A Kick to the Face, 1 Year Later

I've been reading through past blogs this evening, looking for something to revamp for my Progressive Rancher article and realized it has been a year since our little world was turned upside down for a couple days. For those of you who aren't familiar with our story, TR was kicked in the face (like he likes to say "I was kicked in the face by a horse but I survived!") last August 12th.  (You can read about it here).  We were life flighted from Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital to Primary Children's hospital in Salt Lake City.  We did several ct scans and x-rays.  We were so fortunate that the worst of his injuries were a jaw broken in 3 places, a lost tooth, and split lip.

So how are we doing now?  We are great!  TR has fully recovered, and other than a small scar on his chin, there are no lasting effects of his injuries.  In all honesty, it didn't slow him up at all.  He loves riding his horses helping mom and dad do cowboy things.  It has made him a little more aware of his surroundings though, and that is a good thing!

TR and I did home school this last year for kindergarten.  We planned to attend public school, but being restricted in his activity and movement we opted to keep him home for the year and do it ourselves.  We learned that mom teaches college for a reason, and she needs to keep away from lower elementary!  He is registered for first grade and we are anxiously awaiting our room assignment and teacher's name.  We are very excited to start school.

I was very emotional yesterday on the one year anniversary of his kick to the face.  I kept the boys next to me pretty much all day and wouldn't let them out of my sight.  It is scary how a normal day can get messed up so quickly, and like I told TR this morning, I love him to the moon and back and am so glad he survived!

Sometimes....

All you need is a hug and a nice cup of tea to make everything better.

I wish I had little girls.  Lets be honest.  Little boys are no fun at a tea party!

I just want to hide away from the world and do my own thing.

I lay awake at night and thank god that we made it through another day with minimal injury.  I love all 3 of my boys so much, and they scare me!

I eat cake for breakfast.

I spend more time in my garden than in my house.

Life is all about how you handle plan b.

Life Lessons

Pulling up to a rodeo or horse show, you are bound to see all kinds of different rigs.  There are the people like us with a Toyota Tundra pulling a little 2 horse goose neck.  Or maybe the guys borrowing the ranch flat bed that has never seen a car wash and the goose neck trailer that has obviously seen better days.  Then you have the people with a little money driving nicer pickups with matching trailers, or maybe even the mini semi pulling the 6 horse trailer with built in tack room and living quarters.  You will also see all kinds of different abilities, from the seasoned showman to the young guys just starting out.

TR and QT showed their horses "Cowboy" and "Cricket" today at the NENHA Show (you  can learn more about them here).  It is always so much fun to watch these little guys.  I think there were 7 of them all together, all under 6 years old.  The first class was the Stick Horse Showmanship.  Talk about controlled chaos!  They had a wonderful judge, and not that we have been to a lot of shows, but the best kids judge we have seen at a show.  She was so good with these wild kids!

As you can tell, they hardly stood still long enough for a non blurry picture!

Then we waited for what felt like forever for the Lead Line class.  In lead line, the little guys ride their real horses for a horsemanship class, just mom or dad has to be in the arena with them and their horse on a lead rope.  We just use under bridles and neck ropes since we never ride with a halter under our bridles.  I think we must have waited an hour, and it was too long for most of these little guys.  They are pretty easy on these 6 and under kids when they do the horsemanship.  All they had to do was walk in a big circle, then the judge came up and asked each kid if they could back their horse up. Cake really for our guys, as much riding as they do with us around the ranch.  The highlight of the show was after TR finished backing up his horse, the judge told him something like good job, nice horse.  TR piped up "But he isn't for sale!"  The judge replied "Good thing!  Don't let your dad trade him off either.  There's a big guy [meaning her husband] standing out there who would like to have him!"  We got a pretty good giggle out of that.

We are so proud of our boys for getting out there and showing their horses (neither the Cow Boss or I had the nerve or ambition to do it...maybe next show!).  Riding into an arena with a bunch of people you don't really know and being asked to perform can be kind of daunting for an adult, let alone 4 and 6 year old boys.  I'm also proud of the fact that they are not afraid to talk to other adults (I just wish they would avoid random strangers in WalMart, but that's a post for another day).  When they were all said and done, TR placed first and QT placed second.  Not too bad, if I do say so myself!

Here they are posing with their ribbons.

I know I've taken a bit to getting around to it, but I do have a lesson here I am getting to, honestly I didn't just pop on to brag on how wonderful I think my kids are!  =)  I know I am very (very!) biased when it comes to my little cowboys.

While we were waiting for their lead line class, we had to watch what felt like 100 English Equitation classes, which were really hard for us to get excited about.  In the final class before our boys showed, there were 3 young girls.  I believe it was a Hunter-Hack class?  I don't know, I really don't know my English Equitation at all.  The first girl made a flawless run (I assume anyway, she won the class).  Everything looked great, she did all the jumps, didn't knock anything down, the horse didn't balk at anything, and she had a smile plastered across her face from the moment she entered the arena till she left it.  She was in and out, and I thought great, this will go very fast.  

Then came the next girl.  She didn't look scared or frown or anything, but she just didn't have the same smile as the first girl.  The first and second jumps looked alright, then came the third.  She got right to it, all poised to leap over like the last 2 and her horse stopped, and refused to move ahead.  So she backed off, trotted a little circle and tried again.  Same thing.  She tried 3 times before the judge told her to just go on to the next one.  We went through this same little ritual for the next 2 jumps before she was able to find a jump her horse would go over.  She never got mad, she definitely didn't cry in the arena.  She was composed, and patient with her horse.  She could have gone to whipping and spurring and throwing a fit, but instead every time she just regrouped, patted him on the neck and tried again.  When she left the arena, she still had her little smile and gave the impression "We'll do better next time."  I was more impressed with her run than the first girl.

A little while later, I went up to her mom and told her how impressed the Cow Boss and I were with her daughter (we had discussed it over lunch), and that she did a good job in the Hunter-Hack class.  I explained how impressed I was with her for not getting frustrated or upset and that she just kept trying.  I also told her that I hope when my boys get bigger they ride horses like the one her daughter was riding, horses that will challenge them and make them better riders.  She thanked me and confided how much she appreciated it because someone else had kind of given her a hard time about putting her daughter in the class.

Too often we see kids "riding their parent's money."  Their parents are wealthy, and can afford the well trained horses that all the kid has to do is sit on the horse and the horse does everything.  Which is great.  I wish I had the money to do that for my boys some days.  Only some days.  I know it would be awesome to be guaranteed a win every time you entered the arena.  But wouldn't it feel better to take a horse you made yourself?  

Imagine this:  You have been working with a horse for a year or two.  It is a horse you raised from a leppy colt you bottle fed for 4 months.  You are the youngest kid in your age group and you are showing (or barrel racing, or roping, or whatever) against kids that are riding $15,000 horses that they bought, and you out ride them.  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I would rather have that experience for my boys instead of "Yeah, I won.  We bought this horse at such and such sale 2 months ago."

"Show Dad"

I've been thinking about this all afternoon, and just wanted to share with you.  I hope when my boys face the same situation some day (not that they will be riding Hunter-Hack or anything), but whether it is showing a horse, in the rodeo arena, or branding trap, that they show the same determination, calmness, and try that this girl had, and maybe a little bit of her grace as well.

Going Broke

The Cowboss and I have been wanting to get into the cow business for awhile now.  It's been really hard because we really have no equity.  Which apparently is very important if you want to get a loan. We finally got a loan with our Credit Union at 13% interest which is pretty high, but the best we could do, so 3 years ago we bought 10 cows through the sale ring.  Kind of a disaster, then we tried to run them with my in laws in Idaho.  While we appreciated the opportunity they gave us, we spent every spare minute running back and forth to help with the cows and we were tired.  We also didn't have many decisions on the business aspect such as when or where we sold them.  So we found some pasture to lease here at home, and moved them back here last fall.  This winter has been awesome watching our own cows calve, getting to select our own bulls, and even little things like deciding when we want to brand our calves.  It was is nice not to have to frantically reschedule classes or appointments when we would get a phone call saying we needed to be in Idaho in 2 days to work cattle.  I wasn't sure how we would make it work once TR was in school either.  You can't just yank your kid out of school for a week all willy nilly as the mood hits you! 

A couple of weeks ago and opportunity fell into our lap to buy some heifer calves, so I've spent the last few weeks on the phone with the banker, trying to get approved for a loan.  We were finally approved on Wednesday, and Thursday we went and gathered the heifers.  Friday we paid for them and Sunday we processed them.  Now they are out with a bull, hopefully making baby calves for us, and we are following the cattle market, hoping that bred heifers go high!  I was checking out Superior Livestock this morning, and I see that bred heifers went for anywhere from $1,550 to $1,925 each this past week.  The higher they go, the fewer we have to sell!

It is really nice owning cattle.  I think building up equity is important.  While we have no plans on leaving here any time soon, it will be nice to be able to use our cattle as equity on a loan down the line when we are ready for a place of our own!  It's just hard to deal with the anxiety of the dollar amount of the loan and how to make everything work!

A Good Ending to a Not So Good Day

I got QT dumped off  my horse on Friday.  Talk about breaking a mom's heart.  I'm not 100% sure what happened.  I suspect he lost his hat and that spooked Cricket.  When Cricket spooked, QT screamed, which really spooked Cricket, and he sucked to the side and QT came off.  When the dust settled, QT was fine, but mom was pretty shook up.  I got to him as quick as I could, and got him gathered up.  He was shook up too.  No injuries, but scared.  He informed me that he was "never riding that mean horse again."

We had a long talk about how Cricket wasn't a mean horse, but a prey animal and that he was constantly on the look out for scary things like mountain lions and monsters that might get him.  I explained that something scared him and his only thoughts were to get away, and when he (QT) screamed, that scared him even more and so he was trying to get away from whatever was so scary.  He didn't mean to dump QT, because he isn't a mean horse, he just got scared.

I am so proud of QT.  As scared as he was, he didn't think twice about getting back on, (with mom of course).  I did a quick saddle swap, the horse I was riding isn't very kid friendly.  I got on Cricket and the Cow Boss handed QT up to me.  I was a wreck, so I just headed back to the pickup with QT steering while I led the other horse.

We jumped them in the trailer, and headed to the house.  As I drove, I told QT how proud I am of him.  When he asked why, I explained that he got right back on his horse.  That's what cowboys do when they get bucked off, they get right back on their horses.  He looked at me and said "But I cried when I fell off."  I have to admit I almost cried when he said that.  I already felt 2 inches tall, and that made me feel even smaller.  I reached over and grabbed his hand and told him that it is okay to cry when you get hurt, and even if you do fall off your horse and cry, if you get right back on, it is okay.

This made me realize that I wasn't setting a good example for QT.  You see, the Cow Boss and I got into a tiff when QT fell off.  I won't go into details, but we weren't very nice to each other, and instead of toughening up and getting back on my horse and finishing the job, I gathered up QT and was heading home.  So I asked QT if he thought we should go and set up the gates for the Cow Boss and TR, and help them get the bulls to the Rose field.  He of course thought we better get our horse and go help.

I have so much awe and respect for my soon to be 5 year old.  Cricket is a big horse, and it really scared him to fall off, not to mention the fact it didn't feel very good either.  He thought about it a little bit and made the right decision on his own.  When the Cow Boss shut the gate on the Rose field behind the bulls, TR informed me that he was riding his horse home.  I told QT we had to go get the pickup and he informed me that I could get off and walk, he was riding "his horse" Cricket home with his dad and brother.

Obviously I couldn't do that, and we finally talked QT into riding Cowboy with his brother home.  I realize that kids are going to fall off horses, and it's not an if, but a when and how bad.  I'm just so glad that it was on a Friday, he didn't get seriously hurt, and even though he cried and didn't think he was very tough, he was tough and got right back on that horse.  I'm so thankful that he is a thinker and able to process things before making up his mind.  I am also proud of him for teaching me a little lesson on Friday as well!

Me

I buy books like some women buy shoes.

Those who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most.  Some days I am hard to love (hard to believe huh?!!).

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference," is my mantra.  I repeat this several times a day, often as I am beating my head against the wall.

I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am.

I am trying to remember "Don't feel bad if people only remember you when they need you," and to "feel privileged that you are like a candle that comes to their mind when there is darkness."

I believe "A successful relationship requires falling in love multiple times, but always with the same person."

A Kick to the Face

TR riding the mechanical bull during the Silver State Stampede

This past Sunday, one of my biggest, scariest nightmares came true.  I think it is many a ranch wife/mom's biggest fear as well, having one of your babies, husband, or family member getting hurt, and you not being able to do anything to make things better.

The Cow Boss and I have gotten kind of lax on our rules here on the ranch.  We don't have any horses here we are worried about, and felt like as long as the boys weren't playing in the main road here at the house, they could have the run of the place.  We have a huge back yard here on the the ranch complete with perfect climbing trees, dogs to play with, and a couple water troughs to play in.  Now that the boys are bigger, we don't watch them every second.  I've felt like I can always hear where they are, and when they are quiet you know you need to check on them.  We have our own little "WoooWhoop!" that we call to each other when we are out of sight, and always answer each other back.

Sunday afternoon, a friend of mine came over with her little boys to pick some apples from one of our many apple trees.  She was in no big hurry and I was finishing up a batch of Monkey Butter to can.  The Cow Boss was waiting for a friend of ours to show up and get some hay so he was outside with 3 of the boys.  I didn't know that he had come back in the house when I heard QT screaming.  I met QT at the door and he had been stung by a wasp.  I took him into the living room to sit until he felt better and found the Cow Boss there.  I sat QT on the couch with him and I thought I better go check on the other 2 boys.  Before I even got out the door Jess met me saying TR was hurt.

I found TR sitting in a lawn chair with blood gushing out of his mouth.  His lip was split open, and when I asked him what happened, he told me he fell out of a tree.  It didn't surprise me that he fell out of a tree, he climbs like a little monkey, and we fall out of a tree at least once a week.  I have chalked it up to a being a boy thing.  So I gathered up TR and the Cow Boss and I headed to the ER for stitches in his lip.  On the drive to the ER, TR kept trying to fall asleep on us.  We kept asking him questions, and his answers kept changing.  He told us instead of falling out of a tree, he fell off a wagon.  He also told us his horse, dog, and brother were all named Marty, and when I told him that was wrong, he started to get mad and refused to answer any questions.  About the time we got to the ER my friend called to say QT and Jess were telling her that TR was hurt by the horse.

TR after waking up Monday morning.

Our stomachs dropped, hearts sank, and we were gripped with fear.  TR had been kicked in the face by a horse. Everyone has heard horror stories about little kids being kicked in the head by a horse, and few of them have happy endings.  Knowing he had been kicked, and his wrong answers, not to mention falling asleep in the 15 minutes it took to get to the ER, we were a wreck.

We spent 5 hours at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, where they did several ct scans and x-rays, and we did a lot of waiting.  We didn't have the care we would have liked, but that is another story.  TR's accident happened around 3 in the afternoon, and finally about 5:30 (we still didn't know the results of any of his scans) they told us we would have to take him to Primary Children's in Salt Lake City.  The doctor finally told us that TR's jaw was broken and that he would need surgery, but no word on his head.  The Cow Boss and I began to make plans to drive to SLC, and the nurse came and informed us we would have to fly.  With TR's jaw swelling they were concerned about his airway.

It is a 50 minute flight from Elko to SLC, and then about 25 minutes from the airport to Primary Children's.  We arrived there at 9 local time.  The ambulance drivers and Paramedics from Elko were wonderful.  At the airport they wheeled Trent and I over to check out the air tanker stationed there before loading us on the plane.  Once on board one of the paramedics told me "Don't worry mom, kids are usually asleep within 5 minutes.  It will be an easy flight."  Not my cowboy.  He has wanted to fly on a plane for years and wasn't about to miss a second of it.  His little nose was glued to the window from take off to landing.  I tried to point out our house as we flew over, but it was getting dark and hard to see.

I can't tell you how wonderful the doctors at Primary Children's Hospital are.  From the moment we walked in the door someone was with Trent or popping in to check on us.  Several different doctors examined him, his scans, and bent over backwards to make him comfortable.  Due to swelling and his age they hoped that his jaw would heal well enough on his own and we could avoid surgery.  We were finally able to get his lip cleaned and stitched up.  They put us in a room about 3 that morning.  A full 12 hours since his accident.

I have so much awe and pride in my little man.  I know he was hurting, but he never cried or complained once.  Everytime I as about to break down, he would squeaze my hand and smile at me the best he could.  He is so amazing, here I am I'm supposed to be consoling him and making him feel better and instead he is taking care of me.

TR sleeping in Wednesday morning.

The next morning they brought him a room service menu and spent the morning making him comfortable.  By the time to doctor came in he had drank 2 glasses of chocolate milk, a smoothie, ate some yogurt and pudding.  He told the doctor "I sure like this place, it's really nice!"  But, he had every ones undivided attention, got to watch anything he wanted on TV, and cute nurses to fawn over him.  The doctor discharged us that afternoon.  In his wranglers and cowboy boots, my little cowboy walked himself out of the hospital.

Back at the ranch, the first thing TR did was go and let his dogs out of the kennel, and then go to check on "Dot," the horse that kicked him.  He went to her corral and she met him at the fence.  I asked if he wanted to pet her, and he nodded yes.  I lifted him up so he could reach, and my heart melted when I watched him put his little hand on her face.  He knows that it wasn't her fault he got hurt, and he wasn't afraid of her either.

We had a long talk that night about what had happened, and while I don't think we will ever know for sure what took place, we kind of have an idea about what happened.  TR was in the corral with Dot, and he knew he wasn't supposed to be there.  He was petting her when something spooked her.  Whether it was QT getting stung and screaming or what, we will never know.  As she ran past TR she cow kicked him, catching him on the jaw.

All I know for sure is that TR took a kick to the face and was able to walk away from it.  Every time I look at him and his bruised, swollen jaw I smile and thank the powers that be that he is here with us today.  We are so fortunate that he wasn't hurt more.  I am so thankful to my friends and family, and complete strangers who have taken the time of offer up prayers on our behave and those who left us messages via facebook, texts, emails, and phone calls.  You will never know how much we appreciate your thoughts and messages.  You've all helped us get through a dark time in our lives and we appreciate each of you!

TR today, 7 days after getting kicked.