2014 Week 6: Snow Days and Birthdays

The snow, ice, cold temperatures, or all of the above, have given me a good reason to stay indoors. I left the house only twice.
Try as we may we haven't been able to celebrate birthdays in the usual all-family way. As a result I accomplished more in the way of cleaning and writing.

On the other hand, Mike trudged into Muncie as usual during robot build-season. This is one of the photos Team 1720 posted this week. Looks like Mentor Mike was not wearing the team shirt.

Monday we had hoped to celebrate two birthdays at Stephan's regular weekly meal, but Leah couldn't be there.
Elijah got his wish, however, montecristos and ice cream cake.
I sat at the small red table with the little ones. After they'd had enough to eat they began to bang their plates with their forks.

Tuesday was Leah's birthday. She liked the soft fuzzy woolen hat and gloves I made her.

Wednesday was a snow day. This squirrel jumped down and slammed into our bedroom window.

Perhaps it wanted me to look out at the beautiful view.

The smudges in the lower left are from the cat. It also knows where we sleep and how to wake us up.

We did have another Sam-scare that day. His incision was still leaking and they became concerned due to the color of the fluid. To be safe they were told to go back to the hospital in Indy. Thank God it was only a false alarm. I was prepared to babysit if needed, but big brother Malachi was home as school was cancelled for the day.

Thursday I began to write the story of our courtship, "Twelve Barrels: A Love Story." It has required a lot more digging to accurately record some long forgotten yet important details. I am so grateful that the album with our love letters was preserved even through the house fire!

I know I promised a post about the 12 barrels, but I am still working on that piece, and having second thoughts about publishing it on the blog.

Friday afternoon I headed to Sam and Kristie's to stay with the boys so that Mom and Dad could take off for a well-deserved getaway.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we were eating supper.

Saturday was the changing of the guard. The other grandma arrived in the afternoon and I drove home.

Daughter Leah was raving about the snow maze 'her boys' (Skye and his friends) had created in the field behind their house. I gathered the photos she'd been posting on Facebook for this collage. Only an aerial view could do justice to the energetic project of these teenagers.

After Mike got home from a long day with the robotics team, we went over to witness the 'opening night.'
Close to a dozen kids had played a few rounds of capture the flag. Leah had a fire going. By 10:00 PM the fun was winding down. We were thrilled to catch a glimpse of what had been--young people enjoying wholesome outdoor activity even in the cold!

Not all present were willing to be in the picture. I hear, however, that they want to do this again.
Leah, the proud mama in the pink, is already working hard on yet another very creative activity. The Christmas tree, kept alive as long as possible, is being transformed into a Valentine Tree. She is inviting people to stop by and fill out decorated hearts with messages to friends and loved ones which are then attached securely to the tree which will go outdoors on the 14th. On that day there will be sharpies and hearts available for those who stop by. And, who knows, you may find a valentine addressed to you!
I picked up a few hearts to fill out.

It snowed again last night. Michael plowed the driveway this morning as usual before we went to church. The side piles are growing.

We are determined to enjoy and make the most of this real winter while it lasts.

2014 Week 4: Goodby Aunt Lois; Hi, baby Si

Monday, January 20th, Aunt Lois (94) passed away. I've been looking at photos and rereading her notes and letters. She had beautiful handwriting which began to deteriorate with the onset of macular degeneration. When she could no longer see to write, she resorted to regular phone conversations. More recently she felt even more limited, unable even to dial the right numbers.

The Hirschy sisters, Lois and Kathryn, and Dad

This is how I remember Aunt Lois, probably taken in the late 90's.

Meanwhile, Michael was mentoring the robotics team. I captured this screenshot from their live stream from the workshop.

This video is very entertaining: PhyXTGears Week 2.

Even in single-digit temperatures Mike ventures out regularly for a jog.

I enjoyed wearing my new t-shirt accessories made by a friend in Spain.

. . . and finished knitting a pair of fingerless gloves. In this extreme cold, they are good for extra warmth under gloves or mittens, or as a fashion statement to be worn indoors!

Between snowfalls there was the perfect window of opportunity to travel to Grand Rapids, MI, for my aunt's funeral. So Thursday I drove up to Winona Lake to spend the night at my Mother's.

Almost the whole way there, I was fascinated by the sky, as well as a little concerned about the snow blowing across the road. I didn't know till today that what I was seeing is called a parhelia  or sun dog (a pair of brightly colored spots, one on either side of the sun).
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Photo on the right submitted to Muncie Star Press by Dave Wegiel

My brother Alan drove us to Grand Rapids and back. -5 degrees when we left at 7:00 AM!

Aunt Lois's memorial service was a precious time of celebrating a wonderful life as well as reconnecting with cousins and becoming acquainted with their children and grandchildren. 
Two of Lois and Ted's six children preceded them in death--a twin daughter who died at birth in Nigeria, and a 39 year-old son who died of cancer.
Of the four siblings present, I only managed to get photos of two.

Carol; David and granddaughter Jordan

I noticed a theme of Lois's favorite things--aqua color and butterfly pins worn by all the women and girls in the family.

On the return trip we went through the town where niece Tina lives. Alan was kind to stop so I could meet and hold month-old baby Simon.

Sweet mom and decorator extraordinaire!

I was glad to arrive home when I did. It has been snowing off and on since. 

Today was a perfect day to stay indoors, watch the birds, and get things done. 

I even dusted and cleaned our bedroom!

And I am earlier than usual with this weekly blog post. Have a good and safe week, y'all!

2014 Week 2: Slow Progress

As it turned out county schools cancelled classes all week.
The robotics team called off their very first day of build-season. Senior mentor Mike's brain did not take a break, however, even waking him up at 4:00 a.m. a couple times to continue working on drawings and solving problems.

Looks like some of the students had fun building a non-robotic structure.

I started the first days home dressing like an eskimo and fighting a sore throat and cold.

By Thursday the temperatures had risen into the 30s and I felt up to a walk in the foot-deep snow.

The picnic area out back

Meanwhile, we followed Kristie's daily updates regarding Sam's condition:
--great weakness. Slowly able to stand, began walking around the unit up to three times a day.
--uncertainty. Was it meningitis? Definitely staph infection. Anything else? Why is the incision leaking? Is the cranial fluid flowing as it should?
--setbacks. May need surgery to open up and clean out the infection. May have to insert a shunt.
--some progress. Less pain. Increased appetite.
Still waiting in hope...

 I was comforted to see Sam's smile in the selfies Kristie took on their walks together, but couldn't look at them without tearing up as I thought of our son's prolonged confinement.

The milder weather and clearer roads, allowed me to get out a couple times and run brief errands. I stopped in to visit Leah, also suffering from cabin fever and loneliness. Her charges--son Skye, three dogs, and the little guy she babysits--keep her somewhat entertained.

Saturday's progress on the robot was significant. A long day of team work, each one doing their part, got them further ahead than in years past at this point, in spite of a day off! (I wonder if they will be able to avoid the usual push and the all-nighters at the end of the six weeks?)

I confess that most of the photos this week are not mine, but rather stolen  borrowed from Facebook.

Today, Sunday's pictures, are my favorites! The boys got to see their Daddy after nine days. I can't tell who is happiest.

I hope to be able to tell you next week that Sam has been released and is home, out of danger, and getting stronger.

2014 Week 1: Waiting in Hope

Sunday, the last one of 2013, we heard a sermon about looking back, choosing memorable moments of God's grace and constructing memorials or stones of remembrance to always remind us of what God did. 
My first thought was to write the story of our different Christmas and how God spared our son Sam's life.
I also recognized the same motivation behind my commitment to this weekly photo-journal--to record and not forget how the LORD is leading and working in our daily lives.

Monday I hung the last ornament, a gift from my young friend at Serenity House. It was misplaced for a few days.
Many, if not most, had taken down their decorations by then, but we hadn't had our family Christmas yet.

Tuesday, New Year's Eve.
With Michael involved in the Delaware County robotics team, we join in the downtown Muncie New Year's activities which include the ball drop, built and modified each year by the team.

Daughter Leah has great fun dressing up for the occasion. Can you see the crane and ball in readiness for the exact moment? While you wait buy popcorn and hot chocolate from the Team 1720 PhyXTGears' tent.

. . . 3-2-1- Happy New Year!

New Year's Day 2014 we celebrated Christmas 2013 as a family--meal, gifts, fun.

Christmas Dinner

Our fellowship was all the more precious and sweet because Sam was with us, though tired and weak yet.

We attempted a reenactment of a favorite Christmas photo of the three older grand-kids when they were little probably about the age and size of the three younger ones now. Not the same stair-step effect anymore.

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Thursday (or was it Friday?), Mike borrowed my camera and went out in the cold to get this view of the carved tree.

On one of those days I took down all the ornaments off the Christmas tree and they are still on the table waiting to be packed away. Anyone else out there a 'hopeless case' like me? Please don't send the Christmas-decor police around!

Saturday was the start of the build season for the robotics team and hence a big commitment for Mentor Mike. 

The simulcast Kick-Off takes place on the first Saturday of January. This year's game is called Aerial Assist.

After Mike left, I had an SOS call from Kristie: Sam was in trouble again--headache, vomiting, in serious pain. I left ASAP and ended up spending three days with the grand boys, only three the first day. 

Fun times interspersed with tears and meds, all fighting flu symptoms and missing Mom.

Malachi had spent a weekend away with good friend Ben and his great family. In spite of the condition of the roads, they drove him back Sunday afternoon.
The expected snowfall and frigid temperatures continued. The big boys moved their mattresses to the warmer area, the living room.

Winter Camping

Meanwhile, Sam had been transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis again where he had the third ct scan in three days and many other tests. The diagnosis: meningitis.
He has lost much weight, is weak but gaining strength daily. Blood count has normalized. Still waiting for some test results to know how to deal with the post op bacterial infections.

Monday late afternoon Kristie braved the dangerous driving conditions to get home to her boys. We are grateful she made it safely.
Mike picked me up from their place and I am taking it easy at home, enjoying the views.
Sam encouraged Kristie to stay home a day or two.

Friends of Sam and Kristie and our family have been overwhelmingly supportive. A website was launched for updates and fundraising: Walking in Victory and Hope. I get emotional every time I look at the response.

2013 Week 52: A Different Christmas

Life is a constant ebb and flow of good and bad, life and death. This week we experienced a heavy mix of both.

Sunday we were anxiously awaiting news of the safe arrival of niece Tina's first baby.

For lack of a photo for that day I am borrowing one of my favorites of the many posted on Facebook throughout the week--my mother holding her great grandson Simon. (Photo credits Daddy Kyle!) 

Woke up Monday to a sad looking Christmas tree, the top half had gone dark--a premonition of things to come? It was a scary day indeed.

Sam's weekend-long headache and vomiting escalated severely. He begged to go to the ER. They spent four hours at the doctor's, but meds and fluids administered brought no relief. From there Kristie took Sam to the ER. Finally by evening they had a diagnosis (after a CT scan and MRI)--colloid cyst on the brain obstructing the flow of cranial fluid. By then we had joined them in the ER, ready to do whatever we could.

The ambulance left around 10 p.m. transporting Sam to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis--reportedly the best brain trauma center in the nation. Mike drove Kristie there after she stopped at home to put the little ones to bed and collect a few things. I spent the night with the boys. It had been a long day for wonderful babysitter big brother Malachi. And it was very hard on Mom-Kristie to be away from baby Jude first time overnight. 

When she phoned early the next morning, Jude had just realized that I was not Mommy and was crying, but after some breakfast was fine.

That was Christmas Eve. We were anxiously waiting to hear when Sam's surgery would be. Could it wait till after Christmas? Would a surgeon be available and willing?

There was a 'changing of the guard'. Grandma Debby arrived to take over with the grandkids. When she walked in, little Zion said, "We don't need you. We got one already." ;)

Mike had arrived home from Indy around 4 a.m. Mid morning he picked up his sister Diane who spends holidays with us, and we met at Stephan and Karen's for the traditional Christmas Eve brunch for family and friends, the Monday Night regulars and more. It was so good to share in the nourishing meal and uplifting prayers before heading down to Indianapolis, and I got to meet a new little member of the group--Arya not even a month old!

The first great news was that Dr. Shapiro, one of the top, if not the top neurosurgeon in the nation, was scheduled to operate that morning. 

We arrived toward the end of the five + hour procedure and waited to go in and be with Sam. 

Tender moments after surgery

Kristie went home late Tuesday to keep the home-machine running smoothly and take the two older boys to see their dad the next day--Christmas Day.

Notice the smaller bandage, a slight smile, and Sam eating an Italian ice. He was confused at times but his customary humor was intact and came through in whispers or hand signals. 

We enjoyed a brunch at Leah's, left Diane there and went back to the hospital.

Later we drove the big boys home from the hospital so Kristie could stay late with Sam.
Found the little ones playing contentedly, another good day with Grandma Debby.

Then we went back to Leah's for a delicious dinner and to pick up Diane. 

Leah so enjoyed decorating her new home. Every nook and cranny was delightfully adorned.  

Thursday, Boxing Day in some countries, we traveled North and had a good visit with my mother, brother Alan and family.

The news about Sam was that the drains had been removed and in the evening he was moved out of ICU!

Friday morning we were shocked to hear that he would be released to go home already that day!
At first it was rather overwhelming, especially for Kristie thinking of the care required.
However, everything went smoothly and Sam's steady improvement has been very encouraging.

Mike made a trip to Muncie to cut wood for Sam to heat his shop, whenever he's able to go back to work.

We had already scheduled a dinner with friends from our small group and were glad to be able to fit it in.

Leah was hurting so much for her brother and had not been able to visit him yet, so Saturday we went together to visit and help out for a few hours. I scrubbed floors while Leah wrapped their family gifts for them--the prettiest presents ever.

 

Sam looked good with his new hair cut and was very glad to lay there and quietly be involved in family life.

When we left almost all was in readiness for their family Christmas celebration today, Sunday.

The plan for the entire Koch clan is to celebrate 2013 Christmas in 2014, on New Year's Day! 

We have a lot to celebrate! However, we've already received the best Christmas gift ever!