Greased Lightning

{ September 15, 2024 @ 7:29 pm } · { Life on the Farm }
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Two weeks ago I wrote a blog post about two cows hit by lightning. (Lightning Strike) One was a nursing mama. When I went out to the field to see what had happened, I saw a young baby calf high-tail it at high speed out of the area, down along the edge of the woods by the field.

For days we searched the farm looking for the calf. Several times we spied it, but it was always when one of us was by ourself and there was no way to catch the little speed demon. He also started hanging out with a group of bulls which presented its own challenges in trying to catch him. Once a calf is a week old he is faster than you on his feet and it becomes a cat and mouse catch scheme to snatch them. We started calling him “Greased Lightning”. He kept slipping away from us.

We felt time was running out for the little calf as he desperately needed his mama’s milk. We knew he was too young to make it on his own with only grass to eat. After about two weeks we gave up as we weren’t seeing him anymore. And then the other day we spied him…..it appears another mama has adopted him as her own. She was already nursing a slightly older calf and there he was just nusing away. That almost never happens.

Grease Lightning is the one in the back.

It makes me wonder, why did she rescue him? Did she realize he was an orphan? Did she know his mama was killed? Did he beg for help in calf language? Did she choose him or did he choose her? Cows always ID their calves by sniffing. It is amazing how in a big herd of cattle, even if they are all mingling together, mama and babe do not get mixed up. They know their own.

Both calves are slightly thin, he from his trauma, and the other one because he is having to share the milk with his new brother. Greased Lightning has escaped death twice; once by lightning and the other by starvation. Somehow the name just fits him.

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 22: One Week and Counting

{ September 13, 2024 @ 3:00 pm } · { Medical Adventures }
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Gene has been home from the hospital and rehab for one full week. I am now counting weeks home rather than weeks in the hospital!

It has been a good week and hasn’t felt like much to report. You know what do they say, “no news is good news” so I am claiming it! In looking back over the week, I can see noticeable improvement. For starters, he is eating so much better, everything I put on his plate. He has had meatloaf, scallop potatoes, chicken noodle soup, sausage gravy and biscuits, egg in a basket, Apple Dapple cake, plus his sandwiches at lunch.

We have had him out on the pastures with the golf cart twice so he can see his cows. He is sitting up a lot more and walking laps in the house from the sofa to the kitchen sink and back. He is much more steady on his feet and I am no longer feeling like he is going to collaspe or fall over any second. I stopped one day at his barber shop and asked if they did home visits. Last night one of the girls came and cut his hair. It hasn’t been cut since at least May. He is able to do more of his physical hygiene and has managed to get his beard shaved off. It has made him feel human again. Last evening we ate supper at the table for the first time. The number of pills he has to take each day is decreasing. Home Health and Physical Therapy are coming to the house several times a week which has been such a blessing. At first when we came home I was a little nervous that we would have another setback but we have settled into a peaceful routine and it is going well. I am so grateful for changes I can see!!!

Next week he has two doctors appointments which will get him out of the house for two field trips! He continues to enjoy visitors. You make his day.

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 21: Home

{ September 6, 2024 @ 2:28 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Home. He is home again and this time to stay-I hope. They have warned us this is an up and down road but I don’t like that warning as it seems infections are an ongoing issue. But we have to hope, hope that C-Diff was the last one.

He was scheduled to come home on Friday (today) but yesterday morning when the doctor talked to me about when I could come get him I realized that Friday mornings in the store can be a little tough to get away. I asked if Thursday afternoon/evening was an option and they consented. By 6 p.m. we were home.

On the way home I buzzed by Burger King and got him a Whopper Jr. and we shared some fries. He ate it all. He had a good night and this morning was making some phone calls and trying to get emotionally back into the groove of home.

Mentally he is doing much better and physically he is still very weak but improving. He can walk across the room with the walker although somewhat wobbly. I weighed him this morning and oh my, I almost don’t want to tell you what he weighs. Before this started May 27 he weighed 183. Today he is 140 lbs and it is not a healthy look on a man his size. It is no wonder he is so weak. So I need to think cheese, gravy, meat, bread, ice-cream and lots of things made with mushroom soup and cream cheese! I can guarentee it could/would/will put weight on me!

We welcome visitors, you make his day. The steady stream coming by his hospital/rehab room kept him going and encouraged. The home health nurse and therapist will be coming in and there will be numerous doctor visits for awhile so you may want to give me a quick buzz or text to make sure he is available before you come.

Our main prayer concern for the present time is continued healing and NO MORE INFECTIONS OR SET BACKS!

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

{ September 4, 2024 @ 10:37 pm } · { My Faith Journey }
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Photo by Denys_Nevozhai from Freerange Stock

I love rocks, the bigger the better. When we travel I look at, comment on, and take pictures of rocks. Rocks are beautiful, heavy, and they represent strength and stability.

This morning for my devotions I read Psalms 61 written by the Psalmist David and it spoke deep to my heart.

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer…. when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever. I will trust in the shelter of Your wings…. you have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name….so I will sing praise to Your name forever.” (Selected verses)

My mind pictured a big tall rock, one that if I stood beside I would feel small. A rock that I could climb and sit on the tippy top and see the long view before me. A rock that gives shelter to surrying creatures and soaring eagles.

David spent a lot of time outdoors; on the rugged mountain ranges shepherding his sheep and years of hiding deep in underground caves and seeking refuge on distance mountains from King Saul who wanted to kill him. He was always on the lookout from a rocky craig or seeking shelter under an overhanging ledge.

David was good at writing his feelings, fears, joys, and tribulations. The Psalms are full of his gratitude to God for his protection. He saw God in nature and freely expressed his worship in poetic form.

I am not hiding from an enemy seeking my life but I have my own worries, fears, struggles and challenges in life. I too am reminded of God in nature; his glory in a stuning sunset, his majesty in the night sky, his care in the flowers and birds, his faithfulness in the seasons of life, and his never ending love in the ocean waves.

I love a big rock. When I am overwhelmed and weary, I go to the Rock that is higher than I. It is a place of shelter, refuge, a strong tower, and there I rest and am assured of His eternal care. It helps me see the long-view which is so much bigger than my short-sighted vision. I am so grateful for my godly heritage; ancestors and parents who have passed on to me the stories of their faith and who feared God giving me a solid rock on which to build my faith.

Like David, I will sing praise to Your name forever.

“My soul, wait silently for God, for my expectatin is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense, I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my my refuge is in God.” Psalms 62: 5-7

Lightning Strike

{ September 1, 2024 @ 8:33 am } · { Country Living }
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Thursday night’s storm was a boomer. As I laid in bed, I watched the sky through the windows as it was a constant flash of lightning. Next thing I knew it was morning! I obviously had missed the violent electrical storm. The rain guage measured 2.6 inches of rain but others not to far away got 6 inches in four hours. Later in the day we found two dead cows laying very close together in an open field. They were swelled up like tight toads which is characteristic of cows hit by lightning. One was a nursing mom so now we have a baby calf that needs to be bottle fed. In a large herd of cows it takes a little bit to figure out which hungry babe is searching for his mom.

You can see from the cow on the left the burn spot on her underside where lightning probably exited the body. We are fortunate it didn’t get the calf also.

Years ago-back in the late 70’s or early 80’s, we had six dairy cows hit by lightning. It is not a pretty sight to find.

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 20: C-Diff

{ August 29, 2024 @ 9:31 pm } · { Medical Adventures }
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Sometimes it is hard to keep people up on the latest updates. I am trying to keep our store running, the farm going and running to the hospital or rehab (whichever place he happens to be!!!) everyday. Sometimes I just don’t feel like writing and other times I could write a book!

Gene is doing as well as can be expected at Sheltering Arms Rehabilation Center. It is a new state-of-the-art facility and a good place to rehab. Gene deals with fatigue and lack of energy due to multiple factors; all his surgeries, lack of nutrition for almost four months, and who knows how his post long-haul covid factors in. Therapy pushes him to his limit but he keeps struggling through.

This week C-Deff caught up with him. This is an infection that happens in the gut from taking lots of antibotics and the good bugs are destroyed. I had worried that it might happen as he has basically been on antibotics for fourteen weeks because of surgeries and one infection after another. Fortunately, they caught it early and by tomorrow his gut should be settled down. I am so thankful this happened before he left rehab or we would have been back in the hospital again. That would have been very discouraging.

When you go to rehab you set goals of where you want to be to go home. They are anticipating that by the end of next week he will be able to come home. I am so ready to be done with hospitals/rehab and he is so, so, so, so ready to be home.

This has really changed his life and coming home does not mean he is ready to tackle the farm. It does not mean that he is totally healed. It does mean he still needs care, therapy, more therapy, and time to heal and get stronger. He has lost a lot of weight and muscle mass and that will take time and good eating. He just does not have an appetite for food yet. The surgeon says by Christmas he should feel like himself. Time will tell how this plays out in the long-term.

Again we are so grateful for your prayers and care that has been expressed in so many ways. I haven’t been able to write thank you notes, don’t even know how to start or if I can even accompolish that huge task. Just know we are so very grateful and may God bless you.

Link to more information on C-Diff: What it is, symptoms.

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 19: One Step Closer to Home

{ August 21, 2024 @ 9:02 pm } · { Medical Adventures }
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This week has been a steady upward climb of healing for Gene. He started wearing his own comfy t-shirt and shorts and is walking around the bed with a walker to sit in a chair. It is exhausting but he can do it! He went from a no food, no water diet to liquids and then soft. His gut handled it well. Tonight they are weaning him off the TPN (intravenous feeding) and tomorrow are removing the staples in the 10 inch incision on his belly and removing one of the drain tubes. They will probably leave the second one in for just a bit longer, just in case. The only pain meds he has used for the last week is tylenol.

On Monday they did another CT Scan and it showed significant improvement from a week ago. It appears the leakage from his intestines has stopped. He also started reproducing red blood cells which he hasn’t done since this ordeal started. That was so encouraging and renewed our hope.

Tomorrow the plan is to move him to Sheltering Arms Rehabitation Center if a bed is available. This will be the third time! Threes a charm, right? He is so ready to come home and this is one step closer. It will depend on how well he progresses as to how long he will be there. We are hoping for only two weeks and I really think he can do it.

Gene has basically missed the whole summer. This ordeal started May 20, the week before Memorial Day. Maybe, just maybe, he can be home the week after Labor Day. They are predicting that he will be back to normal by Christmas. This has been a long, long journey and we so appreciate everyone praying and praying and praying for us.

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 18: We Feel the Love

{ August 17, 2024 @ 8:41 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Let me tell you about today….it was a wonderful day with eleven people showing up to work on a corral on the farm. Earlier in the season we tried to load some beef cattle for butchering and the cattle went berserk and destroyed the catch corral. The corral was already in rough shape but after that fiasco it was rendered useless.

Rich, Micah, Kevin, Ivan, Rob, Karl, Joe, Wray, Mike, Jill, and Obe all pitched in. Micah brought his skid steer with a bucket, post digger auger, post driver and a bundle of posts. Obe did a lot of weedeating, and the rest worked on the electic fencing, pounded in posts, replaced a water hydrant, secured the catch chute, cut boards and built a very secure fence. Bill and Bertha brought a picnic lunch. By the end of the exhausting day, the corral is ready to catch and load cattle. There is still some more work to be done but the corral is now safe to use.

All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you. We felt the love and it was a job we could not have accompolished without help.

This evening Obe, Jill and I went to the hospital and showed Gene pictures of the work. He was so pleased. I did several facetimes with him throughout the day but he wanted to be here so bad. We can’t wait to be able to bring him home and show him in person.

Gene is improving but it seems like a long, never-ending process. They are still trying to heal the leakage in the small intestine. They have him on TPN (a nurtritional diet through a pik line) with no food or water by mouth so that his gut can heal. Physical therapy is getting him up and he sits in a chair but he still has no strength to take more than the step or two to the chair.

So many have asked what can they do. The answer is go see him. He is in room 435 at St. Francis hospital. He will be in the hospital at least another week and the days get so long and lonely. He really appreciates visits and he needs lots of encouragement. (Just do not take him any food as he can not eat it).

Gene’s Medical Crisis-Part 17: The Continuing Story

{ August 8, 2024 @ 9:01 pm } · { Medical Adventures }
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My last blog post was dated July 28 (Sunday) and things were looking up. Instead much has happened. He got moved to Sheltering Arms Rehabitation Center on Thursday afternoon, August 1, and was there three days. Sunday morning I got a call from the doctor on staff and they were in the process of transferring him back to the emergency room at St. Francis. The 10 inch incision on his chest from the first emergency surgery was leaking nasty looking gunk and they were concerned.

Sunday evening they did emergency surgery to find and fix the problem. On Tuesday they had to go back in again. It is a long story and I won’t go into all the details. They could not find the leak as he has developed “Frozen Bowel Syndrome”. (You can read more about this on the web). The short version is his bowels have become a frozen, glued together block, that is incased in a hard cocoon shell. It was impossible to move the intestines around or even distinguish the individual strands so they were unable to get to where they thought the leakage was. Instead, they are trying to heal the intestines by creating a fistula with a drainage tube to enable the body to naturally seal off the leakage. There has been so much injury in the abdomen area with the different organs that is causing complication after complication. The surgeon said when they went into his abdomen the first time after the gall bladder ruptured, it looked like a bomb had gone off. Gene has had 4 major surgeries and 4 stent surgeries in 3 months. The hard reality is we may not be done yet.

He is finding it difficult to do the necessary therapy to strengthen his body. Continue to pray for him as he battles this difficult journey and that he can keep his mind focused on hope and not give up. I have been claiming Psalms 41:3 which proclaims God’s care for us on our sickbed. “The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness and sustain him on his sickbed.”

Gene’s Medical – Part 16: Recovery

{ July 28, 2024 @ 10:50 am } · { Medical Adventures }
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Today is a beautiful Sunday morning and one week since the latest saga began. Gene is healing and doing well. All the tubes have been removed. He is eating and his digestive system is working. His challenge now is to get stronger and back on his feet.

We don’t know yet if he has to go back to Sheltering Arms Rehab or will be able to come home-it depends on the strength in his legs. He has to be able to walk to come home. It is the weekend so physical therapy is off. So we will see what Monday brings.

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