Treasure Chest of Thoughts

What a week!  Let me think…can I even remember back to last Monday?

Monday:

Chest did that weird fluttering one too many times, so I called the doctor.  They thought I should be seen…on Tuesday. 

Tuesday:  This day gets a little busier…

Went to the doctor (had an EKG …results “pretty good”; didn’t think to ask what that exactly meant, for then the doc wanted me to have some blood work and to wear a heart monitor).  Decided heart monitors will never become the latest fashion; something about those sticky stickers that really itch!).

Went back to school and finished the day; met for our final meeting with our NBCT Support Group to answer questions about the online testing part of this process; then as I was finally going home about 8 PM, I received a phone call that my stepson had broken his ankle; remained in the hospital until 1 AM with Nathan; then went home for some sleep while dad stayed…wait, it’s Wednesday…

Wednesday:

Back to the hospital, where we learned no surgery today because the ankle was too swollen; taught my afternoon classes.  Decided if anything is wrong with my heart that surely the previous 24 hours would show it on the monitor that I returned after school…right?  Thump…thump…flutter…

Here’s where God intervened in the form of my two friends Glenda and Glenda (really!).  Glenda R calls me and asks if we had considered moving Nathan to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Well…..no. 

Then, I immediately felt like a horrible step-mother!  Is it true…we really are wicked?!  You see…my daughter has had three open-heart surgeries (due to a congenital heart/lung defect), so this broken ankle had seemed just a little minor to me.  Then as she talked, I realized the more seriousness of this break…in the growth plate.  So there began God’s intervening through caring friends (maybe angels in disguise?) and myself as I then called my husband who talked to Nathan’s mother….

It’s still Wednesday…we all met with Nathan’s doctor at @8:30 who agreed to Nathan’s moving (ever seen fracture blisters…not pleasant!).  Thus, Nathan’ adventure continues as he now gets to ride in an ambulance to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  Oh, the tales that boy will one day get to tell…and no thanks to my helping him embellish his ride on that horse that he jumped off…just before breaking that ankle!

Thursday:

I think…not real clear about this…think it is @1:30 AM…ACH doctors in ER tell us that they cannot do anything to his leg….too swollen and those fracture blisters I mentioned cause him to be at risk for infection.   They “loosely” cast his leg, and we return home (two hour ride for us) at 4:00 AM…I take a few moments to email some lesson plans…then sleep.

At @9:30 Jay receives a phone call from surgeon; due to the break being in the growth plate, Nathan needs surgery on Friday…not that next Monday.

With about 3 1/2 hours of sleep, I completed my application for a class set of laptop computers.  Shhhh…I am hoping the committee never learns that about my submission! I also spend some time working on a Praxis III assessment and send more lesson plans.

Friday:

Surgery day…they take Nathan in early, surgery takes less time than they had thought it would, and he comes out of recovery sooner than planned. We returned home that evening…back to normalcy…and family waiting to see Nathan.  Good to have these kind of people as neighbors also! 

And Holly, our daughter…remember that intervening God?  Over the years, He has placed people in mine and Holly’s lives to take the place of those who could not  (or would not) always be present….a caring Gran-Gran and Papa, best friends, aunts, a dad, and a brother.

Holly, who had spent several nights with some of these people during this week, of course, wanted to come home.  I picked her up from Gran-Gran where they had spent the evening at our Mini-Relay for Life helping raise $10,000+ for the American Cancer Society.

Holly came home and promptly became the nurse…or the maid as she called herself.  Another realization that came out of this week?  Brothers and sisters do not have to be related by blood either to truly care about each other.

Saturday:

A day at home.  We all waited and pampered Nathan.  I completed that Praxis III assessment and sent it off.  Lights were out by 9:30.  This was one tired bunch!

Sunday:

Today dad went to work; Nathan spent time with his mom;  Holly and I went to church.

Then…Holly played on an extra pair of crutches, propped her leg on pillows because she has a hurt ankle, and is attempting to convince me to let her take them to school. Oh, to be an innocent nine-year-old and be blessed with all the above people in her life.

Yes, we are all blessed.  Shhhh…are you listening?  Angels may be speaking…in the form of your friends…