Joel's Results are In. Time for a time out.

As I was standing in line today to exchange something, an older gentleman looked at Hailey and she smiled at him.  She's a happy girl like that.  His response to her smile was, "Is this her first Christmas?"  I said, "Yep, and she's going to have a blast playing in the wrapping paper."  Deeper into that statement was... it's tight this year and there won't be many gifts under the Christmas tree... It's a small, 3 foot Fir tree, but it's real and it made Joel's holiday.  It has been 15 years since he's had a real tree.  It was a tradition with his dad and family to go cut down a tree each year.  When his dad passed, that tradition stopped.  This will be my second tree.  We decided though that even with the limits on budget the Tree will remain year after year.

We'll finish the lights and balls.  Then we plan to hang pictures from the year to fill in the gaps.

What brought that thought on?  Well, the results of Joel's medical questions are finally in.  The MRI was clean.  The CT scan was clean.  The Physical Therapist did what she could but the dizziness and other symptoms were still there; some were getting worse and new symptoms were appearing.  It got to the point that Joel called the work hotline and talked to a clinician.  The signs, symptoms and behaviors clearly pointed towards a diagnosis.  PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder.  It's not a permanent thing if treated, I've made it through a bought of it after my mission, but it is quite debilitating while you're in it.  So what do we do?  It has been recommended that Joel take a temporary medical leave from his current position as a corrections officer.  He needs to spend some time taking care of himself or else there won't be much of him left to really care for.

So starting Monday, December 16th, Joel will be on medical leave.  How long?  We're not sure.  What does that mean for income and survival?  His work will pay him 60% of his wages.  But where does the rest come from?  Remember all those lessons you've heard about food storage and having a back up emergency fund?  I know I haven't been the best with stocking the cupboards but we have some.  Lots of peanut butter, tuna, flour, yeast, the staples, etc.  Since Joel and I have been married I've learned how to make a lot of things from scratch.  Bread, laundry detergent, stir fry sauce, cream of mushroom/chicken/etc, cloth diaper wipes and solution to go with the cloth diapers.  This next little while will put my efforts to the test and bless us at the same time for the way we live already.

How long will he be out?  At least a month or two.  What is he going to do with his time?  It will be mixed with medical appointments, and counseling appointments for both of us so we can learn together how to manage and cope with stress and trauma.  He needs to keep life structured though so in addition to medical, stressful, taxing stuff, he is going to take advantage of his season ski pass.  For some refuge is found in a temple or sanctuary.  For Joel his sanctuary is the mountains, especially those covered in snow.  This time off will also give him time to get to know his daughter better.  It will also give us the chance to learn more about each other in the best and the worse of times.

Is it scary?  Yes.  But for some reason there is the lingering feeling that things will work out.  We hope that during this season where the stores are crowded with people purchasing and consuming that we can stop and be thankful for the small things, like our 3 foot tree with only half the lights on it.  We have a happy little girl.  She doesn't know the difference between rich and poor, she only knows happy and sad through emotion and expression.  Let us keep the smiles and gratitude plentiful.

Picture update! 99% Hailey...

Lounging around while Mom works in the kitchen.

What do you mean there is no more sweet potatoes?!!!

Hailey's become quite the mover.  She started the night on her belly in the upper left corner...  

Dad found John Deer bibs! 

The things in life that really matter... stealing Daddy's glasses.

I'm going to get this down.

No Ordinary Maintenance Guys

Rick Briner and Brian ???  These are the two guys that showed up at my door to replace our water heater...the one that dumped brown loveliness and rust colored gunk into my hot bath about a month ago.

Rick is a middle aged gentleman, tall and super skinny with a gentle countenance about him.  Brian is tall, wears a gotee and facial scruff and is covered in tattoos but also has a gentle countenance about him even with his first glances appearance.  They spent a good chunk of time working on our water heater as it threw them for loop after loop, trip after trip to the store, and finally more than 24 hrs later and lots of conversations, a completed project.

There has been tons and tons happening in the Smith home.  Our adventures never seemed to cease.  I wish I could say that they were all Disneyland/exciting but they weren't.  But Hailey did learned how to squeal/scream.  She's holding the crawl position and rocking back and forth. Joel might be getting a dog.  Joel hopes that he can manage to pull enough overtime together to pay for his portion of a season ski pass.  We went to Vegas, came back from Vegas.  Have had demons to battle, Thanksgivings to celebrate, and the year still isn't quite over yet.

So with everything that has gone on, why is it that two maintenance men are the reason that I sit down to write?  Because they impressed me.  Just like when I first walked into our apartment to check it out and knew I loved it, I knew that I'd like these guys.  Brian worked tirelessly to try and put back together a jerry-rigged plumbing job that was left by whomever installed our old water heater.  He had to replace pretty much all of the plumbing.  They got to the apartment around 2:30 and left at 8 still not having won the battle with the water heater.  It was holding it's ground strong and immovable in the middle of our living room when they left.  They came back this morning fairly early and again started working on it.  10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Brian thought he had it finished.  He flipped the switch and we all headed out to do our own things.  I came back after picking Joel up from work and getting a new battery for Joel's car (don't ask) around 2:30... plenty of time for 40 gallons of water to heat and... drum roll!!!  Cold water...  I texted Brian. Yes, he had left me his direct number.  He came back over and couldn't figure out why a brand new heater wouldn't work.  He finally called his boss-the contractor, electrician, seminary teacher, maintenance man- and he came back over too.

Keep in mind we live on the second floor, it's been 20 degrees average outside, and those two have been up and down those stairs quite a bit.  Up, down, bend over, stand up, scratch head...  No big deal right?  Not really. Rick has stress/trauma induced disease that affects his capillaries.  His body contains twice the amount of water that a normal persons does.  How?  I have no idea.  So what?  Well, when it's super cold out he freezes faster than the rest of us.  Then his muscles stiffen up and he aches.  His wife came with him this morning and this evening.  She helped him get out of bed, dressed him and accompanied him to the job today because yesterday was taking its toll on his body.  She picked up the tools so he wouldn't have to.  She helped him down to the floor when he needed to check the fuse box or power relay or whatever that thing on the bottom of the heater was and then she helped him back up again.  When he got exhausted, he sat down in Joel's favorite man chair.  There he sat and talked with us and Brian and Valorie continued to work.

With no water last night it was hard for me to make dinner.  I had started to try but eventually gave up. As we headed out to meet the tow guy with Joel's car we decided that we'd just pick up a pizza from Costco.  Rick tried to give us the means to pay for the pizza since they still weren't done yet and that was the reason I couldn't finish dinner.  We told Rick and Brian it was no big deal.  When we got back they were still here.  We didn't have the pizza though.  Costco had already closed.  Cereal night it was.  But Joel and I were happy and content.

While sitting and talking today which turned into tonight, Rick said, since I couldn't buy you pizza last night I've decided that we're going to take you two and Hailey out to dinner with us at our favorite restaurant.  Costa Vida.  Since these maintenance men were starting to feel more and more like friends instead of hired workers, we didn't refuse.  The night continued on.  We all kept talking.  and finally the water heater was conquered and they went home for the evening.  As they were leaving, Rick said, you'll have to come over sometime Joel and tinker in my woodshop.  That was like inviting Joel to taste test a candy store.

So almost a day and half later, I got to take my hot shower.  With still lots to do and overcome, I finally was able to blog because I had something noteworthy to write about.  They thanked us for not being upset but being easy going about the whole situation.  It really was more of a blessing for us than a burden.