Want to be reminded how fragile life is? Want to be kicked in the gut to make sure you don't take anything for granted? Want your world to come crashing down? Well, of course not. But you parents out there know that all it takes for all three (and more) to become reality is your kid to become sick. Such powerlessness. Such worry.
The Cutlet woke up late Saturday night and kept saying "ow" over and over. He was also apparently having trouble breathing. We called the doctor-on-call, who said it could be something minor (i.e. tummy ache) or something not as minor (i.e. appendicitis), and we needed to take him to the hospital. We scooped him up, grabbed the diaper backpack and headed out the door. By the time I'd unlocked the truck, he was laughing and giggling and talking. Like a normal, healthy kid. We looked at each other (of course, it was dark so we couldn't see either one's facial expression) and decided we'd at least head to the hospital and see how he was. A few miles down the road, it was apparent the little guy was just peachy, so we turned around.
Whew. So then the sky regained its rightful place above us instead of weighing down on our noggins. Crisis averted. Then, of course, the Petite Filet had surgery on Monday. Let me start out by saying it went well, and she is doing as best as could be expected. It was minor, outpatient stuff and in the scheme of things, no biggie. With the Cutlet's health a bit shaky, we were unable to take him to alternate childcare (our main provider just having had a baby, she's out of commission). Our Sunday school teacher's wife volunteered, dragged our teacher and had their daughter over, too, and proceeded to cook, clean and do laundry for us (as well as mow the entire lawn) while we were at the hospital. Christian friendship, my friends, does exist.
The surgery was probably harder on me. Maybe I'm just thinking that, but after all, I wasn't given any mind-numbing drugs. I wasn't able to fall asleep during the procedure. Nope. I sat in the waiting room, read the paper, read some of a book, watched "The Price is Right" from the opposite corner. I saw other people waiting, some anxious for their names to be called so they could take their places upon the cutting board for various procedures.
If I learned everything I knew about hospitals from television, I'd believe there were interns shagging in the mop closet and some life-saving procedure happening at every waking moment the entrance to the e.r. But because that's all hyperfiction, and this was a small, suburban hospital, TV rules don't apply. Characters were cast not for their looks or acting ability, but because they loved or liked their jobs and "want to help people." There are certainly some very attractive men and women working in medicine, but the fake doctors on TV have better hair, and maybe their scrubs are cleaner. Real pros do have personality, though, as exemplified by the two-nurse comedy team that created us in pre-op. Plus, my extensive e.r. experience at this hospital (a long story, friends) has proven that some such facilities are quiet most of the time.
You've got to at least like people a little to be in medicine, it would seem, judging by the endless line of patients losing their patience. Kind of like other people-centric professions ... food service, schoolteacher, bank teller, flight attendant, newspaper editor. Without people, many of us wouldn't have jobs. Those who don't have to deal with the public may be missing out a little. Sure, I could probably eek out some sort of drivelly news without actually talking to people, but the paper would lose relevance and readability. Just like we strive for names and faces in ou photos, rather than simply buildings and landscapes: it's all about the peeps.
Things are slowly falling back into place after several things have hit us at once. The Cutlet is OK, but he may end up at the doctor just to be sure. The PF is recovering well – if only because of her pain meds – and will return to work next week. We took a deep breath and fixed the oil pump in my truck to avoid a new-car payment for a few months. We had the air ducts in our house cleaned, and it no longer smells like an entire squirrel family crawled up into the attic and died. The only thing that doesn't work are our cordless telephones. Whenever the phone rings, they just keep ringing, which means we have to sprint to the wall phone in the kitchen (which doesn't have a caller ID display) and hope it's not a telemarketer trying to sell us something. Again.
Really, I'm pretty content if the phone is the only thing that's on the fritz. *sigh*
So glad things worked out this week!
Glad to here PF's surgery went well! I hope the Cutlet continues to feel better! Sounds like things are on an upswing...I hope it stays that way!
Just a quick comment. I'm glad the cutlet and Petit filet are okay.
Also, I want to tell you this is a very nice peice. Sort of lyrical and it presents both down and up. Not just one or the other. I like it.
And I wish you all the best.
glad to hear both your loved ones are well and healthy and safe!
checking in. glad to hear things are good and the surgery went well.
Kids worry the living crap out of you at inopportune times, always. Written in extra fine print on the bottom of the contract before you took possession of 'em. Check it out...
Hope all goes better the next few days.
Just a tire swing... uh huh.
It sounds like you've got a lot to be thankful for. I'm happy for you and your family. What a blessing to have such wonderful church friends!
The Jamaican Doc dropping in for a long overdue visit.
Yes, we do have to put up with a lot from pateints AND their relatives. Sometimes it can get a bit ugly on both sides, but hopefully not too often.
Yes, don't beleive everything you see on TV. Certainly I can't recall shagging while on duty as an Intern....then again, there were off duty nights ;-) ... (though few and far between!)
Glad to hear that The Cutlet seems OK and that the PF is recovering well.
Nice post overall.
Yeah, glad it all came together in the end!
Happy to read the good news on PF and cutlet.
Without people no one would have a job. If nobody was around to buy things, event the non public dealing people (like me), wouldn't have anything to do either.