Quacks from the Duck's pond

I remember where I was, on 9/11/2001... do you? Of course you do... we all do...

I was at work. One of my managers called, to tell us that a plane had crashed into the WTC tower. While I was talking to her, she watched the second plane hit. Shortly there after, another co-worker came in, shouting that a plane had hit the Pentagon, too. At that time, our office did not have internet, and we had no TV. It wasn't until I got home, at 5:30 that evening, that I saw the sheer horror of what had really happened. My overactive imagination had not come close to the reality.
I remember being glued to my radio, all day, waiting for word that more planes had crashed into more buildings.
I remember telling my boss that if a plane crashed any closer to St Louis, I was leaving work to go get Chryssi, and he could fire me if he wanted, but I was going to go be with my family.
I remember a phone call at work... Someone called to talk to my boss... he was out of the office. I then spent 20 minutes on the phone with this man, talking about the attacks. Talking about NYC, talking about the terrorists. Talking about everythig that happened that day, and how it made us feel. The man never left his name, and he never called back, but he made me feel a bit better.
I remember my Daddy calling, from Little Rock, where he was on business. He told me he thought the TV coverage was an ad for a movie, until he saw the little "LIVE" logo on the TV screen. He told me that everyting was going to be OK. At that moment, I KNEW everything was going to be OK... even if a plane crashed on my office building at that moment, it wouldn't have mattered, because Daddy said everything was going to be fine.
I remember the skies going quiet, as all planes were grounded. It was an eerie quiet, because I worked in the flight path of Spirit of St Louis airport.
I remember a tenant of our coming in to pay his rent. He owned a limo company. He offered to drive to Little Rock, to go get my Daddy, because he couldn't fly home. He was going to do it, for free... because it was the American thing to do. (Dad just kept his rental car, and drove home)
I remember waiting for more than 30 minutes, at the gas station, because I , and everyone else, was afraid that we would run out of gas.
I remember getting home, and finally seeing coverage of the attacks, and sobbing... just sobbing. Watching people jump out of burning buildings, from 30+ floors up. Watching the towers fall, watching the cloud of debris cover NYC... over and over, and over.
I remember Chryssi coming to me, asking me why I'm crying. She was 2. I told her some very bad men, had done a very bad thing, and a lot of people died. She looked at me, patted my back, and said "I'm gonna go play outside, now", and skipped off.
That's what it took to snap me out of my tears. Yes... bad men did a bad thing, but if I, if we, as a nation, just sit and cry... they win. I will never forget what happened on 9/11/2011, but I will not just sit and cry... I go on... we go on, and WE WIN!
There are very few days in my nearly 40 years of life, that I remember with such clarity.
I will never forget that day... will you???

I am in serious need of a cheap (under $1100) new (to me) vehicle. My van is currently sitting in a parking lot, 1/2 a mile down the road, where it died on us (me and all 3 kids) this afternoon, for what I fear is the last time.
Please keep your eyes and ears open for anything that might meet my requirements, which are...
1)Must run
2)Must be able to pass all Missouri state inspections
3)Must be safe
4)Must be a 4 door, or a van (will make an exception for an ex-cab truck)
5)Must not need extensive or expensive repair work

I know, I'm asking for a miracle, here, but you never know, until you ask. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, even if all you can do is offer positive energies towards my goal.

The doctors say dad can probably come home next Wednesday!!! They also say don't feel pressured to sign dad up for out patient therapy. If he keeps going the way he is now, he will be fine, and won't need more after he's released!!!!
Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, energy and rituals! You gave me my Daddy back. I can't thank you enough!

Life got away from me, and I forgot to update here... sorry!
Dad is back in St Louis. He's at St John's Rehab Hospital in Chesterfield. He gets daily PT, OT and Speech.
I got to see him on Saturday and again yesterday. He's lost quite a bit of weight, which is a good thing. He was sitting up yesterday, when we went up for lunch. He kept swiping my mom's Quarter Pounder and her fries. I think he may be starting to feel better.
Mom just called from the hospital to tell me tha tdad was walking today, without a walker. WOOT!!!
He's still got a long road ahead of him, but he's ON the road now. That makes a big difference.

‎"Today I Wear Black For Those Who Have Died,
From The Greed And Deception Of Those Who Have Lied,
No Green For St Patrick Will You Find On My Head,
Who's Hands Stained With Blood From Our Ancestors Dead,
Religiously Intolerant On Most they Wou...ld Paint,
But They Honored and Cheered Him and Call Him A Saint,
Today I wear black for Irelands Sons and Daughters,
Who For Walking The Old Way Were Murdered And Slaughtered,
Today I Wear Black For Those Who’ve Seen Their Last Hour,
In War With A Church Who's Only True Quest Is Power."
~Author unknown~

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

They stopped the Propopal and took Al off the ventilator today, about 10am! He is breathing on his own!!! When I arrived this morning his bed up made into a throne, sort of. They had it fixed like a chair. They are going to try to get him up into a real chair they said. He was so very happy to get the tube out of his throat. He kept asking for water, once it was removed. He had 2 glasses of ice water, apple juice, apple sauce, and 1/2 a bottle of Gaterade in about 40 minutes. The man was definately thirsty! (Once the doctor told me he was coming off the Vent, they couldn't make me leave, even if they had wanted me to.

Al has a little more movement in his left hand today. He could sort of squeeze my hand.

They are going to be able to get the MRI today! Maybe that will answer why he is having trouble with the left side, and just what is causing his temperature.

This is really a wonderful day!

Almost time to go see him, better grab some food first.

Sue

AWESOME NEWS!!!!! They took the drain/shunt out of dad's brain tonight!!!! He still has pneumonia, he's still on the vent, and he still has a fever of unknown origin, unrelated to the pneumonia, but the first step is done, the shunt is out.
He'll still be in ICU for the weekend, at least, but it's progress!!!

They clamped the shunt today, to see how the pressure holds. It's the first step to getting the shunt out, which will then get him out of ICU, and eventually out of the hospital, and back to St Louis.
They were also going to send in a PT, to try to do some work with him, this afternoon, on sitting up, and maybe (but not likely) standing.
He is progressing by leaps and bounds. Thank you again for the prayers, energy and good thoughts!!!

I do still read LJ almost every day, I just post over at Facebook more often. Sorry.
But, I come to you, on a quest...
All right... I need some help from my sewingly crafty friends. I need (by early August), about a dozen bibs, that don't look like bibs, for Logan. They need to be waterproof, and attractive enough, and "big boy" enough, that a kindergartner can/will wear them to school, and not really be noticed by his classmates. Maybe something in a waterproof bandanna style or something. I will, of course, pay for the bibs, I just really can not afford the $10+ each pricing that I've been finding on line, and I have NO sewing talent, to make my own.
We've tried plain old bandannas, but he drools so much, he soaks thru one in less than an hour. At least with the plastic backed baby bibs we're using right now, he can wear it for a couple of hours (unless there's food involved, then it's all hopeless). I want something that looks closer to a bandanna than a bib, but is durable and absorbent like a bib, and waterproof, to protect his clothes.
This is, unfortunatly, going to probably be a life long problem for Logan. I would like to find an attractive, and less obvious way for him to wear bibs. Right now, it's not really an issue, but by the time he hits 3rd or 4th grade, kids can start to get cruel. If they grow up, seeing him wearing a "bibdanna" or whatever I can find for him, it may not be such a big deal as they all age. At least, a mom can hope, can't she???
So, put your thinking caps on, friends. Have an idea for something that might work? KNOW of something that will? Know someone who does? Shoot me your ideas and suggestions. I am open, and though not desperate yet, I may soon reach that point.

I usually don't do this, but I need some help. Actually... my whole family needs help.
After looking for over 14 months, my dad finally found a job this past April, in South Carolina. Well, he lost that job Friday, 2 weeks after signing the 1 year lease on his new apartment. They have not sold or rented out the house in Memphis yet, plus, of course, the mortgatge on this house. That makes 3 house payments due, on no income.
To make matters even worse, the company in South Carolina is threatening to sue dad for more than $12,000 in expenses they laid out for him over the past 6 weeks. My folks have an appointment with an attorney next week, to see what they can do about the $12,000 bill. More money going out, with no money coming in.
Please, if you have it to spare, send some prosperity and just general positive energy to my parents, and the rest of us. It's a really down and scary time for us right now. (And, if you happen to know any "get money quick" spells or tricks, send them our way, please. Rent is due in 10 days, the mortgages in 20.)
Thank you!