What Happened to July???

It's hard to believe that August is here! Where has the time gone? I feel like it should still be 2009 and here we are in August 2010. The spring/summer always go so fast. Seems like we dread the snow and the cold, which seem to linger, but the summer just slips away.

After we were in the emergency room with Bobby's toe injury, he was off work for a round (3 days no work), lucky him. Then we were both on vacation for 13 days (one of the several perks to our schedule- take off 3 work days and get 13 days off).

we had planned to spend the vacation at the lake painting the cottage. I know, it really doesn't sound like much fun but we were both really excited to do something different to the cottage. We decided (with the ok of my parents) to paint the cottage yellow with white trim and red shutters. (I will post pics soon) It is VERY cute (even though it's not done). Oh yeah, nothing seemed to go right. The power washer didn't take off as much old stuff as planned so we had to scrape A LOT. Then we found several trim boards that were rotten. So those had to come off and be replaced. And I can't forget the high humidity and several days of rain, so we had to wait for the house to dry before we could paint.

Once we started painting it went really quickly. We bought a paint sprayer and it was AMAZING!!! Anyway, the house is really cute and not white any more (it has been white for as long as I can remember).

Oh, and then there was the other emergency room visit to Three Rivers ER because Bobby was having problems with his right leg- broken toe leg. I was worried and made him get it checked. I think I am going to write a book about Michiana ER's, eh, maybe it will just be a picture book.

On a sad note, today we attended a funeral of a longtime family friend of both our families. John was a great man who was caring and always had a joke to tell. He will be greatly missed.

p.s. This was the first lunchon/wake that I have attended that had an open bar. He would have loved it.

Update on the Toe

Bobby went to the doctor this morning and was told that his 4th toe on his right foot has a spiral fracture and for the next 10 days he has to wear his shoe. At least we start our vacation in a few days so he will only miss a few days work. We have a wedding to go to this weekend so I am interested to see if he wears his shoe or not. I have a feeling that if he doesn't wear it and tries to pull off a normal shoe, he will cause more damage to his foot.

A Weekend of Injuries

This 4-day was one to remember, full of a variety of injuries that created an exciting 4-day which turned into an unofficial 5 day. Wednesday after work Bobby and I went up to the lake to spend the hot days relaxing in the water with anticipation that we would return to town on Thursday for a pain management appointment for my neck. Thursday morning I awoke with a horrible, take-your breath-away pain in my chest. The best way to describe it would be that it felt like my chest/ribs needed to be adjusted and as long as I didn't move or breathe, I was not in any pain. My appointment provided a little relief but it quickly returned when I dove into the water on Friday. Bobby had to swim over to me and actually help me to the boat because I was in so much pain.

Later that night while Casey, Phil, Bobby and I were playing a game, Bobby got up to get another beer and stubbed his toe on the chair. Now, to many this may not sound like a big deal, however he was in A LOT of pain- A LOT!

Saturday we had taken Casey and Phil tubing and Casey fell off, cutting her nose on some part of the tube. Well, that was the end of that for the day. When we returned to the lake house, I walked into the house to find my dad sitting at the table looking very uncomfortable. When I asked what was wrong he said he felt dizzy, lightheaded and just didn't feel well. I took his pulse, which was abnormally irregular, and then his blood pressure, which was low. I advised him, in my paramedic voice, that I felt he should go to the ER because this was not normal for him. (My dad is a pretty healthy guy and never admits when he is not feeling well.)

After a few hours his pulse was still irregular and his blood pressure was still low and I finally convinced him to go to the hospital. And at this point Bobby decided he should go too since he couldn't walk anymore. We drove back to the hospital in Mishawaka (there was no convincing either of them to go to the one in town) and, dad went to room 11 while Bobby went to room 8. Talk about a circus going from room to room.

The doctor saw dad right away and he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. He was sedated with Diprivan and Cardioverted (more or less shocked with a defibrillator) at 100 joules. His rhythm was converted and when he woke he said he felt much better. They sent him home that night and he still says he feels great.

Bobby on the other hand was diagnosed with a broken toe, it may not sound like a big deal, but he will be off work for a few days and has an appointment with the foot doctor tomorrow.

So, Casey's nose stopped bleeding, dads heart is back to normal, Bobby is limping around in a soft cast/boot and I am still having my goofy chest pain. I called in sick to work yesterday because I still had very limited motion- for the most part I have pain any time I move. However I had forgotten that I promised to work for someone today so I had to come in for the first 14 and then back again tomorrow. Hopefully I will be feeling better and able to move/breathe without being in pain.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all! Today, Bobby and I have to work so everyone be safe and smart today! I don't want to pick up any fingers or go on an accident because bad decisions were made.

So here is a quick history lesson (from the history major in me): April 19, 1775, the day after Paul Revere's ride, alerting Lexington that "the British are coming!" war between the colonies began against Great Britain. After years of taxation without representation the colonists were tired of being ruled by someone that didn't understand their circumstances and didn't want to listen.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, drafted by five of its members, including Thomas Jefferson. Boys, and men, were quick to sign up to fight against Britain throughout the colonies. Many signed up for the excitement of the fight, some for the thought of travel and seeing other parts of the country and some because they believed in the cries of freedom.

My 7th-great-grandfather, Zaccheus Salyer, was one of the many boys that decided to join in the fight. He and many others mustered in New York to aid the other Americans against Great Britain. He survived the war and later married Elizabeth Doan(Doane) and they had 13 children.

I am very proud to know that I am a descendant of someone that fought for our independence. I know that many men were not as lucky as Zaccheus and gave their lives for the cause of freedom. America is a great country and we are very fortunate to live in a place like this. As we celebrate today with food and fireworks, we should all take a minute to remember those that have given everything to obtain and protect our liberties. God Bless America!