Back to the drawing board...

Jason called me this morning and I was so excited to tell him what I had done.

Me: Guess what I did this morning.
Jason:  I don't know, what?
Me:  It's the one thing that I really really really hate to do.
Jason:  Dishes.
Me:  Nope. (okay, the 2nd thing)
Jason:   Laundry
Me:  Nope. (okay, the 3rd thing)
Jason:  Cleaned the bathroom. 
Me:  Nope. (okay, the 4th thing)
Jason:  Emptied a mouse trap.
Me:  Nope (okay, the 5th thing)
Jason:  Oh, I know!!!  You cooked!
Me:  Nope. (okay, the 6th thing)
Jason:  I give up.
Me:  Apparently so did I.

exercise  noun, 1) an activity used to train the body, verb, 2) to train the body by using one's muscles

Letters from the Chief

If you need parts for any of your Rescues, please get with your Captain's, BC's and the shops to assist you.  I appreciate the innovation, but please do not remove, borrow, scavenge, salvage, appropriate, acquire, or take any parts from the old Rescue.  Fleet services are going to sell this apparatus and need to have all components in place and intact.  I think the new owner would like to have functioning or actual doors, door locks, lights, windows, etc... with their new/used Rescue.
Thanks for your help.


intact  adj. unimpaired or uninjured; kept or left whole

Monday Memories...

I love this man!! I am so blessed to get to have him by my side as we navigate through this crazy world.

Jason works so hard for our family. This picture is of him somewhere in the middle of nowhere... One of his part time jobs is as a Deputy Ranger for Utah State Parks and Recreation. He is the fun killer...checking registration on all recreational vehicles (boats, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, motorcycles...), giving tickets, and on occasion impounding someones fun mobile.  He patrols Utah Lake, American Fork Canyon, Nebo Loop, 5 mile pass...from here to the Nevada border...  He can cover mountains, lake, and desert all in one shift.  It's a rough job, but someone has to do it!

A normal shift is from 8am until 4pm and due to the nature of his job as a police officer I keep close tabs on him throughout his shifts...usually calling him a couple of times and always 5 minutes after his shift ends to make sure he is okay and on his way home.  There have been times in the past that his shift has ended so late that I have fallen asleep before he got home. On one of those nights I was awakened by the phone at 3am...

Me: Hello??

Dispatch: This is dispatch, we haven't had contact with your husband for over 5 hours, is he home??

Me: Heart racing, my hand started smacking his side of the bed hoping for a bump under the covers...

Jason: Ow, what??

Me: *huge sigh of relief* "He is here!!"

Dispatch: Sorry, swing didn't sign him off and so we show him still on duty and he wasn't answering us on the radio.

In February of 2007, Jason was working a shift for "the park". He and his partner "C" had gone up Nebo Loop to patrol on snowmobiles.  On this particular day, due to the area he was in, cell phone coverage was not great and so I only spoke to him before he left the park. At 4pm I received a call from him. He told me that his cell phone was almost dead and that he wouldn't be home on time because his and C's snowmobiles were stuck and he didn't know how quickly he could get them out. I asked if he had contacted dispatch and before he could answer, his phone died.

I tried to call him back several times but only got his voice mail each time. After 15 minutes of agonizing over whether or not he would kill me for what I was about to do...I made the call to dispatch.  I told them what Jason had told me and asked if they had had any recent contact with him. They told me that they would try and reach him and then call me back. Fifteen minutes later they called and told me they had radio contact with him, and that their snowmobiles were buried in the snow, Jason and C were cold and tired, C was showing signs of hypothermia, and that Jason had requested help.  They promised to update me every 15-30 minutes.

This is how the night went...

At approximately 5pm dispatch called and informed me that they had radio contact with Jason but were unsure of his physical location.  They asked me if I knew what he was wearing and whether or not he was dressed for the cold weather.  They then asked if I had contacted C's husband.  Looking back on this now I am confused...weren't they the ones with radio contact with my husband...why don't you ask him what he is wearing??!!  They said that their biggest concern was C and her obvious hypothermia...she was confused, weak, and shivering at this point.

Jason was a boyscout and he is a paramedic and I am not going to lie...my first thought...Jason, so help me if you take your clothes off to keep her warm, you are dead!!

Shortly before 6pm, dispatch called and told me they were sending Search and Rescue.  At this point I was getting nervous.  Up until now I hadn't called Jason's family.  With search and rescue going, the chance that the media would jump on it was high and I didn't want his family to find out what was going on from TV.

At 7pm dispatch called and let me know that Search and Rescue's base camp was set up and they asked if I would like to be there.  They still didn't know Jason and C's exact location but they still had radio contact.  Jason was getting cold and tired and C's hypothermia had him worried.
It was dark by now and it was then that I lost it.  I called Jason's brother and asked him to please go to the base camp.  He was almost there already.  
I then called one of Jason's friends and co-workers who lives just up the street from us.  I told him what was going on and asked if there was anything he could do.  He asked if I minded if he contacted the fire chief.  I didn't.
Ten minutes later the Chief called me and asked what I knew.  Dispatch called on the other line.  I clicked over to them...It is now just before 8pm and dispatch tells me that they probably won't be getting them off the mountain tonight.  I click back to the Chief and tell him what they have just told me.  He says that he will send the guys from the department up and that Jason WILL be home tonight.  He then asked if I needed him to come to our house or if I wanted him to go to Jason...  Don't come here...you showing up at my house equals bad news... I can't have you come to my house!!  I asked him to please go to Jason. 

Dispatch calls again.  They still have radio contact but not physical custody of him.  They told me that the search hasn't been called off for the night...yet.  I told her that Jason's guys were coming to help.  It must have offended her as she responded with "we are his guys too".  I just started crying and asked her to please call back with the next update.

I really began to prepare myself for the reality that he was going to spend the night on that mountain.  I knew Jason would do everything he could to make sure that C was okay...I just didn't know who was going to take care of him.

At a little after 9pm...dispatch calls...they have physical contact and are bringing him and C off the mountain now. Both are very cold and that there is an ambulance waiting to check them out.  It was at this moment that I really really really lost it.

I remember that I spent the next 1 1/2 hours pacing the kitchen floor.  Jason's phone was still dead and so I couldn't talk to him.  At 10:30pm Jason walked in the door.  I embraced him and cried and listened to him tell me over and over that he didn't know what the big deal was...he knew where he was the entire time.   He was soaking wet and shivering and couldn't get warm all night. 

The next morning he told me his side of the story.  They were snowmobiling and both machines got stuck.  C couldn't lift them so Jason would move the one in front a couple of feet and then move the one behind a couple of feet.  He did that for awhile and then a man, his wife, and his young son found them and helped out for about an hour.  Jason could tell that C was developing hypothermia and that is why he asked dispatch for help.   He was shocked when he saw how many people had been looking for them.

To this day if you ask him about that night...he will just shake his head and say "I don't know what you all were worried about, I knew where we were the whole time!"

rescue  noun, 1) help or aid offered to save someone,  verb, 2) to aid or save from danger or confinement

I remember.

I am married to a fireman.
no wait...

I am married to a policeman.
no wait...

I am married to my soul mate, my other half...

There is a part of my brain and heart for each of those roles.  The part reserved for my soul mate and other half is big and full of love and joy and anticipation of the future.  The other part while small is still there and reminds me on a daily basis what can be taken away so easily. 


I have thought about "that day" and what it would look like.  It is evening.  The kids have been put to bed.  I am tidying up after a long day alone with the kids while Jason has been at work.  I pass by the front window and I see the car pass by the house.  The car is dark gray and has tinted windows.  It turns around at the top of the street and pulls up against the curb in front.  My heart quickens.  The two men sit in the car for a moment.  They both glance at the house and then each other.  They get out of the car.  They are both dressed in their blue Class A uniforms.  They walk to the door where they both remove their hats.  One of them rings the doorbell.  I already know why they are here.  If I don't answer the door will they just go away?

I used to think I was crazy, overly dramatic, or morbid for that thought.  Over the years, I have talked to other wives whose husbands do what mine does.  They too, have thought of that moment.  One wife's car is red.  The other wife is at a friend's house when they come looking for her.  The details vary in each of our scenarios except for one...not one of us ever opens the door.

Today marks the 9th Anniversary of Sept. 11th, 2001.  I remember the actual day like it was yesterday.  Jason was up early and left for work.  Not long after the phone rang, it was Jason telling me to turn on the TV.  I did and instantly my heart sank.  All I could think about were those men and women who were running up the stairs instead of down and praying for their safe return to their families.  As the reality of the day's events unfolded I began to mourn for all of the wives (and husbands) who were living out the nightmare of "that day". What color was the car?  What time of day was it?  Did they look out the window and see "the car"?  Did they want to not answer the door in hopes that it would all go away?

On September 15th, 2001, Jason was asked to go to Atlanta for terrorism/chemical warfare training and most likely on to NYC for assistance there. He had attended this training almost yearly and I thought missing it would be just fine...with me.  When I asked him to not go it was like asking him to stop breathing.  He told me why he needed to be there.  I watched my husband board a plane four short days after watching two planes crash into a building.  I was one of the lucky ones...he returned home safely and with even bigger determination to serve and protect.

I am proud of Jason.  I don't tell him that enough.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends --John 15:13

  

remember  verb, to keep in your mind, to not forget

I cannot tell a lie...

Brian tells the truth...the whole truth and nothing but the truth...ALL of the time.  I am not sure if it is an "autism" thing or if it is indicative of a high level of integrity or maybe we are descendants of George Washington...I just don't know.  It can be a good thing...I ask who did this, he spills his guts.  Or it can be a bad thing...I ask how do I look, he spills his guts.  We have tried to find a filter for him but Home Depot never carries the right size.

One winter Sunday morning I was getting ready for church.  When I got out of the shower I could hear the 4 wheeler and figured Jason was out plowing driveways in the neighborhood.  After getting dressed I went downstairs and glanced out the window.  There was my husband on his 4 wheeler and my 4 year old son on a sled...TIED to the back of the 4 wheeler.  Jason was driving around and around in the cul-de-sac with my small child flying along behind him.  Just as I was going to go put a stop to their fun, Brian's sled hit a snowbank and it sent him flying through the air.  He landed in a crumpled heap, half of him in the gutter and the other half on the sidewalk.  Jason jumped off the 4 wheeler and ran to Brian.  I ran out the door and asked Jason what the heck he was thinking.  Brian was asking to do it again and seemed okay...whew!!
We finished getting ready for church and headed off.  Half way through our first meeting, Brian fell asleep.  I knew something was wrong.  He NEVER sleeps at church.  He is too busy going over the pew, under the pew, over the pew, under the pew, over the...you get the idea.  I looked at Jason and he gave me that "that isn't normal, you think he's okay?" look.
We left church early and took Brian over to see his doctor.  Dr. Freestone asked me what had happened.  I explained that Brian was sledding with his dad and he fell off the sled and hit his head on the sidewalk.  Wait for it...Brian chimes in, "that isn't how it happened".  Dr. Freestone looked at Brian and asked, "what really happened, Brian?"  Brian went on to explain in great detail how his dad used the yellow rope to tie his sled to the back of his 4 wheeler and then drove around really really really fast and he made him wreck and he went flying and crashed his head into the sidewalk.  Dr. Freestone then turned toward me, smiled, and said "do we need to discuss this and why it isn't safe practice?"  I raised my right hand and swore that none of our children would ever again be tied to the back of a moving vehicle...while I was present.  I couldn't guarantee that Jason would never have "man brain" (huge lapse in judgment where our children our concerned) again.
Dx:  concussion

concussion  noun, a head injury that is the result of a blow or a fall, a shock

Monday Memories...

Before I was married and had kids I had a job. I miss that job. It was after finishing the days work that I would discover, too frequently, that I had locked my keys in my car. I would call Orem PD and they would send an officer to the rescue. I just so happened to get the same officer every single time. The first few times the officer gave me a clipboard with a form to sign, and explained that by signing I gave him permission to enter my vehicle and that he would not be responsible for any damages caused. By the fourth or fifth time, the entire process was handled without a word spoken.

Fast forward 1 year...February 1, 1997, our wedding day!! Our reception was absolutely beautiful!! As we were greeting our family and friends I heard a man say "It's you!!" I looked over and there was the officer who had retrieved my keys countless times. He looked at Jason and said "If I had known you were marrying her I would have gotten you a slim jim for your gift, good luck, she'll keep you busy."

A few years after we were married I did it again. That time I called dispatch and said..."will you tell Captain 3 that his stupid wife locked her stupid keys in her stupid car, AGAIN." She asked if I minded if she dispatched it that way...nope, go ahead. Fifteen minutes later my husband pulled up, got out of the fire truck, handed me a clip board...

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!!
We love you!!

father noun, the male parent

Just another day at the office...

This is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Chief Earl,

After our multi co evolution this morning we went back to the station and did a couple more evolutions to help prepare C. for tomorrow's promotional. After our first evolution, which involved master streams and hand lines, we had PD show up (about 13:30). Dispatch had gotten a call that there was a main water line rupture with a two story geyser.

Captain S.

N2O

Jason had to go to the dentist today to have a root canal and before he left he asked me what the gas (nitrous oxide) is like. I got a tingly feeling and started breathing deeply just talking about it!! I told him it was the BEST and that he must must must request it! He said he would give it a try. So I waited on the edge of my seat until he returned home...I couldn't even clean or cook or anything because I was so excited to hear about his "first time". When he walked in the door he had a strange look on his face, a mix of confusion and "I think I am going to vomit, please get me a bucket". The first words out of his mouth "you like that stuff, seriously??!!". He said he tried it and after only 2 little minutes he told them to turn it off and never ever ever give it to him again. I am starting to wonder if there may be something wrong with him...how could you not love the gas!!

dental adjective, referring to teeth or dentistry

Just another day at the office...

The following is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...names have been changed.

Chief,
Today, at BC 35 request, station 3 units responded to an "iguana in a tree call". On our arrival, no kidding, there was an iguana in a tree. He was about 30' up. This call was at our city park on 100 N.

The owner of the iguana had been on his way to the pet store to purchase a leash for his pet lizard. On the way he stopped for little free time at the park. As soon as the lizard got the chance he (or she, I can't tell) ran up a tree. The owner had tried to shake the little reptile out of the tree prior to our arrival. No luck.

Of course for this rescue we would in no way put ourselves in danger.

Our first plan of action was to ladder the tree. Although we knew we could not reach the Iguana we hoped to obtain a more advantageous position for shaking the tree. Not familiar with iguana rescue tactics we thought we would try shaking first. FF "Smith" shook many leaves from the tree. This caused the iguana to climb higher into the tree.

The owner of the ophidian suggested that we pull out our chainsaw and cut off the branch that the little guy was on. Now this is a big beautiful tree and cutting this single branch would have put 20% of the tree on the ground and caused much grief to the residents that frequent the park. We did not pull out the chainsaw.

At our wits end, and with agreement from the owner, we pulled out a handline. At this point the reptant was at the very top of the tree. A straight stream with the engine at idle only was not enough to dislodge the Chameleon (who apparently becomes darker as the weather gets colder). About 120 psi and several direct hits (the marksmanship of Swat "Jones" was amazing) finally caused the iguana to fall to the ground.

Once we realized that he did not splatter, and before we could pat ourselves on the back, we found ourselves in a foot race with the little serpentiform. This guy was up on his two hind legs running a 50 yard dash. He beat us to the next tree!!! Luckily his owner was able to knock him off the trunk of the tree before he climbed out of reach.

There we were again, trying to outrun a lizard. This time he was caught. He did not appear to be hurt. Back to the car then off to the store to buy a leash.

The owner thanked us several times for hitting his iguana with a straight stream! "Anytime", what else is there to say?

Not only did we save the little dinosaur from freezing tonight, but apparently the pressure from the nozzle helped him with his skin condition. Yes our little guy would have normally been a $120 iguana, but do to a fungus he was purchased for a mere $20. Now with much of his fungus gone he is worth more. So there should be a dollar gain on the fire report.

Captain "Brown"

lizard noun, a cold blooded reptile with four short legs and a scaly body

All in a day's work...

Jen's day...

Jason's day...

work noun, 1) a job, a form of labor, a duty 2) a deed, an accomplishment, verb, 3) to do a job, to labor, to perform a duty

Friday Foto Flashback...

Daddy's Little Princess!!

Hannah and Jason at Lisa and Nick's Wedding
June 2004

princess noun, 1) the daughter of a king or queen 2) the wife of a prince

Picture Tag

This is what you do...

1. Open up your picture file
2. Go to the fourth folder
3. Open the fourth picture
4. Post the picture on your blog and write about it

This was taken in Dec 2004. We were at my mom's house and Jason fell asleep in "his" chair. We tried to wake him up but he was sound asleep so we had a little fun at his expense. You should have seen the flailing of the arms when he woke up and couldn't figure out what was on his head!!

Tag...you're it!!

shade noun, no plural, 1) shelter from the sun or light, verb, 2) to cut off from a bright light 3) to dim or darken

Friday Foto Flashback

At The Hogle Zoo
Jason...aka "Yertle the Turtle"
2004

turtle noun, a reptile with a soft body protected by a hard shell covering, into which it can draw its head, legs, and tail

The Man Rules

Jason and his firefighting buddies found this...

The Man Rules

These are our rules

Please note...these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something OR tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 Colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not "A" color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have NO idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing", we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really!!.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss topics such as baseball or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight...but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

rule noun, a law, a guide for conduct or procedure

Arrgggghhhhh...Matie!!!

Your Pirate Name Is...

Mad Blackbeard

What's Your Pirate Name?

pirate noun, a person who robs a ship at sea

Carl Spackler??

Carl Spackler

Jason

yard noun, the lawn or property around someone's house

Faith and Trust

I love Jason. I am so grateful for him. He works so hard for our family and he is a great husband and dad. As most of you know, yesterday a police captain was shot by a woman he had pulled over. This kind of news always hits a little to close to home, it is a reminder of what can go wrong. I was talking to Jason last night about how my belief that...we are safe, it wont happen to us, or he/she is the good guy, is lessened when things like this happen. As I was trying to find something to help re-instill my belief that "we are safe", I came across this...

"I have just two things to say to you who are troubled about the future. I say them lovingly and from my heart.
First, we must never let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--that is the first principle of the gospel. We must go forward. God expects you to have enough faith, determination, and trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects you to not simply to face the future; he expects you to embrace and shape the future--to love it, rejoice in it, and delight in your opportunities.
God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But he can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe." --Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "This the Greatest of all Dispensations" Ensign, July, 2007

I hope that our family is never directly involved in such a tragic event. I would like to believe that cleaning the boys bathroom is the scariest thing my husband and I will ever face.

instill verb, to saturate, to infuse, to permeate

My big, strong, brave, fireman!!!

When I married Jason I knew what I was getting into. I knew I would be alone a lot. I was fully aware of the 24, 72, and 96 hour shifts that were a frequent occurrence. I knew his job was dangerous...Jason had gained a reputation for being the first one in and the last one out of fires. He has stayed in a raging fire long enough to burn through his turnouts and as a result he had 2nd degree burns on his arm. He fought a house fire with a crew member and the garage collapsed on both of them. He was fighting the IFA fire and had his head wrapped in a huge flame that was screaming out of a window. His helmets and face shields are melted and they are so black you can't tell what color they were to begin with. When I was 2 months pregnant with Ethan, Jason decided things were getting boring...he went through P.O.S.T. and became a police officer...now he can add getting shot at to the list of dangers. He is also very involved with hazardous materials and chemical warfare agents. Every few years he goes to Atlanta for Hazmat training. They get all suited up, are exposed to nasty stuff (and you wonder why our kids are the way they are) and then they go through a decontamination process...Jason finds all of this quite fun??? I have seen Jason on the fire ground and at the scene of many accidents. He is great at what he does (I am not being biased...he really is one of the best). He has climbed his way to the top of the ladder (no pun intended) faster than most firefighters. At the time of each of his promotions he was one of the youngest Captains and then Battalion Chiefs that Orem has had. I am constantly impressed with his courage and ability to face scary and incredibly sad situations on a daily basis and still have a positive outlook on life. He has saved lives, watched lives be taken away, and been present for new lives entering this world. Little did my brave, strong, fireman know of the one thing so dangerous and so scary that even he would be eternally affected...CLEANING THE BOYS BATHROOM!!!

Jason getting ready to clean the boys bathroom!!

Jason getting decontaminated after cleaning the boys bathroom!!!

All of this time Jason thought my job was easy (okay, not easy but much less dangerous) compared to his...silly man!! This experience has Jason trying to figure out how to develop and market a product similar to the epi-pen (moms or dads would inject themselves prior to cleaning the bathroom) that would cover all infectious diseases you may contract while cleaning a bathroom used by children. We are going to be RICH!!!

hazardous adjective, dangerous, risky

Oh how I love thee...let me count the ways

We are all missing you Jason (one week down, one to go). Here are just a few of the things we love and miss about you...

**You do the dishes...they miss you sooooo much
**You take out the garbage that I lazily toss into the garage...it misses you sooooo much
**You let the dogs out in the wee hours of the morning and give them a treat when they come back in...they really miss you sooooo much
**You help tag team wrestle the kids to bed...I miss that sooooo much
**You tell me how pretty I am almost everyday while looking at my un-showered, disheveled self...my self esteem misses you sooooo much
**You lock up the house every night...the burglars don't miss you soooo much
**You have the greatest smile...I miss seeing it soooo much
**You would pick me up Pepsi on your way home from work and it just doesn't taste the same when I have to get it myself...I miss a good caffeine fix soooo much
**You give the best hugs and "nose rubbers", according to Hannah and Josh I don't do it right, they both want you...The kids miss you sooooo much
**You are a great husband...I miss you sooooo much

We love you and miss you!! Can't wait to see you next week!!!

miss verb, to notice someone's absence, to feel sad someone is gone