But now it's just because he's being 16.
I spoke with my mom earlier and had a voicemail from my dad this evening (I was at the school not winning Educator of the Year). Apparently, Preston is fine. At least in Preston-world. He was taken completely off the ventilator yesterday evening. He decided earlier that he needed to get up because he got it in his (just recently scrambled) mind that he should take a shower. He's not being really good about the whole just taking it easy thing. Dad said Preston was able to walk for a bit with a walker and they had him sitting up for about 10 minutes. Never thought those would sound like great things but it's pretty amazing stuff for a boy about whom on Saturday we were thinking the absolute worst. He will probably be moved out of the ICU tomorrow.
(And now that I can joke a bit about the situation, I hope the wreck knocked some sense into the boy about his choice of colleges.)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
It was all that jiving I'm sure (although the prayers and good thoughts probably helped)
Today has been a fantastic day as far as Preston updates go. There was an email this morning from Gran letting us know that Preston had had a good night and that he probably would be sedated for only another 24 hours or so.
Then there was the phone call around 1:00 from my mom letting me know that the doctors had decided to let Preston wake up which he did on his own. My dad and brother Matthew were in the room with him when he awoke and Preston mouthed/asked for his dad. He also wanted to write, which he did much to the surprise of the nurse who wouldn't give them paper because she didn't think he'd be able to write. My dad found pen and paper for him and Preston was able to scrawl questions some questions about what was going on for his dad. (Paul and I joked that if they should have given him his cell phone because he probably could have texted all the questions without looking at his hand.) They also started weening him off the ventilator and he is completely off that this evening. He's not "well" but it seems that the worst has passed.
All of the notes and emails I've received since sending out the news about Preston has been amazing. It definitely teaches me gratitude when so many people are willing to take a moment out of their day to say a quick prayer or just remember this kid and then pass the news on to other people so they'll do the same. He's a special guy to my family and the support of others is almost too overwhelming for words. My heart is so full of thanks.
Then there was the phone call around 1:00 from my mom letting me know that the doctors had decided to let Preston wake up which he did on his own. My dad and brother Matthew were in the room with him when he awoke and Preston mouthed/asked for his dad. He also wanted to write, which he did much to the surprise of the nurse who wouldn't give them paper because she didn't think he'd be able to write. My dad found pen and paper for him and Preston was able to scrawl questions some questions about what was going on for his dad. (Paul and I joked that if they should have given him his cell phone because he probably could have texted all the questions without looking at his hand.) They also started weening him off the ventilator and he is completely off that this evening. He's not "well" but it seems that the worst has passed.
All of the notes and emails I've received since sending out the news about Preston has been amazing. It definitely teaches me gratitude when so many people are willing to take a moment out of their day to say a quick prayer or just remember this kid and then pass the news on to other people so they'll do the same. He's a special guy to my family and the support of others is almost too overwhelming for words. My heart is so full of thanks.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
prayers, good thoughts, hypnotic jiving*, whatever you've got--we'll take it
This is my 16-year-old nephew Preston:
He's my oldest step-brother's son. He still calls me Scary Carrie, my brother's nickname for me after Preston was born because Preston would cry every time I held him. I remind him that I need a little respect because I changed his diapers. Paul and I tease him about going to Texas Tech rather than the University of Texas. We try to bribe him with promises of meals when we visit Tech, which doesn't sound that great at 16 but we promise him will be much welcomed at 19 or 20. We gave him a Hula Girl dashboard doll for Christmas (along with gas money). He wants to be a dentist when he grows up. He's much too cool to be around us but at the same time, he will sit and chat with us.
Preston was in a car accident yesterday afternoon when he rolled a truck he was driving for work. He's currently in the ICU at a hospital in Amarillo on a ventilator and in a medically-induced coma because of pressure on his brain. He has severe head trauma but fortunately, no spinal cord damage has been found. It's going to be a long healing process for him and we still don't know all the damage that has occurred. He's young and he's strong so he's got that going for him but he's still severely injured. But we have him and he's in one piece and all the pieces seem to be working. I truly believe in the power of prayer and it is definitely needed right now for Preston, for his parents Gene and Shawn Ann, his stepmother Lita, his sister Holliday, and the rest of the family.
*And I have no idea what "hypnotic jiving" might involve. I just wrote that as I was writing the title and now it makes me laugh every time I see it so I left it.
He's my oldest step-brother's son. He still calls me Scary Carrie, my brother's nickname for me after Preston was born because Preston would cry every time I held him. I remind him that I need a little respect because I changed his diapers. Paul and I tease him about going to Texas Tech rather than the University of Texas. We try to bribe him with promises of meals when we visit Tech, which doesn't sound that great at 16 but we promise him will be much welcomed at 19 or 20. We gave him a Hula Girl dashboard doll for Christmas (along with gas money). He wants to be a dentist when he grows up. He's much too cool to be around us but at the same time, he will sit and chat with us.Preston was in a car accident yesterday afternoon when he rolled a truck he was driving for work. He's currently in the ICU at a hospital in Amarillo on a ventilator and in a medically-induced coma because of pressure on his brain. He has severe head trauma but fortunately, no spinal cord damage has been found. It's going to be a long healing process for him and we still don't know all the damage that has occurred. He's young and he's strong so he's got that going for him but he's still severely injured. But we have him and he's in one piece and all the pieces seem to be working. I truly believe in the power of prayer and it is definitely needed right now for Preston, for his parents Gene and Shawn Ann, his stepmother Lita, his sister Holliday, and the rest of the family.
*And I have no idea what "hypnotic jiving" might involve. I just wrote that as I was writing the title and now it makes me laugh every time I see it so I left it.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Good times indeed
Paul and I had a pleasant Friday evening last night, breaking out of normal hermit routine to spend time with friends. We'd run into our neighbor last week when we were out on one of the trails near our house and invited "our new best friends" over for pizza and a game night (and we only refer to them that way jokingly in private because we're not that psychotic and we do enjoy their company; we'd like to not scare them off completely by actually using that nickname around them). Jeff was very excited about the prospect of trying out the Wii. He's been hounding Alison to get one but she wouldn't acquiese. He thought this would be a perfect opportunity to wear her down if he could get her to play it.
I think she's now a convert although it might cost Jeff new kitchen countertops after she saw mine. Between Guitar Hero and Wii sports, we all had a fantastic evening playing games. Paul and I both noted that Guitar Hero isn't as easy after a couple of drinks although we still impressed out guests by playing some of the harder songs on the beginner level. Just way until we can add the blue key in--then they'll be totally awed. We're not that good on the guitar to begin with and after three (or more) drinks, we all decided bowling was the way to go. I would like to note that I bowled a new high record of 176. It's just like real life bowling--I'm better after a few drinks.
We were also very impressed that Jub decided he almost likes our neighbors. He came downstairs and hung out with us, just out of reach of any of us of course. He didn't even yowl at the company about being in his territory. He never does that--I have friends who have been to the house a half-dozen times who have never seen the cat. I get the feeling they wonder if I just set out food and water for the cat I'd like to have. Perhaps we've turned a corner with Jub and he's going to be more social and less crabby. Like Paul and I are trying to do as well.
On a recent Sunday:
Jub is nothing if not helpful.
I think she's now a convert although it might cost Jeff new kitchen countertops after she saw mine. Between Guitar Hero and Wii sports, we all had a fantastic evening playing games. Paul and I both noted that Guitar Hero isn't as easy after a couple of drinks although we still impressed out guests by playing some of the harder songs on the beginner level. Just way until we can add the blue key in--then they'll be totally awed. We're not that good on the guitar to begin with and after three (or more) drinks, we all decided bowling was the way to go. I would like to note that I bowled a new high record of 176. It's just like real life bowling--I'm better after a few drinks.
We were also very impressed that Jub decided he almost likes our neighbors. He came downstairs and hung out with us, just out of reach of any of us of course. He didn't even yowl at the company about being in his territory. He never does that--I have friends who have been to the house a half-dozen times who have never seen the cat. I get the feeling they wonder if I just set out food and water for the cat I'd like to have. Perhaps we've turned a corner with Jub and he's going to be more social and less crabby. Like Paul and I are trying to do as well.
On a recent Sunday:
Jub is nothing if not helpful.
Monday, April 21, 2008
I won't win but still
A student just delivered an invitation to the NJHS Induction & Awards Ceremony next week with a note saying I've been nominated for Educator of the Year. In my nine years of teaching here, this is probably the seventh such note I've received. I've never won. I'm the Susan Lucci of my school.
The first couple of years, I eagerly attended the ceremony, putting on something nice and gussying up, thinking I might have a chance to win. Then I would attend but not doing much beyond freshening up my lipstick, having less confidence in the idea that I could win. The last few I've blown off attending in favor of claiming my rightful place on the couch (plus I'd heard prior who won and I didn't agree with the choice the students made--not because of sour grapes but because I didn't think it was a good choice). I'll go to this year's ceremony because I'll need to take pictures for the end-of-year video.
But I'm not dressing up.
The first couple of years, I eagerly attended the ceremony, putting on something nice and gussying up, thinking I might have a chance to win. Then I would attend but not doing much beyond freshening up my lipstick, having less confidence in the idea that I could win. The last few I've blown off attending in favor of claiming my rightful place on the couch (plus I'd heard prior who won and I didn't agree with the choice the students made--not because of sour grapes but because I didn't think it was a good choice). I'll go to this year's ceremony because I'll need to take pictures for the end-of-year video.
But I'm not dressing up.
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