Unplanned Event

Just when you think life is going as scheduled life throws you a curve ball.
We had such a curve ball yesterday.  First off I took Isabelle to choir in the morning and when we were leaving choir there was a wet, wet blizzard and freezing winds.  It felt like a very cold January day.  Right then and there I should have known that something was off with the universe.

The rest of the day progressed as usual: school, cleaning, lunch, dishes, taekwondo, ect.  Around 6:30 I was helping Isabelle practice piano when I hear the door separating our house from my parents house open.  I didn't think they were home so I was afraid that William had somehow opened the door on his own.

When I went to check my dad was on the couch and my mom was on the phone.  She tells me "Go and watch for the ambulance in case they come to your door!" It didn't connect with me why I would need to do that.  Then I looked at dad and he was a pasty whitish/blue color.  He was clammy all over and very dizzy. Instantly I had flashbacks of 5 years ago when I thought my dad was going to die right before my eyes.  He did this to us about 2 years ago too.  If it's an April fools joke,  it isn't funny. I asked dad "What can I do?"  and he instructed me to "Put my gun away".   Again I thought maybe he was joking, he wasn't. Do people think about gun safety when they might be dying?  Apparently so.  At any rate I put the gun and holster away and then put Isabelle in charge of watching for the ambulance.  My daughter is a girl who loves a job to do - she was very diligent.  Meanwhile mom was still on the phone with 911 while William was hanging off of her leg begging for a drink.  He didn't grasp that someone could be in more need than a thirsty toddler.

After what felt like forever a firetruck, ambulance, and about 6 paramedics showed up.  Isabelle ran out to the sidewalk saying "Come on guys, he's in here!"  She was thinking that having such an exciting job was awesome.  Maybe I can still convince her to be a doctor.

The paramedics rushed in and started asking dad questions and hooking him up to thing-a-ma-bobs and whoozy-whatits.  This was already a big improvement over 5 years ago when dad couldn't communicate and they had to shock his heart back into beating.  I was relatively calm because of that fact. I hear Isabelle at our front door speaking to someone so I go and check.  She was telling Brother Rupp, a member of the bishopric, very nonchalantly " No, nobody's sick!  My Grandpa just gets to go for a ride in the ambulance!!!"  He looked at her with slight desperation in his eyes as if he was thinking "Can I please speak to someone over three and a half feet tall?"

Bishop Chase didn't bother with stopping at the door, he just came rushing in.  After what happened last time, I think we had him scared again.  Then my friend Candice came and whisked my kids away before I knew what was happening or could even think to send them out the door with shoes on.

Nathaniel and Jenny showed up expecting to come and eat pizza and play games, they were just slightly surprised at the scene.  Nathaniel drove with mom to the hospital and Jenny, the kids, and I started the waiting game.  I think the waiting game is worse when you are at home.   I hate feeling useless, I did end up making a million phone calls so that kept me kind of busy.  Like Isabelle, I like having a job to do, even if it is an unimportant one.  Jenny and I decided to play games even though that is probably the most horrible thing you could do when your dad is in the hospital.  We just wanted something to get out minds off of that fact. Soungsik told us we were horrible but then decided to play with us anyway.  Karma came back to get me and I lost big time while Soungsik won.  So who's the horrible one really?

After a few hours we learned that dad was okay and that they were sending him home again.  They had run tests on him and his pacemaker and couldn't find anything wrong. Just like 2 years ago we don't know what caused this to happen to his heart.  Hopefully it won't ever happen again. Mom is convinced that there is something psychologically wrong with dad, but that's probably how most women feel about their husbands from time to time.  According to dad at least it was an entertaining trip.  On the way to the hospital the siren fell off of the ambulance and they ran over it on the freeway.  When they arrived at the emergency room none of the paramedics could get the hospital door to open.  They kept trying different codes and nothing was working. FYI if you want to get into the emergency room you need to push the pound key and NOT the star key when entering the code. His doctor introduced himself as Dr. Fredette, which is not his name, but he had just been talking about the BYU basketball game.

At any rate I am so grateful today for many things.  Mostly I am grateful that my dad is okay still.  I am grateful for amazing neighbors and friends who come to your aide before you even know you need it.  I am grateful for wonderful paramedics who can get here so quickly and wonderful hospitals within minutes of home.  We are so blessed to live here, and this isn't the first time I have felt this way!