Yes, You Can Have a Bandaid!

Funny for the day. 
Funny to me anyway.

For those that know me, I'm a nurse. 
I've worked in the ER for the last 20 years. 
I think I've seen it all. (Occasionally I'm surprised)
Anyway, when I get home after a shift, my sympathy and compassion button is all used up.

If my kids complained about an ache or pain, injury or blood, I would say go take a Motrin or rub some dirt on it. 
Kind of a running joke at our house.

Sorry Nate Egan about not believing you when you broke your hand, and I told you it hadn't fallen off yet so you were fine. Ya broken. 3 days later I take him to the doc, he had to have sedation to reset it. #momfail

So last night Howie was restless. His feet were cold, they were hot, he wanted to be in the chair, he wanted to walk, he wanted water, no he wanted ice, now his feet were hot. Just nonstop. 
He kinda recognized that he was being a difficult patient. The kind that I might come home from work and complain about. 
He apologized for being such a pain.

I told him, honey I am just so thankful for you and all of your irritating little complaints right now, you're going to get away with anything! You ask for it you're gonna get it.

He looked at me and said " so does that mean you'll let me have bandaids now?"
And then he laughed at himself.

The little stinker.

Lynsey and Candice.....Lovin' daddy!

Howie and his girls.

 

Lynsey spent the night with Howie.

We never left him alone.

We figured between the two of us, he would always have a nurse at his bedside.

And no one loves him more than us.

This was the sweet scene when I got to the ICU at 5:00 AM

 

 

MIRACLE MAN!

My miracle man!!

He's been awake for about 10 hours trying to come out of the fog of sedation.

His vital signs have been stable. He isn't requiring any oxygen.

We don't have a definitive plan yet, but they are thinking open heart on Tuesday or Wednesday.

He will remain in hospital until that time.

Our family is so thankful for all of you. I'm getting bits and pieces of the story from the events prior to arrival in the ER.

Nani Bartholick Ryan Malm Kristin Stever Wolfe Dallin weeks Keith and others. You did ALL the right things. You saved his life. Thank you for being a family to him. He loves you. 
Even though you make fun of all the missed box jumps and scraped shins.

Madison County Paramedics. You will always be my heroes. I love you forever.

Jennica Watson Hirrlinger thank you for giving Howie a love for crossfit. For taking him trail running. Telling convincing him that spartan competition would be fun.

I love my neighbors and co-workers and so many at Madison Memorial who have reached out with love and prayers and support.

My family. Oh my family. I love you.

And Howie. You are my miracle. 
But no. Even though you keep asking.... you can't go to crossfit in the morning.

 

First Words....

 

Howie was extubated this morning around 9:00.
He is fighting to come out of the sedation.

"I wanna go home"

My ICU nurse daughter reassuring him.

 

Sitting in the chair

My son Matt talking to dad about what happened.

His first words...."I wanna go home"

Not yet.
#Howardstrong

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

 

As I sit here and try to process the events of this last 30+ hours, I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and so amazed at the countless people that have reached out with love and faith and prayers in Howie's behalf.

I will never be able to pay it back. I can only hope to pay it forward.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your faith and prayers.

Last night I was in Howie's room alone. I was afraid to leave. I just wanted to watch him and touch him. I thought if I did those things he wouldn't dare leave me.

I began reading the texts and messages from Facebook and the posts. I began crying and couldn't contain it all.

Thank you. I love you.
You will never know the strength that it gave me.

After they allowed him to wake up and he followed all commands, we started to explain to him what had happened. He understood and you could tell he wanted to ask questions.  He was quite anxious.

The doctor only allowed that to happen for a short time and he recognized the anxiety Howie was having. He explained to him that he needed to be calm and rest, so they were going to continue with sedation and keep him intubated for the night.

So I left the hospital with the kids to go stay in a nearby hotel.
I am at peace right now.
He was resting quietly.

Again. Thank you.
You have been angels for me.

I'M SCREAMING WITH JOY!

About 7:30 tonight he had reached target temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The doctor told us that they would take away the paralytic and sedation when he got to that temperature.
They said he wouldn't shiver at that point and then they would let him "wake up".

And that was the hope and prayers.

That he would wake up.

And be neurologically intact.

The unknown.

How long was he without oxygen?
Did he sustain brain damage?

What would happen?

The ICU isn't my baby.

ER medicine is what I am familiar with.
But Lynsey had worked in this very ICU just a few years ago and she had taken care of critically sick patients like this. She told me, "it might be a rodeo as he starts to wake up".
Apparently patients can have seizures, cardiac arrest and other critical issues as they come out of the sedation.

About 10 minutes after the sedation was gone Howie became very agitated and was trying to move his head away from the ET  tube.  I asked Lynsey "what is happening?"
She leaned toward Howie's head and started talking to her.
He didn't open his eyes but he turned his head toward her.

His nurse came in and was watching what was going on.

Another few minutes went by and he opened his eyes. You could tell that he was having a hard time focusing.
Pretty soon he was tracking and looking at us.

The nurse asked him to stick out his tongue.

And he did.

I lost it.
I cried and cried. I leaned in and told him I loved him so much. I said to him, "blink at me if you understand" and he did.
At this point the doctor came in and asked him to raise his right leg, he did.
"Give me a thumbs up" and he did.

 

Oh the joy and gratitude! So very thankful.

By this time it is about 8 or 9:00 at night. The doctor didn't want to extubate him (take out the breathing tube). They wanted him sedated through the night. You could tell Howie was very anxious and agitated. The doctor did not want that.
So they sedated him and told us they would take the tube out in the morning.

I have never been so incredibly thankful for anything in my whole life.

 

 

His love of Crossfit

 

Over 3 years ago Howie began to attend a Crossfit box here in Rexburg and found he really loved it.

Pretty soon he was out the door at 4:30 every morning to make it to the 5:00 class. He made some wonderful friends.

Last summer he decided he wanted to be involved in Spartan Races and began training for them.

He was about to turn 60 and was worried that the training and commitment would take up too much time.

I reassured him that it would be fun.

He decided to do 3 races during the summer that would give him "the TRIFECTA"

A worthy goal.

I told him, "what better way to celebrate turning 60!"

 

 

Candice even joined him for one of the races.

They had a blast together.

They hiked to the top of Table Rock.

From the top they say it looks like you can reach out and touch the Teton Mountain Range.

 

They also did some other trail runs.

They enjoyed some hot springs at Dananda Falls.

The Teton Crossfitters

A solitary moment...

 

Comfort from the Scriptures

I have felt the angels in the room with us as we wait.
I have felt the sweet peace of my Savior and Redeemer.

This Man...My World

I'm just going through photos in my phone.

Looking for pictures of my sweetheart. Unable to believe this is happening.

He is my world.