New Mexico woes Lightning and Broken Bones

Most of you know, Tony has gone to work in New Mexico twice now.  The first time was for 2 weeks.  This last time was for 4 weeks.  Tony and I do a lot together, so it's no fun when he is gone.  But we survived.  We don't know at this time if he will have to go back or not.  While he was gone, he would send picture texts to us.  And we would send them back.  Here he is at work:

It got as hot as 114 degrees while he was down there.  While back at home, it has rained almost every day/night.  The wind was so intense, it took my large BBQ off the deck and threw it about 10 feet away from my deck, on it's top of course.  It took my weed barrier we had been installing, which was still in a huge heavy roll, and blew it back to the barb wire fence at the back of our yard and then across the street another day.  I finally cut it off and stuck it in the garage, with the help of my neighbor. 

During one such storm, our house was struck by lightning.   TJ called me at about noon.  He said that his bathroom was filled with smoke and there was black stuff in his sink and he saw sparks.  The lights wouldn't turn on.  He said it sounded like a sonic boom.  I told them to get out of the house, in case it was on fire.  Of course it was pouring outside.  So, once they decided it was safe, they stayed in the garage, until I got there.

The light in my kids bathroom blew up.  Literally.  It was all black and there were chunks all over the bathroom.  Interestingly enough, the light bulb didn't break at all.  My sound system is toast.  My toaster no longer works.  Both my satellite receivers wouldn't work.  And worst of all...the a/c wouldn't work.  AHHHHH!  I called my electrician and he sent 2 guys over to check things out.  5 breakers were tripped.  They dismantled the light so it would work with the other 2 lights for now.  Then checked everything else out.  Then I had to call someone to fix the a/c.  It took a few days, but I finally got someone who could come before the weekend.  It actually ended up being the control board in the furnace.  $615 later, we had a/c.  Ouch!  But we need a/c!!!  lol  It was a bit scary and a bit exciting, but we got through it.

Then, on July 9th, TJ was playing with a friend.  They wanted to ride bikes to get a treat.  TJ's bike has a popped tire.  So he borrowed his friends other bike.  They went to the golf course to get an ice cream, since it is fairly close.  Soon, I received a call from TJ, with him screaming on the other end.  Can you feel my heart failure?!?!  I grabbed my keys and ran.  I told him he had to calm down and tell me where he was.  So he tried his best.  They had decided to ride back down the back 9 of the golf course.  There is a steep hill, no matter which way they chose to come home.  Unfortunately, TJ got going down the hill and found that the bike didn't have any brakes.  He hit some large rocks and flipped and rolled around, landing on the asphalt.  He broke his left arm in the process. Luckily his friend stayed calm and told him that they needed to get him home.  He asked TJ if he had his phone, and I am SO glad that he did.  That monthly fee is totally worth it.

So I got to where they were and his friend showed me how to get to him.  I got TJ into my Jeep and headed back up the hill to get the bike....not knowing what has happened, at this point.  I got on the bike to take it down to the Jeep, only to discover, there were no brakes.  So, I had to jump off and fall to the ground...with the bike not quite out from under me yet.  OUCH!  I didn't brake anything, but I was bruised and scratched so good I ached for 2 days.  I can  only imagine how TJ felt.

We got to the ER and they got us back there pretty fast.  Gracie came with me and we tried to keep TJ calm and help him breathe through the pain.  He had a hard time but he was a tough kid.  He kept begging to just be put to sleep.  He asked me what was going to happen.  Well, I've never broken a bone, so I had no clue.  he wanted his dad.  So, I called Tony and he talked with TJ

 

After we got home:

That all happened on Saturday. That temporary cast itched TJ like crazy.  He would almost cry sometimes because it itched so bad.  We tried to get them the best we could without affecting the bones. Thursday we had to go see the orthopedic surgeon.  He did some more x-rays to make sure the bones hadn't moved in the last week.

And then it was time for the hard cast.  He chose bright orange!

He doesn't want anyone to sign it, because I don't think he wants it "messy".  But I'm not sure.  He just says he doesn't want to.  lol  That's fine.  Looks mostly clean and nice this way.  With the hard cast on, he is getting to where he can do more and more.  Him and the friend that was with him have played a lot since them.  He even brought him some brownies.  TJ's primary teachers brought him a gigantic coloring book of posters, markers and huge Hershey's bar.  He is mostly back to himself, with a few limitations.  I'm am so thankful it wasn't worse and that he had that cell phone.

We have had quite the adventures.  Tony was scheduled to come home on Wednesday the 20th.  I was counting the days!  On the Saturday before, TJ had a friend over and we went and bought some small fireworks.  TJ was excited to set them off that night.  The friend, Cadence, however had to leave to go to a cousin's birthday party.  TJ thought he might come back, but I didn't.  So at 9:15 we went outside to light the fireworks.  TJ enjoyed that.  We went back and watched TV.  At 9:45 there was a knock at the door.  I said, "Oh if that is Cadence he is going to feel bad we already did the fireworks."  TJ got up and looked at the door, which has a large window.  He said, "I don't think that's Cadence....IT'S DAD!!!"  What?!?!  YAY!  Tony surprised us, arriving home Saturday night, rather than Wednesday.  What a surprise.  We are so glad to have him back home!