Well I guess this is something to get in writing. I have been harrassed a little about not working on my blog for a while (okay more than a while). Since I am terrible at keeping a journal, I thought I better take a minute and write down a few thoughts and feelings about the past week.
What started out to be a fun memorial day weekend, ended up being one of the hardest weeks that our family has had to go through. It all started last Sunday, May 25th. We hurried home from Church and grabbed a quick bite to eat and loaded up the truck and headed up to the Ranch for the weekend to work on the fence and just to get away for the first time this summer. John wanted to get up there before it got too late so we could get the fence up around the cabin. Trevor carried a little tool box around and followed his Dad and handed him nails whenever he needed them. Taylor and I mended the holes with wire, and Haley and Abbey tended Tyson.
I was in charge of dinner for Sunday evening, so I went in the cabin to start cooking. John and his brother Thayne decided that they would go on a little ride around the fence line to see what needed to be done on Monday. Abbey and her cousin Kimi jumped on the back and Trevor climbed in front of John. He said, "Oh, Dad, I am so glad to be up here to the ranch". Trevor absolutely loves it up there. I told them that dinner was almost ready and they said that they would be right back.
John's 4-wheeler was in 2 wheel drive and he started up a hill. The 4 wheeler hit a rock which threw the 4-wheeler up a bit, and it scared him, so he stopped and put it into 4-wheel drive. He said he gave it a little gas, and the front of th 4-wheeler came up off the ground and it went over on top of them. John, Abbey, and Trevor all had bloody noses. Kimi was luckily not hurt. Abbey had a little scratch on her face, and her cheek was red and swollen. John has a cut on his leg and a big bruise on it. We think that the handl bars must have gone right into Trevor's belly. He had a cut on his eye and on his cheek, and was crying about his belly hurting. We decided to take him to Kanab to the emergency room to check it out. After arriving there and having lots of tests and x-rays taken, it was determined that he had lacerated his liver and possibly had some contusions on his small intestines. They called for the Life-flight airplane. Only one parent was able to stay with Trevor, so Thayne took John to St. George so he could pick up a few things and bring the car up.
Looking back on it now, I think I was in total shock for most of it. I couldn't hardly even cry. It was really weird to me that I didn't have the emotions I thought I would have when someone tells you your 3 year old was going to be life-flighted up to primary children's hospital. I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening. It was a terrible feeling. Just thinking back on it makes me feel sick to my stomach all over again. All I kept thinking was I needed to hold it together because I was alone with my little boy who was so scared and needed me to hold it together. Every time I acted scared or upset, he would ask me why I was crying and would get really anxious.
I don't remember much about the flight except that I sat and stared and my helpless, precious child sleeping and wondering if we would get the chance to keep him in our family a little longer. I prayed the whole way. I remember one of the nurses that was on the plane taped me on the shoulder and told me that we would be landing in Salt Lake in 12 minutes. I had a rush of emotions come over me that I have never had before. I felt a surge of relief that we would be getting some good help soon and at the same time I was more scared than I have ever been. I sobbed until the plane landed.
I told John when we arrived at the hospital it was as if we were a part of one of those shows on TV. There were about 15 doctors that were giving and receiving information and sounding like they didn't know how to speak English. I don't even know how to describe it. Trevor was still very scared and I am so grateful that they allowed me to stay by his side the whole time. It didn't take them very long at all to assess him and take the extra x-rays that they needed. It was there that I was told that on a scale of 1 to 5, Trevor's injuries were at a 5. I still couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening. I kept thinking this was a nightmare and I needed to wake up, but I couldn't figure out how to do it.
We were taken up to the ICU and had a wonderful nurse that sat by his bedside all night long. I was able to call John at about 2 a.m. and tell him we were there and Trevor was at least stable. I watched the monitors all night. I didn't want to ask the nurse questions, because I was affraid of what she would tell me. I just sat there all night watching and praying for my precious boy. John left at about 7 a.m. on Monday morning and got to the hospital at about 11:30 a.m. Trevor woke up Monday morning before John got there and started asking about his Dad. John called on his way up to check on him, and I handed the phone to Trevor so he could talk to him. When Trevor said. "Hi Daddy", John started crying. Trevor said "Daddy are you Okay?" He is so sweet and didn't want his Dad to be sad. John has really beaten himself up about this accident. I think he was so relieved to hear his voice and hear that he was feeling okay. John was happy to get up there, but not half as happy as I was to have him there with me.
Trevor stayed in the ICU until Tuesday afternoon. They drew blood every 4 hours to check his hematocrit (red blood cell count). The lowest it got to was 30, which was low but not in the really low range. We were so excited when the blood test showed his level going up instead of down. It roller-coastered a little, but never dropped below 30. Trevor felt pretty good in the ICU, but was still nervous and really hated having to get "poked" so much. They tried to draw blood through his IV's (he had one in each arm) so they wouldn't have to prick his finger as often. It worked for a couple of times, but then his IV in one arm quit working and then in the other. They had to redo the IV, but only put one in this time. We read a lot of stories in the ICU. That is about all he could do. They did not want him to sit up on his own. We could raise the bed to a slight sitting position, but that was all he was allowed to do. Trevor was quite hungry, but didn't complain too much about it. They gave medicine in his IV to neutralize the acid in his stomach, so I think that helped.
Tuesday afternoon we were moved out of the ICU and into a room in the trauma center. It was a little more private and a lot quieter. They continued to do the same things....drawing blood, monitoring breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. He was able to play a little with toys in bed, and was getting really tired of being in the hospital and still no food. The Doctors had been concerned about some spots on his small intestines and wanted to make sure they were not small holes. That is the main reason he went without food for so long.
We didn't want Trevor to develop pneumonia while he was laying there, so every two hours we blew bubbles. He really liked this and would try to pop them with his feet. He still wasn't suppose to really sit up and wiggle much, so he popped the bubbles with his feet.
On Wednesday afternoon, the doctor came in to check on Trevor and said he seemed to be doing well and asked him if he would like a popsicle. Trevor giggled and giggled. The doctor was this cute little oriental lady and she was jumping up and down and so excited for Trevor. I never knew that a half of a
popsicle could bring so much happiness. It was the best news I had heard for several days, and I had to step into the bathroom there in the room and shed a couple of tears of relief (Trevor didn't like to see us cry, so I used the bathroom as my little room to fall apart on occasion). Trevor got a half of a popsicle every two hours the rest of the day.
On Thursday, Trevor enjoyed a popsicle for breakfast, and then was moved up to a full liquid diet for the rest of the day. He had chicken broth for lunch and a milkshake for dinner. He still enjoyed a popsicle every couple of hours, but now could have a whole one instead of a half. He also enjoyed gatorade, chocolate milk, and water. He also was able to get out of bed and go to the bathroom with the help of mom or dad. He thought he was living large and this point.
Friday was a great day. His IV failed again, so they removed it and said as long as he drinks good and uses the bathroom he doesn't need it. He was able to get out of bed more and even enjoyed a couple of rides in a wagon and visited the 3rd floor playroom. He enjoyed playing dinosaurs with Dad, and the best of all, all food restrictions were lifted. He had pancakes and sausage for breakfast, chicken noodle soup for lunch, and helped celebrate his Dad's Birthday (May 30th) with Pizza from Litza's pizza that Dad went and picked up for dinner.
Several doctors came in Friday to see how he was doing and told us that instead of keeping us to Monday, we would be able to go home the next day. We were so excited.
Primary Children's Hospital is a wonderful hospital. They took such good care of Trevor, and really cater to the kids. We so appreciated all the wonderful doctors and nurses who helped us out. We also appreciated all the prayers, phone calls and visits we received from family and friends. We have been overwhelmed with how much everyone has reached out to help our family.
John's family stayed with our kids at home for the first few days, and then my sister and mom came down for the last part of the week to stay with them. We have had so many friends and ward members call and bring gifts, food, etc. We will never be able to repay all the support we have received.
We feel very blessed to live in such a wonderful neighborhood and to have the best parents, siblings, and children in the whole world. We are very lucky people. I have learned that I need to slow down and just enjoy my life with my children. We never know when our lives will suddenly change. We are lucky to have our sweet little Trevor home and doing so well. We are also lucky to have 4 other children that are happy and healthy and willing to help out so much.
