Some neat photos of our drive home from Cherry County Hospital

We had heard that the ice by the Cornell bridge was something folks here hadn't seen in a long long time.  The ice on the Niobrara was bunched up so thick that the "dam" was covered.   We had to go see it.   So on the way home - after my release from Cherry County Hospital --- we took the long way home. 

There was water flowing now -- as we were really a couple of days late in our viewing.   But it's still a neat sight.

We took the photos from the Cornell bridge.  At one time the ice was up to the bottom of the bridge...it was lower at this time.

We decided to go on to Berry Bridge which has often been the "getting off" point when we tubed or canoed with kids from Prairie Light Youth Camp.  We would go through the Game Refuge.  I am not sure if there are any buffalo remaining on the Refuge and the Texas Longhorns have been gone for years......but there was a herd of bull elk.   So here are some photos for the hunter in you --- or the
wildlife lover......

                                

   

Man! I wonder who gets to collect the sheds!!!!   Anyway - this was a pretty awesome sight!!
We arrived at Berry Bridge and it wasn't really anything special to see.   But for those of you who have gone down the Niobrara with us to this point - or past ----   that little waterfalls on the right is one that kids have really enjoyed at the end of their trip.

I am improving daily with getting around.  Some pain is still there but as I was told -- "you have to give it 6 weeks for bones to heal" .  I didn't always sleep the night through when I was in good health and things haven't changed --- but I am getting good rest.   Gary is great!!!!  Neighbors have been awesome --- visiting and bringing food.  I have no complaints.     I did just have a thought though.....I just folded some clothes.....perhaps I should put some lacy undies in the "wrong" drawer and see if I can get a little pay back !!!😁😍

THANK YOU for the continued prayers!!!  God is watching over!!!
Gary and Barb

January 8, 2018 ----- A day of some pain!!!

I am going to attempt to tell you all about my last couple of weeks.  But first----- it has been snowing out all morning and we have ??? maybe 5 inches and it's still coming down.  Lots of good precip because it's a wet snow.  Not too windy but if the temps drop and the wind comes up - who knows what will happen.   We are warm and comfy!  Neighbors have brought us goodies and meals ....we are blessed!

This could get lengthy so I hope you have a little time.......

January 8, Monday...at noon     WHAM!!  I didn't even see it in my pathway.  I hit the ice and then the cement.  The pain was probably the worst I've ever experienced......child birth is more desirable!!!   Gary was beside me in an instant as I cried out "oh honey, ....oh honey, .....oh honey!!!!"    "Can you move --- can we move you??"  "NO! don't move my leg----please hold it up a little ....OH just a little".    And so goes the thoughts -----can I be moved -- could Dan come and help Gary get me up.   "No, I don't think you can move me".    So Gary was on his hands and knees holding my leg up with a little help from ?? something.....for the duration.  Blankets were brought out....but I was oh! so cold.

Then the call to 911.  Gary had called Dan Tinant but he was in Valentine --- so he called his wife Sherri and she came with her carpet layer .....perhaps he could help.    "SHERRI don't fall"!   "Wow that is terrible".    I think I told everyone that came ---"Don't Fall"!    The ambulance was forever in coming, so Sherri called again and it was questionable if one had even been sent out.  "What the?!?!?!"   Then the answer came -- yes, they were on the way.  "Where do we come?"    We didn't know the address because we weren't home.....so it was just directions.    "At Patton's corner turn west and go 2 miles".   The ambulance went EAST 2 miles.   Stopped at Sara's - no one home.   So back west and stopped at Pattons......."we are looking for Barb Peters".   Pattons gave our address and they came to our home.....but only met up with Toby.   Somehow they found us at Schelhaas's -- an hour after I had hit.   I was so cold -- just shivering.

They apologized about the rough roads ...... when we crossed the Lakeview / Crookston road I knew it.   The road grader always leaves a ridge on both sides of the road....whump   whump.  "sorry".

Arriving in Valentine, there were those first moments of admitting.  And then a little morphine.  Thank You!     X-rays showed them that I would need a new artificial hip.  "NO, I don't want an artificial hip!!"    Twice they came and told Gary and I that news.   About that time Gary came over to me and said, "That's not what we've been praying for!"   "Right".   Then the Doc. came in and said "perhaps a CT Scan would show a better picture -- if pinning is possible".   And he said that would be the most desirable fix.    So once more off that spot and slid onto another bed that could go into that "donut".  😬 The answer came back --- yes it could be pinned.👍   That would mean a trip to North Platte --- two hours south. 

Gary went back home to get a few clothes and items for a short -- ?? how long a stay he didn't really know.   And then he would follow the ambulance down to North Platte. 

I think we arrived at Great Plains Hospital in North Platte around 7 or 8:00.....a 2 hour trip. Surgery would be tomorrow--Tuesday the 9th (4:00 p.m.)  Gary was given a list of hotels that offered discounts for those in town with medical needs.  Needless to say - Gary wasn't figuring on a whole weeks worth of staying.  Those two pair of underwear were turned inside out and outside in 😝(not really) and then he went and bought more.   He won't be needing undies for a long time!!!  He said I would need to help him wear them all out. (remember that point!!)

Surgery time came and with it a discussion with the anesthesiologist.  He wanted to give me a spinal - and Gary thought that was a very good idea.    My thoughts were not the same.   I just felt that I could not roll onto my side (either side) and hold still long enough for them to enter my spine!!!   So I said no -- just the general anesthetic. 

Surgery lasted about an hour and I came out with the following pins......

This one shows the large pin going from my upper hip bone (and down to just above my knee).   The smaller pin was inserted to hold another break in place.    There were two breaks...but both remained in place.

These are the two screws that hold the pin in place down above the knee.  I have three incisions.  Top one where the leg bends  -- for the large pin to enter.....one about a 1/3 of the way down ---- for the pin to come up.   And then one down by my knee for the screws.    They had ??(don't remember for sure) about 22 total staples.   Which by the way --- a couple of those were quite the trip coming out.....until the trainee found her right angle to remove them.😂PHEW - good job.

My stay in North Platte was until Sunday, January 14.   The plan had been for me to leave on Friday.  However,  the medications -- pain killers, muscle relaxants, stool thinner --- all worked against me.  First to hit was the diarrhea!   My physical therapy that day was getting up and going to the bathroom about 7 times!!!  The stool softeners were removed from my list of meds!!!!   

The following day, I passed out.....just for an instant ---I remember sitting down.  But I was very light headed and my blood pressure dropped to 69 over 36 -- something like that...when standing.   Laying down it was much better.    So, of course, they would NOT allow me to leave until things got straightened out.   They then removed the muscle relaxants and potent pain killer.  I was only on 500 mg. of Tylenol after that but it did a pretty good job.   When I had a more potent one (they would offer and I said "yes" a couple of times).......then the light-headedness would return.

I have to say here that the nurses and "male techs" were great in North Platte --- every one of them.  Dr. Jacobsen who did the surgery was good and Doc. Carlson was such a special man --- cared about my whole body - not just the hip.  Meals were like ordering off a restaurant menu --- most anything you could want.

I would leave North Platte and go to Cherry County Hospital in Valentine for physical therapy.  How long???  Wasn't sure - it would depend on how things went.    Valentine personnel were great also.  There is not a complaint that could possibly be made!!!

It was time for me to change from those nasty "diapers".......which in truth were handy when making the 2 hour drive from North Platte to Valentine ---- could I hold it long enough?!?!?😟 (I did!😁 )   Anyway,  I was in the bathroom and I asked the nurse if she could look in my bag for my undies.  She opened the door a crack and handed me the "FRUIT OF THE LOOM"!!!!!   I said "!!!NO!!".   "Did he do that on purpose?!?!"    We had such a good laugh.   She said her little sister thought men's underwear was more comfortable so maybe I did too.   She did find mine in another pocket 😅.

My stay went well and I was able to leave on Friday.  Sometimes I was encouraged by my progress and the next time disappointed that I just couldn't do it.   We are home and Gary is a great care giver and I am trying to be a loving patient wife.  Our hugs have never felt better!!

I know it will be a long process -- but when I think of others and what they have to go through ....cancer....colitis.... you name it......... ---- mine is minimum!!!   God is so good.  I feel His loving presence daily and at times like these a person looks to Him more and more.  I (we) can't do it without Him. 

The New Year has arrived and so has the COLD

I think it's been cold across the nation  and we haven't been slighted the least bit.   COLD -- below zero for much of a whole week.   On one of the nicer days  -- 19 degrees - Gary and I went fishing at He Dog Lake.  We had our shanty along but there was no wind so we didn't bother setting it up.  It was a good thing we didn't have it set up because we had to move quite often.  We just could NOT find any fish.  We came home with 5 fishes. 

 A week later we tried it again.  This time Dean Noteboom went along and he is an "old timer"  (actually he's younger than us -- but lived here all his life) so he could tell us where the best spots to fish were at.  Dean got one pike on his tip ups and we got about another 5 fishes.  What is up anyway?!?! 

Today Gary went along with Deon Tinant and Jay Hollenbeck...     would you believe it -- 2 fishes!!   And those were NOT large pike -- they were 2 little Bluegills.    So we are still waiting for the fish to bite.

The Juvenile Detention Center is having difficulty getting bites too.   There have been very few kids ever since before Thanksgiving.  We call before we go out.  Last Wednesday there were two males.  So we decided that Gary and I would go -- Pastor Mark was still in Michigan and we would let Julie have a night off.   When we got into the facilities and to the first closed - locked door, we heard the officers on the intercom.  One boy didn't want to come and the other one (whom we've know for a LONG time) was on lock down for 24 hours.        Yes, we know it's a good thing ---- no kids at the juvenile detention center.   But we can't quite figure it out.  There are those that come into the Booking area  -- but the court always lets them go.       We will try to remain faithful and put in the call to see if there are young people we can visit with --- it's just been disappointing because we really enjoy that part of our "ministry".

Release Time will begin again next week after the Christmas break.   We had been picking up one group at 12:30.  This group would miss their noon recess -- but it would be a different group each time.   The kids have been putting up a fuss about missing recess.   So we were asked if we could shorten our time by 5 minutes and start at 1:00.  That pretty much gives us 30 minutes to get it all in.  We think it will work but might put the rush on us a bit. 

Gary has a couple of projects to do --- but it's just too cold out there in the barn to do much.   So they've been put on hold.........  "Just so I have them by Feb. 1."   No problem.    Today his truck died on him.   It had been starting rather hard -- and that was unusual.  Today on the way back from fishing, the truck started sputtering when he reached the Casino on Hwy 83.   "Oh no - please get me off 83 before it dies."  You just don't want to sit on the side of the road (or ON the road) on Hwy 83.....people drive like maniacs!!  And so once again --- a break down at a good spot.  Thank you, Lord!   He had just turned onto the gravel road - 7 miles from home - and the truck died.   He called Ron Patton and Ron came and towed him to his garage......... fuel pump.

Right now my only thought is to say ---- STAY WARM -- spring is on the way - sometime!
Gary and Barb