Health minus the care

I had a hard time sleeping last night, I couldn't stop thinking about Darci. They did a tracheostomy on her  two weeks ago because they were not able to wean her off the ventilator. She still has the chest tube draining fluid off her lung. She has a feeding tube in her stomach because she can't have a feeding tube in her nose because her airway obstruction is high. Sound miserable? Unimaginably so! She feels like crap, has pain all over and of course can't talk because she is on a vent and has a trach. She really wanted to go home but it isn't an option at this point with the trach and ventilator. She was admitted to an LTAC (long term acute care) last Sunday. Don and I think about her all the time and worry. We feel bad that there is nothing we can do to help. I got an email from Sharon, (Don's mom) yesterday and she told me a story that I just can't get out of my mind.

They took out Darci's catheter so she needs help going to the bathroom. When she uses her call bell the ward clerk asks over the speaker in her room, "what do you need?" "WHAT DO YOU NEED!" What the heck, she CAN'T TALK! How big an idiot do you need to be to ask someone who is on a ventilator and can't talk "WHAT DO YOU NEED?" over an intercom. They know she can't talk but apparently it's too much effort to remember. Sharon said Darci got so mad she threw her call light. I just can't even fathom being that sick and miserable and then having to put up with that much disrespect. I found the hospitals email address and sent a really strong email to the CEO last night but it didn't make me feel better. I wanted to call and yell. Really I wanted to fly out there and pitch a total fit. It's not bad enough that she is so sick. What is wrong with our health care system that people are so insensitive? The facilities website says they specialize in ventilator patients. One would assume from that specialty that they would have established a communication system for people who can't talk but apparently not.

I've vented but I still don't feel better. I just feel heartbroken for Darci and her family and very sad.

While on the subject of no common sense. Ginger, my friend with melanoma. (Yes, melanoma, just like Darci) Ginger's been in remission for years but her melanoma has returned. They did a neck resection to remove lymph nodes and tumors about three months ago. She has two new tumors in the same spot that have come since the resection. They are big and black and growing daily. The doctor said they would "just watch them" and there was no need to remove them. They ordered a CT scan and they told her it was clean. OK, the scan says she is clean but what about these two tumors growing on her neck. Are they going to ignore what they can see with their eyes because the radiologist didn't see anything on a scan. She has another appointment on Tuesday. It's not like Ginger can't see the tumors. Two months ago when she showed them to me I could only feel them, now I can see them from ACROSS THE ROOM. It's not that I think they can do anything to stop the cancer I just think they should talk about the obvious and quit acting like it's not there.

Happy 25th Birthday Alex

We had a birthday party a couple of days early for Alex because he is spending his actual birthday in

St George. Alex is 25. I find that so hard to believe. Where does the time go? Alex was the best natured baby. He was an easy going kid and made it very easy to be a mom. He's grown up to be a hard working adult.

Alex was cool even when he was two. 

Alex was the cutest, baldest baby. He came out fast and with a round head shaped just like a little basketball.

Ten years ago!

Happy Birthday Alex. You were a great baby, a great kid and you have grown up to be a great adult. I love you son!

Lion King

We went to see Broadway Across America's Lion King on Tuesday. I was really worried that it would be too much for a two year old. Catherine and all (except Tyson), Jaclyn and Dan, Linda and a lot of her family were there. It was a fun night.

This is pretty much the look on Sean's face the entire time. Mind you, this picture was taken when he was looking at an empty stage. He talked to the tuba player in the orchestra pit. He loved the elephant! He did amazing. We left a little before it ended. I think we could have pushed him to stay but I really didn't want to. The playhouse within walking distance of our house is opening in October and I really want Sean to love the theater.

Wind storm and Jenny update

We had a serious wind storm last Sunday.  The wind blew our basketball hoop half way across the court. At least it didn't blow it over. Unlike our.....

I think that's the end of our gazebo! We sure have enjoyed it the past three years.  Don's working on a plan for a new improved backyard lounging area that is impervious to the wind. Those winds off the Great Salt Lake are something else.

The ongoing Jenny saga update:

She got out of jail on Monday. Apparently, she really did just tick off the parole officer. The PO found a charge for violating a protective order and hauled her bottom off to jail on Tuesday night. The charge was actually old and she is awaiting sentencing on it. Her attorney was out of town and it took six days before she could see a judge. The judge said "that's a mistake. I hope you enjoyed your vacation." She said when she left jail the week before everyone said "see you soon" and one officer said "you'll be back in six days." She said she was embarrassed to be back in five.

I took Sean to see her at Liberty Park on Tuesday afternoon. Ryan texted me about 10 minutes after I told Jenny she could see Sean and asked to see him the same day. I find that suspect. I told Ryan Tuesday was too busy of day because Sean had school, Jenny and a play that day and to text me later. Haven't heard from him since and am not looking forward to hearing from him at all!

Not too much summer left!

Not a whole lot of summer left so we decided to make the most of it by spending another day at the lake.

Captain Don and First Mate Alika preparing to take a boat load of kids out on the high seas. Well not really the high seas, just a reservoir.

Jameson, Sean and Nate playing in the sand.

Going on a high climbing adventure.

Reaching the summit.

Sean likes his "mean face" in this picture.

Harrison and his fiance, Sadie or Sophie I'm not sure. They plan to have their first date at 16. Harrison is going to take her sky diving after he makes some money.

Chilling in the pool after the lake.

Kyle throwing kids up in the air. He got a serious work out.

Side note: I got a text from Ryan while we were at the lake asking how Sean was doing. I told him Sean was great. First time I've heard from him since the hearing where I was subpoenaed.

Costa Rica: Take 2

I am still not permitted to discuss my third sons life in my blog so I will just post some new pictures of his second trip to Costa Rica in less than five weeks. There must be something or someone in Costa Rica that really interest him.

Hm, pictures of other people in Costa Rica. Apparently that someone or something has relatives.

Awesome beaches in Costa Rica.

Preschool Party

Sean started preschool right after we got back from Oklahoma. He loves it! It's a Montessori school that goes through 3rd grade. He gets so excited when I say it's time for school and sometimes when I pick him up he isn't ready to come home:( (I try not to take it personally!) He has so much fun learning and playing with his new friends. They have Spanish every morning and he loves teacher Maria and his new friend Ethan.

Today was the end of the summer party because Monday starts the school year. Teacher Maria had grand plans for outdoor games and asked if I would come help. Yesterday was 98, today it rained and was in the 60's. Fortunately, the kids didn't care. Sean's on the left making a run through the sprinklers.

I think the school seriously needs to consider investing in a bigger pool!

The bubble maker was a big hit. The theme was living underwater. It was an appropriate theme as we got an inch of rain in an hour and if we had stayed outside we would have been under water. The kids were running through the sprinklers and stopped to tell us it was raining!

Sean "at the beach" wearing his shell necklace.

I had fun with the kids but there is a reason I am a nurse and not a preschool teacher! Then again sometimes the adults I teach act like preschoolers.

In the slammer AGAIN!

I should have posted every mug shot of Jenny and Ryan over the years just to show a picture progression along with the story of their ever deteriorating lives. I think they dragged her out of bed for her most recent photo op.

Last night I thought "strange, I haven't heard from Jenny for a couple of days. I wonder what is up with that." She's been out of jail for a week and hasn't asked to see Sean. I worked all week and today I was volunteering at the preschool so I really didn't have much time to think about the soap opera of Sean's biological family but when I checked my cell phone there was a call from a number in Nevada that I recognized as an inmate call. (How sad that I can recognize those numbers). When I got home I did a quick search of jail inmates and low and behold the above picture is what I found. Apparently, she has violated her parole. I called the cousin she was living with and he said he didn't know what happened just said she had somehow violated parole. Then he asked if he could see Sean someday. WHAT, loser foster cousin is a felon too. Sure, Dale you can see Sean someday... when he's an attorney and he's prosecuting you.

Jenny stayed out of jail for a total of five days! Now we just need Ryan to go back again too.

Saga Update

Jenny and Ryan had a custody hearing yesterday. They were both given one hour supervised visits per week. They have another hearing Oct 25. Ryan now has to do drug and alcohol and parenting classes and they are both subject to random drug testing. (but apparently not alcohol). According to Jenny Ryan's attorney defended his "deplorable" living conditions by stating "sometimes my house gets dirty too." Really, you have maggots in your living room too! Awesome.

The foster mom was there and she said that when Ryan was trying to explain how none of the news reports were his fault and it was all just some sort of big misunderstanding that the judge actually rolled her eyes. Too bad eye rolling doesn't protect kids!

I did talk to Jenny yesterday after she called me OVER 20 times. I changed our home phone number so I have at least a little control over the stalking. I don't have to have anxiety when the home phone rings and I can turn my cell phone ringer off knowing family can still get hold of me. I told Jenny I disconnected the phone and she asked why. I said the only calls I get at home are from inmates, people selling stuff and the American Red Cross. I also told her I had my own problems right now and wasn't really up to dealing with hers! She asked again for a bus pass. The foster mom told me she asked the court for one and DCFS was going to see if they could provide her with one. I told her a bus pass was $89 and she stood a better chance of getting it by standing on a street corner with a cup and sign then waiting for me to give it to her! She just laughed. Oh, cause I was so joking...NOT! I did a little criminal back ground search on the nephew she is staying with and he's a felon, but not as a bad a felon as his daddy. Such nice people Jenny associates with. She told me that when she stopped in at Adult Parole the lady screamed at her and told her she wasn't playing games or putting up with any of her crap and would just as soon throw her butt back in jail. he he! She has a nightly curfew of 6. She called Heather yesterday asking for money for a bus pass and crying because she has nothing, no clothes not even a hair brush and she just needs to get her girls back. She told me that she went to a movie yesterday after with Kristin. WHAT? You have no money for bus fair, or a hair brush, you need to get your kids back and you spend money on a movie. Is she out of her ever living mind? No need to answer, she doesn't even have a mind!

The Lake Again

We went to the lake on Saturday with Kylie and Brie and their foster family. Sean was, as always excited to see his sisters and they had a great time playing. The girls rode in the car with us and the three of them just chatted and laughed and had a blast. The foster family (It always makes me laugh to say that because Don’s mom is a Foster and they were the Foster family who fostered) kids loved the boat. I mean loved it! Those girls were like maniacs. Anika had never driven a boat before but she took off like a bat out of…… No fear. I am such a passive boat driver it was funny to see someone just get in and take off!


Don did more round trip boats rides then ever. The foster family has seven kids with the girls and Sean made eight so he was running a ferry. Some liked it fast and some liked it slow so he had to keep dropping off and picking up. Brie was the only who wasn’t interested. She took a short boat ride and declared it “scary.”

Loving the kids. Kylie climbed in my lap and yelled "take a picture". I've got that girl trained.

Sean, Brie, Kylie, Marc and Brook making dinosaur noised under the stairs.

Bet the neighbors were glad when we left.

Hanging out on the beach eating fruit roll ups

Captain Don's boat service is open for business

Kyra with sandy hands, Brook in the back and Tamish holding Sean and Brie. Kylie learned to swim this summer.

Oh my gosh, talk about serious sand up the bum. They kept sliding and sliding so it must not have bothered them but it seriously made me itch.

Sean and Kylie sitting in a cave

That's a lot of kids!

Jenny and Ryan update:

Jenny is out of jail and apparently staying in Magna with a foster nephew from one of her foster families as a teenager. She has a custody hearing in the morning.

Ryan missed his last scheduled appointment with the girls. He has a custody hearing on Wed. They dropped all criminal charges against him in regards to the child found alone in his house. That boy has nine lives when it comes to escaping jail. Surely his nine lives must be running out!

Darci is never far from our thoughts

Darci is on a ventilator now. She has had a very bad week but a pretty good day today. The metal stint they put in her trachea didn’t work. They took her off the ventilator for a couple of hours and were going to keep her off but it was too difficult for her to breath and she asked to be put back on. Obviously in addition to being horrific for Darci it is a very difficult time for Gary, Kirk and Addie. It is pure will power and determination on Darci’s part that she is able to keep fighting. Watching her struggle to breath in Oklahoma was exhausting and it so much worse now. We are all praying for peace and comfort for Darci and her family.

Birthdays

Don turned 15 or 51 we’re not quite sure which. Sean put the candles on the cake. For Don’s midlife crisis he has decided to get his pilots license. He has had two flying lessons so far and is working on his ground school. He’s taken off but not landed! He has flown a total of 1.9 hours so far. It takes 40 hours to get your pilot license. It takes 2000 hours to be a cosmetologist and 80 hours to be a C.N.A. Interesting!

Grandma turned 83. Apparently Sean is the official candle blower in our house. We went to Red Lobster for Grandma’s birthday lunch.

Darci

Don's sister Darci is very sick. She has melanoma and the tumors in her lungs and brain have grown. She is in the ICU now with a chest tube. Doctors are going to try and put a stint in her trachea on Monday to help maintain her airway. A miracle would be very welcome. We were really thrilled to be able to spend time with Don's sisters Dava and Darci and his Mom last month.

I just have to post this picture. This is Darci last Saturday on an anniversary trip in the Keys. Hard to believe someone can be that sick and look that good.

I'm disgusted

They let Ryan and his dad out of jail last night. They didn't charge his dad with anything and Ryan was released pending charges.

I lost another two pounds this week! Go figure. I have NO appetite! I keep wondering when this drama with Jenny and Ryan will end. I blocked the jail on my phone so I don't know when she's calling. She called Heather asking her why I won't take her calls. Good grief, I can't imagine.

My baby's daddy and grand daddy made the news

ksl.com - Toddler found alone in trashed apartment; 2 arrested

Toddler found alone in trashed apartment; 2 arrested


August 4th, 2010 @ 7:47am

SALT LAKE CITY -- Police arrested two Salt Lake City men who are accused of leaving a 19-month-old girl alone in a trashed apartment.

Police say the child's mother took her to a barbecue with family and friends Monday evening at an apartment complex on the 600 block of Park Street (540 East). At some point, the toddler's mother left her in the care of Ryan Vestal, 25, and his father, Michael Vestal, 49.

Family members returned later in the evening, found the girl alone in an apartment and called police. Investigators say the apartment was littered with empty and spilled beer cans and drug paraphernalia. Police say the girl was covered in filth and smelled like alcohol.

Ryan and Michael Vestal were arrested and booked into jail for child endangerment.

The girl's mother was not arrested, but police say the investigation is ongoing.



Go to KSL.com read the comments they are priceless. What would people say if they knew that the girls had been living like this since they were born and he was given unsupervised visitation AND I am supposed to let him see Sean unsupervised. Things that make you go hmm, or rather things that make you want to barf. If the public knew they would be outraged. I know this mom is an idiot but thank God she called the police and reported Ryan, Mike and her own stupidity.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11851963

Christmas in August

I sent Jenny a birthday card yesterday and as I was signing it I thought this is the first year that I've known them and Ryan hasn't been in jail for Jenny's birthday, this year she's in jail for her birthday. This afternoon I got an e-mail from the foster mom and she told me that Ryan missed his visit with the girls today because he is in jail. The new charges are felony endangerment of an adult/child. I don't know what that really means I guess time will tell. I know it didn't involve the girls because they were with the foster family. They are holding him on his outstanding warrant as well. Cool beans!