“I Am That Friend” was my final post before our world was stopped by a pandemic and then diverted in many different directions. In that writing, I spoke of an emergency trip I had to take because of a “trip” my husband had experienced. When I look back, this is the first of many events resulting in a “pause” in our lives which caused my purpose to pivot for years to come. Join me as I Unpack the Fall.
Days before I posted all about being “That Friend” the Hubster and child number five flew to Vermont to regain possession of “The Momb Van” which I left with our number two child, Emily, after driving her and her belongings to take up permanent residence in the “Green Mountain State”
Setting Up the Fall
Heading To the Falls
With our beloved minivan retrieved the trek home to Arizona began. Looking forward to a road trip of bonding my husband and son saw the sights at Niagara Falls and stopped by the home of Puxatawny Phil. The second night was spent at a cousin’s house in Cleveland, Ohio. After a short but sweet visit, the following morning, the two were on the road again.
Enjoying The Break
Meanwhile, life at home was as consistent as ever. Cooler weather had arrived and Fall break was in full swing. Although the kids weren’t quite sleeping in as long as this temporary single parent would have liked, things were going pretty smoothly.
As breakfast prep was keeping me busy that Wednesday morning, my phone rang. The frantic voice emanating on that call was that of my twelve-year-old son.
“Dad lost his phone when he fell into Lake Eerie!” (long pause)” I think he broke his arm!” were the first words I heard.
After taking a moment to process, I asked to speak with Dad and went through a series of questions…
“Can you drive?”
“No, I’m soaking wet!”
“Is there anyone there who can drive you?”
“There is a couple here. I’m soaking wet!”
“Will they drive you?”
“No, I’m soaking wet!”
“Ask them to call 911”
“OK. I’m soaking wet!”
Results of the Fall
I was on the phone until the paramedics arrived and my morning shifted.
The next step, how will they get home? Who will drive them? Eric, my number one child? No, he has a job and has to pay rent. Who else? It has to be me.
Quickly following was the thought, “How am I going to pay for a last-minute flight across the country?” and “Who will watch the three kiddos I’d be leaving at home in Arizona?”
Watching Details Fall Together
The agony of not being there to create calm in the chaos subsided when I realized my cousin, whom I had randomly texted a day or so prior, was heading an hour and a half away from her home to Cleveland for a doctor’s appointment that very day.
Why would I have known that?
I love her but we aren’t in the habit of keeping up with each other’s day to day lives.
To make things even better, she and her mom had spent time at our house just in Arizona just a few weeks prior. Thankfully, the frantic kiddo was a favorite of theirs.
After a phone call or two, my cousin was committed to bringing lunch to the hospital as well as being my eyes and ears in the situation until Hubster’s cousin could get there.
Thankfully, while I was packing my bags, the Hubster’s co-workers took up a collection and my flight was paid for. (honestly, I could write a post just on the wonderful company the Hubster works for as well as his commitment to them)
Eric, child number one, took it upon himself and his friends to wrangle the three kids at home. (again, another blog post because this was the beginning of a wonderful friendship that continues to this day) .
I am always in awe at how God sews everything together. He truly calls us and provides everything we need.
And The Small Fall Too
Then came more details.
Meals? Arranged by some wonderful women at our church.
Therapies? Drivers were arranged.
Soon enough I was in Eric’s car on the way to Sky Harbor airport, an hour and a half away. I was on a plane by 11 PM that night.
News soon came from my cousin. All was well, for the most part. Yes, Kevin’s wrist had been broken in multiple places. The frantic kiddo was fed and calm. Impressively, somehow, amid the calamity, this 12-year-old boy had enough sense to pull dry clothes out for Dad before leaving the van lakeside. So, she confirmed, the Hubster was no longer “soaking wet.”
Fall and Failure
As I arrived in Ohio I had been awake for 25 hours. I passed through baggage claim with my carry-on and hopped into the front seat of the Hubster’s cousin’s vehicle.
Arriving at her home I found out the hospital had failed to fill a prescription for pain medication for the man who broke his wrist in multiple locations. They DID provide three antibiotics to combat anything he may have encountered in Lake Eerie (ewwww).
Being the epicenter of the opioid crisis, it wasn’t easy to get the hospital to sign off on the medication. After a few more hours, and lunch, we finally had the pills in hand and had one more stop to make.
The Fall Wardrobe
Walmart was the place to go for clothing to help Kevin be as independent as he could be.
After the purchase of loose sweatpants, baggie t-shirts, and a pair of super cozy pajama pants (for me), we were back on the road.
The 40 some hours without sleep became too much for me before we hit the state line. Again, God provided.
Time To Fall Into Bed
A sweet friend from Arizona was on a trip of her own and happened to be a city ahead of us. She took it upon herself to find a hotel that would accept her travel points so we could have a place to lay our heads down for the night.
The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful. A few long days of driving were in store. With less than three days left to travel the break (see what I did there?) from school would be over.
Because I am “The Momb”, I did make my passengers stop at some pretty wacky roadside attractions AND preserved some memories.
Falling Back Into Place
Getting home was a breath of fresh air. The chaos of getting everyone back on a schedule after such a life-altering event was welcomed.
Then came the repair work along with a very impressed Benjamin. (it was his dream to have a broken arm) What can I say, the kid loves EVERYTHING medical!) (Check out this sweet video during one of his hospital stays)
Finally, life would be back to “normal”. Or so we thought.
Once "Unpacked" the link will be highlighted below.
“Unpacking Real Life and Real Faith”
October 2019: “The Great Fall”
January 2020: “The phone call of all phone calls”
February 2020: “Meet the kids”
March 2020: “Pandemic: Real life at home”
April 2020: “Survival Schooling”
September 2020: “Post Pandemic – Disney with teens”
October 2020: “Foster Care the kids arrive”
January 2021: “Covid in the house”
February 2021: “Alone at last”
March 2021: “Rett Syndrome, The loss of a child”
December 2021: “The Adoption That Almost Wasn’t”
February 2022: “Kevin’s new reality and work”
February/March 2022: “Walt Disney World: Just the two of us”
June 2022: “The Diagnosis”
August 2022: “T-shirts, the party and trip”
August 2022: “Chaos 2 Calm: Adoptive Mom Care”
September 2022: “Addiction”
and much, much more
