The next day

So after a wonderful Christmas break, (which I will add pictures when I figure out how) I am ready to get back to the story of Neal.

Neal was taken to the ICU after his initial ER visit. He received the whole hook up with the IVs and the feeding tube. He was not able to communicate and appeared to be paralyzed. The Doc's finally explained that a "Brain Infarct" is a stroke, which I still had to look up to find out what that all entailed. I thought really old people had strokes. Apparently not. So as I sat there by Neal's bed I was in deep prayer. I really had no idea how the rest of my life was going to play out. I knew that Neal would survive and recover,(because of a Priesthood blessing) but I was in real need of some guidance.

Then the thought came to me clearly "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I knew that that was a scripture, but I didn't know where. So I looked it up. (John 14:27) Think about it, if your life was instantly turned up side down, can you think of a better answer from the Lord? The whole verse is even better. It reads, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid."

From that moment on I was at peace. I knew that I was not alone and that Neal and our little family were in the best hands.

I love small miracles (and big ones) so keep this scripture in mind, because the miracles for us had only just begun.

I forgot an important detail...

On that life changing Sunday, before Neal had his Stoke, I was cooking in the kitchen. Neal was standing on the other side of the counter. He looked at me and said Heather I love you. Now if you know anything about my Neal he is quite the romantic, so I hear that several times a day. But this time was different. A little voice in my head told me to listen to what he was saying, because I may not hear him say that for a while. I thought that was an interesting thought but not until a couple of hours later did I realize the truth of those words. I just thought that I would add that little miracle. Our story is full of them!

Heather and Neal at the registration office

This blog was put together for two sisters to share with friends and family the joys of life. However it was my intention all along to get Heather to blog, because she is so worth listening to. You can't be with Heather and not be happy. I am glad I can be part of this because as her sister I can interject a little with her stories. Heather and Neals reunion at USU, finding her true love, TOTALY TRUE, I was there, they were both mesmerized and drooling, no kidding, it was the strangest thing I ever saw.

So as I was saying...

So I fell in love with Neal at the registration office at USU. We got engaged a month later. Neal being proper and quite the gentleman, planned on asking my father for my hand in marriage. We drove to Jackson and the hole 3+ hour drive was terrifying for both of us. When we got to my parents house it was late, but my parents were still up. When we sat down to talk Neal could not get the words out so my parents went to bed. I knew that it had to be tonight or wait 3 days till my Dad was available again so I called my parents out of bed and Neal told them the news. My Mom was not surprised but my father was totally blown out of the water. I was his first child to be married and Neal and I really had only been dating a month so he was not ready. But he said that he trusted me and if I thought that Neal was the one then he would support us. Neal and my Dad have a great relationship ever since.

One Sunday

One Sunday after noon. The kids, we had four at the time and we wanted a #5, where watching veggie tales in the family room. Neal and I were upstairs taking a Sunday nap. Neal said to me, "my head" I looked at him and said what about your head? He didn't respond... I thought he was joking, I said, stop messing with me or I am going to call 911. Neal said, "don't call 911" but the word wouldn't come out. All I saw was his face looking terrified and confused. I called 911, I called the neighbors to come watch the kids. The paramedics where there in 3 minutes. They carried him down our long flight of stairs and into the ambulance. I follow in our car. I beat the ambulance to the hospital. I guess it isn't that serious if they don't have the lights flashing. I wait. I cry in the waiting room. They call me back and say that them think my husband has had a brain infarct. What ever that means. I need to decide if the Dr's can give him a clot buster. If they don't give him the medicine he will be a vegetable. If he has the medicine his brain could hemerage and he could be worse or die, but you need to decide right now because we only have a small window in order for the medicine to work. (so why didn't the ambulance drive with the lights on) I ask the Dr. what would you do, she says that she would take the risk. How does a person make that kind of decision for someone else? How do I play the card that will change Neal's life forever. I said ok. They gave it to him. He hemeraged.

Married 15 Years!

When I was at Utah State, I worked for the catering service. So did Neal. A lot of girls worked there. They all had a crush on Neal (of course), including two of my roommates. I thought he was cute, but would have never guess that he could ever be interested in me. (and I was dating someone else.) So I knew some stuff about him before his mission but I didn't really know him. Then at the end of August 2004 we ran into each other in the registration office. I think that I should back up a little. The night before as I was going to bed, I had a "thought" go through my head, "you are going to meet your husband tomorrow." I didn't think much of it till I was on USU campus with all the cute boys. Then I started looking, and about 2 minutes later I saw Neal. He was looking through the glass of the registration building and saw me, and called my name. I went over and if you have ever seen Saturdays Warriors and the scene where the girl sees the guy at the airport for the first time and the start swinging each other around singing a love song about how they have always known each other and are destined to be together. Now picture that without the swinging and the singing. That is what it was like for me. I didn't even know the guy but I was pretty sure that he was the one and only for me. (and he still is!)

Tune in next time for the rest of the story...