Central Oregon Pictures
Here’s pictures of mine and James’ time in Central Oregon this last week:
http://www.jackntracie.com/photos/index.php?cat=21
Request: Please send positive vibes and/or prayers to Ralph’s mother. Jack and I wish her a successful recovery and will be thinking of her!
Tough Times
Life got crazy for me. Those who read the ‘other’ site can read more extensive details about it.
My mother and stepfather were in a horrible car accident Saturday, April 8th on the way to visit my aunt. My mother’s back was broken. Her L1 vertabrae was shattered and it required spinal fusion surgery. My step father suffered 2 broken ribs but the stress of it caused his other health issues to be aggravated so he was in the hospital a week along with my mother.
I spent the entire week in central Oregon staying at my aunt and uncle’s house to be with my mom. She was released from the hospital to my Aunt/Uncle’s care April 15th, and will stay there as long needed to recover. My step father was taken back home in Portland then as well. His brother and hopefully the rest of his family will see to his needs. My mom has a very long road of recovery/rehabilitation ahead of her. Any positive vibes, prayers, etc., you could send her way would be appreciated.
This, of course, is right before my week away in California. So I spent a full week away from my husband and children while in Central Oregon, am home for barely 2 days, then will take off tomorrow morning for California for a week.
These have been tough times for all of my family. But it’s proven we are a strong family that will pull together and do whatever it takes to be there for each other. I feel very thankful and blessed.
How Cody Deals with his absent Mommy
This is so darn adorable that it deserves its own entry.
A couple days ago Jack told Cody he was cute. Cody replied, “I am NOT cute!” Jack says, “yes you are!” Cody replied “NO! I am not going to be cute until mom gets home!”. He was quite serious. That sooo tickled me when Jack told me.
When I got home today he jumped into my arms and I called him a cutie. He said “Yep, I’m cute again!”. Too darn CUTE lol!
I’m HOME!
I’m home sweet home!
Cathy, no, I did not get your message. 
I checked my archives.. looks like it was lost in cyberspace. Unless you sent in on MSN?
My mom is ‘home’ from the hospital. She was released yesterday morning. So my uncle and I picked her up and drove her out to Crooked River Ranch to his and my aunt’s place where she’ll stay for a while. We had to stop and get her prescriptions filled first (Rite Aid). She wanted to go in for that so she road on one of those motorized carts they had. She has to wear a brace that was custom fitted for her. She calls it her turtle shell. It’s a pain to get on but important to wear to keep her back stable. She’ll be in at it least 3 months. Once her spine heals, (estimated 6 months) she’ll start a more extensive physical therapy/rehab.
Bob has been released as well and his family took him back to mom and Bob’s house. Ken (Bob’s brother) will care for him I guess. I know his mom said she’d help out and hopefully his other (nicer sister) will help, too.
Once we got her home from the hospital and settled in her room at my aunt’s house, she was exhausted and in some pain. So we let her rest. My brother and sister came up Friday with James’ friend, John (who my mom calls her second son) so it was cool to have them there. Saturday night my uncle made the best dinner and we had a family dinner with my brother, sister, mom, aunt, uncle, and me. It turned out to be a lot of fun. We had home made chicken enchiladas, refried beans, and margaritas. 
(My mom’s was a virgin.) It took Steve two hours to cook this meal. It was delicious. Btw, Steve cooked a LOT of awesome meals. If I lived with them, I’d probably weigh 400 pounds in a year, lol!
This morning Uncle Steve cooked an awesome breakfast, then it was time to get ready and go. I felt weird leaving my mom. I’ve been by her side all week and I’m totally going to worry about her! Especially since I leave for California at 5 AM Tuesday morning.
I rode home with Kellie, James, and John. It was a long ride as I was sooooo missing my family!! Jack and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other for a good long time once I got home. 
Since he was on call though, he had to go into work for a bit to change the tape backups. That gave me time to update our finances and pay bills.
I’m happy to be home but I feel weird to wisk off to Cali for a week, too. Crazy times.
My mom will stay at my aunts in central Oregon for as long as needed. I hope she stays there a long time. She needs to be away from Bob and Ken and that yucky house for a while. Clear her head, heal her body, etc. I may go back down there to help out after California. I hope my family doesn’t get too used to me being away so much!
Cheercards
Check this out. You can send a free cheercard from the hospital website online. They will print it in color and deliver it to my mom. She got one while I was there yesterday and she loved it. http://scmc.netreturns.biz/cheercards/
I sent her the Hope flower one. If you choose to send one, might I suggest you do NOT send the Road to Recovery one that shows the snowboarder going off the cliff… as it also mentions something about ignoring speed limits.
Info needed to send the card:
Last name: Biamont
First name: Carolyn
Location: St. Charles: Bend, OR
