Hard Night - Part 1

Well, yesterday started fairly normal, but did not end up very well. As some of you know, Caleb and I are still employed at Westwood High School as consultants for the auditorium. We do not go over there very much, but at play time our assistance is usually needed. Yesterday was one such day as Westwood is getting ready to perform "Les Miserables" next week. Caleb is doing the lighting design and I am helping with the set and sound design. Well, yesterday around 3pm Caleb went down to work on his design and move some lights around. As he was running from one area of the ceiling to another he ducked under a air duct and hit his head on the I-beam that was hiding behind it. I should mention here that we have both crawled around in that ceiling so much that we know it backwards and forwards, however things were recently redone up there in an effort to make things "safer". As they redid things, they didn't want people climbing over the duct work so they raised it all slightly. In this particular spot instead of raising the duct to the same level as the I-beam they placed it just a few inches higher, making it impossible to see the I-beam from one side. (We always called that area the swing of death, but now I guess it should be renamed the I-beam of death) So, as Caleb hurried under he hit his head and sliced it open. (scalped would be a good term, sorry) Luckily he thought fast and got out of the ceiling before he started to feel light headed, but he was bleeding profusely which made things difficult. He grabbed one of the crew and sent them for help on his way down and rushed in the bathroom for paper towels. Darra (Westwood Stage Manager) leaped out of the orchestra pit where she was working (which is not an easy feat) and went in to see what was going on. Caleb asked her to take him to urgent care, not knowing he was hurt as badly as he was. When they got there, urgent care called 911 and he was picked up in an ambulance and taken to Scottsdale memorial hospital. I of course jumped in my car and headed to the hospital and by the time I got there he had already had a CAT scan and blood work and we were just waiting for the results. Finally we got the news that everything looked good and they were going to staple the wound. Caleb guessed it would take 20 staples, but he was off by 3, so six hours and 23 staples later we were finally on our way home. Thankfully I did good with all the blood until about nine o'clock when lack of food started making me a little woozy. It was a hard night, but luckily things ended up okay. If Caleb wanted to leave his mark at Westwood that bad, I would think he would have found a better way. Plus, I think we owe Darra a new seat for her truck, but I'm not sure what to do about that one...
I am just so relieved that everything is alright, he will have to take it easy for a few days, but then he should be fine. If anything else happens I will be sure and let you know. Thank you for all of the calls and texts, we feel very loved and blessed to have such good friends and family.

Hard Night - Part 2

Sadly, that was not the end of our night. About 12:30 last night I received the tragic news that one of my best friends brothers had passed away unexpectedly. There is not much information available at this time, but please keep the Penrod family in your prayers. My heart goes out to them and I hurt for his wife and children. Please know that we love you all and even though it will take time, the hurt does lessen. I'm sure he is still close by your family and in the coming months you will feel peace and a new strength. I am so sorry you have to go through all of this, but I feel my parents near often and I think they are able to help more now then ever before. He must of had something really important that he needed to do on the other side. Hang in there and know that we love you.