Congratulations on Eternity! Here's real life.

So Chase and I have been married a whole month and eight days! It has been a lot of fun. I think he and I can both agree, living together, so far, has not had a lot of challenges. People always say that living with someone is totally different then just dating or being engaged and it is, but the both of us have adjusted easily. What people should warn you about is having to share a bed with someone. People (Chase) do some weird things in their sleep! I have labeled Chase a notorious pillow stealer. I woke up one night to him literally trying to steal my pillow. I woke him up and told him to calm down and stay on his side of the bed; I tend to be kind of grumpy when I'm woken up in the middle of the night. In the morning Chase told me he was having a dream last night that he was handing out Book of Mormon's and he reached into his backpack in his dream and grabbed the book, which in real life was my pillow! Haha oh gosh Chase...

As fun as things have been in the past month or so, it's not a secret that life will hand you trials and here is our first big one! On Thursday September first at 4pm Chase was in a motorcycle accident on Main Street here in Rexburg. Chase was being the awesome husband that he is and was taking my wedding ring to the jewelers to get a diamond put back in that had fallen out. Not even a block down the road a man making a left hand turn crossed in to Chase's lane and hit him. As soon as I found out I drove to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where Chase was being life flighted by helicopter. I was asked to wait in an ER waiting room where a nurse would relay information to me as soon as it became available to her. She came back several times where she told me about his injuries, what they were planning on doing next and to assure me this was going to be a long night. 

As soon as I was able to see Chase I hurried to the his room. The nurse had told me he was responsive but I was surprised to see how much he was talking. The first thing he told me was he was sorry and "No more bullet bikes babe". While I was busy crying, Chase was busy asking me questions like "Danielle, am I naked?" and telling the doctor he was "Like a boss" when the doctor told him he had taken quite a hit. I guess wondering if you are naked in front of a medical team is a pressing question whenever you have broken limbs and cuts? I had to laugh through the tears. A couple of our friends, Kevin and Maria, had come to the hospital with me so I wouldn't be there alone and apologizing for being naked (even though he was covered up) in front of his wife was the first thing he said to Kevin.

Dr. Redd, Chase's orthopedic surgeon, told me that Chase injuries were this: two broken arms, ruptured ligaments and tendons in his right knee, bruised pelvis, broken nose, puncture wound in his left leg and that he had bitten through his bottom lip. NO head injuries and NO internal injuries. WHAT A BLESSING. Dr. Redd also told me they would be taking him to surgery right away. His left arm was an open fracture which means the bones had punctured his skin and oxygen was getting to the bone; this increased the chance for infection. I walked Chase to the OR, kissed his head and told him he was going to be ok. This began a long two hours of waiting and calling to inform my family and answering phone calls of people who knew to tell them Chase's condition. By this time Bev and Keith and Steve and Luanne had made it to the hospital. We all waited together. After the surgery, we all went to the room Chase would be staying in, talked to Chase for a bit and then everyone left and Chase and I were left to sleep. 

We stayed in the hospital for two days. Chase was discharged to go home on Saturday morning. He has a special type of crutches that he is able to use to get around on. They are just like normal crutches except have removable platforms for his forearms to rest in. We strap his arms in and away he goes! It is quite a effort for him to use them though. Since we have been home Chase has been enjoying (not so much) the humbling experience of not being able to do much for himself. I help lift him up to stand, I feed him, I open his door, I change his bandages amongst other things that you can surely think of that I have to do for him. Haha. Chase jokes about how helpless he is, but being newly married and having been preached to that he is to be the head of the household and the provider, I know it is not easy for him to have me do all of these things for him.

Chase's Crutches

Tomorrow we are heading back down to Idaho Falls for a follow up with Dr Redd. He will be giving Chase a removable sling for his left arm and a hard cast for his right arm. His leg is still pretty swollen. Dr. Redd told us it is likely that Chase will end up having surgery on his leg. 

I shaved his face! 

Thumbs up for peach rings!

I gave Chase a mani. He was self conscious about his dirty nails.

Aside from the hospital and the surgery and the awesome medical professionals that took care of Chase, we have had lots of care from the people in our ward. Suddenly our lonely cookie jar is filled to the top with snickerdoodles, chocolate chip and nutella (yum!) cookies. Our fridge is adorned with food from families around  us who have cooked us dinner every night since saturday. Pretty sure my hips have enjoyed the extra few pounds I have put there from all the cookies, pies and muffins... Our apartment has been cleaned with help from my wonderful mother-in-law Bev. It is somewhat of a hard thing to do, to let some one else clean your home. Bev and Keith have already done so much for us, with letting us have the reception at their house and flying all the way to Indiana just to meet my family and friends that, if anything, I felt I needed to be the one offering to clean their house! 

From here Chase and I are just trying to stay optimistic. I believe that it can only get better from here! There will surely be more to come so stay tuned : )

Danielle Clark