phone rang again. This time it was my son Tanner- calling on his way to the hospital. This is his Facebook post:
I've never been more grateful to hold this baby since she was born! Summer decided to find and swallow a button battery while Brooke was fighting a potty training battle with Ryker. Brooke thankfully realized what might have happened and rushed Summer to our Dr who was able to see that it was stuck in her esophagus. Brooke then rushed to Primary Children's where they were able to remove the battery. In such a short amount of time, the battery already burned through part but we're hopeful not all the way through. Hopefully this is a good reminder for parents to keep an eye out for these batteries and to keep them out of children's reach. I didn't realize how dangerous they could be until now.
My response:
I had first heard about the dangers of kids swallowing button batteries here on Facebook. Last night we got to see the effects as our youngest granddaughter picked up one that had fallen on the floor right next to her mom. It lodged in her esophagus - Primary Children's hospital was prepared immediately for endoscopic surgery-and extracted it. Her esophagus is burned but I don't think all the way through. She has a feeding tube and they will do further testing tomorrow to see if she can swallow properly. We feel sooo blessed- I think a little one died this week from swallowing a battery. Those little buttons are in toys and musical cards and LED lights..... All your natural inclinations for response ( Heimlich, drinking water, making them throw up-) are all wrong here. So good to be educated! When lodged in upper the esophagus it reacts with saliva. The battery discharges a current that hydrolyzes water and generates hydroxide, creating a caustic (alkaline) injury to the tissue. Serious damage occurs in just two hours. Who knew????
About 6000 of these kinds of injuries happen each year.
We feel so blessed that Summer's injury isn't worse. We actually don't know yet the extent of her burns- but she is pulling out her feeding tube cords and anything else she can get her hands on so those are good signs!
My September girl trips are one of my look- forwards-to of the year. Usually my "here" besties and I go to the beach in California for a week- either Oceanside or Newport. This year we planned on a Seattle excursion that unfortunately was derailed with my back. And I missed my trip to Vancouver with my daddy.
But here I am- at 4 1/2 weeks recovery- and in the morning, Debbie (my best friend from childhood) and I are leaving on a jet plane (John Denver ) to Raleigh North Carolina via Denver (not John) - where Pam will join our connecting flight. Yay! The Charm Girl's almost reunited. Look at all the Charms representing our trips together!
Last year we went to Seaside Oregon- our "charm" was this turtle.
David has mentioned he was hoping I would change my mind about going (we really are going to miss each other!) - but I told him it was a good thing- I have all this raucous, loud, silly behavior just welling up inside of me- and the Charms are the only ones who can handle (out-do) it.
My bags are packed! I just have a few lists on my to-do list. Lip syncs to be recorded. Oh yes- we are THAT silly.
I'm so happy. I'm so excited! I can almost feel the sand in my toes, the sun on my back, the shrimp in my tummy- the smile on my face. Old friends-new memories!!!!
I'm getting better. Not 100% and I still can't bend or lift very well but each day I'm doing better. I'm doing things and then resting and then doing and resting......
Saturday got to go to Peyton's last soccer game. I'm not sure if he knew whether he won or lost since half the time he was chasing his cousin Barrett around....but it was fun anyway. Love this funny little boy who always makes me laugh.
I was going through an old journal and found this picture. Oh my goodness....now my Ryan is all grown up....serving as a Bishop, has a successful business and 4 kiddos and a darling wife. I love this memento from the past.....
So, last week I was suppose to be in Seattle on a girl trip with my friendies. Instead, on Friday, we all got together at Brendalyn's home....Chef Valene brought lunch. I brought movie popcorn. Cathy brought treats. We pretended to be in Seattle- had lunch then watched the movie Miracle From Heaven in Brendalyn's awesome theatre room. I loved the movie! Loved hanging my with darling friends. Missed Ivar's and fisherman's wharf and Victoria Island- but this was a good second. ( didn't get pictures of Cathy and Kathy and Brendalyn)
Above- Karlan and me Below: Chef Valene
My sweet Gracie was running across a crosswalk from school with friends...and was bumped/hit by a bus making a turn. The bus driver- instead of stopping and seeing if Gracie was okay, started screaming at the kids. This happened last week. She didn't break anything but is badly bruised and so sore. So today, they got ahold of the school...and find out that the bus driver hadn't reported the incident (although someone in a passing car saw it and called the school). I thought, knowing kids, maybe they were crossing on a red light. But school buses have cams now....and they were able to pull up the feed...and sure enough- the light was green. So grateful that our girl is okay. Life can change in a second and we're just so grateful it wasn't a tragedy. I think the bus driver is in a little do-do. And we'll take this little miracle from heaven in our life!
In the weeks prior to breaking my back, I was doing a little update in the downstairs. When we bought this house, the downstairs was rather scary and dark with several rooms without windows. I had our contractor knock down every wall he could- but the ceilings were low in sections- so I decided to turn the dreary into fun- and created the "cantina". The kitchen/dining walls were painted a green apple with antiquing and trim was deep red or bright yellow. I think I was Café Rio décor before Café Rio.
The adjoining family room was small and I painted it a low mellow creamy tan. But I've outgrown that and decided I needed to go for the full beach effect at Puerta Vallarta. I had Joe come and put up Craftsman molding and some beadboard and then painted it white. It opened up the space even more and flows into the cantina even better. David and friends were literally carrying me out of the house to the ER when the painter was coming to paint and I just had to say (I hardly know him)- "go for it!" I've loved how the rooms turned out. Since we've always had people living with us here until the last 1 1/2 years- I haven't really spent a lot of time there except for parties since it opens straight outside and to the Tijuana pool. And now I love to go there and read. I've had plenty of time to do that lately!!!!
This was the nook that always held a desk. I bead boarded it and have plans to put a fun bench in there someday.
I love our green walls and cement floors.
The picture above the sofa is my Liberty Utah picture. I painted it for a friend who was from Liberty. When I gave it to her, I said, "Do you recognize the barn?" and she said no. I said, "That's a landmark in Liberty Utah!" and she said "Oh- I'm from Liberty Idaho!" and I said, "Oh! Then I'm keeping this picture!!" You know when it takes forever painting a picture, you get a little attached....
And that is the beach cantina. It is our party place.
oh- and we have our own Bano. That's a good thing. Can you tell I love color? and Roosters. And South of the Border.
Ben and Susie took off today to spend two weeks in Guatemala. One week doing Tikal (where I almost died- I made Ben promise to tell Susie all the exciting details on top of the highest pyramid using all my dramatic effects.) and Antigua (sigh- one of my favorite places in the world) and Lake Attilan where they will climb one of many volcano's- then spend a week at son Ryan's resort on the Beach- the Maya Jade. Oh to be hanging out in the hammock just chillin'. Wished I could be there with them.
Speaking of Guatemala, grand Josh is doing his Eagle Scout project. He is starting a library in a small town in Guatemala. The children there do not grow up reading...and don't have access to books. Josh's goal is 200 books. I have had fun shopping (via the Internet- amazing how much money you can spend just sitting at home!!!)
And since I'm speaking of things "south of the border"- my dear friend Hortensia's father died today in Mexico. Tensia and I have bonded through the years- and we've shared this hard journey with our parents aging. My heart breaks for her today and her family .
Boy, this has been been a long and random post. I have much time on my hands......
So- I am recovering slowly. I was so bummed when I had to make the decision this past week that there was no way on earth I could go to Seattle with my friends this coming week. My friends are so amazing...they said they wouldn't /couldn't go without me. Can you believe that? Ahhh- my heart is full.
Loved the visit from T and T and family. Sadie cracks me up doing her "Tick Tocks." She has me roll two dice and then she does that many tocks. She was not as smooth because her shirt kept falling down....but the next 100 went much better! Oh my aching back!!!!
