Friday, December 28, 2007

The Kona Adventure, Part 6 - The Big Box Store-y

An update, then a store-y. Kristen's ob/gyn (see yesterday's post, if you haven't) admitted her to the hospital yesterday afternoon. Supposedly she'll be going to Denver today - the doctor down there cancelled her appointment because of road conditions yesterday. The snow has stopped, but the radio says the roads are very icy down there. So we'll see what develops. She told me last night that she'll be making her home in her hospital bed for the duration of this pregnancy - days, weeks. She's already tired of t.v.! Only the Lord knows what is ahead. Thank you for your prayers. We cherish them.

Today is our actual anniversary. We will go out tonight and probably talk about the early celebration in Paradise. No fabulous pictures today - just a quick story to get my mind on something amusing. It is so cold and has been so stressful since we returned that I often have to go back to Hawaii in my mind. I will indeed be sharing more pictures, though, as the days go by.

The play on words is because the setting for this story is in W*l-M*rt, which I call a Big Box Store. Ten years ago when we were in Kona, W*l-M*rt and McD were the only evidence of big business on the island. This time we were pretty sad to see not only WM, but L0we's, C0stco, Super K-M*art, and every form of fast food. The good news is that they situate the big box stores so that you have to know where they are to find them. They are well hidden up on hills, behind foliage. But they are busy!

So - back to the store-y. I had fallen into the ocean (just barely), wrenched my knee and ankle, had blood and mud all over my pants and shirt (from a lava rock-slit finger), and was of course soaking wet. My shoes and socks were squishing. We stayed several miles above town in the mountains, so didn't want to make a trip back up there mid-day. I told DC I needed to go to WM to buy something to wear.

I hobbled into the shoe department, where there was hardly anything but flip-flops (called thongs in a previous generation!), which I cannot tolerate between my toes. I finally found a pair of simple sandals. I picked up a couple of pairs of capris (or pedal pushers or clam diggers or whatever you call them), a t-shirt, and headed to the little room with the mirrors that make you look even worse than you already do. I really hate shopping and trying on clothes. Add sprained ankles and knees and it was a really delightful experience.

Woe is me, the first pair didn't fit. Yikes, how could it be possible that this size didn't fit?? I stuck my nose out the door and asked the young woman in charge to please page DC for me. She spoke very poor English, and managed to mangle his name on the PA system. Turns out he was standing right there, but I didn't see him. He brought me some more clothes with which to torture my self-esteem.

Finally I found a passable fit with both top and bottom. I wadded up all the soiled and soaked clothes and shoes, headed out the door of the fitting room with the new clothes on, tags and all, and said, "Okay, here's the deal. I hurt myself badly, my clothes are soaked, I need to wear these things out of the store, so can you help me work that out?" Just then I realized that at least six women were standing there in a semi-circle, holding clothes over their arms, waiting for a vacant spot to torture themselves with the "trying on clothes" process.

There were lots of funny little smiles on their faces as the young woman finally located someone to take me to a check-out spot. Fortunately for me, she took me to someone close by and I didn't have to struggle all the way to the front and stand in line with hundreds of people looking on. I still had quite an audience, though, as she cut off the price tags, scanned them, bagged up my wet clothes, took my money, and sent me on my limping way.

I don't have a picture of myself - Dwight did take a video of me sitting on a rock in this pathetic condition. My camera was ruined. A very well hidden blessing!

I want to thank you all again for your prayers for me at this embarrassing, frustrating, painful time. He truly did touch me during that night and I was able to enjoy the rest of the time there, though moving slowly and carefully.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

19 comments:

Nancy said...

I can only imagine the scene and how you were feeling but you at least had DW to help you out! Hubby to the rescue... and you find blessings even during your pain. That's a great attitude. I look forward to more. Happy Anniversary to you and DW! May you have many more happy years together.

My prayers continue for Kristen. My niece's water broke putting her in early labor, which prompted the lung shots and hospital stay. She made it 4 days before labor started and the twins were delivered by c-section at 29 weeks. Do the girls get to visit Mom in the hospital?

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Dawn,
I have posted Prayer Request's today on my today's past for you. I know everyone including me will be praying for Kristen and the Babies. I hate that she is having to stay in the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy, but GOD will take care of her. If you could email me her address, maybe I could send her a card. I'm sorry you had to go thru that bad experience at Wal-Mart's. You and me both hate that place. I'm glad you found something to wear and it was sweet of the lady to help you out that way. "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" to you and DC. I hope you have many more Anniversaries to come. I am looking forward to seeing more pictures, but you need to concentrate on Kristen first. Just know that Kristen, the Babies, and you and your whole Family will be in my prayers as well as others. Take care my friend and have a great Friday. May God Bless You and Yours.

Hugs,
Karen H.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Dawn. That story is too much. I'm (secretly) glad that kind of stuff happens to other people besides me. :) Please give Kristen our love. At our hospital we'd say that Kristen is in Bedrest Bootcamp. I've got tons of NICU and preemie stuff. I'll get her a box together. Hang in there! Love to you all.

Julie

Andrea said...

Thanks for the updates on Kristen. I've been checking her blog faithfully, but was getting concerned when she hadn't posted anything in so long.

By the way...I'm Andrea -- the one who created the Hoopla. Thanks for playing along!!

Please keep us posted, I'll be sure to check back here for more news. In the meantime, I'll be praying...

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Poor Kristen. I know she'll be bored to tears but we have to do what's best for our babies and ourselves sometimes. I'm still praying.....

I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse than you were. Your trip could have turned out much different.

Was your camera still under warranty???

Have a good weekend, and be careful on those bad roads.

Love and hugs,

Diane

Barb said...

You're taking the loss of the camera a lot better than I would, Dawn. Thank goodness DC had his camera with him.

I'm sure the whole experience of walking into that store soaking wet and having to try on clothes and then stand there while they cut the tags off was mortifying.

I think if it happened to me, I'd be laughing so hard they'd all think I'd hit my head instead of my knee.

Poor Kristen. I'm sure she hates being in that hospital, especially not knowing how long it's going to be. It has to be frustrating to know the babies need to stay inside as long as possible and that could mean a long stay for her.

Still, there's a beautiful reward, two of them actually, at the end of this ordeal.

Talk..to..Grams said...

I read the prayer request over at Karen's and I came over here to tell you I will pray for Kristne too! This has to be hard on her... Blessing, Grams

groovyoldlady said...

...in. the. hospital.

UGH! I'll be turbo praying!!!!!!!!!

Glad YOU didn't end up in the hospital, just the torture chamber at the mart. (I wish he'd taken videos!)

Midlife Mom said...

Oh Dawn, if that doesn't sound like something I would get myself into!! lol! I'm just so glad that you were okay for the rest of your wonderful trip. Once when we went to the Grand Canyon Hubby stepped out of the car and wrenched his ankle and spent the rest of the time laying in the back seat of the car! We kid him about it to this day and this happened at least 15 years ago! See what you have to look forward to?! They are called me Crash C---- from my fall off the horse and tipping over on my snowmobile! Sigh.....lots of things to live down eh?

I will be praying for Kristen as she is on bedrest. That was cute what Julie called it Bedrest Bootcamp. I would be tired of tv too, hopefully she likes to read and will have lots of company to make the time go faster.

Your pictures of your trip have been just beautiful! I've only been there once and it was like a paradise! It's such a long flight from here though, about 16 hours with flight changes and all.

We are getting more snow tonight but the ski areas are rejoicing. The roads were a bit bad this morning due to some last night too but Hubby went to Manchester NH and back without incident thankfully.

Take care and tell Kristen we are all praying for her and her two precious bundles!!

Linds said...

Hi Dawn... I am praying for Kristen, and hoping she is getting that rest she needs and that the babes are doing well.
I just laughed at the picture of you standing there with tags on in the store! Thank heavens you had your husband there to lend a hand!

Rachel said...

hi dawn! Just wanted to say thanks for posting that poem on my blog.. it's so true! :)

Carole Burant said...

Dear Dawn,

I am keeping Kristen and the twins in my prayers...I guess the hospital is the right place to be but oh dear, I can just imagine how bored she will be in there.

Poor you, what an adventure you had in that WalMart! lol It's a good thing they were accommodating, though, and let you wear the new clothes out of there. Hopefully your knee, ankle and finger are now all healed up!!

Know that I'm thinking of all of you!! xoxo

Tammy said...

You poor thing...but so glad the Lord touched you that night and blessed you with a great rest of the vacation!

And please know I'll be praying for Kristen and the babies this weekend!
(((HUGS)))

Sharon Lynne said...

I will continue to pray for Kristin and the babies...and your family.
May God continue to give you strength and endurance as you look to him for your every need.

That was a good story. I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. Maybe some day you and Dwight will laugh about it (maybe)

May God be close to you during this time!

Chris said...

I have been reading your posts on Hawaii, we were there in Jan., same places (as I see in the pictures), same island. I am sorry about the injury, it hurts to read about it again. and I am sorry about the camera.
I will put Kristen on my prayer list. It is a tough situation, but with the many prayers she'll be getting she may feel some peace. I pray for the babies. God bless.

Anonymous said...

Bad enough to have a bodily injury, but to add the mental torture of having to try on clothes! EEK!

I will continue to pray! :o)

Jada's Gigi said...

I really hope you did enjoy your trip with all that going on and your daughter to worry about...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours..praying for your daughter and the babies of course!

Lala's world said...

you seem to be having quite the year for sure! I pray that 2008 will bring many answers of your very heard prayers to the Father!
God bless you and your family

Happy New Year

Nadine said...

Oh no. I'm glad the Father touched you.

I will continue to pray for Kristen. Thank you for the updates.

May you have a blessed new year.