The one where we have a hair-raising adventure...

First of all, let me apologize for leaving some of you, especially my kindle readers (hi Lori!) hanging. I'm very sorry. I can only claim exhaustion as an excuse. The good news is that we have been out of the hospital for almost a week. After two days in intermediate care, we were moved to the 2nd floor. We spent three days there and then last Monday we were able to come home. Mike is doing really well. His breathing is getting better every day, his wounds are healing, and he's getting around slowly but surely. His blood hemoglobin is finally on the rise. We saw his regular physician on Tuesday and he emphasized that Mike has to be careful and not get pneumonia (apparently that will be a danger for quite some time). His doctor is a family friend and scouter so he has a really good idea of what Mike's job entails. That makes a huge difference on when he's released for work or how much. He's looking at 3 more weeks of rest before he's allowed to go back at all. Of course, Mike is already going stir crazy. I mean, how much American Pickers and Springer can one man possibly watch??!

Most of Mike's outer injuries that other people see have started to heal well. People who saw him in ICU are amazed by how well he looks and that he's walking on his own. (With me trailing nervously behind.) I have to remind them of bruising they can't see and that his insides are where most of the damage is. Even his black eyes and facial contusions have healed. Well, until he got the new ones...

For days he'd been bugging me to take him outside. He's bored with walking around the house and is used to being outside everyday. And honestly, him calling me "the jailer" was beginning to get on my nerves a little. Since Sean is away being a camp counselor at Cub Scout Camp, I get to do his dog chores. I try to do this early in the morning before it gets so stinking hot. So I helped Mike put on some shoes (he still can't bend over well) and we headed outside. We walked around to the back yard and I opened the kennel door and put the dog on the chain. I then realized that the kennel was a swamp due to all the rain. So I told Mike to stay put and went in for rubber boots. I couldn't find mine, so put on Sean's (only 5 sizes too big). I walked back out and Mike was all the way down to the gravel parking area in front of the house. Well, I put my hands on my hips and started fussing at him (picture this...me in shorts and knee high rubber boots, hands on hips, carping like a fishwife).

Me: Wtf?! I told you not to go too far.

Mike: I didn't go far, I just walked down the sidewalk.

Me: You aren't supposed to go that far without someone with you!! What if you'd felt dizzy? Do not make me chain you up with the dog!

Mike: Stop treating me like a three year old.

Me: Stop acting like one!

About this time, J and L who live in Iowa City and whom we haven't seen in probably two years pull up. They laugh at my attire and the fact that they could tell I was fussing at Mike from the road. We talk to them for awhile and then Mike says he wants to sit down. So J and L leave and I help Mike up the deck stairs and on to a wooden bench we have. I head to the pen and dump the dogs water and wash out the barrel and refill it. All the while Mike is giving me pointers as though changing the dog's water is rocket science. Then I scoop the poop. Ugh. And ewww. So I'm ankle deep in mud and dog poop in the dog pen when Mike hollers down that he wants to go in. I say "okay. I'm on my way." About that time he stands up, says "F*ck" and falls face first. Hits his face on the deck rail on the way down.

I take off for the deck, rubber boots flopping, heart pounding, shrieking. Finally I kick off the boots and bolt up the deck stairs. He's wedged on his left side (the hurt side) between the gas grill and the deck rail, completely unconscious. To get to him I have to move the extremely heavy grill, which I manage to do grunting and panting. Unfortunately, this disturbs a wasps nest and an angry wasp stings me on the back of the leg. I note the pinching feeling but mostly ignore it. Mike regains consciousness and I manage to get him up and leaning heavily on me, inside. I set him down at a kitchen chair and kneel to take off his boots when he says "I'm gonna do it again" and proceeds to pass out a second time. This time I'm able to catch him and twist so that we fall to the floor (me cushioning him) and I wriggle out from under and run frantically to the phone. I dial several numbers before finally getting J to answer. I tell him I need L urgently.

I run back to Mike who has regained consciousness again. J and L are there in record time. L is a friend who was the camp medic this last week. He is an ICU/Trauma nurse in his real life. He quickly took control and assessed the situation. He got Mike's nose to stop bleeding and checked for concussion. All systems checked out. Mike was OK. The episodes were probably a combination of things; the fact that it was hot out and he's no longer used to that, his walking too far, the fact that he hadn't eaten yet, and possible dehydration. L (and J and J & L) stayed with us for a good hour and a half. J and L helped Mike to his recliner, I fixed him something to eat and got him a drink. After everyone left, he slept most of the day. I watched him sleep and tried to calm my heart rate down. I swear that man is trying to kill me. I asked him if he was trying to see just how much I love him. L replied that he was pretty sure everyone knew the answer to that after the last two weeks.

Today he's doing well, although I won't let him walk anywhere (even the bathroom) on his own. His face looks horrible. He has a cut above his eye and one on the bridge of his nose. A scratch that goes all the way down the nose. It's swollen and bruised. I guess no one will think he's all healed up now. He has a Dr. appt tomorrow and I'll be certain to discuss it all with him.

Btw, guess who's allergic to wasp stings? Lol. When Mo got home and learned of our excitement she was highly upset because I don't have an Epi Pen currently. I told her no worries, I had enough adrenaline pumping through to combat the problem. Today it's swollen, hard and itchy. About baseball size. I keep telling Mike it's all his fault. But I'm just teasing. Small price to pay for him still being OK.

Hope you all had happy and less exciting weekends.
♥Spot