Eric Begins to Heal

Eric at the Bakery Today!

Day three and Eric has really turned a corner. While he still has lots of pain, he has literally gained the upper hand. Having the arm surgery was really the first big step towards getting his life back. Every 24 hours since coming home has been a huge improvement. The swelling is decreasing but he still has to hold the heavy cast as high as he can. His other bruising continues to improve too.

Today he and I walked to the Vietnamese cafe and bakery in his neighborhood. We bought home treats for dinner tonight. The sun and fresh air were great - 80 degrees with beautiful blue skies! I am really proud of him for keeping his spirits up and moving forward this week.

Eric Leaving Recovery

Eric managed this half smile today before leaving the recovery room. As promised, he is in great pain. The surgeon said both bones in his forearm were totally shattered. He has two new plates installed and will forever set off the airport metal detector machines.   

Now that he is home, Eric has to keep his left arm higher than his heart to reduce the swelling. He will wear the dressing and split for two weeks, when the doctor will remove everything to take out the staples. He will probably get a new splint or cast.  Further recovery and PT will take months to complete. 

The surgeon feels his range of motion may be very limited due to the severity of his injury. On the plus side, his hand, wrist, and elbow should make good recoveries.  Now we pray for no infection!

Considering his other bruising and abrasions, it's hard to believe Eric got away without other life altering injuries.  If you are going to ride a bike, PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. And, if you have been drinking, PLEASE USE A DESIGNATED DRIVER. The DUI who hit Eric on his bike, changed his life forever.

39 Years Today and Counting!

JRH  - 1975

 How fascinating that many women will lie when asked their age but not about how long they have been married. Despite changing times and attitudes, marriage is still a defining life event. When asked by our sons for advice, John and I could only tell them while it is WONDERFUL to have someone to share goods times, having someone to stand by you during hard times can change your life.

Love of my life. Best Friend. Father of my children. I am truly blessed. 39 years and counting...

35 Beautiful Years

Happy Birthday John Eric!

Stupid Mask!

The thing I remember most is the smile on dad’s face when he was holding you for the first time. I hope that image will always be with me. Initially, dad was afraid he might hurt you when handling you but quickly learned you were much tougher than you looked.

You were so much fun. Always a risk taker. Quick to analyze and dissect things. Loved to work with tools and electronics. Read for hours. Loved to get physical on the lacrosse field.

Sorry we cannot be with you.

http://smu.gs/138rkyS

Eric Visitations

We were sad that Eric could not make it home for our usual Christmas Eve dinner so we improvised and fixed the problem (See Photo). BooBoo Kittie came too.

2012 Xmas Dinner Party

Gma Hoffmann and Uncle Buzzy LOVED visiting with Eric in California using Google Hangout. Uncle Buzzy loves the Internet. He believes in magic.

Fortunately for us, Eric and Eloise came East for New Year's Eve and to spend a few days with us.

We had a great time cooking, drinking wine, visiting the Pond House, eating at our favorite restaurants, drinking beer, and just hanging out at home! Thanks for the fun. Hope to see you soon.

Boys with their Patents!

Tristan Walks

August 12, 2012 CMUSV Ceremony

Tristan's a gusty guy. He quit a good paying job to take on a cut throat Master's Degree program in 12 months.  He made some new friends, learned about Software Management, the good, the bad, and the ugly of collaborative learning, and about himself. He even became a comic book character.

He overcame some significant obstacles - personal, financial, and institutional - and persevered. He was also lucky to have family support from his big brother, his parents, and granddaddy. We are really proud of you. Well done. You made it!

QUILT MASTER

It's hard to imagine a more unlikely "Quilt master" than Teddy (a.k.a. William) Kilpatrick. While he loves to sew and layout the patterns, he needed a mission. Thanks to Dr. Patti Cantwel and the dedicated staff (Pediatric ICU and Palliative Care) at the Holtz Children's Hospital, Teddy found his  purpose. You made his visit last Thursday a day he will always remember!

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P.S. - Ceil Baum, you get to add another mitzvah to your list.