1) A presidential candidate in the week prior to an election
2) The guy backstage in charge of the 'applause' sign during Oprah's 'Favorite Things' episode
3) The cashier at the Bojangles beside Williams Brice for the first home game of the season
These individuals have been less busy than my family in the past week. Seriously. I couldn't have scripted this.
These individuals have been less busy than my family in the past week. Seriously. I couldn't have scripted this.
Last Monday around lunch time I got a call from Jay informing me that my Mom had been taken to the ER from work with a heart rate of 200 and that she was being transferred via ambulance to a hospital in Columbia. From the sound of his usual, non panicked tone one could have just as easily believed that he was calling to discuss something as trivial as today's barometric pressure. I, on the other hand, had a million questions and was immediately concerned. It was then decided that my Dad and brother would be coming to Columbia as well in order to be with her during the hospital stay.
This was about the time that Mr. Pax was on a swirling path into South Carolina, preparing to induce terror upon everything from the bread aisle at your local grocery store to every possible road. But according to weatherman Ryan, "It's not going to do anything."
Challenge accepted.
Challenge accepted.
The next day, Tuesday, I took Emerson to daycare in the sleet, anticipating an early dismissal announcement at any moment. When the windows of our office resembled a snow globe on top of a jack hammer a couple of hours later I was immediately stoked (work, who???). Then, more exciting than Santa's sleigh bells the 'ding' on my incoming messages confirmed my instincts: daycare was dismissing at 10:30. I made an executive decision to make a mad dash to the hospital to see my Mom before picking up Emmy.
Thankfully Mama was in great spirits, and although her enzymes were a little high that morning (which could be a sign of a heart attack), the doctor who examined her did not think that was the case. I left in a hurry to pick up Emerson shortly before Jay and my Dad arrived. They had driven to the wrong hospital.
After whisking my snow bunny out of daycare and heading home we began entering a winter wonderland on our side of town. It was magical, and I was SO excited. I didn't foresee things returning to normal for several days. After all, normal is no fun. With the exception of hospital test results. And you can quote me on that.
My Dad and Jay waited until almost 6:00 that evening for Mama to have her heart cath. They received the results immediately: no blockages, no issues with the arteries, and her heart looked great. Praise JESUS!!! I was so incredibly relieved and thankful to Him for all He has done for our family. Gracious!!!
My Mom had to stay another night, and because her hospital room was only slightly larger than the cardboard box of planets I made for a science project in middle school Daddy and Jay came back to our house that evening. And they made it just in time.
The next morning I woke up to Ryan pacing the room and looking out of the window. "Katharine, it's bad out there." I surely thought he was being facetious, but then he made that face I usually see when the clothes aren't folded or dirty dishes are floating in the sink. And I immediately knew he wasn't joking.
Highway scene from winter storm Pax.
Highway scene from winter storm Pax.
"Yes, honey? I won't be home until later. As in 2016."
That morning my Mom received the wonderful news that a simple ablation procedure could most likely fix her heart, which they determined had an electric issue.
"You can't see it
It's Electric!
You gotta feel it
It's Electric!
Ooh, it's shakin'
It's Electric!"
Somehow the "Electric Slide" takes on a new meaning...
Go, Ann! It's your Birthday!!!
She was supposed to be released that day, but we couldn't have made the trip to get her if we tried. Not even a Belk sale could have gotten us out of the house. But that afternoon when the hospital needed room for more patients my Mom received the news that an ambulance would be taking her safely to our house at NO charge!
"You can't see it
It's Electric!
You gotta feel it
It's Electric!
Ooh, it's shakin'
It's Electric!"
Somehow the "Electric Slide" takes on a new meaning...
Go, Ann! It's your Birthday!!!
She was supposed to be released that day, but we couldn't have made the trip to get her if we tried. Not even a Belk sale could have gotten us out of the house. But that afternoon when the hospital needed room for more patients my Mom received the news that an ambulance would be taking her safely to our house at NO charge!
A trip on Bill Gates's private jet? Almost the same price.
We waited in anticipation as the sky grew darker and darker, but just before 6:00 pm we saw an ambulance turning the corner and heading straight for our house...at the top of a hill. For about five minutes we watched in horror as it stalled three times and slid backwards, coming within inches of taking out our neighbor's SUV that was parked in the street. Then the ambulance stopped, and we saw three figures emerge from the vehicle. Two paramedics escorted beloved Ann to our front door. I wanted to HUG those people, and I wish they had stayed to eat with us. I was so humbled that they put themselves in harm's way for the sake of returning my mother to us.
The next two days were awesome, as work was something few in the entire city had to endure (outside of rescue workers, etc. to whom my heart goes out in abundance)!
The next two days were awesome, as work was something few in the entire city had to endure (outside of rescue workers, etc. to whom my heart goes out in abundance)!
Thursday we had an absolute blast in the snow (Youtube video to follow) and only got a little bit of cabin fever.
That afternoon I received news more disappointing than your favorite restaurant running out of the entree you ordered: work was resuming the next morning at 10:00 am.
That afternoon I received news more disappointing than your favorite restaurant running out of the entree you ordered: work was resuming the next morning at 10:00 am.
Approximately 9:30 am on Friday began arguably the most catastrophic ten minutes of my life. First, my car got stuck trying to back up and out of my driveway. After going inside and screaming that I was going to be late the car magically made it onto the road during the next try. I then began sliding uncontrollably into Jay's car that was parked right outside of the house. I slammed on the parking brake within a few feet of sideswiping his car and screamed again, this time for Jay to find his keys so that he could move his car immediately. When he finally emerged from the house I stepped out of the car to survey the ice when- BAM!!!
I fell straight down on my tailbone, smacked my shoulder, and cut my hand. This single incident would eventually bring forth an earthquake (more on that in a moment), and my wailing could have been mistaken for a tornado siren.
This was hardly the way I intended to start Valentine's Day weekend, but oh boy. It wasn't over just yet. That evening instead of waiting hours at a restaurant Ryan grilled steaks for us, and - although you may not believe it- not a single crisis occurred during our dinner.
Don't you love the sugary gummy worms that accompanied this meal?
While feeding Emerson at around 10:30 that night the whole house shook for a few seconds. I ran in our room to ask Ryan if he felt it, while a few probable scenarios ran through my mind.
1) Had Miley and her wrecking ball made their way over to South Carolina? (In which case, they could go right back to California from whence they came...or Jupiter...who really knows.)
2) Did I forget inviting King Kong to our house that evening?
3) Had I REALLY fallen that hard on the ice??!?!
To our- and the rest of the nation's- shock. It was an actual earthquake. Get right with the Lord, people!
I was looking SO forward to spending a couple of days in our hometown, since I had asked for Monday off due to a holiday at Emerson's daycare. The plan was to go home Saturday - Monday, since we wanted to spend Valentine's Day with Daddy.
That plan was about to go up in smoke.
Emerson had a stuffy nose for the past couple of weeks, but in the days leading up to last weekend it had turned into a full on coughing catastrophe. Every breath was a wheeze, her chest was sinking in, and her throat sounded horrible. I had taken her to the doctor that Tuesday, and at the time it was not in her lungs, so there was nothing we could do. I had the entire car packed for our trip home when Dorothy responded to my text and had talked to a nurse at Emmy's doctor's office about her symptoms. After I finally got a hold of someone on call, the verdict was in. She needed to be seen immediately, and due to the severity of her symptoms and the fact that it was Saturday the Emergency Room was the only option.
Thank God for a wonderful staff. They saw her immediately, and although baby girl did not take too kindly to the X ray lady...
the doctors discovered that it was a bad upper respiratory infection and not RSV as they initially thought, which is a serious respiratory problem that can block airways and is the leading cause of infant hospitalization. The fact that she didn't have it was a wonderful blessing, but because her immune system was already down she didn't need to be around other people for a few days. This meant no trip home, which disappointed me so badly...but when your sick child gives you such a scare you just have to count your blessings.
Emergency Room outtakes.
Really the only home remedy we can administer is suctioning of the nose. And I'll put it to you like this: holding down a crocodile for a dental procedure might be a little less difficult.
No hospital visit is complete without a few laughs. Are you kidding me with the words on the sign in our room???
"STOP! Do you have all your belongings? Clothes, valuables, purse, glasses, DENTURES, or money???"
Someone please inform me as to what would compel someone to remove their dentures in the Pediatric ER. And second, wouldn't it be blatantly obvious if you left them???
"Bye, bank youuu!!! Hab a nice dayyy...."
Before & After
I particularly love her "Thank Heaven for Little Girls outfit."
And although it may be tempting to add "except between the hours of 12:00 - 6:00 am" to the stitching I truly love every waking minute with her. I love her so much I can't see straight.
A couple of Saturdays ago I transformed part of our house into a Valentine's Day set. How much sweetness can be captured in a single picture? We were about to find out.
Ryan: "Those are great!!! That's my sweet girl! Now put the living room and foyer back together..."
To end our week of wackiness I ended up getting sick as well, and for the past several days I have sounded like a talking corpse.
It's not just a show.
And last but not least, click the link below and enjoy this one minute video compilation of our family on snow day. It's pretty hilarious (Due to a song copyright it will ONLY play on a computer and no mobile devices. Sorry!!!)
Stay cool until the next disaster,
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