I’ve shared in earlier posts that this blog is meant to curate the comings and goings of our family; a tool to help us remember the big and small experiences that shape and mold our family. Well, our family had a new experience that certainly left it’s mark; unfortunately it’s just not one filled with cute smiling kiddos and afternoons with friends.
Last Wednesday Andy woke up complaining that his stomach hurt. We all brushed it off because we’d just ate and drank for 5 days over the 4th of July; of course your stomach hurt! On Thursday morning he felt the same and by the afternoon he was asking me to make him a doctor appointment. At that point, I knew something was up. Andy never asks to see the doctor! Before he could make it home from the city Thursday evening, he was running a fever and we decided he should visit Urgent Care. We both thought it was Appendicitis. The Urgent Care doctor examined him and told him (1) no Appendicitis and (2) go to the ER.
I swiftly called a relay of neighbors, family and grandparents to watch the kids while I took Andy to the ER in Morristown. By the way- a frenzied drive to the hospital is way less fun when there’s no baby waiting for you on the other side. Anyway, after several hours in the ER we came to learn that Andy has a bad case of Diverticulitis- an infection of the digestive track. Apparently Diverticulitis is actually quite common in older people but exceptionally rare in someone his age and a case this bad for his first event. At 2am on Friday morning Andy was admitted to the hospital…..and me to the looney bin.
Nearly 4 DAYS, lots of IV antibiotics, a liquid diet, slow shuffling walks through the hallways, numerous visits from a flurry of hospital staff, COUNTLESS times staring at the clock and he was discharged. In on Thursday, out on Monday. It was nothing short of f*$king terrible.
Through this experience I have learned three lessons:
- We can still get bored….We have 2 small children, 2 full-time jobs, a house that’s basically a full-time job and an active social calendar. There’s not a whole lot of down time in our lives. So on Saturday afternoon, nearly 48 hours into sitting and waiting, I felt this weird feeling. Something I hadn’t felt in a really long time and wasn’t even sure what it was. Was I sick too? Nope. We were bored. Huh, I had forgotten that this was still a feeling on the emotional spectrum.
- The hospital beds ARE made for tall people. Too bad it took 2.5 days and 7 nurses to show Andy that his bed can be extended and his feet don’t have to be jammed up against the footboard.
- Family is truly a precious gift. Family are those by blood and those close friends who become family. We have both and are SO incredibly blessed. Our family was our rock through the last 96 hours. They rushed to watch our children, sent countless messages of love and support every day and talked me off the ledge when I’d be overcome with a combination of fear and fatigue. Thank you. We love you!
This was not life or death but it certainly was serious. It was a reminder that life should be treasured. All the other bullsh*t out there really doesn’t matter if you and the ones you love aren’t healthy. So folks….eat your vegetables (there are A LOT in Andy’s future!!!), visit the doctor regularly (many of those in his future too!), cherish your family, be generous with your love and CARPE DIEM!
Leaving!