It is with a heavy heart that I put this post together. However, I feel that it is necessary as we have so many of our friends and family praying for us, I feel it's only fair to give everyone an update on what is going on.
Micah's parents were in town to help celebrate Devin's 2nd birthday. We were planning his party for Saturday afternoon, and they arrived in town Thursday afternoon. Friday evening I was up late getting things prepared for the party. Micah's parents were staying in a hotel about a block away from our condo. I got to bed around 3:00am. We were woken up about 4:15 or so from Micah's mom asking Micah to meet her in the hotel lobby immediately. We had no idea what was going on. It took them a while before they came back to the condo, and I texted Micah to make sure everything was ok. As soon as I sent it I heard the door open and Micah asking me to come out to the living room. Sandy and Larry were there and tearfully explained that there was a horrible accident back home involving Micah's brother Dan and his Uncle Jerry. Uncle Jerry passed away and Dan was in the hospital with a broken hip. They were immediately getting on planes to go and be with him and family.
From my understanding of the accident, they were cut off on the highway by a semi truck and swerved over into the lane that this semi left to avoid it, only to be confronted by another semi experiencing some trouble, and they hit the back end of that semi. I think their truck then spun out and ended up in the ditch.
This is such a devastating thing to happen to anyone, and I'm just so distraught that it has happened to us. I was so afraid something terrible would happen after we moved away, making it difficult for us to be with our family when they need us most. Everyone here has been so very supportive and understanding, and Micah was able to get a flight out first thing Monday morning to be there for his brother before his surgery. The wake and funeral for Uncle Jerry is today, and I'm happy that he can be there for that as well. He will come home sometime tomorrow. The boys and I had to stay here, and it's been so hard trying to deal with all these emotions from so far away. Thankfully with the help of technology, we have been able to talk with Dan and exchange some pictures back and forth to help the boys understand what is going on. And with Micah getting on a plane, we were able to make some cards to send to him.
We were so happy that Micah made it to the hospital in time before they took Danno back, and he got the cards from the kids. Aiden also picked out this fish to send to Danno, and we all kissed it and hugged it a lot so that it can delivery those for us as well. I guess he had a fair amount of "healing dust" on his chest and stomach when he went in for surgery ;) It must have worked, because everything went fairly smoothly.
Sandy sent these to us this morning from her phone-sorry they are a bit blurry, but you get the idea. He was supposed to start therapy today. His spirits are as to be expected, but has cracked a few jokes with us and the kids. When we talked to him this morning, I asked him how he was and he commented that he just got back from a run ;)
Obviously Devin really doesn't understand quite what is going on, but he has seen the pictures and commented on his "owies" and has talked to him on the phone. Aiden gets it, and is pretty concerned about him. But talking to him on the phone has helped ease some of his anxieties. He really really really wanted to get on the plane with Micah to go see Uncle Danno and make him feel better too.
Last night I was washing his face and noticed a scratch on his chin. He said "Don't worry mommy, I'll be ok." and then after a moment said "Look mom! I'm just like Danno!" I had to laugh at that. And then this morning he went on and on about how Danno needed the sunshine to make him better. As he was talking I was texting Sandy everything he said. It went something like this..."Uncle Danno needs the sun and moon to get better. The sun shines on the owie to make it better...and the moon uses the stars to come down and look at the bones and go into your brain to make sure your bones are ok. And then the stars go wake the sun up and the sun shines down and makes the owies better. So that's what he needs!" Oh what goes on in a child's mind is pretty fascinating. They are looking forward to Daddy coming home and getting a good progress report/update.
I was just told that they had him up and walking with crutches and going up and down stairs, and his friend Kelli has had him up a few times as well. If he does well with therapy tomorrow and his pain isn't too bad, then they'll release him tomorrow...if not than Thursday.
This has been such a difficult time for us and our family, especially Uncle Jerry's family. He was such a great man who had so much love to give. He truly had the biggest heart, and would give the shirt off his back for anyone who needed it. He gave us so much when he himself didn't have much to give, and he loved our boys so much. Aiden does know him well, and it was sad for me to tell him that he had died...but we celebrate the fact that he is up in Heaven with Jesus now. He was, and still is, very loved. He will be so very missed.
Uncle Jerry with Devin for his Baptism. Give Jesus a hug for all of us Uncle Jerry...we love you!
Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. We welcome them all, and appreciate them so very much.
We did still hold Devin's party as planned, as to not upset them too much more since the abrupt departure of Kiki and Grandpa were sad enough for them, and I will post those pictures soon.
Again, thank you for your prayers!
After we had pizza, we went back to the condo and sang Happy Birthday with the ice cream cake and cones I got for him.
We weren't sure at first what to do about the party we had planned for Devin on Saturday after getting the news about the accident. We knew the boys were looking forward to it, and I had already prepared a lot of the food the night before. With Sandy and Larry having to immediately leave, we knew they were going to be disappointed enough-we couldn't bear to cancel the party too. And honestly I think the distraction was good for us. At least it was for me. I was then able to deal with my grief after the boys were put to bed. So here is what we did for his party.
I had some games lined up, but it was kind of unorganized because of what had happened, and I didn't have the initial help with having his parents there I was planning on. We have made some great friends here, and they were so great stepping in and doing what they could to help keep things running smoothly, but I was still caught a little off guard. I was also planning on having some more kids come from the neighborhood who are a bit older, so I had attempted to put together games that everyone could enjoy. However they really didn't show up until way later.
We hid suckers with basball cards taped on them as a little hunt for them. We played balloon volleyball and attempted mini basketball and soccer. The kids were a little distracted, and like I said the host was a little unorganized. I found my "awards" for them well after the party was over. Oh well...at least they got their treat bags!
We were so happy to have our new friends come and celebrate. Ryan, Makaela, and Mateo all were there to make this a fun party for Devin.
We also tried to play water balloon toss, but it was more like water balloon get your feet wet :) It was cute nonetheless, and it was warm water.
Micah did great manning the grill :)
We had a sports themed party-in case you couldn't tell ;)
Singing Happy Birthday. It was too windy and the candles wouldn't stay lit...but he got to blow them out on his birthday, so no biggie. He pretended anyway!
You thing he's enjoying that cupcake, well at lest the icing ;)
Present time!
He got a lot of wonderful gifts from everyone, and he really loves them all-Aiden too! haha :)
Yeah, that's hot! ;)
You think he likes soccer?
Thank you to all our friends who came over to celebrate with us, and for being so great and understanding of our situation.
Happy Birthday Devin!
And per the request of Kiki and Grandpa, we took the boys to Toys R Us and let Devin pick out his presents from them and his uncles. And Aiden got to pick out his boats that he really wanted. Thank you Kiki, Grandpa, Uncle Adam and Danno!
