Spendin' time with Daddy Jack

Over the last few days, I've been in Texarkana, spending time with Daddy Jack since he's been in ICU. However, please don't be alarmed. He's definitely not as bad off as most people that are in ICU, but each time the doctor moves him to a normal room, he becomes unstable.

For those of you who aren't completely in the know about what happened, Daddy Jack fell almost two weeks ago from a heart arrhythmia. A couple of Sundays ago, Nana came home with groceries and tapped on the glass door for Daddy Jack's help, a common routine they have. I'm not sure if he was startled or if stood up to quickly, but when he got to the door, he fell. Thank God Nana came home when she did, because if he had not gotten up when he did and not fallen when he did, I don't think he'd still be here. According to the doctors, the fall is what saved Daddy Jack's life, even though it broke 8 of his ribs and collapsed one of his lungs.

Since then, he has developed pneumonia in his collapsed lung, but he's on the mend. I've been spending every waking moment with him at the hospital since Wednesday. Some moments are tough for him, yet, others are not so bad. I have been praying a whole lot and I know a lot of others have been praying, too. I really do think it's helping, because every day he seems to get better and better with a few minor set backs occasionally.

In times like this, I love to look at funny pictures of him and watch funny home videos from my childhood. Not to be sappy...it doesn't make me sad. It makes me laugh and thank God that Daddy Jack is still here!

This is, by far, my most favorite picture:

This picture was taken at my reception after my senior recital in May 2010. As soon as we arrived to the reception, Daddy Jack staked out his place and didn't move for the rest of the party. I guess he figured if anyone wanted to hang out with him, they'd come to him....and that's exactly what happened. 

This weekend, Scott and Richard (Daddy Jack's sons) are coming from Oklahoma to visit him. My mom and Richard (Owens), I know-there is some confusion, are here, helping out Nana as much as they can. Uncle Tyler will be here on Tuesday and then I'll come back mid-late next week to help out some more. 

Last night, Mom and I drove around Texarkana looking at old houses that either she grew up in, or houses that we lived in when I was a little girl before we moved to Dallas. We drove by mom's elementary school and the house on Glendale--a house that Nana and Daddy Jack lived in for a long time. It was really nice to reminisce about life years ago. 

I am about to leave for the hospital to check on Daddy Jack this morning and to see what the doctors have to say about his progress throughout the night. The past few days have been a little weird--although he sounds coherent, he makes odd comments about seeing peacocks, polar bears, mice, and little men that occasionally stick their heads outside of the vent on the ceiling to say hello to him.... 

So needless to say, it's been a very interesting few days. Every time he seems to have one of his hallucinations, I just agree with him, look at the nurse and say, "I'll have what he's having."

peace, love & polar bears,

amanda