There's No Place Like Home

6 days in the hospital and daddy is home!!!!!

We are so thankful to have him back home and recovering so well.

Wednesday, while Chad was still in the hospital, he had his ICD placed. The picture above is Collin and daddy learning all about the surgery and how his new device would function.

The procedure went well and they were able to convert Chad back into a normal heart rhythm as well.

Early Thursday morning Chad was put under again to test the new ICD device and make sure it was working correctly. This picture was taken Thursday afternoon in the hospital courtyard....Chad's first trip outside since Saturday!

We are so thankful to have him with us still and that he is such a fighter! A week ago, Chad was on no medications ....so going from zero to this is a little daunting. Not quite the "cocktail" one thinks of when using that word, but his new medication regime (along with continued diet and eventually exercise again) is the cocktail ordered by his cardiologist. :) He's taking it all in stride and again....we continue to praise GOD for surrounding Chad with the help he needed last Saturday.

We have made short visits to say thank you and bring ice cream to both the EMT's and Firefighters who were called to the scene to help Chad. 

Not only did we say thank you to Chad's angels on earth, they also showed the boys around a bit. 

This week feels like something out of a movie and we are all still a bit out of sorts. But, we are so profoundly grateful to still have Chad with us. GOD is good indeed.

June 22, 2013

It started like any other summer Saturday.  Chad got up before 6 a.m. and was heading on a run.  Like last week, he was joining a local running group he had found through Manhattan Running Company.  After his 6 miles, I was going to go on quick run and then we were headed to Nebraska for a weekend of lake fun with Chad's cousins near York.

About 7:15 a.m. there was a knock at our door.  The boys and I had just gotten up and were still in our PJ's.  Mitchell answered because he thought it was a neighborhood friend already coming over to ask him to play. The moment after Mitchell said "mom the police are at the door" it all began to free fall.  Something had happened while Chad was running.  He was in the hospital and we needed to go there now was all we were told.  As I hurried to call my folks to meet me at the ER and was getting myself and the boys dressed, the phone rang.  It was the hospital pastor.  This clued me in that things were not good.  Chad was taken by ambulance to the ER, but he did tell me he was awake and talking.

I tried to stay very calm for the boys.  Told them something happened to daddy and he was at the hospital.  Less than a mile from our house to the ER so not too much time for my mind to race.  Our walk back to the ER made me know things were bad.  The chaplain met me with a social worker....not good.  Lots of hospital people giving me that sympathetic look as I walked back with the boys....not good.  Then I hear Chad's voice as we get closer.....GOOD!!!!!  People are rushing all around him, talking very fast.  The boys and I all get to see him.  He tells them "Daddy is fine, it will be okay.  I must not be too bad if you all are back here."  More hurrying and talk of Chad's racing heart.  The boys go with the social worker and the chaplain to the waiting room to wait for my folks.  Chad is awake by very disoriented and can't tell me what happened.  At this point, I learn what has happened. (I added the details I got from the guys he was running with later)

Chad was running with the group and doing fine.  Around 4th and Bluemont he asked the guy he was running by to hold up a second.  By the time he turned around, Chad collapsed to the pavement. He hit his head on the way down.  He stopped breathing.  They couldn't get a pulse.  He and another runner started CPR while another person who was setting up for a Yard Sale called 911.  EMT/FF responders were there in 3 minutes.  They shocked Chad's heart.  His status was Code Blue as he was in route to Mercy Regional Health Center.

But these people truly saved Chad's life.  They gave him a chance to fight.  Had he been running alone, he would not be here.  By the time Chad got to the ER, he was talking (out of but still, he was talking) and never lost consciousness again.  We have been told since then that this is very uncommon.  Both Chad and I asked the cardiologist if he had suffered from a heart attack.  He directly told us "No, the was sudden cardiac death....which we were able to abort." Chad had a concussion from the fall and between the event and that, doesn't have much memory of Saturday at all.  He was pretty confused most of Saturday and probably asked me 70 times what had happened.

We have since come to realize how blessed we are.  I have no doubt that GOD placed these people with Chad on Saturday morning because he knew Chad was strong and would be able to fight, if given the chance.  Without the immediate help of those runners and the EMT's.....he would not have gotten this chance.

Another Iron Man???

Since this major cardiac event....Chad's recovery has continued to amaze the health care professionals he is working with.  I attribute this to his strength and his diligence maintaining good cardiovascular health through diet and exercise.  He has some crummy genetics when it comes to the heart.  He knows it......and because he runs, bikes, swims, etc. he was sitting up in bed talking with others mere hours after having CPR administered and being shocked by an AED.  We have been told many times this is not the norm for someone who comes in under a Code Blue status.  Faith in God and Chad's amazing strength were working for him....even before he knew it on Saturday.

We remain in ICU today but Chad will be moved to a swing bed soon.  He has had lots of tests but no real and clear answers as to why this happened other than genetic factors and an artery with slow flow.  Wednesday he will have surgery to have an Automatic Internal Defibrillator put in place and hopefully we should be home by Thursday or Friday.

These past few days have been a whirlwind.  Mostly, I have just been overwhelmed with gratitude.  I still have my husband, my partner, my best friend.  I don't think there are enough thank-you's that a person can give in this case.  It is because of those runner's and EMT workers that my children still have a father on this earth.  God is so good.   We are blessed and eternally grateful.

Rolling Hills

The boys and I went on another summer adventure with Grandma and Grandpa Ammeter this week.

This time we experienced Rolling Hills Animal Preserve just west of Salina, KS

It has been 10 years since my last visit and it won't be that long again ....it was awesome!

I would highly recommend this place if you haven't made the trip... It is a wonderful zoo with a museum, play area and so much to see and do.

The boys loved it!!!

I couldn't resist this shot...I know it won't be long before a moment like this between two young brothers will be a memory.

Kitten Chronicles: informal observation

We are in the throws of full kitten behavior in our house with Leo.

This means he gets schlepped around A LOT by the boys and is surprisingly patient and willing with their kind "man handling" of him all day long.

Everything in his reach is a potential target of play.

We have also found he has an amazing vertical leap....who knew a kids sock with an aluminum foil ball stuffed in the end would be endless hours if fun?

And tonight I have made an informal observation that kittens behave much like   children when they have not received the optimal amount of attention needed....the result seems to be negative attention seeking behaviors for both! Although neither of our children have attempted to scale our living room curtains....

Summertime

I love summer! And this week I've been able to step away from scheduling (whoo-hoo!) and soak up some summertime fun with the boys.

Our first of many trips to the pool....

And we've even been to the Top of the World!

Collin was less than thrilled.

Okay so we were technically still in Manhattan Kansas but the road leading to it IS called Top of the World and its still a great view!

We are loving summer so far!!!!!

Dozen

Happy 12th Anniversary to the man who completes me.

Double Header

Last night both Grandparents were able to watch some soccer and baseball courtesy of the Bunger Boys.

It was a perfect June evening and we were thankful to have everyone able to make it out to cheer them on....we are definitely blessed to have such wonderful grandparents in our boy's lives! :)

Minnesota ....Part 2

We had an awesome 2nd half of our vacation in Minnesota!  It was cloudy and cool our entire trip and two of the days both Chad and I were able to run around Rice Lake which is not far from my sister's home.  The first day I ran the trails around the lake and ran 5 miles with ease and followed up with another 3 mile run the last full day of our trip.  What a difference the lack of heat and no humidity make!!!

Cousin silliness

Sister silliness

The last full day we spent at Water Park of America. Collin's bravery continued to sky rocket (with encouragement) and he did the big family slide and several other tube slides!

And the night ended with some surfing lessons from our dare devil who needs no encouragement....

134 steps up to the family slide. 68 steps ( while carrying a large tube)up to the tube slides means we got enough cross training getting up to these slides at least a dozen times or more and each time at the end Collin would always cry "AGAIN!!".  It was a great time but we were tired at the end of a long day of water park adventures.

Monday we swam until check out again and then made the long 9 hour trip home.  Both boys did well and things went smoothly until we had a tired blow out on I-70 just before the Kansas Turnpike!  With cars flying by us at 80 mph Chad had us back on the road in no time with the help of a wonderful KTA worker who patrols the turnpike looking for motorist who need assistance (thank you State Farm for this amazing FREE service to all...another reason we love our State Farm Insurance Company).

What a great family vacation to start our summer!  Thanks again to Uncle Doug, Aunt Amy and Daniel for being such wonderful hosts!!!

Cousin Time and MOA

Friday was Daniel's first day of summer vacation! While Aunt Amy was finishing up at school, we spent Friday playing at Elm Creek Park Reserve and having some awesome cousin time.

Saturday we journeyed to the Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe for a day or riding as many rides as possible!

And Mitchell went on his first roller coaster that went upside down.

Collin also had a surge of bravery and rode his very first roller coaster!

Then we met the turtles!!!!

Of course the day wouldn't be complete without some sugar.....

We are having a blast on our 2013 Minnesota Trip!!!

1st 2013 Summer Road Trip

Wednesday night after work we embarked on our first family road trip of the summer. But first we had to drop Leo off for an extended play date with his new friend, Rocky.

Then we took off on the first leg of journey to Bethany, MO where a modest hotel ( but one with a POOL which is all the boys cared about ) awaited us.

Collin still stands by his statement that he isn't a bed hog....but I would beg to differ.

Much of today was spent on the open road headed north toward Minnesota. It was a long and much anticipated journey. I think Collin asked how many more hours until we are at Daniel's at least 4 times per hour.

But we have finally made it to the Twin Cities area!!! Let the cousin time and fun begins.

A Big Catch and a Second Try at Soccer

The boys have both enjoyed two days of spoiling with Grandma and Grandpa Ammeter while mommy has been working. We are so lucky to have them this close and as you can see...they had a great time making some memories today while fishing!

And Mitchell is still telling and re-telling how he and Grandpa brought in this big catch!

Tonight was also Collin's first night of soccer...and I was so proud of how well he did! What a difference a year makes.

Of course there were still times to be silly, and Collin took full advantage. :)

And having his good buddy at the same session helped as well!