October 3, 2010

The weeks are passing by now...with much more peace than those first few days. Ten weeks ago today, our family spent many, many hours in the hospital chapel praying and pleading to our Heavenly Father to preserve our Dad's life. The hours in the intensive care waiting room will never be forgotten, nor the feeling of peace, but also fear.

As we watch Dad get stronger and stronger, we again, are so grateful to our Heavenly Father, to all the family and friends who fasted and prayed in his behalf. We have learned to much from this experience. We are spending more time with each other, caring for each other, and expressing our love to each other more.

Dad's hematocrit is still below normal, so he gets tired very easily, and his endurance isn't the same yet.
However, he has been able to do a few things that he loves doing. Two weeks ago Dad showed us all how to build a platform that he attached to his tractor tiller so we wouldn't have to make so many trips down to the bottom of the orchard while we picked two-hundred, two-year old trees. He even walked around with a bucket and helped pick...no ladders needed for these trees.

As Fall is just around the corner, we are deeply aware of our many blessings...the ones that matter the most. Each one of us, good health, and our relationship with Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.
Thank you again for all your prayers, and your many acts of kindness during those very difficult days.
We are so grateful to have Dad with us so we may continue to learn from his great example.
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." Clarence Budington kelland

Sunday, August 22, Day 9 at Home

Dad didn't attend all of his early morning meetings, but was in his office at the church by 8:00 a.m. and didn't make it back home until 3:00 p.m. It was a very long day, but he was doing what he felt he needed to and that gave him an extra boost of energy.

His appetite was even a little better this afternoon, and he is now in his favorite recliner, taking a nap. We are so thankful for these little steps of improvement...they are actually big steps and we are so excited to see him back doing some of the things he enjoys doing. He loves the ward members, and was so worried about them during the past two weeks...he doesn't remember much before that. Once again, thank you to so many family members, and dear friends for your love, support, and prayers.

Friday, August 20, Day 7 at Home

This week has gone by very quickly for everyone, including Dad. There has been many appointments and lots of therapy. We feel very blessed that Dad is doing so well. The only therapy he needs after this week is a few sessions of pulmonary rehab. He is bouncing back much quicker than anticipated! Dad even spent four hours at work on Thursday afternoon. His nights are still a little long, but he is getting his rest and has the twinkle back in his eye.   We even heard him whistling the other afternoon - that was such a sweet sound!


There aren't words to describe the enormous amount of love we have felt from family, friends, and especially from our Heavenly Father. The blessings that were given to Dad during those first few days were given by worthy priesthood holders. During those blessings, a very warm and peaceful feeling came to me that all would be well, no matter what happened. Blessings were given to myself and to some of our children, and the same sweet feeling of peace prevailed. It was that feeling that we all hung onto, knowing that our Heavenly Father was indeed in charge of the events that took place - from the moment Doug was struck by another jet ski, the surgeries, the days in ICU, and even now as he recovers. We watched as many miracles occurred. I know Heavenly Father has answered our prayers. We have learned many important things from this event, and I have a confirmed testimony of prayer, of faith, of loving friends and families. Thank you so much for all you have done as we have watched this event play out. There were some very special friends that let me lean on them many times. I will never forget this, and am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has allowed my sweet husband to remain here with us. He is our rock, and has remained positive. It was today, 36 years ago, that we knelt across an altar in the Salt Lake temple - how grateful I am that we have kept those covenants and will always be together. Thank you, thank you for your love and support!   ~ Susan

Tuesday, August 17, Day 4 at Home

Things are really looking great for Dad. He has been very busy the past two days with therapy, visits to the hospital, and to the surgeon. Most everything is very positive. He is trying to do his breathing exercises several times a day so that he can soon be without the oxygen at night. (Most of the time he doesn't need oxygen in the day time unless we take him on a walk around our neighborhood.) His appetite is a little better, and he is sleeping a little bit better at night, but usually ends up in his recliner by 4:00 a.m.

We continue to marvel at the miracles that we have watched as he has healed so quickly from such a critical accident. The doctor today told Dad all the things that he had anticipated to go wrong which would slow his recovery, none of them are things Dad has had to deal with. We know without a doubt that our Heavenly Father heard the prayers of so many and answered them in ways that were the best for Dad. We have all learned so much from this trial. Mom calls it our bumpy journey where we all learned more about prayer and faith. May we never forget this experience and how quickly life can change - how fragile life is, and how precious each of us are as we fill our roles in a family.

Sunday, August 15, Day 2 at Home

Dad returned home Friday afternoon - finally! He was able to participate in a birthday celebration yesterday evening for him, Kellie, and Olivia. It was good to see him dressed and sitting outside in the back yard.

Dad gets tired very easily and says he knows he has a long way to go, but he is so thankful to be home. We are so grateful for the many prayers that our Heavenly Father has answered for Dad.

His nights aren't totally restful, but he does get in some good naps in the day time.

It is Sunday and of course Dad felt like he wanted to go to sacrament meeting. He seemed to do well, and he surprised us all by going to the pulpit to thank everyone for their prayers, fasting, love and concern. We all know that there were angels around Dad at the time of his accident.

He seems to get stronger each day, and we definitely know it is going to be a little bit of a task to keep him from going full time on everything. We are just so, so thankful for this day and that we have our Dad home with us again.

Friday, August 13, Day 20

The day has finally come - DAD IS COMING HOME TODAY !!
He can hardly wait! Yesterday he kept saying, "Why can't I just go home now, all my therapy is done for the day?" He will do his therapy today and then he will be discharged. We are all so excited! We realize these next few weeks will be a little frustrating for him until he gets stronger, but we expect giant steps once he is home. 

What a great birthday present for Dad, he can celebrate now with family! Our little Olivia's birthday is today turning seven, Dad's is tomorrow, and Kellie Ann's is Sunday. We will just party all weekend, but most of all, we have hearts full of gratitude for the blessings that Heavenly Father has given to us all -  mostly at this time for our father's life, for his great example, and for the unconditional love he has for everyone.

Thank you friends and family for all your love and support. Your prayers were heard and felt ever so strongly! Our Father in Heaven's spirit brought us peace and carried us through this difficult journey.

(We will continue to post about Dad for the next week or so...)

Thursday, August 12, Day 19

The days are getting longer as Dad's time in the hospital continues to get longer. He had a very good day today - did great with his physical therapy and seems to be breathing easier. So far no exact release day has been given, but we are hoping that perhaps tomorrow when the doctors all meet and the therapists, they will say he is safe to go home. He is so anxious to sleep in his own bed, and wants to get back to his routine! We all know it will happen, but probably slower than Dad wants it to.

We feel so blessed at this time! When we talk about what actually happened almost three weeks ago, we know that our Father in Heaven blessed our Dad, and allowed him to remain here on earth with us all. We have seen many miracles through these past few weeks. Thank you so much for your continued prayers, and for all the love and concern you have sent Dad's way and ours.