What's in Iowa?!?!

I told Fung today I was heading to Iowa. Her response was "why...pick corn?"

Hm...we traveled to Dubuque, IA today. It took forever because we ended up on all these tiny, tiny roads that were going through neighborhoods with snow piled up on both sides of the itty, bitty roads we were on! Never thought we come out but eventually we did.

I did get to catch the second half of the Texas game...w00t! I thought I was going to miss it and miss out on all the action that was happening on the field! Finally an exciting game to watch! I wish I saw the stepson in action as it was happening. But in the replays, I don't think he did touch it. They only showed one angle...We won anyways so it doesn't matter! I still think Mack's stepson is A-W-E-S-O-M-E...it looked like something I would do too if I were on the sidelines where he was!

Time to attempt to go to sleep. I'm still wound up from the game! Pray that I don't break any bones tomorrow in my first attempt ever to be in snow and snowboarding =)

Chicago

My family and I have been in Chicago since Christmas Eve. We landed around 9:30 and my first thought when I stepped off the plane was ahhhh it's COLD! Both my uncles picked us up and took us back to the house. One of the uncle and his family actually live in Skokie, but their place is right on the outside of the city. Though the past few days haven't actually been too bad during the day. It's the nighttime that kills me. So far we've gone to Chinatown, downtown, Millennium Park, eaten, and shopped! It's been a lot of fun and many pictures have been taken =) Tomorrow we'll be off to go skiing/snowboarding. My sister and I opted to go snowboarding to prepare for our trip to Colorado after the new year. We'll be driving 4 hours or so to Iowa, so I get to visit another state! yay! Time for bed, tho I don't think the piece of burrito I ate has digested. Gotta love the holidays...

Tomorrow:
TEXAS vs ASU 7pm ESPN (We should be in the hotel by then so I can watch!)
HOOK 'EM HORNS

War wound

I am the most awesome klutziest person ever!
Scene: Teachers' workroom at Rosenberg Elementary
Scenario: I was cutting paper to make block letters for the kids. Knowing myself and working with paper, I tend to get paper cuts. So I am carefully working with all of this stuff. Well, I'm at the paper cutter, and I get tired of standing up. I sit down to cut the rest of the sheets into 4. Somehow, someway I get a cut. Guess where?!?! NOT a paper cut on my finger, BUT I get a cut on my right, medial side of my deltoids! At first I look at it, and it seemed to just be a small scrap. However, when I look down at it a few minutes later, I have blood coming out of my arm! Ahhh...are you kidding me!!! Geez, Annie! So I guess what happened was...when I was sitting down, I leaned too far forward to make sure the paper was lined up correctly, and then I brought the big handle with the sheer down. The end of the sheer caught my deltoids! Ridiculous! Who cuts themselves with a paper cutter on the shoulder area?!?!


Here's my war wound! 1/4 inch shy of being 2 inches long!

Thanks!

1 Peter 5:7

Houston's First Baptist Church

A Christmastime of Worship with Shane & Shane and Bethany Dillon at Ascend

You are invited to “A Christmastime of Worship” with Pastor Gregg and Christian recording artists Shane & Shane and Bethany Dillon on Sunday, December 9, from 6:30–8:00 PM at Ascend in the HFBC Worship Center.

Anyone want to come, let me know! We can sit together...yay =)

Craving...

Its been awhile since I've had some awesome worship time with lots of singing (possibly dancing)! Not that church doesn't have great worship leaders and songs, but you know, time with friends hanging out and singing! After listening and watching the Behold the Lamb of God last night, I'm craving worship time.

Basketball

For me, basketball season doesn't really start until football season is over. Here's a picture of Yao and Yi!

Champions again!

3 times in a row (we've played in 4 tournaments), we have won! This time I didn't really get to play much, it made me sad. But my team is AWESOME =)


haha...I look a bit cross-eyed...geez

Welcome Home!

Jason, Trix, is about to land any minute now!!! Ahhh...I am sorry, but I didn't really tell anyone that you were coming home today, liked you asked me not to. Well I told like three people, but they can't come see you yet so I figured it be ok! I am so excited that you will be back in Arlington surrounded by your family and friends!

It all started with calling the hospital on my way into Houston this afternoon. After asking the nurse to be transferred to the nurse in charge of bed #3 (the usual request) she said no one is in charge of #3. I said what? and asked for Jason. She said he wasn't there. I got so confused and had no idea what had happened. I asked her what happened to the patient in bed 3. OH! she says! He got moved to another floor (sigh of relief, I thought something bad had happened!) I got transferred to his room, and today's conversation went so much better than the last two this past week with him. First of all, he knows that I'm an OT to be not a nurse to be! An OT saw him, that is what brought this portion of the conversation up. I think I had confused him the last time on that one! He was less loopy this time and the entire conversation made sense =) Awesome! Then Jason goes, "guess what? I'm coming home!" I said really, where is home (just making sure he doesn't think he's going to China!)? He says Texas. I go are you sure, you're not just messing with me are you? At this point I really didn't know because this past week his dad said he didn't know how much longer it would be before Jason got to go back to Arlington. So I asked Jason to put him mom on the phone. It's not like I didn't believe him, I just wanted to make sure! His mom confirmed it, and Jason got back on the phone and laughed at me. Haha...I did too but I didn't want to get all excited and it wasn't going to happen. So Jason will be back home in Arlington where his family and friends are. Being home is going to be so much better for him and his parents!

Jason has said he can't wait to see everyone, but has asked that you give him some time to rest and settle in. He is doing much better, but tires quickly still. I know everyone, me too, can't wait to see him. So just wait a few days before bombarding him!

Jason, I can't come to see you right now, but I'll be in Coppell in 1.5 weeks for Thanksgiving, and I will see you then! I can't wait =)

Confused

Jason got the ICD implant on Saturday. I am guessing it went well. I talked to him today for like 3 minutes. I kept seeing all these missed calls on my phone from a Houston area code number I didn't recognize then it was the "unknown" caller again (I had been in class). So I assumed it was him and called the hospital. I got through to his room, and Jason picked up. Told me he call me back. He called like 5 minutes later. It was a very confusing conversation. He kept saying he was in China then Miami then China then he had to go. It totally caught me off guard, but he let me go before I could ask for someone else on the phone. Then I called the hospital back but never got through. I think the nurses are ignoring me now! I have no idea what is going on over there. I'm going to try calling the hospital again tomorrow, well actually later today.

Good night

What a way to start the weekend!

Finally! I am so excited...I finally got to talk to Jason (Trix) this morning! It was short but who cares, I got to hear from him! It started with an unknown call a little before 7:30A. I didn't pick up bc I don't usually pick up "unknown" calls. But this call didn't hang up before my voicemail so it left something I didn't understand. So then close to 8:00A, I get another call. It says "unknown" again. This time I picked up because it may be important. I am soooo soooo glad I did. I was Jason's dad calling and asked if I wanted to talk to him (OF COURSE!). So I was probably really loud and ecstatic on the phone too! I said Hi, he said Hi, and I asked him how he was doing?!?! haha...when I asked that I was like, uh Annie, why did you ask that? He laughed though and said well....So anyway, I told him I missed him and was extremely glad to hear finally hear from him. I asked if he knew I was in Miami, and he didn't, which is ok. I didn't expect for him to know I was there. During the short conversation he asked if I was crying, I lied (Trix when you read this, I am sooo incredibly sorry I lied to you) and said no. I said something about oh it's early in the morning here. I didn't want him to know...but it made me happy to know that he still recognized my voice and knows if I'm crying or not. I swear I tried to make it not obvious...I really thought I sounded like I just woke up.

Anyway, like I said we weren't on the phone long. I don't think he was suppose to even be on the phone. They were already giving him meds because they're doing an experiment on him in a bit. I have no idea what they're doing, but I'll find out later. He sounds pretty good, his speech is a bit slower but that's ok. I am just so glad I picked up the phone and got to hear from him. I do miss him a lot and wish he come home soon. Hurry Trix Hurry home! You're a strong guy, and I know you'll get back on your feet soon. You're still in my prayers, and I hope I'll get to see you soon =)

Trix are for Kids...

Trix was supposed to get an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) on Monday, but unfortunately he got an ear infection. Obviously if there is an infection, there can't be a surgery. He's now on antibiotics. So now we wait some more. Another decision to be made now is if the surgery is going to be done in Miami or wait if he will come back home. I hope he comes back home, Arlington, and he'll be closer to all of us here. Plus his parents will be around family and that would be a tremendous on their on health and sanity. When I talk to Jason's dad, he and his wife seem to be holding up as well as they can be. Jason does have all his tubes removed. He relearned how to swallow again. His motor skills and speech are slow, as to be expected. It takes awhile for the message in his brain to make it down to his muscles to do what he wants it to do. Funny, I'm taking Neuro right, and he was just helping me with all that before his accident. Jason is strong. He wants to do everything but rest! So typical of him. He will get there! It will take some time, but with rehab (I will make sure he gets awesome therapists!) he will recover.

Keep praying for him and his family.

Texas does too have Pretty weather!

Houston weather was absolutely FANTASTIC this weekend! Actually it's been pretty great all week long. It was a weekend that you just wanted to be outside all day =) at least for me! Today I played football for the first time since April ( I think). That is probably the longest I have ever gone without playing. I sooo miss playing, I wish I were playing on an IM team at school. Anyway, I did a fairly decent job playing considering I hadn't played in so long. I even got an INT for a TD over Annette! That was exciting! I'm sure not so much for her. Our team won too! Really...it was just awesome to be outside and playing with your friends. Now I just want to play football everyday!

Time for bed, good night!

A new waiting game!

Whoohoooo! Jason is off the ventilators and so far so good, breathing on his own! That is such fantastic news =) I spoke to his dad today, and he said Jason is a little more aware. and when his dad asked Jason to squeeze his hands, he said Jason made attempts too! Praise the Lord and thanks for all the prayers! Don't stop praying though! Jason's still got a bit more work to do. Continue to keep him and his parents/family in your prayers.

Hurry Trix! Everyone can't wait to see ya out of the hospital =)

*I seriously need better titles*

waiting game is broke!

This is exciting news, finally!
From James Lin: The neurologist said Jason's MRI showed minimal brain damage. He seemed optimistic. Once Jason is taken off the ventilator, he will have a better idea. Also, the cardiologists think the cardiac arrest may have been due to Brugada syndrome, a sodium ion channel problem. This syndrome has been associated with many cardiac deaths in young males especially in Thailand and Laos.

When I visited him yesterday, I was impressed by all his doctors and especially his nurse. She was very compassionate and attentive to Jason and his parents. Jason is in good hands.

haha...I'm about to call the hospital to see if anything else has changed!
I was too impressed with the CCU staff when I was there. The nurses were doing a great job with Jason and his family. I was especially excited with how they rotated him in the bed and put pillows on the sides. He's too tall for the bed =( He even had a cushion hand guard on for when it would press against the railings and probably other reasons too. haha...the OT in me was jumping for joy to see all that happening or else I probably would have done some bed positioning myself!

The waiting game almost over, hopefully!

I don't have any more titles for these updates! No more creative juices, not that they were to begin with. Jason that means you need to get better now!
So 4:00 pm today, I got a nurse that knows me! Yay =)

Things are somewhat looking up and things are happening...
The EEG showed no signs of seizure activity or head injuries so thumbs up. Jason still is sedated but for good reason...can't have him moving around during his MRI (which hopefully will be happening asap). They need to check to see if there is anything abnormal. But when the MRI clears (praying for that), they can then make a decision and remove him off the ventilators. Can't wait for him to be extubated (is that even a word? The nurse used it!). It will be a good sign that he can breathe on his own and calm some of our nerves down. Also reflexes in his hands and feet are good, but his eyes aren't tracking (but it could just be due to still being under). It would just be good to know a full diagnosis so that something can be done!

This is from his roommate this morning:
Jason had his EEG and it didn't show anything significant. The doctor suspects it's because he is under so much sedatives. He has good reflexes on his hands and feet and he has pupillary reflexes but the doctor is a little worried that he can't see because he is not tracing anything with his eyes, they were going to get him an MRI of his brain to see if there was any damage in his occipital lobe to see if it affected his vision at all. After MRI they are going to decide as a team whether they should take him off the ventilator because the problem is they still have him sedated because if they take him off a little he starts jumping and fighting. He has good reflexes with his ears because the doctor would snap his fingers by his ear and Jasons eyes would move towards the snap, but if he put his fingers in front of his eyes for him to follow his finger it was like if he didnt see anything. They also think that he may have had a convulsion.

Jason's is going to be so excited to hear so many people love and miss him! Please continue to keep him and his parents in your prayers. Also if you happen to have any pictures of Jason recently or even old ones, can you send them my way? A family friend wanted some pictures for when he is in Taiwan. And it be nice for us to put something together for him and send it his way!

I hate the waiting game

There's been no change that I know of for today on Jason. He's still the same and there still hasn't been any weening off the sedatives. His family has asked for continual prayers from all of you guys.

Jason, we're all missing you and praying that you'll get better soon!
Dude, you are soooo incredibly popular by the way =)
By the way, Jason, you're missing out on my rantings about fieldwork and tests plus papers/reports that have been spread over a 4 week period...blah!

A waiting game

As of 5:30 our time tonight, Jason is still sedated and incubated. They had thought he would have been able to be weened off the meds, but the neurologist didn't come see him today. So until they come see him and check him out to make sure he can breathe and such on his own, they won't remove the tubes. Which is a good thing, I just wish they hurry up and check him out! The results of his EEG did come back, but I think the nurse said it didn't show much activity. By the way, if you do call the hospital, it is really difficult to get the nurses to tell you anything over the phone. Patient confidentiality stuff, which I can understand but at the same time, I just want answers! So if you call, you'll have to be savvy in how you ask the nurse what's going on. Haha... I also thought I should keep my calling to the unit to once a day instead of multiple times a day. So we wait until the docs come...

Jason and Miami

I flew into Miami Sunday morning and took a cab straight to the hospital. Jason is at Jackson Memorial Hospital, which thankfully is about only about 8 or so miles away from the airport. He was still sedated when I got there. They had ran a CT scan on him earlier that morning. All day I didn't hear anything about it, and when I asked the nurses, they didn't know anything either. I am hoping that is a good sign! His parent and I spoke to each other, well as best as we could considering the language barrier. Thank goodness our other friend Jason was there to translate and talk to them. He is going to be sedated all day and probably until they run an EEG on him. The nurses said that may not happen until today or tomorrow. It's good he's sedated and getting O2 into him. Also so that his brain and body can rest.

The nurses said that he hasn't gotten any worse or better so that's better than getting worse! But so hard at the same time for all of us to be ok with that. It is really hard seeing him like this. I just want my friend back. I had to try really hard to keep tears from shedding, especially in front of his parents. I'll keep y'all posted as best as I can.

Jason Update

Earlier today (10/04), a friend of Jason's said that there was no cardiologist on the island (which I thought was strange not to have one, cardiac problems are common) and that is probably why they are keeping him under. They were also going to wake him up again and test to see how responsive he is.

This is what I have from his roommate tonight (10/04):
GOOD NEWS...HE SCORED A 12 ON THE GCS...finally aspirated, will be sedated again to push as much oxygen to his brain...will try to wake him up again tomorrow and hopefully he will improve even more!!! (GCS is probably the Glasgow Coma Scale)

I really hope he does! I can only pray that he is getting better and getting the proper care that he needs over there. As Jenny reminded me tonight to not stress and worry especially since there is really nothing I can do from over here. and to take my own advice that I have given Jason over the last year! All I can do is trust God and keep praying. The power of prayer is pretty amazing =)

If he gets moved to Miami or anywhere in the States, I will probably head there too.
Good night!