upside down.

December 10th, 2013

We decided to go see Frozen as a family, and were on happy high as we drove home singing all the songs from the sound track. We came home to find fun Christmas boxes on our front porch. I start herding children inside, Paul goes to get the boxes. In the middle of taking shoes off, and starting the Papa Murphy's Pizza...I hear Paul scream from the front sidewalk.

He slipped on the ice, and was holding his leg. A neighbor ran to help, and Paul asked for an ambulance. I was the mean wife, and said suck it up and get him in the car {I have learned I need to work on my compassion!}.  

My sweet neighbors {and friends} took our three littles, and we had a tearful drive to the emergency room. In my head I kept thinking it would be a few hours waiting around, and then we would be on our way. Paul made a few calls to his family, and I made one to Cathy. They all met us at the hospital to help calm us down. Paul got a Priesthood blessing, loads of drugs, a few x rays, and then the wait started. We decided after a couple of hours, I would take Uncle Jackie home to stay with the kids. While Uncle Shane stayed with Paul. 

I wasn't gone for very long, but I wasn't expecting to come back to the ER to find the room empty where Paul had been. After a few questions, I was told he had been admitted and moved to a room. I tried to not freak out, but I knew the news wasn't going to be good. 

I got the news from Uncle Shane...3 breaks. One by his knee, one in his lower leg, and his ankle. Surgery. Days in the hospital. 12 week recovery.

I cried. Paul cried.

Our world had been turned upside down.

Our troops {aka friends and family} rallied around us. Meals, babysitting, cleaning our house, phone calls, emails, texts, sweet messages, anonymous presents left on our doorstep. It is cliche, but we would not have made it without them. 

Every day that I am running on fumes, thinking I can't do it one more second, someone has somehow known I needed a little pick-me-up. Prayers have been heard and answered. 

Our Christmas season was a special one, as we watched so many people serve us in different ways. From Christmas carolers on our doorstep to a tight hug from a friend...my spirit needed it...thank you!!

3 weeks in is it still hard? You betcha, but we are making it. We are taking it one day at a time. I cry every day. Have I learned valuable lessons? Of course. Lessons I needed to learn {although the hard way}. Heeellllo, in almost 15 years of marriage, I have never done the bills. It was long overdue, right?!

As I have taken on the role of Paul, I have a new found respect for him and all he does for our little family. He has taken such good care of me and our children, and I will forever be changed by learning what he does for us. 

It would be nice to have this all behind us, but I am excited to take what I learned from this so far in to the new year.