Change of Scenery and What's Next

We were very excited when the doctor cleared Chad for a short trip to North Bend, NE last weekend for a get-together at the Croghan Cabin!!

I think we were all needing a change of scenery....especially Chad who hadn't left the Manhattan city limits in over two weeks.  We had a great time and got to see so many of our dear friends from high school and college.  And our kids had a great time playing with each other as well.

I haven't blogged much about running recently for obvious reasons.  And while I have no plans to throw in the towl on running....for the first time in awhile, I have no plans to run another half marathon in the near future.  I had already decided last year at this time that I would NOT be training for another fall marathon for 2013.  While I did enjoy the actual race last October, the training in the summer time was brutal and I almost 86'd the whole thing several times because of the heat....it just wasn't fun. 

Right now, I would like to look at running another spring half marathon sometime in 2014.  I need to get back into a more regular routine of running again as well.  It does so much for me....not just physically, but for my mental state of mind as well. 

So....I've pondered on changing the title of blog the several times....but my journey to another half marathon is out there, just not determined as of yet.  Thus, I believe the title will remain. ;)

Internal Alarm

Chad had his 1 week post hospital check up today and can return to work Monday!

He still has several restrictions which include no running until his next stress test with the cardiologist and swimming is still out for another week as well, but his recovery has been amazing! Today the guy from Medtrac was there and as he came in and greeted Chad, he flashed something over his chest where the ICD is, and an alarm sounded....from inside Chad's body. Then the machine on the counter began printing off all if Chad's heart functions from the past few days. CRAZY!!!!!

It was a quiet 4th for us at home.... Mostly! And no, we did NOT purchase this, much to Mitchell's dismay!

As you can see, we have polar opposites at our house when it comes to fireworks.

But he made it to the fireworks show last night for the first time ever! Sure, he and I sat in the van with the windows rolled up and he wore his protective ear wear....but it was progress!

Hospital at Home

Per doctor's orders, Chad is spending this week at home recovering.

The doctor said to think of this week as a hospital at home with lots of rest prescribed ... and maybe some video game time too. ;)

Leo seems to be following the doctors orders as well. Too bad he can't be doing this when its everyone else's bed time instead of tearing all over the house at the speed of light....

Saturday we spent some time at the Discovery Center with Collin. He needed some time and attention from us after all of this. While both boys did fairly well with all the chaos of one week ago...the extended time away from mommy and daddy coupled with lack of consistency with routine took its toll with our little dude. 

It's been a rough few days with him at times, but I can't really blame either of them considering what has gone on. And having daddy home and recovering well is great medicine for us all.

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....