There is simply not enough time or space to write about all the photos I take. lol
So this post includes a lot of collages and a simplified recap!
But first, here's a full-size pic of me, Karli, Chet, and Sarah outside of Waterfront Grill for her birthday brunch on Sunday!
I came to Tulsa early Saturday morning, arriving around 11am and quickly shopping Walgreens and Walmart for care package items for Sarah's extended family waiting in the hospital room. ChatGPT had some great ideas, so I grabbed a glittery pink gift bag from Walmart and threw in some snack foods, activity/color books, crayons, chapstick, wet wipes, hairbrush, hand cream, handwritten card & gift cards, and (most popular) an assortment of cookies from Cookie Mama! =)
I ran into Steve and Kate in the lobby under the Chihuly glass flower ceiling (which briefly made me feel like I was at the Bellagio). Then I spent around three hours there mostly catching up with Sarah and talking a bit with Steve, Kate, David, Eric, and Daniel and his kids. (I was there a while, but never actually saw Nancy). She had a major surgery to repair her fractured tibia (shin bone by the knee joint) on Thursday, then she was having her clavicle surgically repaired on Saturday morning. In this wreck caused by a careless and likely-impaired driver who seems to have gotten away (praying they find him and he has good insurance!!), her right side airbag failed to deploy, so in addition to the right clavicle and tibia fractures, she is dealing with a bruised and collapsed right lung, five fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, a lumbar spine fracture, and a fractured femoral head (right hip joint). Breathing is painful and difficult, and developing pneumonia is a real risk. She cannot effectively use her arms, and she will have to be non-weight bearing for 12 weeks after the leg surgery, so they are beginning discussions around handicap-accessible care options, inpatient rehabs, and skilled nursing facilities. David is also in a lot of pain and cannot be the main caretaker, so a lot of big conversations are happening around all of the above. It's a long road ahead, and everyone is overwhelmed and in a bit of a fog, and I can feeeeel it. The wreck being so reminiscent of my parents' 2014 wreck (with more catastrophic results), and knowing the intense weight of responsibility I would feel if this were my mom has put this on my heart a lot - I feel deep empathy and a continuing desire to help. They had lots of snacky foods but no real meals in the room. We could see Jimmy Johns across the street, so I grabbed some sandwiches there for a late lunch or early dinner for Sarah and her fam. Prayers are appreciated.
I deliberately left before Nancy got back to the room, knowing most people would prefer family-only in an immediately-post-surgery state. Then I met the Wilsons for an early dinner at Texas Roadhouse - it had been a while, and I was happy to be reunited with the rolls and cinnamon butter! I laughed when the birthday-announcement waiter was going all out in his LOUDEST voice, and Parker immediately put her hands over her ears. lol
After some deliberation, I decided to stay the night in Tulsa, checking into the DoubleTree right across from Saint Francis - (yay, DoubleTree cookies - they legitimately impact my choice of hotel - lol). I had planned poorly for an overnight stay, but I managed with the hotel amenities and a couple travel-sized items from Walgreens.
In the end, after washing my face with hand soap and moisturizing it with body lotion (eek), I was genuinely happy eating my warm cookie and leftover roll whilst watching We're the Millers and a bit of Top Gun: Maverick! =) #noragrets
Fascinating thing I learned from Sarah: Redheads require more anesthesia and are more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. That makes SO MUCH SENSE with the way Mom is consistently hotter or colder than the rest of us. lol (That came up because Nancy dyes her hair brown, so Sarah told her to be sure the anesthetist knew she was a natural redhead... and indeed, her pain was far better controlled after the second surgery than the first! So interesting to me.)
Sunday morning, I joined the Wilson/Weatherford crew for donuts at 8:30 (woof to getting up that early, but yay for fresh chocolate long johns!). Chet's discipline and consistency continue to be very impressive, as he brought healthier foods to snack on there!
FBC is doing Summer in the Psalms, right along with my women's group! lol
Sunday was Sarah's 38th Birthday.
Terrible timing, but here we are. So I made this happy collage for that.
Steve was sick, so the four of us met for brunch at Waterford Grill (Sarah and I had never been there before). Chet was happy about the omelet bar, Karli went with shrimp and grits, and Sarah and I went for the waffle (Sarah's with added chicken).
We had an hour between church and brunch, so I grabbed the last three cupcakes at Lauranae (one strawberry and two funfetti, so that worked out well).
Chet (responding to Sarah running late): No worries, we are getting your tiara and happy birthday sash opened up.
Sarah: Lol! That better be a joke! I'm in a fragile state.
#notajoke
Closer food pics, just for fun. (The cookie was her free bday dessert, which she shared with everyone but Chet, who is off sweets).
My favorite pics of Paige Evelyn to date, smiling and laughing at Aunt Sarah after brunch!
I couldn't resist driving by my old home, which was sold again recently (for a nice profit from their 2022 purchase from me). Apparently the new homeowner has a big white van like Lare-bear, so he'll fit right in on that street. lol #why #vantwins
I went to LifeChurch South Tulsa to change into my workout clothes in their restroom, and it was fun to see their storybook At the Movies setup! =)
Then I took a delightful but crazy-hot afternoon walk/jog at my fav neighborhood trail in Addison Creek!
And after alllll of that, I drove straight to the Warren Theater in Moore to see the 6:30 showing of the live Moana, which I'd been trying to work in since Wednesday and very much enjoyed! I appreciate the focus on leadership and charting your own course, and there was some "green light at the Red Sea" symbolism that I'm still processing.
Anyway, that concludes my very full weekend recap!
"What can I say except: You're welcome!?" ;-)
❤ ❤ ❤
