October 10, 2008

My husband, Leo, our two dogs, Willie & Chillie and I were driving in evening rush-hour traffic to get up into the mountains to go camping for the weekend. I was thinking about the groceries we still needed to buy, and the lateness of the hour. It was 8:15 pm on a Friday night, and I knew my sister and Vice-Queen would be getting worried with us not having shown up @ the campgrounds yet. My husband was driving his usual slow self, leaving yards and yards of space in front of him, cars darting back and forth in front of him taking our space! It was exasperating, “but then at least if we had an accident, we wouldn’t hit the car in front of us”, was my thought. The next thing I knew, I woke up screaming in pain, and “my chest hurts, oh Leo, my chest hurts”. The dogs were crawling all over me in the excitement, “get the dogs off of me!!” I yelled. Leo spoke to me in a calm voice, calling the dogs away, telling me that we had been rear-ended by another car. “I hurt, my chest hurts so much” I cried.

I don’t remember much except for scattered pieces, paramedics talking to me, Leo answering, being covered with a sheet so that they could break the glass in my passenger side window, the ambulance ride with the paramedic holding my hand, explaining away the bumps and jolts from the road. The next thing I remember is my family being there, my mother’s voice calling my name, my sister holding my hand. I remembered Leo telling me we had an accident; I could feel the cervical collar around my neck, the relief from the worst of the pain from the Morphine being injected into my leg. My mouth was so dry, as if my body was in the desert. My two sons and their wives came to the emergency room. My husband was in the other emergency room being evaluated. Usually it feels like time will never go by, it seems forever to get medical care but I was so out of it, time is remembered only in segments. My children said good-bye but mother and Kathy stayed until I was taken up to my room. I woke in the night and nurses helped me to the bathroom, but I guess I had so many drugs in me that while painful, I handled it okay. That morning Kathy came in with some clothing for me, and helped me in the shower. I was only able to stand for a minute or two but how nice it was to get clean. The water ran red and flecks of glass fell to the ground. Kathy cleaned my hair carefully but with longer hair, it wasn’t the best. It wasn’t till the next morning that the full extent of pain was felt. I found out that I had broken my ribs, a thick band about 8-10 inch band fully encircling around my chest and back was in pain. I had some minor cuts, (scalp), and bruises on my legs but that was the extent of my bruises but not of my pain. Have you ever lifted and carried a #10 tin can, the biggest size they sell in Smart N Final? I felt like someone had taped my boobs to the top of those #10 cans and strapped the dang thing around my back. I tried to sleep in bed but kept waking up with such dreadful pain. During the day for short breaks of time, I would sit in the recliner chair in the den but was so tired that I would have to go to bed, until I realized that I could sleep in the recliner. It was to become my bed for the next 4 mos. I was able to return to work 5 weeks after the accident but but I was very cautious of riding the train. It wasn't until March that the rib pain went away, the #10 cans were gone. And that’s when I realized that there was an enormous amount of pain in my back. I would cringe when well-meaning people would want to pat me on the back or give me hugs. One time, a good friend came up behind me and gave me a light pat on the back which resulted in my screams echoing the halls of the church. Everyone turned to look and with tears of pain in my eyes, I had to tell her I was okay. The skin on my back had been numb since the accident, but underlying the rib pain was the back pain. I went to an acupuncturist to get some relief from the pain. When he started the first of 8 treatments, I didn’t feel a thing; no touch, no needles, just nice warmth from the heat lamp. Gradually the skin on my back for the most part has returned to full feeling although I still have a patch the size of a large grapefruit on my left shoulder blade, which is still numb. Everyone was kind, caring and concerned. I received flowers from my coworkers and lots of cards. My mother was my nurse, feeding me, giving me my medication, rubbing lotion into my skin, taking Leo and I to doctor appointments. The whole family pulled together, with Eric, mother and Leo taking turns getting up with me during the nights til I could get up and down by myself. I learned to sleep sitting up, sleep longer and sleep deeper. Leo took upon the last part of my care with all the love and concern he has always had for me. It is now August and I still take pain medication in the morning and then again at night before I retire for bed. But hey! The good news is I lost 20 pounds!
My husband suffered a mild concussion and was in intensive car for observation but fortunately wasn’t injured further; he has enough medical problems with out the accident. Unfortunately, he suffered from extreme headaches for the longest time.
Of course, the guy who hit us was a drunk driver with no insurance driving a big, old 1987 International Scout (SUV), which totaled our car. He hit us in the rear passenger side, came up and over smashing the passenger side roof and rolling down onto the freeway.
He got a few stitches and overnight in jail.

Our Heavenly Father is good to us, we are still alive and can enjoy our life with children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Camping with Critters

One of the joys of camping is the communication with nature. The sun was high, the sky clear, and a cool breeze wafted throughout the campground. Each of us were enjoying the day, relaxing or playing when we noticed a ground squirrel coming across the road with a bunch of stick and leaves in his mouth. He paused at the side of the road, then turned and ran back & up behind the rocks. I grabbed a chair and my camera to sit up away from the hole but close enough to watch. Within a few minutes he was back but again got cold feet, or paws I should say and ran back across the street. Patience is the key I thought. I sat as still as can be and turned the camera back on. Look carefully into the shadows and check it out!

Catching up to do

There's been so much going on this past month that I am just now catching my breath. June was a busy month with all the family goings-on. Sharon came out to California with her two children, Nicholas, age 8, and Emilia, age 6. They out in the south-eastern states. They flew to LAX from Atlanta arriving on Sat. June 7th. The trip was uneventful if you describe spilling orange juice on both mother and daughter as a normal event for the day. Sunday we went to church and then had a picnic in Heritage Park, Cerritos, Ca. It was a revisit back from when my husband Leo and I had our first outing, can't really call it a date with 7 children tagging along. Lots has changed over the last 25 years. The trees are a lot bigger, good for climbing by my grandaughter, Emila. There used to be only one way on and off the island which made it pretty secure to let your kids run wild over there. Now there are many different ways but then the buildings have been renovated to include climbing structures and activities in what were once just empty buildings. It sort of saddens me because it seems we have taken away some of the imaginination that was needed to explore the island. The playground was still cool.
On Monday, June10th we left to go camping for the week. I've never gone camping for a whole week before so I was real excited. It was soooo...much better than just a weekend. Of course, we had my sister Kathy, Sharon, Emilia, Nicholas, my husband Leo and myself all together so that made it so much funner!

We camped in a spot just east of the city of Julian, Ca. famous for it's apples. We walked through town on Tuesday exploring the candy stores and looking at all the tourist gegaws. We brought home Cherry-Apple cider to have with lunch. Yummy!
The campground had horseshoes, tennis, fishing, swimming, jacuzi, horseback riding, recreation center, campstore, playgrounds, tetherball and a kids club. Can you guess what the kids liked best? The kids club of course because it had painting, arts & crafts and video games. My favorite part was the smores. My least favorite happened Wednesday night. I woke up haven fallen off my air mattress (twin bed high), trapped in my sleeping bag between the mattress & the tent side. I hollered for Leo to help, and then heard the tent zipper. "Leo, I'm INSIDE the tent!" I yelled. He pulled me up and I painfully went to back to sleep. No bruises showed up and at this time, a whole month later, still haven't but the pain is still with me every time I make a sudden move or lie down. At least the pain has stopped for this last week when I walked. For more pictures and other information, go to: http://byrumnews.blogspot.com/

Eric & Brooke

Eric is the oldest of 4 siblings raised in our home. Eric and I have the same type of personality in that we like rules and don't mind inforcing those rules even if nobody else cares. We also recognize a good thing when we see it. When Eric was approximately 8 years old, he threatened to run away from home. I sat down with him and explained all the pros and cons of leaving home. Evidently I did such a good job that years later as a teenager, when there was so much teenage angst, he would threaten us to NEVER move away from home and in fact, we moved to So. California in 2000 leaving HIM behind. Later on he and his wife moved down to Los Angeles area near us. Six years later and with his divorce and different moves in the works, he has wound up back at home with us once more.
About 3 months ago Eric was surfing the net and met up with a girl. They talked a few times, when they had the following conversation (as told to me by Eric):
Eric: Where do you work?
Brooke: I work in Rancho Cucamonga
Eric: So do I! Where do you live?
Brooke: I live in Pomona.
Eric: So do I!
Brooke: I live in a mobile home park across from the DMV.
Eric: So do I!
Of course this is sort of simplistic but you get the idea. He came out of the room laughing saying he just had to go see this girl just for the fun of it if for no other reason. Here he has been living in this house for the past 2 years and he might have seen the girl many times over the years and not even realized it. It turns out that if you walk out our front door, through the neighbors house across the street, through the neighbor behind them and out to the corner house, you would be standing in her front yard.
You have to understand that except for work and an occasional night out with a friend to a wrestling match or comedy act, Eric never left his room and his on-line gaming. Since he and Brooke have been dating, he is never home.
Eric and Brooke will be married January 10, 2009.

Jason Wayne Milwrick

Jason Wayne Milwrick
Born January 21, 1981
Died May 11

Sunday, Mother's Day 2008

“Now I know why the Lord took his day off on Sunday. That must be the day he personally greets his favorites.” Jack Cooper The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

The Highway 247 collision happened when Milwrick, heading south on Highway 247 near Stoddard Valley Road in a 2004 Nissan Altima, drifted to the right and left the road while going around a curve in the highway at 1:45 a.m., according to the CHP report. Milwrick, the only occupant in the car, lost control while trying to steer to the left, and the car overturned. He was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Division report. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the CHP report. Daily Press Newspaper.

That is what you see in the newspaper. What you don't see is a grieving mother and father as they bend over their sons body in the casket.

You don't see the tears that fall on the face or the hand as it smooths back a brow that will no longer wrinkle with laughter. You don't hear the brother's, fiance, ex-wife, grandmother, aunts and cousins as their cries mingle with those of the rest of the family.

This is, was my nephew. Jason is the second son of Colene Honey and Michael Milwrick. He is survived by his brothers, Michael and Mark, ex-wife Beckie and fiance Sarah. He was a soldier in the United States Army. He served in Iraq, the same as both of his brothers. He was training to be in special forces while stationed in Ft. Irwin, CA. He loved his family and his country and they loved him.

Jason was buried on Monday, May 19th @ Mountain View Cemetery, Kingman, AZ.

We will miss you.

Adventures in Traveling

I had planned the trip to GA back in the fall of 2007. It was going to be just the girls and I but when Sharon found the Skybus website and was able to get such cheap tickets, I couldn't deny my husband a chance to come see the girls & grandkids too. Then the youngest in Illinois started talking about coming out to see us, and so I looked on Skybus.com and found tickets for him for only $35.00. How could I pass that up? I bought his tickets for the same weekend. Then we found out the oldest was coming in the same weekend from MS. We were so excited. As you have probably guessed when you first saw the name of the airline, this airline was one of those that went out of business, the Saturday before we were to leave for GA. So now we were scrambling for some way to get out there. Tickets were purchased at a significant additional cost. We were to fly through Boston, Mass. then down to Charlotte, NC where Sharon was to pick us up. Here is where the adventure starts: My husband uses a wheelchair for long distance walking. The attendant was waiting at the ramp for us in Boston. I showed her the printed directions to go through baggage claim, to the 2nd curb, take the #11 shuttle bus to terminal B. All is well until we get to the baggage claim.
Me: Why are we stopping here?
Her: Don't you have luggage?
Me: Yes, but don't the airlines transfer luggage from one plane to the other when you have another flight?
Her: So you don't have luggage?
Me: Yes, but don't the airlines transfer luggage from one plane to the other when you have another flight?
Her: So you have luggage?
Me: (showing her the directions again) We need to go through baggage claim, to the 2nd curb, take the #11 shuttle bus to terminal B. (extremely frustrated by now)
Her: Oh, now I know what you want.
We proceed out the double doors to our left and see a bus pulling away from the curb. I thought, knowing how luck is going, that is going to be the shuttle we need. An 1/2 hr. later the shuttle returns (confirming my suspicions), I ask for the handicapp ramp for my husband. The ramp comes down but won't open. They fiddle with it for another 5-6 min. when they pull it back in. By this time, I am climbing in the shuttle regardless and Leo follows. We get to the other terminal at 6:20 pm, (our flight leaves at 6:25pm). There is no wheelchair waiting. We ask customer service for a wheelchair which takes another 5 minutes. Mind you, we still have to go through security checkpoint again, which of course is jam-packed. Even with wheelchairs being passed through ahead of the line, it still took what seemed forever. We hurried to the gate, and while the plane was still on the ground, the doors were closed and would not open again; we had missed our flight. The next flight out was 6:10 am the next morning. We were stuck in Boston. We called family and then spoke with customer service. I explained what happened, and requested they get us a room at their cost as there was no way my disabled husband could stay up in the airport all night. A gentleman came out later and gave us "vouchers" for 2 dinners (already had it), 2 breakfasts and a room at the Embassy Suites. We took the shuttle to Embassy Suites and checked in at the desk. By this time it is 10 or 11 o'clock at night. That is when we find out that we don't have a "voucher or comp" room (meaning the airport picks up the tab) but we get the $400+ room for only $159+. Ooooooohhhh, I was so mad!!!! What choice did we have? Return to the airport or pay for the hotel? I paid for the hotel and we went to our beautiful room in which we immediately went to bed; Leo to sleep, me to toss & turn (my white noise fan to drown out Leo's snores is in the luggage in Charlotte, NC.)



We had a wake up call at 4 am for our 6:10 am flight. Everything went smoothly until we started our return home. We are to fly through Las Vegas this time, with the same 1 1/4 hr window. I gave instructions to the wheelchair attendant that we need to go to terminal D for our next flight. We are about 100 ft along when he turns to me and asks me: "Do you have any luggage to pick up in baggage claim?" Oh, no!! Not again!!!!

Gift Wish List

So I have been tagged, huh? Well, I caught the jest of what is happening but I don't know the ins & outs of word verification & deleting comments etc. Sharon has an awful lot to teach me when I get out to GA next week.

Gift Wish List

1. New shoes for my husband Leo. He wears orthotic shoes which cost more than your average "expensive" shoes. He only has the 1 pair of shoes & he has worn these for probably over 10 years. Last I remember he got them when we lived in Modesto.

2. A "red hat" Victorian Ball gown with hat & bling


3. I want to go on a "Red Hat Society" convention. Paying $400-$900 for an convention might be reasonalbe with everything you get for the money, but not for my pocket book. I guess I'll just have to plan ahead.

4. Deseret Books, Seagull Books, Ensign Books, store gift certificate of several hundred dollars. I have several series of books but they're not complete. I just want to go into the bookstore and not count how much it all is when I get done.

5. I want to stop working, be independently wealthy, so I can play, play, play.