Hospital @ MindSay

I'm at the hospital.

It's the night shift and everyone is sleeping except me.

The ward is quite empty, only half of the beds are occupied.

Still, one of the patients is worrying me.

 

She's a sweet old lady, the kind of person who will never ask for help.

Her main problem is her heart, but we found a lump in her back.

A very big lump, it looks like a tumour.

Today she had a breakdown and her vitals went off the scale.

 

I'm worried about her, about that lump.

She might not have much time.

Such a sweet person, makes me love to be around her.

And now she's dying.

 

Oh boy. Here we go again.

Fuzzy was moved into a room late yesterday.They are monitoring his heart and his kidneys,slowly taking him off oxygen.He is still having diaherria  though. they cant get that under control.Peggy was very tired this morning when I talked with her. She looked it yesterday,but today you hear it in her voice. She has today covered.Hopefully she can get some sleep while her mom takes dialysis, as her aunt will pick her mom up afterwards.Peggy plans to go home and try to sleep a bit. She needs to. I'm concerned about her. She is gonna collaspe if she doesn't rest soon...She will probably get me to help her tomorrow...
James and I went yard sale-ing  this morning. it gives us something to do and we never spend much. Maybe a few dollars. Its our Saturday morning routine! We found Morgan a drum set for xbox today! called and woke him up to ask if he wanted them...just $7.00!!! They put everything at half price after 11 am! They are gonna have a great yard sale by doing this and they were cheap anyway! Orginally the drums were $15.00!  Came with the rock revolution game. I just hope they work! She said they did and they seem to be in great shape! Wont know til Morgan uses them!
Last weekend we went to Hillsville to the huge flea market there. I didnt think it was as crowded as in years past. Because of the recession many didn't travel for it. Even the vendors were down.We still enjoyed it, just getting away for a day was good! Got to see Morgan too, as he popped home for the weekend cause he bought a drum set and had to pick up his glasses that came in.It was hot though last weekend! I was ready to quit at 2, but James insisted we rest a bit then plow on some more! I was wore out! we got there at 9 that morning, and we finally quit about 4:30...still about 3-4 hours left that next day to cover it all. We got to our room about 5 and collasped. I got a shower and saw that I was sunburned! ouch! I put sunscreen on! anyway, we walked over to Sagebrush to eat. we were too beat to drive anywhere. waited an hour to sit, then waited 30 mintues for our food.... Finished at 8 then went back to room and fell into bed! we were asleep by 10! whew! Up at 7 next day and started again! we finished about 10:30...I will never do that again! I cant take the heat anymore. I feel like i'm gonna pass out in it. today while yard sale-ing I felt like it again. I get really weak all of a sudden and feel shaky, and cant get a good breath... I dont know what it is...but it bothers me. Since I turned 46 this year, I feel like my body is deserting me... Perimenopause... Hot flashes, cold,chills, now this with the heat. I get too hot now...Maybe I should get checked out by the doctor. Mood swings too! I can bite someones head off if they cross me at the wrong time of the month now!!!I cant help it either. Family will just have to deal with it!! looks like I've got a ways to go before I'm out. Most of my friends tell me it ends about the time you turn 50ish!! So I'm looking at 4 more years of this!??? Ouch!!!
We went to the West game last night..It was really wierd with Ariana not cheering... Still saw a lot of parents there whose kids graduated with Ariana. Even saw some there home for the weekend from college. Just as 4th quarter started,it starts raining...I look at James and start laughing...we wait a bit, and it starts getting harder, so pack up and leave. passed several others and we said"No need to get wet this year! Not sitting in any rain!" everyone laughed. last year see, it practically rained every football game! and we had to stay then! With Ariana cheering and James head of concessions, there was no leaving. Sat under an umbrella most of the season and learned to deal with getting wet! So, last night was fun to get up and leave with everyone else!! We sat in car and listened to the rest of the game...West won, 28-21...Its a wonder though as many passes as they threw and missed,dropped or whatever...They lost over half the team as most were Sr.'s. last years team was great..
Of course all the parents still there saw James and tried to get him back,or tell him they miss him doing concessions! Some even told him that it went downhill a bit! Oh well! It's time for other parents to step up to the plate and do it!! The new couple that took over the concessions said they didnt really know just how much work it took to keep it up! Ha! We told em!!its like having a second job with no pay! and then no other parents want to help.."Oh I have to see my child play!" what's one night??? oh well, not our concern anymore! we will go to most of the home games I guess. I especially want to see Homecoming... the athletic director gave James a pass for this year, for all the years he put in as head of concessions. Old saying goes, no one appreciates you until you aren't there!
Wow! 2 days at once on here1 I'm on a roll!!

After 15....yes, 15 hours of deliberation, we have a verdict!!!  At around 3:30 pm this afternoon, the jury in the case against Dale Neumann came back with a verdict.  Finally.  I was seriously afraid that it would be a hung jury and it would start all over again with a new jury.  But, no, the jury finally was able to come to a consensus.

 

And a GOOD one at that.  We the jury, find Dale Neumann.....an idiot.  No, unfortunately that's not against the law, even though it should be.  He was found GUILTY of second degree reckless homicide, in the death of his 11 year old daughter!!  :D  <---- smiles at the verdict, not the death of his daughter.  I didn't celebrate as loudly as I did when his wife was convicted because I feel like ass today, but I still am thrilled with the verdict.

 

When the guilty verdict was read, he showed NO emotion.  What does that tell you?  A gag order is still in effect, meaning that no one from the prosecutors office, defense attorney, Dale Neumann himself, are allowed to comment.  But, as he left the courtroom, Neumann was heard humming a song and seen carrying his Bible.  Sentencing is in October at the same time as his wife's.  They both are out on bail right now and will continue to be.

 

Apparently because of these two trials, the county's budget is in the red and will need to dip into an emergency fund.  The county taxpayers paid $30k for attorney and jury expenses before Dale Neumann's verdict was read, and the Clerk of Courts says that they would likely end up contributing to the emergency fund as well.  And, when you think about it, the taxpayers are also paying for both Neumann's prison time.  We're bending over and taking it in the ass for them killing their daughter.  Doesn't seem like true justice, does it?

 

You can read more or watch video at WSAW.com.

I didn't update yesterday because there wasn't much to update with.  Today, however....is another story.

 

On Thursday, the State finished up with their witnesses, first reviewing Dale Neumann's police interview with a police captain/lead investigator.  Neumann states things on the video such as "The Lord is in control; He can heal and he can raise the dead too.", "Our confidence is not in medicine, our confidence is not in doctors, our confidence is in the Lord and Him only.", and when asked on the video if he believes Kara can come back from the dead, Neumann responds "yes".  Dale's mother then takes the stand and tells that she urged the family to take Kara to the hospital; she said that she raised Dale as Christian, but can't believe what happened because she could never watch any of her own children die.  After the lunch break, another pediatrician testified to Kara's condition, saying she was very emaciated and wasted.  He also said that the Neumann family didn't ask why Kara died, which he remembers as unusual.

 

The defense is now able to call their witnesses.  The first is a customer of the Neumann's former business - a coffee shop.  The woman claims to have seen Kara at the business the Thursday before she died (on a Sunday) and she was perky, cheerful, chipper, and smiling.

 

Today - Thursday morning - the defense's next witness is Dale's uncle, who was also at the coffee shop on Thursday before Kara died.  He also testifies that she seemed busy and energetic.  An acquaintence of the family who was involved in their bible groups testified that he saw Kara six days before she died and she seemed normal, yet had dark circles under her eyes.  Another family friend and bible group attendee testified.  She stated that Kara seemed normal in the last few weeks of her life, but on the day Kara died, she went to their house because she sensed something was wrong.  She prayed with the family; she also testified to Dale's great faith and confidence that his daughter would get better.  When the friend left the house, she said she had a feeling of peace and felt Kara would be fine.

 

Then, the defense's final witness took the stand - Dale Neumann himself.  The following is directly from WSAW.com and their live blogging where I've been getting my information.  I didn't feel I could adequately sum up what he said, so I'm posting it as the news reporter blogged it.  Except for some of my comments in italics and I bolded a couple things.

 

2:08 PM: Defense calls Dale Neumann to the stand...he's carrying his bible.

 

2:10 PM: Neumann says time of recorded police interview was one of the most difficult times of his life.

 

2:14 PM: Neumann says, "Dale Neumann is dead and Jesus Christ is now in me. I am his."

 

2:23 PM: Neumann testifies as a young man he wasn't content, had a great job, had money, was travelling, was also cursing and drinking too much.

 

2:28 PM: Neumann screams in court, "God! If there's a God, show me a better way!" He's referring to why he became born again.

 

2:33 PM: Neumann screams again, "God we're so blind!!!" He's referring to his conversion to his new faith back in 1982.

 

2:42 PM: Neuman: "I physically felt something fall off of me when I came out of the water." After his born again baptism.

 

2:48 PM: Neumann: "Holy spirit spoke to me and said, are you willing to suffer for me? Yeah Lord I'm willing." Says he was called to ministry.

 

3:02 PM: Neumann is reading scriptures..it's like he's preaching to the jury.

 

3:13 PM: Neumann: I've seen cancers fall off in meetings, have seen physical healings in meetings I've attended.

 

3:18 PM: Neumann says Jesus never went to a doctor.

That's cuz he's Jesus!!  Duh!!

 

3:21 PM: Neumann is again reading from scriptures to explain why he believes God directed him not to seek traditional medical treatment.

 

3:42 PM: Neumann testifies in every instance Jesus healed, he never directed anybody to go to the doctor.

Is this because Jesus was the one healing?!?!

 

4:15 PM: Dale testifies that in the months prior to her death, there were no signs of diabetes or illness.

 

4:17 PM: Dale testifies that Saturday morning back in March of 2008 was the first time he noticed any signs.

 

4:37 PM: Dale testifies that on Sunday morning... he thought Kara improved, thinking whatever this is will "burn" out of Kara.

Let me tell you, the only thing burning at any point was that girl's thirst because her blood sugar was so incredibly high!  If diabetes just "burned" out by prayer, mine would have gone away years ago!!

 

4:55 PM: Dale testifies that he did not think she would die if they didn't take her to a doctor... he says death wasn't even on his mind.

But in the future, should you get to be a free man, if your kids get sick - what will you do?  Pray or take them to a doctor?

 

5:06 PM: Dale says when asked if there is anything else he would like the jury to know, "Why would I in a moment of crisis, go to anyone" but the Lord.

 

5:05 PM: Dale cries while reading Scripture

 

5:12 PM: Dale testifies that he has no trust in man.

 

5:44 PM: Dale testifies that losing his daugher was very hard.

But not compared to that police interview which was "one of the hardest days of your life"??

 

5:49 PM: Dale is off the stand.

 

6:10 PM: Defense rests.

 

I was able to see a short video clip on the news tonight from part of his testimony.  All I could think was....OMG.  He looked like a crazed maniac, and he would have been better off pleaing not guilty by reason of mental defect - he would have had me convinced for sure!  In watching Leilani's testimony (video clips) and him on the stand, I can say that while they both seem like whack jobs, she was far more composed.  He came off like a total lunatic.  If you go to WSAW.com, you may be able to find a clip.  There might be one floating around on the Associated Press, but I'm not sure.  All I know is that I was blown away, and if I were a juror, I would have had to surpress laughter. 

 

From what I understand, closing arguments are tomorrow morning, and there could be a verdict as early as tomorrow afternoon!  So for those of you who are sick of hearing about this, it's almost over.  Until sentencing, that is!  And appeal courts.  I didn't blog nearly as much during Leilani's trial, and I wish I had - but I was finishing up school and graduating, so this time around I wanted to follow this thing "right".  Here's hoping a guilty verdict is to follow!

                 D is gone again; possibly for good this time.  There are only 5 days left of school, now 4, but … it’s still painful.  Again.  He JUST got back; we just had a week and a half together again, but there is a chance he won’t be back the rest of the year.

                Apparently, yesterday’s trip to the dentist to get fluoride painted on his teeth (he HATES the dentist and has had a lot of work done) was too much.  He’d also had a conversation with his sister about the field trip, and was probably having a hard time with the idea that her class would be swimming and our class would not be.  The way the weather is NOBODY will be swimming, because it SUCKS out right now, but still… he lost it, fled into a moderately big city, actually bit, spit on, scratched and kicked his mother (he has NEVER physically hurt her before).  LONG story short, he was taken by the police to a hospital down where the dentist is, and then after a 5-hour wait were told “eh, he’s calm, it’s your choice if we’re going to hospitalize him or not”.  She took him home to discuss options with his case worker, but … not looking good.  I had to work very hard to not cry on the phone; if Nichole was able to hold it together while she told me about her 9-year old son in crisis, I at least owed it to her to not break down, but it will happen by nightfall.  It’s been sitting in my stomach all day.

                Everything else today was fine.  Field Day was cancelled, so we had a regular-ish morning, watched the Time Capsule opening from 10:30 – 11:30, silent read and did some writing, and then they finally watched ‘the Wild’, the movie I’ve voted for the last …. 3 months.  I didn’t even watch.  I feel bad, but I didn’t.  Wasn’t as captivating as I had hoped for.  I read Number the Stars instead.  I love that book.

*The title of my entry today came from A.  I have absolutely no idea why he uttered it.  I just know I really needed a smile today, and he provided me with it.  I hope it did the same for you.