Finally cleared for landing...
After a pretty rough, wild ride for the past couple of months, things are beginning to settle back down at last. I am not saying that we are all through with dealing with Nathaniel's death--in fact, stuff from that plays out in a lot of tiny things really often, it seems--but Stacy is back at work and seems happy to be out of the house, and that means that our little family can slip back in to something close to routine. And that means time will begin to fly again.
Stacy and I celebrated our big four-year anniversary last Thursday. Since it was a special day, and since she knew she would be returning to work this week and hence unable to ever have time off again, we decided to go on a mini vacation. Our destination: Jefferson, Texas. Correction: HAUNTED Jefferson, Texas!
Yep, you heard me. After I booked a Bed and Breakfast, complete with massages, champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, cut flowers and rose petals strewn everywhere, Stacy got online to search for things to do in that diminutive community and discovered that Jefferson claims to be the most haunted city in Texas. In fact, our B&B, the Claiborne House, which we thoroughly enjoyed, reportedly is home to at least two spooks. In speaking with the owners, who had some pretty convincing photographic evidence, we came to be less skeptical that such hauntings are possible.
That being said, I am not certain I know where to place ghosts in my cosmology. I am a Methodist with Emerging Church leanings (which I have just found out recently); there is not much conversation about ghosts in my tradition. For me, even allowing the possibility of such things is problematic, if only because I don't know what the ramifications of wandering spirits are in my larger world view.
Aside from the photos we saw, nothing much else happened over the weekend that offered any proof one way or another. We went on a "Ghost Walk," touring some old buildings downtown and hearing their histories and past ghostly tales, but had no encounters or spooky photos of our own.
Downtown Jefferson was fun. We really enjoyed a little second-hand bookshop directly across from the Excelsior House Hotel: Fred McKenzie's Books on the Bayou. Mr. McKenzie is just shy of 89 years old, but he looks not a day over 72. He visited with us--especially with Stacy--for the better part of an hour, all the while letting his lunch get cold. He said that he didn't mind because he liked visiting with us better than eating! Apparently, Stacy is a Doppelgänger of a lady Mr. McKenzie nearly married, after WWII. Sure enough, he pulled out one of the history books he has written and showed us a photo of the lass and, indeed, Stacy looks strikingly like her. Weird, wild stuff.
Mr. McKenzie has written two books about the local community in which he grew up; the first one published was Avinger, Texas, USA. The Second is entitled, Hickory Hill. He is completely knowledgeable about history and was a delight to visit with.
We also toured the local history museum, visited the infamous general store, and, at the suggestion of my best chef friend, Jason, we tried out Kitt's Cornbread Sandwiches. One evening, we dined at the Stillwater Inn, which was more upscale, and also pricey-yet-worth-it. Oh, Auntie Skinner's is a good place to have a burger and a beer, especially if you like live music.
As for the B&B, our massages were wonderful! What's more, the accommodations were very comfy (we stayed in a room in the carriage house, far from the haunted parts of the house) and nice, and our breakfasts were nearly art in themselves. The trip was a much-needed getaway for Stacy and me and we would certainly both encourage friends and loved ones to head to Jefferson and unwind a little.
Photos will follow when I scan them....
Services for our son, Nathaniel Ross Dickerson, will be held on Tuesday, July 17th at 2:00 p.m. at Marvin United Methodist Church in downtown Tyler, with Dr. John Robbins officiating.
Nate passed away in his parents’ arms in Dallas on Thursday, July 12. Nate lived for only 16 days, but those days were filled with the love and prayers of many people, all hoping that he would overcome the obstacles that he faced from his early arrival. The caring doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital worked to help him thrive and make him comfortable, but finally surrendered him to God. Much illness is overcome here on Earth, but some illness can be healed only in Heaven.
Nathaniel is survived by his parents, as well as his sister, Mia, his maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Floyd G. Betts, of Tyler, his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Dickerson, of Tyler, his great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Nolte, of New Braunfels, and his great grandmother, Ms. Dianne C. Betts, of Dallas. Nathaniel is also survived by his aunt Donna and uncle Clint Phillips, of Overton, his aunt Diane and uncle Terry Hawkins, of Tyler, and his aunt Kelly Betts, of Seattle Washington, as well as many other loved ones.
Nate’s family requests that memorials be made to Methodist Hospital, Dallas, NICU, or to Marvin UMC Missions Department.
Stacy and I would like to thank you all for your prayers and for the many messages of love and support you have sent our way over the past couple of weeks. The love and compassion of so many people--from Methodist Hospital, from church, from our families and from our jobs--has given us peace. Like it or not, you have shown us God's love.
Nate passed away in his parents’ arms in Dallas on Thursday, July 12. Nate lived for only 16 days, but those days were filled with the love and prayers of many people, all hoping that he would overcome the obstacles that he faced from his early arrival. The caring doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital worked to help him thrive and make him comfortable, but finally surrendered him to God. Much illness is overcome here on Earth, but some illness can be healed only in Heaven.
Nathaniel is survived by his parents, as well as his sister, Mia, his maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Floyd G. Betts, of Tyler, his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Dickerson, of Tyler, his great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Nolte, of New Braunfels, and his great grandmother, Ms. Dianne C. Betts, of Dallas. Nathaniel is also survived by his aunt Donna and uncle Clint Phillips, of Overton, his aunt Diane and uncle Terry Hawkins, of Tyler, and his aunt Kelly Betts, of Seattle Washington, as well as many other loved ones.
Nate’s family requests that memorials be made to Methodist Hospital, Dallas, NICU, or to Marvin UMC Missions Department.
Stacy and I would like to thank you all for your prayers and for the many messages of love and support you have sent our way over the past couple of weeks. The love and compassion of so many people--from Methodist Hospital, from church, from our families and from our jobs--has given us peace. Like it or not, you have shown us God's love.
Nate Update
Mom, Dad, Mia and I drove up to Dallas on Sunday after church to visit baby Nate. Mom and dad had not really gotten to see him, and Mia was excited to go even though she didn't get to actually see the baby she refers to as "my baby." After braving rain and poor traffic conditions, we visited Nate and came back to Tyler in time for dinner.
Stacy is STILL in the hospital in Tyler, enjoying fevers from 99 to 103. Because I stayed with Mia Friday night and Saturday, Stacy was feeling a little lonely, so I got my sister, Suzy, to keep Mia (they get along really well!) for the night; the plan was that I would sleep at the hospital but pick Mia up by 8:30 and take her to therapy.
Dr. Kolni called me at 2:00 a.m. with some bad news: a sharp-eyed nurse had noted a bruise on Nathaniel's belly. As it turns out, he has what is called a perforated colon. Dr. Kolni said that he had a surgeon who would be there within the hour, who would call me back for authorization. We had been blind to problems with Nate's bowels. Mia had faced heart, lung and brain issues and since Nate had no problems in those areas, we sort of supposed that he was in the clear. However, problems with his colon could turn out to be worse in the long run. I couldn't go back to sleep so, after I spoke with the surgeon, I drove up to Dallas to visit my son. He made it through the surgery, and now the fin begins.
Presently, he has two sections of his bowels exposed through his tiny belly. One part is obviously dead; the other part is ill. If he can grow to 5 pounds or so, being fed intravenously, they will try and resection his bowel, inspecting his digestive tract for further problems. If he can't absorb nutrients, he can't grow, though.
To top that, now he is beginning to grow bacteria in his blood similar in class to the e-coli that Stacy is still fighting. I don't know what is possible and what is impossible anymore--everyday miracles abound in the NICU--but I wonder how Nate can make it through with his little, immature immune system when Stacy has been grounded for seven days....
So, if you pray, please pray for Nathaniel, that he will not be in pain and that he will heal and grow. Stacy and I figure that it is out of our hands, so prayer is the only recourse. Thank you, sincerely, to all of you who have emailed and written expressing your kind and loving thoughts, as well as to everyone at Marvin who has offered us hugs and compassion. If there is a bright side of this kind of experience, it has to be that every day I get to see people at their best, acting unselfishly for the benefit of others. I get to tangibly feel the love that friends and relatives freely offer. In the blur that is life lived between two hospitals, I doubt I could make it without the love and support that seems to come from everywhere. Thank you all!
Stacy is STILL in the hospital in Tyler, enjoying fevers from 99 to 103. Because I stayed with Mia Friday night and Saturday, Stacy was feeling a little lonely, so I got my sister, Suzy, to keep Mia (they get along really well!) for the night; the plan was that I would sleep at the hospital but pick Mia up by 8:30 and take her to therapy.
Dr. Kolni called me at 2:00 a.m. with some bad news: a sharp-eyed nurse had noted a bruise on Nathaniel's belly. As it turns out, he has what is called a perforated colon. Dr. Kolni said that he had a surgeon who would be there within the hour, who would call me back for authorization. We had been blind to problems with Nate's bowels. Mia had faced heart, lung and brain issues and since Nate had no problems in those areas, we sort of supposed that he was in the clear. However, problems with his colon could turn out to be worse in the long run. I couldn't go back to sleep so, after I spoke with the surgeon, I drove up to Dallas to visit my son. He made it through the surgery, and now the fin begins.
Presently, he has two sections of his bowels exposed through his tiny belly. One part is obviously dead; the other part is ill. If he can grow to 5 pounds or so, being fed intravenously, they will try and resection his bowel, inspecting his digestive tract for further problems. If he can't absorb nutrients, he can't grow, though.
To top that, now he is beginning to grow bacteria in his blood similar in class to the e-coli that Stacy is still fighting. I don't know what is possible and what is impossible anymore--everyday miracles abound in the NICU--but I wonder how Nate can make it through with his little, immature immune system when Stacy has been grounded for seven days....
So, if you pray, please pray for Nathaniel, that he will not be in pain and that he will heal and grow. Stacy and I figure that it is out of our hands, so prayer is the only recourse. Thank you, sincerely, to all of you who have emailed and written expressing your kind and loving thoughts, as well as to everyone at Marvin who has offered us hugs and compassion. If there is a bright side of this kind of experience, it has to be that every day I get to see people at their best, acting unselfishly for the benefit of others. I get to tangibly feel the love that friends and relatives freely offer. In the blur that is life lived between two hospitals, I doubt I could make it without the love and support that seems to come from everywhere. Thank you all!
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