Friday, May 1, 2009

The Ball

I know when you read this you are going to think "Jackie, what were you
thinking!" That is the whole problem! I wasn't thinking!!!

Tonight is Ashley's school ball. At 6:30. Today I remembered the following
things:
1. Her dress needs hemmed, it is way too long. Like several feet. So I
have to do that when I get home at 5:15
2. She also has to take 1 liter of 7-up and a container of apple juice.
Ok, I can go grab that at the store at lunchtime and drop it off at the
school on the way home (it is 2 blockes from my house)
3. There is a cake walk and silent auction to help with the expenses of
her classmate that was in the accident and coma. Well, sorry, I can't do
this. I feel guilty, but i just don't have the time
4. She needs to bring a finger foods dessert. Someone shoot me now.

I would have Ashley take care of this, but she is at the school decorating
all day, then will come home and hurry to get ready. I am so stupid! I
have known these things for weeks and today it just became reality in my
brain!

So, at my lunchtime I suddenly remember that once I went to Dollarstrecher
and bought a bucket of frozen cream puffs. And then I took them to a
wedding rehearsal and sprinkled powdered sugar on them and then drizzled
them in chocolate. Wa la!! So off I went to Dollarstrecher to get the
bounty. Quite proud of myself at this point....

THEN......my brain was quite good to me. I thought about how I hate
sewing and what a pain it is going to be to hem this beautiful dress. And
a friend I did see in Safeway and she suggested: Duct Tape...............when you live in the country you memorize the manual "10,000 Things You Can Do With Baling Twine and Duct Tape". Well, why didn't I think of Duct tape before??? Do not laugh at my redneck ways......and this bears no further comment from
you either......
I mean really! Duct tape like...saves the world! Whether you are putting
it across someone's mouth, waxing with it, or hemming a ball gown.....and
it comes in Martha Stewart colors! But alas Safeway only had it in white,
but IT WAS ON SALE!!!! Everyone knows I love a good bargain! Now, my sister in law is the expert on Baling twine and I know she could have done something beautiful to the dress in baling twine, but I didn't have her here to help.

So tonight I will flee from work, go home, throw together the dessert and
tape up Ashleys gown and everyone will think I am supermom. And at 6:30
the girls will leave for the ball looking dazzling and giggling and I will
throw myself on the couch, put my feet up on the coffee table, and let out
a huge sigh...............and smile.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Update on Isaiah Buck and my world

This is an update by Mr. Buck Wednesday:
Just a brief update until Beckey can get to it.This week has been a challenge for all. Being here in Lostine I rely on Beckey's text messages and short videos. Isaiah was able to pull his trach out Tuesday and that caused some throat damage but he seems fine. Too active. Beckey and the girls have been staying with him 24 hours a day because he is so agitated. On the up side, he is coming more aware and more in control of his body. He actually moved a wheel chair by himself! We remain encouraged and are looking forward to seeing him settle down a bit. Please pray that he sleeps at night. This is our most urgent need. God has answered many prayers and we continue to put our hope and trust in Him.Archie

This was an update posted by Mrs. Buck Wednesday:

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:03 PM, PDT
Hello Loved Ones: So sorry ! I have had very little time to keep you all informed of Isaiah's progress. I am working on his laundry so I thought this would be a good time for an update.Isaiah is doing much better today. He is not agitated. Partially because he was awake most of night and also because he got his trach removed. Layken stayed with him last night and she got a work out. Her brother kept her on her toes. She is sleeping soundly now.We just recieved news that Isaiah will be moved to Elks Rehab. Hospital on Wed. We are very excited about this because this means a step closer to getting our Sai home in Wallowa County. Isaiah is very determined and this has aided his recovery. Today Isaiah actually tried to shave himself with his elec. razor. He was able to pick it up and put it to his face. He is following verbal directions a little better each day.And that is how we live. We labor today and let God prepare us for tomorrow.
So that is the latest on isaiah...and you can read updates at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/isaiahbuck/journal

Racheal...if you read this I just wanted to tell you thank you so much for the loving care the staff gave our Isaiah! You can't ever imagine how much you are all appreciated! Many hugs to all of you...we are forever grateful.

Now for my life.................Sarah is here! Crazy times, giggly girls. She is here for the school ball, which is tomorrow night! Oh Aunt Tammy, how I wish you could be here to foo foo up these girls! Such a special night for them! Sarah is 6'1", very tall. Ashley is 5'1". So Sarah walks beside Ashley and just pats her on the head. They are so funny. But the ball will be a very important night for all of the kids, especially in light of what has happened to Isaiah. This has been a life changing experience for all of them. Some time I need to make plans to take the girls over to see Isaiah.
I also purchased a new camera..a Nikon D40! It is a digital SLR and very complicated, but I am determined to get it figured out, since I will be paying on it the rest of my mortal life. I think I need a hobby, and photography seems like just the thing! Oh how I would love to have a studio and take photos of little girls dressed up having tea parties!
I look forward to a quiet evening alone tonight as the girls will be decorating for the ball. I might even get to watch Bones! I love that show!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Rejoicing

We are all so happy that Isaiah is now officially out of the coma! The physical therapists in Boise are working him over pretty good too. They even had him up and helped his walk 12 feet....4-5" at a time, more like a shuffle. But I am so proud of him!
Tomorrow Ashley and I go to pick up her friend Sarah! The school Ball is this coming Friday night...fun fun fun!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Isaiah Buck update and Wake Up jane

Isaiah has been moved to Boise to a rehab hosptal, so our hopes are high that the therapy he will recieve there will bring him out of the coma. It is odd that he does so much, yet is still technically in a coma. His mom, Beckey, posted this yesterday: (Layken and Shannon are Isaiah's sisters and Samantha is the baby Layken just had before Isaiah's accident)

"Just as I expected Isaiah slept most of the day on Wednesday. Layken, Samantha, Shannon and myself came and went throughout the day. Later in the afternoon Isaiah really started to wake up. Layken decided to bring Sam over to visit her Uncle "Buck". What happened next was just amazing. Isaiah reached his hand out over to Sam and put it gently on her her thigh and stared at her for the longest time. Layken had sat Sam next to Isaiah. Everytime Isaiah would cough he would remove his hand and then put it back, touching his niece. This went on for a little while. Sam started to get fussy so Layken took her away to feed her. Isaiah seemed to reach out his arm to Sam as if to say, "I wasn't done." Layken saw that and told Isaiah she would bring her back. She did, and Isaiah responded the same by touching her on her leg. Layken asked him a couple to times to hold her hand and he did. He did!! Layken then told Isaiah that we were leaving and to tell Sam goodnight. She was sitting upright with Layken's help, next to Isaiah. He brought his hand around Sam's back and brought her to his chest. We all cried. This was the most responsive Isaiah has been all week. I am awe struck at the power of family and the impact they play on one's healing. Watching my son interact with his neice was a powerful picture of this. This has renewed our "hope" for Isaiah's future healing process. My girls have left this morning but they have committed to coming back on Monday. This will be nice because I will feel comfortable going home for a couple of days and sleep in my own bed and pamper my husband.I am praying for another impactful day for our son. Jaymz Hayes and his family will be coming to Boise for some appts. They will stop by to visit and I am hopeful that Isaiah will be able to communicate with them as well."...But we will trust in the Lord".

Tonight I am going to my friend Sue's for a girls night out. That should be fun for us! Ashleys band, Wake Up Jane, is playing Saturday at the Youth Arts festival in Joseph. It won't be the same without Isaiah on the guitar, but it will still be good. I think 7 out of the ten songs they are singing they wrote themselves.

Life is quiet, thankfully.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Update on Isaiah Buck 04-17-09 and other stuff

Well it looks like Isaiah Buck WILL get accepted in the facility in Boise after all. Praise the Lord! God is so good! So tomorrow he is suppose to arrive in Boise at 1:00.......so we pray for his travels and that he makes it there safe. I don't know why I say "we". I don't really mean it like I have multiple personality disorder. I just assume many people are praying that way! Anyway, it is exciting to watch God move...see many miracles...and know His love is there with the Buck family, bringing them wisdom, comfort, and love during all of this. I don't know how anyone could make it through this without God...without hope, without that peace and love that can only come from Him.
Lets see..........my world seems to be stalled somehow. At least my brain is. I have been neglecting to do things I need to do. So maybe this weekend I will grease my brain and get things moving again. I did pay a partial payment on my taxes. I will probably get some letters from the IRS and Oregon tax people. Oh well. I will get it paid somehow, some way. They can just chill out. Or I will have to resort to begging them to chill out.
I am looking forward to the weekend! Going bowling tonight with a friend. Actually I might let him bowl and I will watch. I am still looking forward to some fun though!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Isaiah Buck and other little thoughts

The Buck family has run into a bit of a glitch. It was planned to move Isaiah to a rehab facility in Boise, but now that facility has rejected Isaiah due to money issues (the insurance company doesn't want to pay) So they are trying to get him into a good facility and I am not sure what all the issues are with money, but they really need prayer so Isaiah can keep moving forward with good therapy. We know that God is our provider and we will pray and it will be interesting to see how God takes care of this!
Mr. Buck also has explained that Isaiah is still technically in a coma. I had been stuggling to understand how he could be doing so many things, yet still be in a coma. It turns out he does do things at times, but many times he does not respond at all to what they ask of him. They have reported the things that have excited them, like him squeezing a hand or whatever else...but there are many times Isaiah just sleeps. So he still needs so much prayer.............never ceasing....
The Lostine Tavern had a really great fundraiser last night for the families of the accident. There were people parked all up and down the street and crammed into the tavern for tacos and a pie auction. I heard the first pie went for $400.

I have been having some other thoughts lately about myself and my feelings about others. I have been thinking so logically! Sort of like Spoc, from Star trek.............I could work for the FBI! But a friend of mine got into a wee bit of trouble. And I have been wondering about my emotional lack of emotions...he he. Oh never mind...psychological stuff is so hard to explain. I'm not going there...................Suffice to say I pick and choose what goes on my shoulders and what doesn't. What is my problem and what isn't. And it is very freeing to be able to do that. The mother of this friend tried to lay a guilt trip on me...and I was able to say "stop...no. I had nothing to do with this" She might want to live her life feeling sick over things others do, but I won't. His decisions were HIS decisions.
Anyway, Bethany has my house a total mess as she packs boxes for the trip to Conneticut to be a nanny. What an amazing experience it will be for her!! I am very proud of her and I wish her all the best.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Update on Isaiah Buck

Monday, April 13, 2009 1:27 PM, PDT

REJOICE IN THE ALWAYS! AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

This morning Beckey told me he was rubbing his eyes and acting like he was trying to wake up.

Just a few minutes ago Isaiah became very responsive. He has opened his eyes and kept them open. He was asked to hold up two fingers and held up three, all the while trying to hold up two. Beckey asked him to give her a thumbs up if he understood her. He gave her a thumbs up! She repeated the request, he did it again.

Hallelujah. We don't know if this will continue today but for now we are rejoicing and feel like dancing.

Thank you Father God for your many mercies. We praise you for giving us this sun beam of hope. Please give us strength to persevere and pour out your Holy Spirit on Isaiah with healing and hope in his heart.

Amen

Archie Buck



So hallelujia!!! Isn't this exciting? I am so excited I can't stop eating chocolate so I will be having a talk with Isaiah some day about my waistline...oh praise you Jesus!