Helmets and Guns

The short story:

Caleb loves nerf guns.  Part of my skull is missing.  I imagine a nerf bullet hitting my brain.

Caleb got two new nerf guns for Christmas.  I got scared and bought a helmet.  We have a new rule.  No shooting nerf guns in the house unless Mom is wearing her helmet.  The first time Caleb's buddy came over and heard the rules, he started cracking up.  He thought I was joking.  No way man!  I got to have my helmet on if you are going to fire your weapon.  This is a battle field.

IF you fire a gun and Mom is not wearing her helmet, the weapon is confiscated.

Day 1 - three weapons confiscated.
Day 2 - one weapon confiscated.
Day 3+ - lesson learned.  Bam! Bang!

The Long Story:

The first time I was discharged from the hospitals, Argerich and Italiano, in Buenos Aires, where I left part of my skull, I was required to wear a helmet.  Not just in leaving, but at all times.  During my second admission to Italiano, the doctors weren't as concerned.  I could walk steadily, and daily I would break out of my ICU room with my IV pole and cruise the hospital without my casco.  I discovered the secret garden where I could breath fresh air and savor the sun on my face.

When I was eventually released, no one remembered or asked about my helmet.  I was happy and felt confident without it.  The neurosurgeons in the US provided a spectrum of suggestions from: wear a helmet always - even when sleeping, to, a helmet is only necessary when I am participating in dangerous activities -  like baseball games.  

I didn't know what to do.  In normal life I don't feel like a helmet is necessary.  On the other hand, I wonder if I am risking my mental health.  What if something comes flying at the 2.5 square inches of my head that has no bone protection.  My brain beats under a thin layer of skin. What to do?

The item on the top of Caleb's Christmas list was a nerf gun.  He enjoyed a tiny nerf pistol in our last Madryn house, and he was jonesing to size up.  Unbeknownst to him, Grammy and Nonno brought two to Madryn in November, and they were waiting for our return to Argentina.  

I knew they were in the house.  I knew how much he loved them.  I went to sleep at night visualizing him shooting the guns in our new house and having a nerf dart come flying at my unprotected brain.  My dreams reoccured over and over.  That did it.  Two days before we got on the plane, I told Adam I wanted a helmet.  It was too late to order the $1,100 personally fit helmet from Kaiser, so we went to the sporting goods store and bought a new lime green Bern.  

Next we went to Big Lots and bought a stacking set of bowls.  Adam busted out his skills and the dremel tool and created a plastic protector piece that fits inside my hat and covers my exposed brain.  I was feeling a little safer.  

In Argentina, we saved the box of Christmas presents for last when we were unpacking.  Everyone enjoyed the little surprises.  Carmela received a small sewing kit; Sojo a coin purse; art supplies for everyone, and finally, at the bottom of the box, a shriek of joy and exuberant "YES!" came when Caleb pulled out TWO new nerf guns.  He was thrilled beyond belief.  

And then... I told him the new nerf gun rule - Mom has to have on her helmet if you are going to shoot the gun.  Otherwise, the gun will be confiscated for an indeterminate amount of time.  The first time Caleb's buddy came over and heard the rules, he started cracking up.  He thought I was joking.  No way man!  I got to have my helmet on if you are going to fire your weapon.  This is a battle field.

If you shoot a gun and Mom is not wearing her helmet, the weapon is confiscated.

Day 1 - Three weapons confiscated.
Day 2 - ne weapon confiscated.
Day 3 and every day after - Lesson learned. Bam! Bang!

Reunions

One of the sweetest things about returning to Madryn is seeing our friends and farmiliar faces.  It is delightful to shop in my little markets for the first time in months.  It was heartwarming to be recognized and remembered.  Many questioned my sudden disappearance, and I let the scars tell the story.  

Argentinians are open and honest culturally.  If you are heavy set, your friends will tell you that you are a "gorda" and have a "toto."  It is not disrespectful; it is just the way it is.  No one hesitated to ask questions about my disappearance or share their opinion.  It was refreshing and welcoming. 

Some of my favorite encounters were at the produce market, dry food store, free beers at the fair (Thanks Andrea!), and church.  Padre Fabian greeted me with a huge hug, announced my return to the congregation, and offered the mass for my recover.  It was such a blessing and joy! 

Reconnecting with friends, mate, and the beach is fabulous.  Life is good.  Very very good.  I might not be able to shave my own arm pits or touch the top of my head with my left hand, but I can savor every moment with those I love.

Day One at the Beach - Kids 2 : Jellyfish 1

I promised the kids a beach session after completing their "Mom homework" shortly after we arrived.  They were so excited as we traversed the crowds.

We found our friends, and the kids dropped their shoes and ran into the small waves, playing, jumping, and tossing each other like dolphins.

After an hour, they were still joyfully frolicking when SoJo let out a giant scream.  She ran to the sand and cried that she had been stung by a giant jellyfish.  She wasn't exaggerating.  The things were huge!!  Pobresita!

The good news is that the pain only lasted 15 minutes, and she was back to normal, albeit scared to go far out in the water for the rest of the day.  Swim anyone?

Day One - Kids 2 : Jellyfish 1

Reflection and Realization

Getting settled was powerful.  Box by box we were getting our family life back.  I attacked our deluge and started with the bathroom.   Presently, I discovered a bottle of delightful body wash, a tube of skin cream packed with vitamins, and a sublime body lotion.  I had never seen any of them before, and I was curious of their origin.

I asked Adam, and he took a look.  A memory crossed his eyes.  Finally he explained that my parents bought them for me in the hospital, when the nurses informed them that I was getting a sponge bath.

Those words put me in my place.  They made me stop.  They made me reflect.  I was stunned, and my eyes welled.  

Grammy and Nonno enjoying marshmallows with the family in Buenos Aires.

Those three bottles embodied my parents' attention and compassion.  At 76 and 79 years old, they were taking care of our boisterous children, flying them back and forth to visit Adam and me, finding accommodations for all of them in Buenos Aires, praying and enlisting prayers from around the globe, navigating life in a country where they don't speak the language, and on top of all of this, they had the attentiveness to buy precious washes and creams for my ailing body.  

I don't even know what to say.  Thank you.  Two months since the accident, and every day I am in awe of my blessings.  They never cease.  Gracias a Dios.

Traveling and Home in Puerto Madryn

Before

Traveling to our pueblo takes forever and a day.  We left my parents' house in Southern California at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning and arrived at our new casita at 9:00 PM on Monday night.  We had an 11 hour night flight, and as usual, Carmela got sucked into the screen in front of her.  She didn't sleep a wink. Imagine her peachy disposition the following day!

After landing in Buenos Aires at 10:00 AM, we bused to the smaller airport to catch our flight south.  Upon arrival, Carmela was a HOT MESS.  Argentinian Airlines refused to check our luggage 5 hours before our flight, so we camped out in the departures ticketing area like a vagabond pit stop.  In a matter of minutes Carmela was curled up sleeping on the filthy tile floor.  Passengers stepped over her legs with curious expressions.

During

After unloading our TWELVE bags, we got through security and found our gate.  Carmela dropped her sack on the carpeted floor, and curled up next to it.  She passed out again.  I could barely wake her to get her on the plane - where all of us enjoyed some needed shut-eye!

When we landed in Trelew, we had a one hour bus ride booked for our final journey home, but as we cleared security, we were greeted with besos and abrazos by Stella and Daniela.  It was the sweetest welcome and a beautiful surprise.

Daniela's amazing husband loaded us in his king cab, and Stella grabbed the kids in her car.  The dry chaparral and Patagonian lowlands were a fantastic sight as we cruised the highway home.

We arrived in our new tiny house across the street from Stella, and we were welcomed by the lovely owner Ana.  We spent the next several hours getting settled, and none of us got to sleep until well after midnight.

Two days later, we got our car jump started and broke into our friend Luciano's house with the help of a locksmith to retrieve the mountain of boxes Adam packed from our old bungalow.  It was incredible how many things we accumulated in only three months!

After

I can't even begin to imagine how difficult those days were for Adam... managing the mites, packing up the house, caring for and preparing the kids to travel.  What a nightmare, and through it all, his attention to detail was incredible.  He packed my most mundane and trite items with love and care... the junk drawer, bags of spices, my lists of Spanish words off of the tile kitchen walls.  Incredible.

Ready to Run...

Thank you Ainsley Seago!  What a gift!
If you need art done, I'll pass on her contact info!

My neurosurgeon recommended I wait 3 months after the accident before I start running again.  This week my orthopedic doctor told me I could go as soon as the neurosurgeon permitted - despite the fact that I still have at least one broken rib.  I guess running doesn't mess with your ribs, and honestly, my three broken ribs were the easiest of my problems.  I didn't even know I had them until I was finally checked out of the hospital in Buenos Aires.  Sweet Deal!

My feet are ready to R-U-N (OK - maybe jog or trot), and hopefully the rest of my body will get there too.






My new Brooks running shoes arrived... Man, I love Brooks running shoes.  I was cuddling that Seattle box with my size ten Cascadia kicks the day it arrived.  My current Brooks are still in descent shape, despite being hit by a car.   I threw out my previous pair the morning we left Seattle, so my current pair was new when we arrived Argentina on September 12th.  Up to the accident they logged 536 running miles and since the accident, they have been my daily walking shoes.  They are showing signs of wear, and when I have my first day out again, I want to pamper my feet with the joy of new shoes.

After chatting with my sweet cousin Lili and listening to her playful threats of buying me head to toe reflective gear, I went on-line and bought my own bright and light paraphernalia.  I am regretting the decision I made in Seattle to leave my regular reflective vest behind.  I wore it daily on my bike and on my runs.  It was my uniform.  What was I thinking?!?!  Kick in the pants!!!  Dumbest thing ever!!!

 

Pit Party!!

Lisa ready to tear it UP!

A few weeks ago Carmela told me she was ready to wax her armpit hair!  I was fired-up!  It was a mother/daughter moment I had been hoping for since she started growing mature hair two years ago.  Because my pits were also a mess, we called up Aunt Lisa and begged for help.  She was as jazzed as I was.  We rolled into her salon with the whole family (SoJo and Caleb as witnesses) and got busy.  I went first to show Carmela how awesome it is to slather hot wax in your pits and then rip it off with all the hair.  

My first arm went great, and the second pit was hysterical.  Since I can't lift my left arm, Adam was implored and gladly volunteered to help.  He held up the appendage as high as it could go - about 70 degrees; Lisa crawled under and slapped the wax up in there, then came around my head and ripped as I protected my atrophy with my right arm, and Adam guarded his privates.  I wish I had a video.  We were like Circ du Soleil, and with bit of contortion on Lisa's part, and the hair was out. 

So fresh and clean!

Next it was Carmela's turn.  I was electrified to photo document our hairy pits together, and she refused.  I was thrilled to be in the room with her and hold her hand, and she refused.

She thought I was nuts!  She kicked us all out and had her moment with Aunty Lisa.  Twenty minutes later she emerged with the freshest pits she has had in years, and she let me take a picture to prove it!  THANK YOU LISA!!  

Maybe we shouldn't have had SoJo as a witness.  We completely freaked her out.  She already plans to use a razor when the time comes, and I'll be happy to help her learn how to do that too.  

Packing Our Bags

I arrived in CA with a backpack.  No checked luggage.  All I had with me was over my shoulder.  The  rucksack contained what I had packed for my 5 day trip to Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls with my parents in November.

This is just the beginning...  

Adam and the kids rolled in with two checked bags.  Everything fit in one piece of luggage, but they decided to spread it out into two pieces.

This is what we are going back with.  Five checked bags, all maxed out on weight and five carry-ons.  Yikes!!  Get ready Madryn.  I hope we got your orders correct!  Nos Vemos PRONTO!!!! Besos!

Some of Our Favorite New Titles for the Blog!

Thank you Ainsley Seago for this fabulous gift!
If you need artwork done, I'll send you her info!

We Loved Your Suggestions!  Thank You!

The Gift of a Life

Jesus Took the Wheel

The Time is Now

A Year to Blog About

Sabbatical 2017-2018: When Anne's Skull Went Missing









Argentina Interrupted

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Jesus Redux

Leache's Take II: Sabbatical, Mites and a New Shoulder

I Left My Skull in Buenos Aires - and other ballads from our sabbatical year

Thank You, YouCaring

Thank You Jeff Calbom for the photos!
If you need some portraits in So. Cal. I'll pass on his contact info!

The last two months have been quite an adventure for our family.  We are completely amazed and grateful for your love, prayers, and generosity.  We can not thank you enough for the kindness and support you have shown our family. 

The financial assistance was tremendous as we paid all of the hospital bills in Argentina out of pocket.  Your donations covered nearly half of our expenses.  That is HUGE.  I have greater joy than to stay alive and spread and share your love back with the world. 

Kids are hard at work at Charles Schwab, trying to make money to
pay mom's bills.  They are in the branch manager's office -
aka their godmother's office - Karen Jordan!  Love you!!

Our US heath insurance company, Kaiser, initially denied our requests for reimbursement. We understand that insurance companies are a business, and it is their job to try to get out of all financial responsibility.  We are following up, and we are hopeful that they will come through, and at a minimum, pay for my US coverage and brain surgery in June!  That one is in God’s hands. 

Yeah!  Reading time!

With this gift of life, our family is going on with our usual antics.  Our time together is a little sweeter.  Much to the kids’ dismay, I truly enjoy doing homework with them!  Even though they are on summer vacation, I relish reading, writing, exploring, mastering mathematics, and studying science with them!  My favorite times are curled up with Caleb reading on the couch, watching SoJo master a book she didn’t believe she could, and analyzing literature with Carmela – she just finished The Diary of Anne Frank and The Outsiders – both great conversation starters!!  Next she is reading Ender's Game.  Too much fun!  We laugh, bicker, eat, and pray together.  Life is good!

Thank you; Thank you; Thank you; Your love and support is a humbling gift.  We cannot thank you enough.  Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts.   

Figuring Out a New Normal

The atrophy is pronounced
above my left ear.

Sometimes at night as I am falling asleep, I gently explore my shaved head and carefully trace the exposed part of my brain.  The oblong circle passes above my left ear, half a centimeter from my left eye, and up and around and back to the tip of my ear.  If I leave my fingers on the gap I can feel blood pulsing through my brain.  It is weird.  I reflect and try to grasp when this become my new normal, and how long will this be my new normal?

I am still working out what my new normal is and how it will evolve through time.  Right now, there are so many things I can't do... drive, lift my left arm, run, yoga, get dressed easily, tie my shoes, manage my personal hygiene to the level I would like 😁  the list goes on...

I wonder if I will go back to running or if I will find another outlet for my energy.  I know my body will always display the evidence, but I wonder if my activities will enjoy a full recovery or if they will remain scarred and altered.  What will normal look like a year from now? 

For the last four years, my daily morning runs were not just a time for my physical body, but also my hour for prayer and mediation.  I have a litany of prayers I say each day, and 60 minutes was the perfect amount of time.  The prayers don't actually take that long, but when trying to keep my wandering mind focused, I always need an hour.  So although I don't remember it, chances are good that I was praying at the exact moment I was hit by the car driven by Jesus (sorry, I can't help it, it totally cracks me up every time I say it).  That thought brings me peace.

The last prayer in my litany is for my family, and near the end I ask God that we have the "Wisdom, the Strength, the Courage, and the Knowledge to know God's will and follow God's will every day of our lives."

I have to laugh because if this "New Normal" is God's will, it is not exactly what I had in mind when I said that prayer prior to getting hit.  I was hoping for something more along the lines of an exotic and interesting volunteer opportunity...  HA!

I to enjoy the blessings that I have.  I thank God that my brain under the thin piece of skin is intact and healthy.  I am grateful that I can walk.  I put my trust in God and find peace.

Going Back to SUMMER!!! And Brain Surgery....

We have our plane tickets back to Argentina, and we are ALL excited and ready to go!  Summertime and friends, here we come!  We fly out on January 14th, and we arrive at our new MITE FREE home on the 15th.

The kids can't wait to enjoy bunk beds in their room - they are already arguing over who gets what bed, and I am SO psyched to have a washing machine!!  No more hand washing clothes and no more over-priced laundry!!  Yeah!!!!!!  I have never been so excited about washing clothes in my life!!  It is awesome.

Our location is fabulous - a few houses away from our dear friend Stella, a block from Lula and 3 blocks from the beach.  Good times.  My mouth is already jonesing for mate!  

Our round trip tickets bring us back to the States on June 12th.  The kids will stay with family in Southern California, and Adam and I will go to Seattle where I hope to get my brain surgery asap.  Nothing is set in stone, so please send a prayer our way that this will all go smoothly, and if we have learned anything in the last 6 weeks, it is that navigating ANYTHING smoothly with our health insurance company Kaiser is impossible.  

The kids are really going to miss their cousin Joy!! 

I am planning to return to the classroom and Seattle Public Schools in mid-August, so I am passionate that I receive my cranioplasty as soon as possible.  If you ever want to freak yourself out - Google image search cranioplasty!!  Dang!!!  What in the world???  I want one of these??  Life is so crazy; I have to laugh!

A New Name for the Blog?

Happy New Year!!!  

Has this really been a Gift of a Year?  It is time to rethink the name of this blog as we turn from 2017 to 2018.  Our year sabbatical doesn't end until July 2018, but the blog is in need of some rebranding.

Here are some ideas ADAM came up with:

Regifting a Year - Any Takers?

The New Adventures of Zipperhead

Jesus Drives Like Shit

Any creative thoughts?  Please leave a comment.  We would love to read them and laugh - or take them seriously... If that is possible.