The Texas Chainsaw…episode

My hungry, gorgeous, sweet Gianna. Looks just like a female version of her daddy.

Michael had a total of 70-80 stitches both inside and outside of the wounds. Let me tell you…I was pretty freaked out on that drive to the ER. Michael was in too much pain to talk much on the phone when Holly called me and calmly told me what had happened and that I needed to drop off the kids at her house with her nanny and head to the hospital. I had no idea how bad the injury really was. Poor Holly…I actually thought she and Michael were playing a joke on me when she called me, since Michael had a small accident with a chainsaw last September that ended in a trip to the emergency room as well.

On to the surgery and prognosis, though: God is merciful! There was minimal tendon damage, and he will make a full recovery. We are so thankful. (Not to mention we are SO over accepting any more projects for our business that require chainsaws.)

Michael had on a cast and splint from the day of the accident and surgery until May 14, effectively making him a one-armed man (and father and husband) for that period of time. I won’t lie–being nine months pregnant then giving birth to a baby during this sudden reduction in husbandly helpfulness wasn’t so easy at times for me! There are so many little “extra” things he needed help with, not to mention he had nearly every side effect you can get from his pain medicine and antibiotic, so he spent the better part of a couple of the first week and a half at least unable to drive, and nauseated, dizzy, and laid out on the couch. I had to step in and help with the business, during which time we had literally a small crisis a day with employees and customers and the general stresses that come with owning your own business. 

I am so anxious to write a post as soon as I can about all of the things that we had to be thankful for over the past month or so. Michael’s injury, financial worries, and the stress we have with the business are certainly challenges for us right now, but the support of our family and especially our community of friends here in Houston has been unbelievable. We have been so blessed with prayer and meals and cards and people dropping off just-out-of-the-oven banana bread that I actually feel practically spoiled. I’m so grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of the Lord working through all of these precious people in our life.

Michael is now in physical therapy for a couple of weeks, where he is progressing beautifully. He has an enthusiastic doctor who said Michael’s therapy is the highlight of the day, since he gets to use cool techniques to do things like massage out scar tissue. Michael comes home from therapy each day with news like, “Erin! Guess what? I just picked up a Coke can with my left hand!” I told Michael yesterday that I’d like him to ask the doctor when I can bring in Gianna so Michael can work on the motor skills needed for infant diaper changing. 

Now that’s something I can get enthusiastic about too! 🙂