Hello!  

Wow, it's been a while since I posted an update...I've been trying to write it for a week, but it's been hard.  This is the last one I plan to write and it seems like a fitting time.  Thanksgiving was last week and today makes 4 months since I fell off the scooter and had a pretty close call. 

This Thanksgiving was a little different.  Just seeing family and friends was a blessing.  Many had been saying prayers and those prayers helped me recover.  God answered prayers without a doubt.  I'm not sure anyone thought I'd be where I am this quickly.  It's an odd and humbling to be the recipient of so much support and what looks and feels like a miracle.    

When the accident happened, I had 4 coworkers with me who called 911, blocked traffic, kept me from choking and stopped bleeding as best they could.  Without them, I don't think things would be the same.  An EMT who was off work stopped to lend a hand, and the ambulance guys showed up and brought me to the hospital within 20-30 min.  By the grace of God, I was under the care of some great doctors and nurses who kept me going, followed later by more nurses, caregivers, and therapists.  The 4 guys I mentioned turned in to quite a few more who started the turning the wheels to let my family, our team and really the whole international company know what happened.   Ossur took care of the family and I better than I could have imagined.  We call Ossur a family and it really does feel that way.  Carli put everything on hold to be there with me in the hospital every day for 3 weeks.  Thankfully people came to visit and helped (hopefully) take her mind off what felt like an uphill battle. The when we came back to Omaha, she brought the kids to see me almost every day for another 3 weeks until I came home.  

I don't think its possible to put into words how Thankful for all the people who were involved in this in one way or another. One thing I always remember from the Bible is what Jesus said about what you do for "the least of these".  I keep thinking that for a while I was one of the least able to do anything for myself, and to have so many people roll out so much generosity, love, support, prayers and therapy....it's humbling to know and be around so many great people.  

I've now been back at work for 7 weeks and things seem pretty normal.  Its great to get back.  I've been getting involved with some new projects so that's been fun.  Travel has gotten back to mostly a normal routine. 

Things that are still a bit of a challenge: I have less tolerance for changing a routine or schedule.  For work it happens as part of the job, but the family has heard me resist changing my plans at home.  Noise and loud conversations can be hard to handle sometimes.  I'm getting better at my responses with these issues, but I have faith that time will continue to heal that part. Somehow it takes a little more patience than I have to change my plan or listen to everything coming my way. I end up going to bed early some days if a lot of info comes my way. Words sometimes escape me (maybe 4-5 times a week).  Once I get one back though, it doesn't get away very easily....do you hear me Rhubarb?  You're mine again!  You too Franchise.  I got my eye on you!

Here are some interesting things: I got the filter out of my leg about  5 weeks ago (Thanks for the advice on this Todd!).   It's crazy how they put those in and take them out.  They go trough the jugular!  I'll add a pic of me looking at the bandage after it was done.  I still have a ringing in my left ear.  Not sure that'll go away, but my hearing is still about normal there.  I'm getting a sense of smell back (great time of year for that).  I speak more Spanish than I did. It's weird, but somehow I say Spanish words and phrases that I knew in my Houston days but haven't used much since moving back to Nebraska.  There's also been a lot of cursing over the past 4 months, but now that Nebraska football is over for the season that should subside.  I appreciate quiet and time to myself more than I remember.  My faith is also stronger and words in hymns are more personal than ever.

I'm very blessed to have Carli, and the kids.  They've put up with my challenges very well and even though there are a few things that probably drive them a little crazy they're pretty forgiving.  Her updates here were really good. I can only imagine how hard it was for her but reading those gives me some understanding and reminds me how positive she was during that time.  I've read those and all the responses a few times. The prayers she asked for were answered.  She still tries to help me if I'm struggling with something.  Sometimes its hard for me to take the  assistance, but we're both getting better at working through that.  

I'll add some pictures of the past 17 weeks or so. One of them is a screenshot of my dad's video from day 2.  Another one is my youngest kids with some gifts that the Northeast Ossur team sent (probably about week 5).  Another is outside during therapy in San Diego (week 3).  There's also one where one of my therapists was wearing boots with prosthetic feet attached.  I was an outpatient (probably about week 7) and about to go back to work.  That was a fun day!

Thank you for following this recovery.  I'm sure it will continue- probably for another year or two.  I hope I have a chance to thank you in person for hanging with me for the past 4 months!