1 Month and Counting

 A lot can happen in just one month; milestones, anniversaries, life, death, love, loss. But with this past month we celebrate 1 month with a new heart! 

This past week has felt like a few weeks for the Neubert Family. Blake continued to go to school despite his barky cough and Easton stayed home with a never ending fever totalling 10 days. After some blood tests and a chest x-ray Easton was diagnosed with pneumonia. They went ahead and treated Blake for pneumonia as well. After a couple days of antibotics the boys are starting to feel better and Easton's fever seems to be dwindling. The beautiful weather has allowed us to go on walks as a family and sit outside on the patio. It has helped to get some fresh air and feel the sun shining on us. Hopefully next week both boys will be back at school and we can figure out a new routine. 

Mike's heart cath, echo, and biopsy went well this week. No major changes from the week before and still at a level 1 rejection. His blood pressure is a little higher but not to be concerned about. His heart is settling in and his body is adjusting. His right shoulder and shoulder blades are getting better with his OT and PT exercises. After not being able to move his right arm for a month with the left sided impella he has had to work to get back movement and muscle. 

The fall season brings some traditions for the Neubert Family that will need to be modified just a bit this year. So instead of going to our favorite pumpkin patch, we picked out some pumpkins at D&W this year. The boys had fun holding up the pumpkins for dad to see and choosing the best looking ones. We then hit a milesone and went into the grocery store to pick out some donuts and ice cream. Mike said it felt good to be in a store, a first in 3 months. We sure did miss the hayride, fresh apple cider and donuts, and fun games and rides; next year we will be back! Pumpkin carving to come in a couple weeks! It was a good outing for us all...some place different then the hospital, doctor offices, and pharmacy that we have been frequenting lately.

This time of year always reminds me of my time at Taylor University, this weekend was Homecoming Weekend and I celebrated 15 years. The fall activities of pumpkin and gourd, Airband, floor gatherings, floor host family meals, and Jay Kesler who always quoted this poem at this time of year. These things I always remember fondly of while picking out pumpkins with my family. 

When the Frost is on the Punkin - by James Whitcomb Riley

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,

And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock,

And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,

And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;

O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,

With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,

As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.

They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—

Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,

And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;

But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze

Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days

Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,

And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;

The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still

A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;

The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;

The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!—

O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps

Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;

And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through

With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...

I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be

As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me—

I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!