4-26-06

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of it's own.
Today's trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6 v34
yep that about says it all. My dad taught me to not worry about the things that were out of my control, guess that's why I never really concerned myself with what other people thought which is sometimes a positive and occasionally a negative. Thanks Dad.

Visited Moriah today, and she looked better than she did over the weekend. Seems as though her mucus issue is much better. They did do a chest xray and all was clear. She was wide eyed and did track her eyes a bit. I also got a squeeze out of her hand which was a first so.............hopefully that is a step towards something bigger. She's been clenching her jaw a lot and broke a toothbrush off the other day, which is a little scary. Must have the Reiman mouth!!! Please everyone hang in there and keep her in your prayers.

I'll be heading out this weekend to the lake to catch a HUGE fish. I will be back in Ankeny next week on Wed, and Sat, so I will update you then on Mojo's conditon. Until then be safe and may God guide you down the road your on.

I' got a mountain to climb before I get over this hill
I've got the world to unwind before I ever sit still
I got a hard road to hoe before my seed is sewn
I've got a long way to get before I get back home

I got so much to put down before "that's all she wrote"
I've got so much love to give before my heart it ain't broke
I've got to find myself before I can ever be alone
I've got a long way to get before I get back home

Oh there's and ocean breeze that soon I can't explain
the weight of the world like a ball and chain
there's a black ball inside filled up with stones
I got a long way to get before I get back home

Bob Schneider "Long way to get"

Life has certainly become a journey that I never expected
God Bless
Dale

4-23-06

Moriah's first week back in Ankeny was fairly uneventful. She had her 30 day review on friday. Not a lot of change, but there have been some tiny improvements. The next 2 months are very critical so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. She continues to have some issues with mucus and stuff in her throat. She does cough on her own which is good, but it tends to upset her and mess up her heart rate and oxygen level a bit. Not real serious but need to keep an eye on it.

Mary's Mom and Dad and sister Jayne and Cousin Jan and Uncle Mick and Aunt Marge met us all in Ankeny on Saturday. So good to see all of you. I know it's been tough on them also..

I have had some questions about the fundraiser on May 19th. As far as I know kids with parents is ok "if you can stand the music and the company" Basically this is just an oppurtunity to have a little fun, share a beverage, and a story, and raise a couple of bucks for Mo. Should be a good time so if you have other questions give me a call.

Also just so you know Mojo is schedule for a follow up appointment on May 10th in Iowa City. I would imagine it will only be for a couple of days. Details as usual to follow.

Thank you to all of you who have hung in there with us. I wish I could put into words my gratitude.

I will be visiting Mo on Wednesday and then this weekend I'm going to the Lake to catch some fish and visit Laird and Sandy. Safe journeys to all of you.

There are good days and bad days ahead of us. Faith, Family, and Friends is what gets us through all of this. If hardship makes you stronger, we're all going to be pretty damn tough.

God Bless,
Dale

4-19-06

We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians v8,9

This tells me to hang in there and keep fighting!! When we get knocked down, get back up. We took a hell of a punch but Moriah continues to fight. I think it could be also how a lot of us feel about the aftermath of the tornado in Iowa City.

Visited Moriah today and she looked good. It was good to see her sitting up after her week in the hospital. She was alert and seemed to move her eyes maybe a bit more than last week. I had a long talk with her and she kept her eyes open the entire time, sure hope that means something. The dreaded aspen brace is gone and she is in a small collar which has to be a lot more comfortable. They have started to cap the trache again so hopefully she will in time get rid of it.

There will be a benefit for Moriah's family on May 19th at The Mill in Iowa City. John Bayless member of the world wide known "Lazy Boy and The Recliners" has graciously agreed to play with his band that evening. I will get you more details as they become available. So please mark your calendars for that date. A donation will be accepted at the door. It will be a non smoking event. For you out of towners, the Sheraton is right next door. Also good food available.

I hadn't listened to this tune in quite sometime. It was a hit for the "Outlaws" a southern rock band back in the day. Once again I knew all the words but as usual, now they seem to have more of a meaning.

Sometimes I feel like I'm getting kind of low
thoughts that I'm thinkin' are the reason I know
so I try to remember without talkin to myself
Things that I said, or maybe things that I felt about you
Sittin in a corner of a crowded bar room
People all around me and I still feel alone
Just when I know I'm gonna break down and cry
someone plays a tune that dried the tear from my eye

Chorus
There goes another love song
Someone singin about me again
There goes another love song
Now I need more than a friend

Lonesome and lonely, and far from my home
Trying to get back to where I know I belong
Wishin and hopin I was already there
I just heard a voice whispered in my ear

Chorus

Goodnight and God Bless
Hope you have peace in your hearts
Dale

Easter Monday

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
John 3 v8

So True So True

I've heard enough wind for awhile. I won't bore you with the details but, Quite an experience. Having been through these kind of things before was a blessing, guess that's why they call it experience. It's hard for me to believe that nobody got hurt seriously at my store or that no one in the entire city was killed, which makes me think about the fragility of life and why sometimes we make it and sometimes we do not. Frankly doesn't make a lot of sense. It's also an amazing thing to see 20k pound air conditioners tossed around like balloons and the shear force of it all, and the sound, WOW!!!! I can kind of understand why people chase them. Contrary to media reports(oh I love the media) we didn't have our roof cave in and we did open the next morning on time with a lot of help from some very hard working and dedicated employees. You know who you are . Thank You!! And for you brilliant customers who wouldn't listen to me, "I told you so" How much can one man take?????

Moriah arrived in Ankeny this morning without incident and in good shape. They have removed the brace and we will probably see her in a collar, while she's in the chair or upright but another positive step. They will try to cap her trache this week and see how that goes. She got a hair cut on Saturday(Thanks Doug) and after it grows out a little we will cut it again, as she had part of her hair shaved again for the shundt procedure. Looks a little punky! The shundt was succesful. All the CT scans MRI's were positive for the most part. So surgery on her neck for now will not be performed, although it has not been ruled out in the future. She did have a few problems at UIHC with fever but that seems to have been controlled. She also had a little bit of a problem with digesting her feedings but that also seems to have been overcome. Wow what a battle and what a fighter Moriah has been, I couldn't be prouder of her. God bless all of you who visited her while she was back here in Iowa City. I guess she didn't want to miss out on the tornado activity.

I got a long way to get before I get back home.
Bob Schneider

Keep the faith
God Bless
Dale

Easter Sunday

Blessed Easter to all!!!!
Mary loved Easter and all that it represented including the start of Spring and the blooming trees and flowers. It truly is a time of renewal.

Just a quick note to let you all know that Mojo should be back in Ankeny tomorrow. I will try to do a more lengthy update tomorrow evening.

Yes I did survive the Tornado, although it was a close call.

Like John Prine said "How much more do they think one man can take!!"

Peace
God Bless
Dale

4-11-06

A quick update

Moriah did very well with the insertion of the shundt today. It began doing what it's supposed to almost immediately so looks like we did the right thing. Hopefully it will help with some progress. Looks like we're going to get rid of the brace and go to a collar which she will only have to wear(hopefully) when she's up in the chair. So that should make her much more comfortable.

The neuro staff is going to take some pics of her upper neck. Looks like it's healed fine, but there are a couple of bones that are protruding somewhat. If they don't move it will be ok but if they do move when she does then they will have to go in a do a minor surgery to fuse the vertabraes together. This was also debated some time ago. But with all the other things that we going on medically it was decided not to cause her any more stress. If this is done it will be while she's here this week and she would most likely stay in Iowa City through the weekend. The good news in the spinal cord looks like it's where it's supposed to be and does not look disturbed so keep on prayin!!

Some of you have expressed interest in the newspaper article. If so I need your address to send it to you. You can also try to access it on line through the Iowa City Press Citizen web site. I think it's press citizen.com

God Bless
Dale

4-8-06

It's not how do we get there from here, it's how did we get here from there. By the grace of God.

I sensed a little more awareness from Moriah today. Of course I can't prove it at this point but she seemed to respond a little more and winked her eyes when I asked her to, however it's hard to tell some times if that coincides with the commands, but I guess for now I'll take it. No other major changes. We are hoping and praying that her trip back to Iowa City will be a positive one and that it will spur on some more progress when she gets back to Ankeny. As far as I know she should be able to see visitors at any time when she's in her room. She will be out on Monday at some point for xrays, scans etc and on Tuesday morning for the insertion of the shundt. I'll let you know if anything else is going on.


There was an article in today's Iowa City Press Citizen about Brain Awareness month and it features Moriah and Chelsea Zender another Iowa Citian. If you haven't seen it and would like to, let me know and I will send you a copy.


The moon is down all over town
The forecast is grey, Now that she's gone away
The stars in the skies Fell out of her eyes
They shattered When they hit the ground
And now the moon is down
The sun will be fine, It'll shine all the time
The sky will be blue and do what it's supposed to do
Ya see gravity pulls but it can't keep you around
It'll be one long day And now the moon is down

John Prine The Moon is Down from Fair and Square

I find that a very honest take and not necesarily a negative or depressing one, kind of hard to explain but???

Which leads me to this, I would like to share a couple of songs from the Ozark Mountain Daredevils that were two of Mary's favorites. Both of these are off the "It'll Shine When it Shines" album.

"It Couldn't Be Better"

Now a tear leaves you only a trace and the sun finds its way to your face
It couldn't be better, it couldn't be better, Lord than it is right now

And the one that you gave all your charms finds his way to the depth of your arms

It couldn't be better, it couldn't be better, Lord than it is right now.



"It'll Shine When it Shines"

The old cat on the roof he could stand a little push
'cause he's got nine good lives to live
but like momma said you only live till you're dead
and you got to give and give and give

There's a pebble in the pond goin' on and on,
makin' waves and tides and ripples and rings
there's a leaf in the wind that don't know where to end
chasin' days and ways and wishes and dreams

Seems like every one is out lookin' for the sun
Singin' rain and pain on he who hesitates

But it'll shine when it shines
you might think I'm wastin time but,
I'm just a good old boy that's learned to wait

Whippooorwill's in the dawn, pretty soon, he'll be gone
but like my daddy said, it's in your heart, not your head
and you got to sing and sing and sing!!

There's a window in the wall lookin' out on it all
leavin' fears and tears and troubles alone
there's a fire in the stove keepin' out the cold
warmin' wine and winters and babies and homes

But it'll shine when it shines!!!

Pretty amazing don't you think??

Keep in touch
God Bless
Dale

4-6-06

Here's the scoop.
Moriah will be visiting the U of I hospital on Monday. The neurosurgeon in charge of her case would like to examine her and take some pictures of her in different positions. He wants to be sure that before he gives the ok to take off the brace, that she will be able to support herself and that there are not any other ligaments damaged etc. The CT scan looked good as far as her neck was concerned so hopefully we will be removing the brace in the near future. They are also going to go ahead and put in a shundt to drain any fluid that may accumulate in her brain. The CT scan didn't show anything negative but her ventricles still have not quite returned to normal size so as a precaution the shundt is going to be put in. As you may remember this was debated in the past and we went back and forth as to putting it in or not. Well I guess hindsight is 20/20. On a positive note the pressure in her left eye has subsided so the change in drops did the trick. She will be arrving in Iowa City early Monday and will most likely stay through Wednesday or maybe Thursday morning and then back to Ankeny. She will probably be on the neuro floor which is in the JC pavilion floor 6. I'll let you know if anything changes.
Have a great day!!
Dale
P.S. Thanks to Darlene and Brian for the concert on Monday night. It was great to get out and hear some live music.
Dale

4-2-06

Spent most of Saturday visiting Moriah. She is about the same as the past week. Has her eyes wide open during the day and blinks and winks quite a bit. We continue to try and get her to respond to questions or commands. She still has some issues with the trache but it looks better than last week. They were going to cap it again on Sunday to see how she did so we are hoping that goes well and she can have it removed fairly soon. They did not do the CT scan on Tuesday and will try again on Monday. She had a little cough so they felt she would probably move too much in the tube.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. I can not thank you enough for all that you have done and for all your heart felt thoughts. It truly is a struggle that of course we are never prepared for. But then we don't really know wha'ts planned for us do we. Please take some time and visit Moriah if you can. I will go see her again on Saturday. If anything changes in the mean time I'll keep you posted.
God's grace to all of you. Hope you have a great week.
Dale