Daily Journal - March 3, 4, 5, 6, 2007
Saturday, March 3, 2007
HOME
Andrew & Jarrett's grave last year (no snow)
- March 3, 2006
- March 3, 2006
Here we are looking at the DVD player maybe
it was Loch Ness Monster. ~photo by Laura
Stoecker, Daily Herald
it was Loch Ness Monster. ~photo by Laura
Stoecker, Daily Herald
Here's Bryar last year. This year, it's snowing and cold. I
think the boys are trying to send a message: "Chill."
think the boys are trying to send a message: "Chill."
Last year, Judy stopped by with some peachy roses
Donna brought this little statue of the leapfrog
boy. Notice the "A" on his hat. Then after I
looked at this picture, I noticed Andrew's death
date MAR. 5 right above his head!
boy. Notice the "A" on his hat. Then after I
looked at this picture, I noticed Andrew's death
date MAR. 5 right above his head!
This is part of "the crew" - Andrew's friends. Seven of them
came by together. Plus, Shawn was there, too. It was SO
GOOD to see them!!!
came by together. Plus, Shawn was there, too. It was SO
GOOD to see them!!!
I took this picture right before we left last night. It was
getting dark and it was snowing. The two pictures below
were brightened up a bit so you could them better. It was
very overcast and wintry out there. Kind of like the day it
happened four years ago - only COLDER.
getting dark and it was snowing. The two pictures below
were brightened up a bit so you could them better. It was
very overcast and wintry out there. Kind of like the day it
happened four years ago - only COLDER.
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2007
Jeannette, Stephanie, James and Colleen (not in this photo)
went out to eat with us on Sat night - aren't they sweet!!!
went out to eat with us on Sat night - aren't they sweet!!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
When I was trying to decide what picture to put on the Home
Page today, I figured I needed something that showed me
having fun! And I've always loved the slide. Bob and I are
starting to TALK about moving to Florida when he retires and
buy a house with a swimming pool near a golf course! That's
not for a few years but after this brutal winter - Yikes!!!! It's
sounding better and better. We're old, we're cold....
This is getting on here later than usual. I had to go to a ton of
different stores today. My horoscope said it was a good day to
buy stuff. I didn't need that much stuff but what I did need was
at different places. And it's still COLD!
Tomorrow, the bathroom renovation begins. It's certainly
made me realize how much useless junk I've accumulated.
The stuff I got today was actually recyclable items. Paper, etc.
I did have to buy some new gold earrings at Kohl's because I
lost one of mine. This time, however, I bought two pairs exactly
alike (buy one, get one free). I ALWAYS lose ONE earring. It's
so annoying. The checkout lady tried to charge me for BOTH.
Good thing I was paying attention! all righty, time to go. bye,djb
When I was trying to decide what picture to put on the Home
Page today, I figured I needed something that showed me
having fun! And I've always loved the slide. Bob and I are
starting to TALK about moving to Florida when he retires and
buy a house with a swimming pool near a golf course! That's
not for a few years but after this brutal winter - Yikes!!!! It's
sounding better and better. We're old, we're cold....
This is getting on here later than usual. I had to go to a ton of
different stores today. My horoscope said it was a good day to
buy stuff. I didn't need that much stuff but what I did need was
at different places. And it's still COLD!
Tomorrow, the bathroom renovation begins. It's certainly
made me realize how much useless junk I've accumulated.
The stuff I got today was actually recyclable items. Paper, etc.
I did have to buy some new gold earrings at Kohl's because I
lost one of mine. This time, however, I bought two pairs exactly
alike (buy one, get one free). I ALWAYS lose ONE earring. It's
so annoying. The checkout lady tried to charge me for BOTH.
Good thing I was paying attention! all righty, time to go. bye,djb
Four years ago today at 5:30 a.m., the phone rang. I was startled
and immediately awakened from my fitful sleep by the ominous
ringing - knowing exactly who was calling and why.
"Mrs. Burkholder?" Yes. "This is CCU at Delnor Hospital." How's
Andrew doing? "His ICP (inter-cranial pressure) is 75." Oh no. That
means he's dead, right? "No, but it's not good." Okay. We'll be in
as soon as possible.
I told Bob the nurse said that Andrew's ICP was 75. We knew what
that meant. They had told us the night before as long as his ICP
stayed BELOW 20, that was acceptable. Before we finally left the
hospital, we were aware it had steadily increased all day to 22, but
they reassured us that it was all right. Don't worry....go home...get
some sleep. Not so much sleep as passing out from exhaustion.
On our way out, Bob talked to Terry (Stephen's mom) who works in
the ER and she told him that she'd keep an eye on Andrew during
the night. But she already knew that the outcome wasn't going to be
good. There were things we didn't know until later. His brain was
so traumatized by the crash that it was the consistency of jello. He
had died twice in surgery. Only a miracle could save him now.
I told Bob he might as well go in by himself and maybe I'd come in
later. He told me to call Bruce Conley. I knew what that meant.
"Bruce, this is Donna. We need another casket." And he wept.
and immediately awakened from my fitful sleep by the ominous
ringing - knowing exactly who was calling and why.
"Mrs. Burkholder?" Yes. "This is CCU at Delnor Hospital." How's
Andrew doing? "His ICP (inter-cranial pressure) is 75." Oh no. That
means he's dead, right? "No, but it's not good." Okay. We'll be in
as soon as possible.
I told Bob the nurse said that Andrew's ICP was 75. We knew what
that meant. They had told us the night before as long as his ICP
stayed BELOW 20, that was acceptable. Before we finally left the
hospital, we were aware it had steadily increased all day to 22, but
they reassured us that it was all right. Don't worry....go home...get
some sleep. Not so much sleep as passing out from exhaustion.
On our way out, Bob talked to Terry (Stephen's mom) who works in
the ER and she told him that she'd keep an eye on Andrew during
the night. But she already knew that the outcome wasn't going to be
good. There were things we didn't know until later. His brain was
so traumatized by the crash that it was the consistency of jello. He
had died twice in surgery. Only a miracle could save him now.
I told Bob he might as well go in by himself and maybe I'd come in
later. He told me to call Bruce Conley. I knew what that meant.
"Bruce, this is Donna. We need another casket." And he wept.
Sunday, March 4, 2007 - Riddle: What day of the year is also a
command? Answer: March 4th - get it ? March forth! pretty
funny if you're 8
We had such great support yesterday from so many people --
the cards we got in the mail, the emails we got on the
computer, the phone calls we got on the phone, the visits from
the visitors at the cemetery and then ending the day having
dinner out with some of Jarrett's friends. Priceless.
It was really awesome the way everyone came out in spite of
the BRUTAL COLD, BITING WINDS, SNOW FLURRIES and
FROZEN TUNDRA. We were truly blessed by the presence of
so many wonderful and warm, kind-hearted souls.
But it was still COLD. It was VERY COLD. It was unbelievable.
Whenever someone wasn't out there to visit us, we sat in
Bob's car on the heated seats (a definite plus in these here
parts!). It wasn't like last year at all. Thankfully, Leslie and
Laura weren't working on their story this year. Yikes & shudder
And it's always good to see Andrew & Jarrett's friends. They'll
never forget them and that's all I ever wanted after they died.
Gone, but not forgotten. Forever in our hearts. God bless, djb
command? Answer: March 4th - get it ? March forth! pretty
funny if you're 8
We had such great support yesterday from so many people --
the cards we got in the mail, the emails we got on the
computer, the phone calls we got on the phone, the visits from
the visitors at the cemetery and then ending the day having
dinner out with some of Jarrett's friends. Priceless.
It was really awesome the way everyone came out in spite of
the BRUTAL COLD, BITING WINDS, SNOW FLURRIES and
FROZEN TUNDRA. We were truly blessed by the presence of
so many wonderful and warm, kind-hearted souls.
But it was still COLD. It was VERY COLD. It was unbelievable.
Whenever someone wasn't out there to visit us, we sat in
Bob's car on the heated seats (a definite plus in these here
parts!). It wasn't like last year at all. Thankfully, Leslie and
Laura weren't working on their story this year. Yikes & shudder
And it's always good to see Andrew & Jarrett's friends. They'll
never forget them and that's all I ever wanted after they died.
Gone, but not forgotten. Forever in our hearts. God bless, djb
Here's a few pictures from last year. The weather isn't quite as
brutal as yesterday, but it's snowy and cold. I get the feeling
that Andrew & Jarrett asked for crappy weather so we wouldn't
be hanging around out there all day. Cold, cold, cold!!!!
It seems to me that the days leading up to these yearly
anniversaries are always worse than the actual day! I don't
feel the dread or the overwhelming sadness that I did.
The other day, someone told me that my aura was dark. For
some reason (and it does seem counter-intuitive) that made
me feel better. I said, "see, I told you I wasn't feeling right.
Right down to my aura!" (do a Google if you don't know aura.)
I'm getting the distinct vibe from Andrew and Jarrett that it's
time for me to re-direct my energies. "Four years, Mom, come
on." That cracks me up!! Don't forget, re-direct!!!! haha
I've been reading a lot about what the boys are actually doing
now in their after-life, heavenly realm, other side, whatever you
want to call it. I call it the place with no zip code - or area code,
(for that matter). The only way I can contact them is through my
mind - what does that tell you? Interesting situation since my
mind has been so incredibly befuddled these past few years.
I'm not kidding when I say that I have to get in touch with them.
Crazy lady alert. Guess what? Don't care. Want to trade
places? Didn't think so. No one would willingly trade places
with Bob and me. Although there have been some parents
who are now getting to walk a mile in our moccasins. God
help them all! When I hear about these horrific accidents and
the deaths of the children, it makes me very, very sad for
everyone involved from their parents and family, to their friends
and classmates and everyone in their lives. I know how they
feel. Wish I didn't. God bless you all for your support! ~djb
brutal as yesterday, but it's snowy and cold. I get the feeling
that Andrew & Jarrett asked for crappy weather so we wouldn't
be hanging around out there all day. Cold, cold, cold!!!!
It seems to me that the days leading up to these yearly
anniversaries are always worse than the actual day! I don't
feel the dread or the overwhelming sadness that I did.
The other day, someone told me that my aura was dark. For
some reason (and it does seem counter-intuitive) that made
me feel better. I said, "see, I told you I wasn't feeling right.
Right down to my aura!" (do a Google if you don't know aura.)
I'm getting the distinct vibe from Andrew and Jarrett that it's
time for me to re-direct my energies. "Four years, Mom, come
on." That cracks me up!! Don't forget, re-direct!!!! haha
I've been reading a lot about what the boys are actually doing
now in their after-life, heavenly realm, other side, whatever you
want to call it. I call it the place with no zip code - or area code,
(for that matter). The only way I can contact them is through my
mind - what does that tell you? Interesting situation since my
mind has been so incredibly befuddled these past few years.
I'm not kidding when I say that I have to get in touch with them.
Crazy lady alert. Guess what? Don't care. Want to trade
places? Didn't think so. No one would willingly trade places
with Bob and me. Although there have been some parents
who are now getting to walk a mile in our moccasins. God
help them all! When I hear about these horrific accidents and
the deaths of the children, it makes me very, very sad for
everyone involved from their parents and family, to their friends
and classmates and everyone in their lives. I know how they
feel. Wish I didn't. God bless you all for your support! ~djb