Dody’s days

Twelve years ago today, David and I were married.  It is hard to believe it has been a dozen years.  We have been through so much together, and we have overcome several obstacles that have come in our marriage.  We were married at 19 in Puerto Rico , where David was stationed, with all odds against us.  We went through many years of David traveling in other countries during his time in the Marine Corps while juggling school.  When David was about seven years in, and stationed in California , we decided to start a family.  It was not God’s timing as I suffered a miscarriage.  About a month later, David became ill with Ulcerative Colitis, and was released from the Marine Corps about a year later.  We moved to Oregon with no jobs and no place to live to call our own.  David got sicker and sicker while trying to work on his degree at PSU and work a temp job.  I had a lot of jobs until I fell into property management.  David was too ill to work for several months as he was recuperating from 2 major surgeries.  Through all of this we stayed strong, and began to try to save every penny we could to buy a home.  We were finally able to buy a home in June of 2003.  A month later we found out we were expecting our daughter.  Things started to fall into place.  Grace was born in March of 2004.  David still had over a year of college left, but somehow we managed for me to stay home, while he worked and went to school full time.  Being a new Dad was a busy time with juggling so much, but if anyone could do it, it was David.  When Grace was 7 months old, we found that we were expecting our son Evan in June of 2005.  David would be done with school by then which was a blessed relief.  I would need a lot of help with having 2 kids close together.  Now he is back in school working toward his Masters.  Life is extremely busy right now with the kids, David in school and trying to get a remodeling project started on our home.  Twelve years, that’s what we have been up to.  I am so blessed to be married to the only person that can truly make me laugh, that deep down hearty laugh.  He has seen me at my best and at my worst.  He is the one person on earth that knows my heart and how every day life is more humbling for me then ever before.  I love you David.  Thank you for loving me the way you do.  Happy Anniversary!

On Thursday we went in to see the physical therapist and neurodevelopmental Dr.  Evan was a little overwhelmed at first since four Dr. types entered the room to check him out.  They were checking reflexes and how far his muscles stretch in his legs.  He can’t move his foot up in a 90 degree angle, only about 45 degrees.  The diagnoses:  short heel cords.  The solution that they would like to try is Botox injections in his legs to relax the muscles.  Then at night he would wear night plaster casts for a few weeks to give his legs the stretch they need.  They would be walking casts so he could walk in them.  I don’t expect Evan to like it, but if it gives him the chance to walk flat on his feet, we are all for it.  It is very safe, and it is the route that they like to take instead of surgery. (Lengthening the heel cord)  Some kids need treatments a few times, and others just once.  If children continue tip toeing it can be harder on them as they grow because the muscles just get tighter.  It can also cause a lot of injuries when playing sports.  The good thing is they did not seem to think that his tip toeing was neurologically connected.  We may find out more as he gets older and has an MRI on his head and neck.  But as of now, his tip toeing looks like it is connected to a physical problem.  I will let you know how the Botox plays out.

Death is never an easy thing.  When a person commits suicide it hits you on a whole different level.  That is not the way that God intends you to go out of this world.  It is a choice until the end.  You always wonder what a person’s final moments are when they decide to do it.  What pushes them over the edge?  Why do they feel like that is the only answer?  There are so many unanswered questions.  In the past year David and I have known 3 people who have taken their life.  A distant cousin of mine, an old friends’ mother and now one of David’s co-workers and friend took his life on Monday night.  I think there is still a lot of shock around the office.  David just spoke to him on Sunday.  David is now helping to pick up the pieces.  He took on all of this mans cases very willingly, and will actually be going through his personal belongings tonight.  This man’s wife works at his company as well.  I am not sure if she will return to work or not, although it is probably the best place for her to be loved and embraced since everyone knew and loved her husband.  I am praying for this family to find peace within, even if they never find the “answers”.