Every Second Counts

106 days since Our Adventure began.
2,544 Hours.
152,640 Minutes.
9,158,400 Seconds.

Putting it into numbers seems to makes it feel so recent and so far in the past all at the same time.

We went to see Dr. Paul Gardner's PA, Star Clayson, last week after Kirk did a flexion and extension series of x-rays. Star put the x-ray films up on the board, separately and one on top of the other to see if everything lined up. The best words came out of her mouth, "Everything looks very stable. It couldn't be better."

Absolute relief was shining through our smiles like the rays of the sun after a stormy day. We ran several questions past her, the biggest of which was, "When can he get out of his shell?" Star wanted to speak with Dr. Gardner but felt that he would recommend transitioning into a soft corset over the next month or two. She said she would give us a call when she had spoken with him and got his opinion.

As you might expect, Kirk transitioned himself out of the shell that night. No call from Star. No soft corset. No surprise here. He went to work the next day, with shell in hand, "just incase".

Three days later he got the call, "Dr. Gardner would like you to transition into the soft corset over the next few weeks." Star told him. "Well, what if I just transition myself out of the shell without the soft corset?" Kirk casually asked. Star gave him the recommendations from Dr. Gardner and Kirk finally told her he had already "transitioned" himself out of the shell. "How long have you been out of it?" she asked. "Since Tuesday." Star asked how he felt and his response was joyful....."Better than ever!"








And he is.

He has transitioned out of the hospital bed and out of the shell. He continues to physically do more and more each day while taking fewer and fewer medications for pain. After spending the morning raking leaves with his dad, brother Brad and nephew Cole, mowing the lawn and even doing some laundry, Kirk walked into the room, threw his hands up in the air like a veteran referee calling the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the championship game, and exclaimed, "I'm back!"

What a beautiful journey we have been blessed with. Every single, miraculous, second has brought us together in ways we couldn't have managed on our own.

We are stronger.
We are more focused.
We are giddy.

And "we" are searching for a new motorcycle:)





- Posted by Gena Bertelsen using BlogPress from my iPad

Bert's Birthday

Day 36 of the Adventure and we are thrilled to be celebrating Kirk's birthday. He won't be getting the senior citizen discount anytime soon but he is officially one year older.

I thought I would just post some pics from our last 36 days to remind you why we are so thrilled. He has come so far!






























































Kirk got to hang out with his dad and Bryn while I was at work.
Then Dani and Steven came over and joined us for take-out dinner from La Casita, one of Kirk's favorite places.


Brad and Darlene,, Mom and Dad, Peg, Rick, Lori and Cole and Matt dropped in with well wishes and goodies.








Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! We wouldn't be here without them;)
Love you all!





























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Bullet Proof

Whew..... I cannot believe that it is only 8:30 PM. It has been a long, fun-filled 34th day of our Adventure.
As I got everything ready for bed last night, Kirk told me he wanted me to sleep in today. "Don't come in to give me my pills, just sleep in, I'll be fine." As the 6:00 AM alarm went off on our phones to remind us about taking medication, I stayed in my bed and listened intently to hear the unmistakable sound of the lid being removed from the pill container. He had taken his meds and I drifted back to sleep. I woke up about 7:30 and cuddled with the dogs, making myself stay in the bed and not wake him up. The 8:00 AM alarm went off and again, I heard him take his meds. Our walkie-talkies didn't work last night so I texted him a message at 8:01 AM saying, "I'm going to stay in bed just a bit longer." He didn't respond and everything was so quiet coming from his room that I thought he must have gone back to sleep. About 8:15 I peeked into his room to check on him. As soon as he saw me he said, "I can't believe you would abandon me in my hour of need!" Now....if you don't know Kirk/Bert very well....this is said with the perfect amount of humor, timing and a sly little grin. He hadn't seen my text and was waiting to toss out his one-liner the minute he saw me. It was a beautiful, fun way to start our Saturday together.

Dr. Gardner had told us, when Kirk was released from the hospital, that he didn't want Kirk riding around in the car because being in a car wreck could really toss a wrench into the healing process. It is my belief that Dr. Gardner had no idea how good my driving record has been and was merely concerned about the skill of the OTHER drivers on the road. I have bent this rule a tiny, tiny bit. I have taken Kirk every Saturday morning to the local Gas-N-Go that our dear friend and neighbor, Chris Frampton, owns. Kirk gets a drink, visits with Chris for a minute and gets time out of "jail".
This morning, in a moment of sheer kindness I asked Kirk, "Would you like to drive?" I was unprepared for his quick response, "Yes!" That was it. I was locked in. I couldn't say, "Just kidding!" without some serious back-peddling. So, I went along for the ride....so to speak.




Today marks 5 weeks since the Adventure began and 5 weeks since Kirk has operated a motor vehicle. He did wonderfully! Of course, this went straight to his head and he got all cocky with me for the rest of the day. Kind of brave for a guy who is worried about me being there in his "time of need";)

Even with the weight loss and the back brace on, Kirk can still look pretty intimidating when he walks into a room. As we walked into Gas-N-Go a gentleman was walking out, took a long look at Kirk and asked, "Is that thing bullet proof?" I am sure it was hard for Kirk to answer without laughing, "It's a back brace. I broke my back." I think the Junior Police Officer sticker badge can fool a lot of people. I know it worked for me in several instances during my youth.

Our day continued with visits from friends, family and neighbors. It is mind boggling to see how many people Kirk has had an effect on through his life, that continue to love, serve and pray for his complete recovery. We have been so blessed and so humbled by the wonderful examples we have in our life.

Kirk had his second PUSH Therapy appointment with Jennifer Tippetts. Two days after his first appointment with her he was so sick and so sore that he said he wasn't sure he wanted to do that again. He is glad that he did, it was much less painful this time as his muscles are healing and getting stronger.








We ended the day at Rick and Lori's for our first "outing" including a great dinner of BBQ burgers and dogs and some seriously delicious sweet potato fries. I even let Kirk drive again! Okay, I didn't actually "let" him, he has taken the rover keys, hung them in his room where he can "keep his eye on them" and revoked my driving privileges in "his" car.

With his new-found cockiness he is going to wish that shell was bullet proof!

Truth be told, this is the guy I love! I have missed his teasing and fun sense of humor. I know he is getting better just by listening to him tease all of us. Welcome back sweetheart.

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Grow

Day 29. The Sabbath. A day to grow.
Kirk and I both slept in a bit today. Sleeping in anymore means anything past 7:30 AM.
He is a pretty sore camper today due to some amazing PUSH Therapy our dear friend and neighbor, Jennifer Tippets, administered yesterday. It is more intensive than your average massage and she works deep into the muscles to increase blood flow and healing. She only worked his legs but it actually relieved his back pain too! There is so much pain involved during the actual massage but when she would finish with one area he would tell us how relaxed that area was. Jennifer told Kirk he was going to feel like he had worked out really hard at the gym. She also told him he would probably feel sick as the toxins in his muscles leave his body. He was sick, most of the night and feels like he ran a marathon.
Rick, Lori and Cole came by this afternoon bearing gifts for us even though it is Cole's 18th birthday. Lori had made rolls for their dinner and brought a pan of them over so they could rise and we could bake them for our dinner and enjoy not only the taste but the aroma. I have mentioned how much we love them, right?
My dear friend of 34 years, Beth Bishop, sent me the following quote today:
"When trials are not consequences of our disobedience, they are evidence the Lord feels we are prepared to grow more." ~Richard G. Scott
This is just what we needed to be reminded of today. Maybe you needed to be reminded too.


Not long before the Adventure began, Kirk and I had been discussing a situation with my job that was stressing me out. He said something that has really stuck with me; "You never grow when you are coasting. Growth only happens when you are peddling hard."
We are peddling. We are focused. We are growing.


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I Got Your Back

It has been a great day of learning, planning, re-planning and wonderful visits with family and friends. Kirk has been home for more than 24 hours and his entire appearance seems to have changed for all of us who have been with him.
Kirk looks like he has lost so much weight but Bryn brought the scales upstairs and he is only down 2 pounds since the adventure began. I was helping him get dressed and was completely stunned at how big his pants were on him. Returning from our walk he dropped his drawers without even undoing them. While some of us would love to claim this talent, I was not entirely impressed:)
It is very humbling to help your sweetheart get totally dressed. I've tried to picture my attitude or willingness to let someone do this much for me. Think about your perception of yourself, the bottom line, I hope nobody ever sees me like this situation..... Now imagine exposing that, literally, to the world. I'm already blushing. From the caregiver's point of view, I am thinking, "Let me do this for you." Kirk says it's horrible, probably the worst thing ever. "It's very humbling but also very reassuring that you have someone who will do this for you." he finished his very emotional response with, "It's wonderful."
Lori and Cole stopped by tonight. Mostly because they heard our favorite son-in-law, Steven, was mowing the lawn and they wanted to witness this for themselves as Steven pays someone to do his;) For the record, it looks beautiful! Dave Nielsen, one of our fabulous nephews, came over and removed a limb over the covered patio that has been making sounds similar to fingernails on a chalkboard. Just that phrase makes my hair stand up. Now, that branch didn't grow overnight. It has been working it's magical way to that annoying position for some time, we just never got around to trimming it.
Mom and Dad, Peg, Don and D'anne Blackburn, Pete Robinson, Karen and Brian Murray, the girls....hopefully I haven't missed anyone, all came by today, visited, helped with something, lightened the load. How grateful we are.
The picture at the beginning of this post was a t-shirt from Cole and Lor. It says "Hey man, I got your back."
We know. And we thank you!!
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