Has it really been five years?

It was five years ago today dad went to the Brunswick ER with a severe headache.  After hours of waiting and a CT scan we learned he had a brain bleed.  So much has happened since then I feel farther removed than five years.

I'm sure dad feels otherwise.  He probably recollects more than me.  I remember a lot of the events vividly though.  You know how you can completely picture a memory in your head?  The sounds, the scents, the color.

I was getting ready for work at Bailey Boys when mom called me.  I dropped everything and headed to the ER.  When I arrived dad was writhing in pain.  He was well dressed though.  I believe he had on his uniform khakis?  Maybe it was white?  Naturally the nurses caring for him thought he wanted pain medication (thank you local residents).  When I pleaded for more medicine or even a different medicine I was told to get out of the doorway.  I was breaking HIPAA laws.  Seriously?  Not going to go there.  As I paced back and forth (inside the doorway) I saw a group of employees laughing and cutting-up with a co-worker's infant.

Mom convinced me to leave for work.  Things were under control.  They were doing everything that could be done.  Dad seemed a little better?  I think Whit had been to the hospital at this point too.  I remember sitting in the waiting room with Eli.  Precious little man was just three-years-old and had no idea what was happening.

I made it to Bailey Boys for a few hours, but after receiving a call from mom that dad's status had not improved and he had not had imaging it was time to get on the case.  

Back at the ER, roughly five hours since his admission, dad was still in terrible, terrible pain and had not had a CT scan.  Nurses, if someone comes to the ER complaining of the worst headache they have ever had, what do you do within the hour?

Dad's pain was definitely worse.  He was vomiting and not lucid.  I remember at one time he cried and told me he was sorry he spanked me when I was little.  That is one of the vivid memories.  I can picture it in my head.  I told him I needed that booty whoopin'.  Didn't I turn out OK!?  Dad was clearly frightened.  Mom and I were anxious.  We stayed in the doorway desperate for any one's attention.  Then the moment of all moments.  I thought I was going to come unglued.  Dad started throwing up again.  We had orders to save his emesis.  The care tech came in the room as mom and I frantically searched for a basin.  He leisurely walked over to the wall, pulled down a baggie and threw it at dad.  Are you serious?  Did you just throw that at him with disdain?  

I resolved at that moment to write Gary Colberg and let him know what disrespectful treatment dad received in his hospital.

Finally they wheeled dad to CT around 1:00 in the afternoon.  Mom and I sat on the floor and prayed and cried.  We called Rome and we called Nana.

At some point we were transferred to ICU.  Contemplation and fear filled the room as we waited for results and hopefully answers.  Dad's pain was under control, but this was just the beginning.

The next several weeks dad had a battery of tests.  He was released, re-admitted and after learning he had a cerebral hemorrhage, taken seriously.  The doctors never concluded if pain caused his high blood pressure or if high blood pressure caused his pain.  I left that detail out.  Dad's blood pressure was sky high on admission.  I can't remember the exact numbers close to 200 over 100?  It was crazy high.  I need mom to verify.

Why recount this story now?  I don't want to forget what an incredible Healer we have as a Heavenly Father.  Dad's sickness had slightly faded in my memory.  I'm glad mom reminded me of the anniversary.  It's important not to get caught up in life and forget to be thankful for blessings(even blessings that are years-old).

I never wrote a letter to Mr. Colberg.  It didn't seem right to complain about an event that ultimately was a witness of God's goodness and healing.

We are all so thankful Dad, AKA Big Daddy, is doing well and continues to be his mischievous self.  Whether it's chasing Eli, Sam, Emily, Finley and soon Breaker through the house as they literally scream with laughter (Whit and I trying to figure out how to get them under control) or making random purchases without consulting mom(ask him about his Tom Ford peepers) he's back to business as usual five years and counting. 

We did it!

This morning Finley proved to us that she can be our "busy" and flexible child. I am busting with pride over how well she behaved at The March for Babies. There were a few moments of, "I want out," but nothing out of the ordinary for a preschooler. She was a champ. She did look a diva-ish though. She rhode by herself in the double stroller, watched Pumba & Timon on my phone and ate strawberries. Really?

Breaker tanned and slept. Don't worry dad. I'm joking about the tan. He was lathered in SPF 15. I guess he wa s flexible too. We never stopped for a diaper change. He might consider his stroll a swim.

One of the biggest treats of the day was seeing the Kennedys. Cooper and Piper have grown so much! They're precious. It's hard to believed neither of them weighed over two pounds at birth. They are quite a pair:).

We finished in about two hours and fifteen minutes. I realized why I run instead of walk.

Jarrett and Finley snagged hotdogs and we were off to see the HRP nurses!

On the road

We didn't hear the alarm, but we're in route. America runs on Dunkin, right?

Look what was in the mailbox!

I can't afford the Mother's Day gift my mom deserves. Breaker's Babes gonna be workin' it tomorrow-holla.

Couldn't say no

Jarrett and I decided several months ago that it would be too difficult for our family of four to manage March for Babies in Savannah.  It was hard for us to make the decision not to form a team.  The March of Dimes is dear to our hearts.  MOD is the charitable organization that works to prevent premature birth and helps babies as well as the families of babies born too early.  It's an amazing organization.  We had brief interaction with them after Finley's birth, but while we were in Savannah with Breaker the reality of all they do came to life.  This made it even more difficult not to form a team.  We had developed an even stronger passion for preventing/helping those with early babies.

I was so grateful and felt better about our decision when Bunco Babes (my bunco group) agreed to donate this month's prize money to March for Babies.

Then I received a Facebook friend request from one of our Memorial NICU buddies, Krista Kennedy.  Jarrett and I became friends with Krista and her husband, Chad, last year while we all stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.  I remember wishing we had met earlier in our Savannah journey. We share the same adoration for the High Risk Pregnancy Nurses.  I believe that's how we connected.  Krista and Chad have twins, Cooper and Piper.  They turned one-year-old Wednesday.  Happy Belated Birthday!!

I digress, sorry.  Krista asked us to walk with them in the march.

I went to Jarrett, "Whatcha think?  Can we keep Finley entertained for a six mile walk?"  Jarrett encouraged me to pray about it.  After much thought and contemplation it became clear during church Sunday.  We needed to do the March for Babies as an act of worship.  It would be challenging (two kiddos, three years-old and ten months-old, walking six miles through downtown Savannah, roughly two hours), but we needed to let both Breaker and Finley shine as witnesses of God's healing and goodness.

At the last minute the Bridges have formed a team  for Saturday's March.  This year we are walking as Breaker's Babes.  My mind has been swirling with T-Shirt ideas, but poor Beebe, it's too late to rope her in on another project.  I've bombarded her with enough "to dos" lately (Breaker's baby dedication and First Birthday are around the corner).

So wish us luck and say a little prayer on Saturday morning!  I'm curious to see how Finley handles it all.  She's going to ride in the double-stroller by herself.  Jarrett has promised his phone for Pumba and Timon movies.  Breaker will probably fall asleep like he does on our jogs.  He'll be riding solo.

We can't wait to see the Kennedys and so many others we sincerely miss from our experience this time last year.  Stay tuned for pictures!

Tell of Two Js

Breaker's personality is coming out.  I think it was last Wednesday(4/11/12) when I first noticed his inner Jarrett emerge.  I say this because everyone has been under the impression that Breaker is our "chill" child.  It all started with a few screams.  I thought something was wrong.  It sounded like his "help me" scream.  Nope.  He had toys and even Mickey on the TV.  It was an "entertain me now" scream.  Surely not, I thought to myself.  Then it happened about an hour later, then at lunch time, then at dinner.  You get the picture.  Breaker has added to his hierarchy of needs:  Entertainment.

Once again motherhood is taking me down the path of trying to figure out how to keep a babe occupied.  This wouldn't be such a daunting task, but my children have the "J" gene.  It's a gene given to them by their own the go, what's next, multi-tasking father.  It comes in handy sometimes.  Jarrett once painted our entire duplex in five days, he can do laundry, swift the floors and unload the dishwasher while I'm out on a jog and when Finley is expressing her "J" gene he finds ways to invent games instantly.

Now it's time for Jarrett to add Breaker's interest to his entertainment repertoire.  At the moment this would include cars, a shark noisemaker, puffs, and anything you might find to hold condiments at a fast food restaurant.

All in a day's work

Looking back, this day makes me laugh.  It was a terrible headache at one point, but I think the craziness has resolved, hopefully.  I shouldn't jinx myself.  Finley is still in the bed practicing her end of school program.  

It all started bright and early.  Breaker started begging for a bottle at 6:30 and close to 7:00 Finley began yelling, "Mah-um, I'm ready to get up!"  So much for the gym.  Poor Jarrett's quiet time was replaced with a cartoon about French rabbits (haven't seen it before?).

Then as Breaker and I prepped for his Dr. Aljabi appointment I glanced out the window to see a state prisoner van practically parked in our driveway.  Are you serious?  After the recent SSI prisoner escape I couldn't believe my eyes.  Momma was irate.  My heart raced even more when I got downstairs and realized a Chris Farley look-alike was the deputy in charge.  What the what?  Our "system" in Glynn County makes no sense to me.

At Dr. Aljabi's office Breaker had his first Cirque du Soleil audition.  A brief distraction by Dr. Aljabi left me holding little man by one leg as he dangled from the exam table.  My heart was in my chest again.  Thank goodness Dr. Aljabi was the reason for the distraction.  

Things seemed to settle . . . until nap time.  While I laid Breaker down Finley decided to chew every piece of her dad's gum and let Fergie outside.  I got her to bed just in time for Breaker to wake up.

There was more to come.  While we went on an "Ariel Hunt" (Fin has a missing doll) in the den Breaker found a way to weasel out of the Bumbo face down.  I don't know how he managed, but the hardwood floors that had appeared appetizing were not so much.

To cap off the day Finley had a breakdown of monstrous proportion while I tried to make spaghetti.  I don't know what it is with her and time out.  If she would sit in the chair and do her time it would be so much easier.  If I mention the "T" word she does a lap around the house, throws herself on the floor kicking and wallowing,  and I have to find a way to pick her up and sit her in the chair.  My head aches.  She screams not to set the timer while I inform her I'm starting the timer over.  As Amanda says, "It's a hot mess."

The day ended on a sweet note.  Instead of the usual whining and bargaining during dinner Finley devoured blueberries and spaghetti sauce (she's not big on "strings" like her mom).  I enjoyed Nightly News since she lost her Sid the Science Kid privilege.

but in a BIG way, 22.5lbs

In the words of Tommy Lingerfelt, "Jazz Hands!"

story of our lives

20min of sleepy time

Oh what a morning (mid April 2012)!

Breaker went to the nursery for the first time today. I officially feel like he's no longer an infant. He can make it at least an hour without me. When Miss Megan's working I'm sure I could stay away longer. I peeked once. He was playing in the exersaucer like a man. Once again, following in his sister's footsteps. He loves "little church".

Hip Hop Ya Don't Stop

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These are a few pics from our Easter evening.  Jarrett hit the grill while trying to convince Finley Master's coverage was a great a TV show.  Breaker and I worked on the bunny booty cake.  Bless his heart.  He has exactly two months before he can taste his sugary creation.  It was a wonderful day.  We are so thankful to serve and celebrate our Risen Lord!

It was touching to see such a fine Christian man win the Master's as well.  Way to go Bubba. . .how 'bout that  Dawg?!

Bunnies, but not the Easter kind

This week of spring break has me wishing for a month of bed rest again.  Just kidding.  Not really.  It has given me a glimpse of what I'm up against starting May 22nd.  Those of you who know my Finley know she is a ball of energy.

You're probably saying to yourself, "Duh.  She's a toddler."  But like I said, anyone who knows Finley knows she has more energy than the average three-year-old.

Finley comes from a long line of Energizer Bunnies.  I'm not sure where the gene originated, but the trail starts with her dad and Juju.

I have always considered myself a girl who can shop until she drops, but after experiencing Black Friday with Miss Judy I've decided they need to come up with an elite shoppers club kind of like those folks who possess a Black AX.  She goes and goes and goes.  I'm convinced she could handle The Valdosta Mall, Target, Kohl's, Talbots, Joseph A. Banks, 109 Central and Only Options all in one day and still have the energy to make it through Publix.  I'm not exaggerating.

Then there's Jarrett.  Last week on the way to Jacksonville as I listened to him chat, chat, chat, chat, chat and do things to make me (and his co-workers) laugh I realized I had a giant, man version of Finley sitting next to me.  He bounced off the van walls, that wasn't Tracy making a quick lane change.

So tonight as I told Fin good night it came as no surprise when she popped out from under the sheets to tell me, "Mom, I don't know how to go to sleep!"