2 years ago...

I still can't believe where I was two years ago...

I was lying in the ICU of the University of Utah in a coma. Feeding tube down my throat. EEG wires making my hair look Madusa. Branch playing Christmas music and Frank Sinatra so I could hear it Branch wanted to spend every second he could with me. At night he didn't even leave the hospital, he went down to the burn unit and slept on a wall! Mom brought me a metal Christmas tree for my room. The rest of my family visiting when they could.

Meanwhile, Little Miss got to spend a lot of time playing with her cousins. I think Cedar fell in love with her...She was immediately weaned from breastfeeding and did incredibly well. She was able to go to two Christmas parties and even got to see Santa! Sorry the parties were so somber. My bad!

Before I was there I was really sick. I had woken up 2 weeks previously and preceded to throw up 8 times for the next several hours. I was so sick I took a pregnancy test! The next day I was fine, then started the whole process again. After going to the doctors and crying in the waiting room wanting my mommy, I was told it was an ear infection.

We flew to Utah the next week and made it to Green River, where I saw another doctor who said it was an ear infection. I could still touch my chin to my chest so they didn't think it was meningitis. Then the night of the 18th and morning of the 19th I went downhill. I don't remember much except we were staying downstairs at my sisters house, Little Miss was in the family room and I was throwing up and going in and out of consciousness. Jacob carried me upstairs and put me in the car while Branch sped to the ER at the U of U hospital. I do remember waking up once and telling Branch he was going to fast. That is so like me.

That is the last thing I remember for a couple of days. I am told that my sister Sarah met Branch at the hospital and was able to come back in the room with him, where...she was able to see me in all my glory...Sorry about that. I hope you can get that image out of your head Sarah! I also was told that my mom knew the Director or something like that of the ER, who was able to keep everyone updated and helped speed the process along.

I was put in medically incuded coma from Dec. 19th and was woken up on the 21st. I got to sleep for 3 days! As they were waking me up they had tied my hands to the bed so I wouldn't pull out any tubes or wires, but they didn't know how flexible I was and when no one was around I pulled "a gumby" as they said and took out the feeding tube. Luckily I didn't damage my vocal cords with that stunt! When I was more fully awake I remember being more sad that I missed the 2 family parties then I was about being in the hospital. I also remember I needed to pee and everyone kept telling me I had a catheter and I could just go, but I hate catheters and I really felt like I needed to pee. I think I said that about 50 times in an hour.

So as you know it turns out I had Viral Meningitis. It sucked. I wouldn't recommend it. But the point of this post is I want to point out some of the miracles that happened in this time.

*The fact that we were in Utah near a lot of family when I went downhill. Neither Branch or I had to ever worry about Little Miss.
*That mom knew the lady from the ER and were taken care of really fast at a great medical facility.
*Little Miss, who was only 8 months old at the time, was able to do so well considering.
*My mom fought for me when they were going to put my birthday wrong, which would have severally limited the financial help we were able to receive.
*That it was Viral instead of Bacterial...it could have been so much worse...

Anyway, sorry for some of the details...but they really happened. I have more I want to write about later. Thanks for reading!

For Branch...

This song is for Branch. I heard it for the first
time the day before we found out we were having a boy...

Brad Paisley - Anything Like Me

For Great Grandpa Johnson

This is the letter I wanted to post on Veteran's Day, but I couldn't figure it out...

I hate technology sometimes....

I remember when I use to be somewhat technologically knowledgeable. Not anymore. I wanted to post a picture of a letter my Grandpa Johnson received from the White House thanking him for his service during the war...but I can't. I'm a dork. And Branch isn't around to help me. I would do it from our house but I can't figure out why our scanner isn't working...yikes. Anyway. I will post it soon, I guess just not on Veterans Day.

Sorry for that little rant...

Grandma's Letters continued.

Oct. 17, 1945

Darling Henderson.

The town is full of hunters you can hardly move downtown. I'll be aso glad when its all over. It makes me so lonesome for you and miss you so darn much more, some times I feel like I couldn't take it, but I will have to won't I. Do you think you'll be back by next hunt?_Oh! honey you just got to be, a year is so long surely they won't keep you away from Bobby and I that long.

Afton is going on the hunt with the Crowd she feels like she can't stand it home and feels like she will be near to Champ if she is with the crowd. They wanted me to go to sleep with her bu I just couldn't (Page 1)

bear it. Its bad enough just staying home but its even worse being around the Gals that have men with them.

Roy and Ethel are here she was pretty nice to Roy the first 3 days but know she's just the same old Ethel. God darning and black b------- Roy all the time". I went down after my milk tonight and Moms so mad at her she didn't know whether she can stand her two weeks or not.

Howard says he'll get me a dear if he does I'll bottle it and have it when you come home. Ever thing I do or plan is for when "My darling comes home". I'm making us a new treasure and have quite a lot of nice things in it already.

Honey every night this time I get the (grandes) song pro- (page 2)

grahm and every night I hear tunes that remind me of you. Tonight they sang-

"I'll walk alone,
and I'll be lonely;
But I won't mind,
being lonely-
I know that you;
are lonely too.

Mrs. Whittiker died last night. Im surely going to miss her she has been up her to Allens since two weeks after we moved up here. She's never been out of bed for 27 months maybe its best she should go rather than suffer.

Good Night Sweetheart, God Bless you always and send you home soon.

Yours forever

Metta & Bobby

We had a really good lesson on genealogy yesterday. It wasn't the lesson were we are told we have to submit names and do research but that sometimes genealogy is talking to and getting to know those around you. It made me think of my grandparents and so today I am going to post a letter my Grandma Johnson wrote to my Grandpa Johnson during WWII. Grandpa Henderson served on the S.S. Central Falls Victory. Grandpa Bob is just barely 2 years old at the time.

*I tried to stay as true to the letter as possible, including spelling errors, punctuation and the like.

*****************

November 11, 1945

Dearest Sweetheart:

Received another letter from you again it surely seems good to have them coming pretty regular. I'm so sorry me dear that you aren't getting my letters because I have written so many some times I even write you too in one day-I hope you can read this Bobby thinks his helping me. Gee! he's so sweet honey-still gaining weight and getting fatter and cuter every day. Little Mary took him down town in the truck today she weighed him and says he weighs 30 lbs and 4 oz. he only weighed about 26 when you were home. You know much better 15 lbs made your look well what do you think 4 1/2 lbs have done to (Bobby). he really looks good. (page 1)

he and I surely miss you sweetheart we talk about you all the time. I really don't think (Bobby) will ever forget you. He says when you come home your not going in the army anymore- shut up ole Army- I hope your never hae to leave us dear again we have missed you so darn much and love you so.

I got (Bobby) a snow suit the other day-two friend. Brown and does he ever look like a sweet-just like a big fat teddy bear.

Mom and Dad are talking of going to California right after Christmas and staying until March. They will go to Inglewood up by L.A. Mrs. Beckstroms moms friend has a small cottage to rend and she wrote mom she would have one empty the 3rd of January. Maybe its just talk but I'd surely like to see them go. Mom doesn't look so well dear it sorta scares me.

Bobby and are swell. I've gained about 7 lbs. But I told you I would if I quit-Good Night darling God Bless you.

Metta x Bobby (page 2)

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I am going to try to post a new letter a week. Let me know what you think.

Also, to grandkids and great-grandkids of Edna and Leo here is your assignment...
I would like you to come up with one question from each of the family members that you would like to know about Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge. Please send those questions to my email or post them one the comments section. Thank you!!

Pregnancy Update

Well I still can't believe I am pregnant. It feels different this time. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I am not working, and I am chasing after a two and half year old. So I am busy, just different busy.

So, I am now 15 weeks. I am almost half way through with this! CRAZY!!

I went to the doctors today. Little Miss came with me because Branch was unable too. It went well(ish). My thyroid was a little low apparently but she isn't worried and will check it next time. My doctors name is Dr. Andrea Hebert (said A-bear). I like her a lot. She is no nonsense which I need and I think she looks a lot like Julie, my sister-in-law. We got to hear the heartbeat today too. It is going strong. It was nice to hear the confirmation again, especially since we haven't felt the baby moving yet, though I am looking more and more pregnant. Though I still feel like I just look fat...sigh... I also lost a little bit of weight which is weird because I haven't had bad morning sickness. I just need to do better and eat more.

We also found out that we will hopefully find out the sex of the baby on November 24, which is the day before Thanksgiving! What an awesome thing to celebrate! We definitely are going to make sure Branch and Little Miss are there for that big appointment!