As year 2009 ended I thought about all things big and small in Don't Forget to Stop and Smell the Flowers. I wrote, "I am once again in awe of the curve balls that life throws me....and how I handled it to bring on a fresh 2010 with glorious dreams, hopes and wishes that I will soon fulfill."
My family started out January 01, 2010 as any other New Year's Day. We were having a relaxing morning and went out to run a couple of errands. As soon as I walked in the door my phone rings and it's the phone call that every mother dreads.
My son only calls when he's sick and when I hear the "MOM" in a weak voice I know it's not good. He was in the emergency room and to make a long story short his gallbladder had become infected and the infection leaking into his stomach. He was on Morphine by 11am as the pain was so bad (usually excruciating pain when the gallstone is in the bile duct as I'd had when I was 25 yrs. Old)
Emergency surgery started by 4:30pm and we were waiting for him when he came out of recovery at 8:35 or so.
He'll be fine and he's home now but here's the kicker. HE DROVE HIMSELF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT 5am New Years Day because ‘he didn't want to bother anyone'. You can bet he won't do that again....especially after mom ‘counseled' him.
Those curve balls hit at any time folks. I'm just happy that in my latter years of life I recognize the importance of Stopping to Smell those Flowers......
You can never bring back time.
Do you know what your flowers are?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: I want to thank all who attended to my son (Emergency Room, Surgery unit, Surgeons, nurses and staff) at Tripler Army Medical Center and for taking good care of my son, Michael, a veteran of the US Armed Forces.
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2011 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Another Note: Both fairies in pictures from Don't Forget to Stop and Smell the Flowers and this post were given to me for Christmas by my dear friend William Johnson....and so appropriate for topics...don't ya think?
Oh my! What a start to the new year. I am so glad your son will be fine. I can only imagine how you must have felt! I hope the rest of your year is calmer.
Sally - Boy you started your year out with a sprint, great to hear your son if fine!
Irene: Actually, there are many learning lessons here....and the main one being my son realizes the need to turn his lifestyle around....and ask for help when needed!
Christine: No kidding...he'll be fine...he's already back on his pc :) Mostly resting and trying to walk around as much as possible.
Glad your son is okay Sally. Like you, I've had my own experience with curve balls in the last couple of months. It's important we stop and smell the flowers and enjoy the finer things in life every opportunity we get.
Denise
Denise: Thanks much. If we didn't stop for moments what would be there to carry us through those times?
Goodness, that must have been scary! I'm glad he's doing better and can't believe he drove himself.....that sounds exactly like what my son would have done. Hope the rest of your week is a little less exciting!
Celeste...Not a great way to start the new year, but I am glad to hear everything came out okay. I guess that is the kind of curve ball that reminds us what is really important to us. I hope the rest of your week and your year is better.
HI Sally, Sounds like you raised a very thoughtful son - but perhaps a bit TOO thoughtful! I'm glad to hear he came through surgery alright and will be fine. He had the prayers of a lot of your blogging buddies once we heard about it on your facebook page.
That is a rough start to the new year. Glad he is doing OK. We jump every time the phone rings. Both sets of our parents are still alive and starting the slow down dramatically.
Sally the is a big curve ball. I know that with MomMa Sally taking care of him now he will be back on his feet real soon.
Sally, I am so glad your son is ok. Sounds like you will all be starting out the new year with gratitude! Happy New Year.
Wow, that must have been a shock, Sally. Thank goodness he is on the mend, and how sweet of him not to want to bother you.
I'm also the type that will drive myself to Urgent Care so that I don't bother anyone. I'm fortunate that I don't have a mom to counsel me, though. LOL. Glad all's well.
Sally - Good to hear he is on his way to recovery but I'll bet his ears are still warm.
Spent some time with Michael this morning. He is 'allowing me to drive him' to the college so he could check on his class stuff. Went to breakfast and we spent "quality time" ....very nice.
Sally - I hope he is showing improvement. I am sure he has a the very best nurse. Happy New Year.
Woo Ho,I am so glad you son is fine. I think it might be a guy thing, but he knows you love him and that he can always count on you. But he just had to flap his wings, not the best time necessarily to do that but thankfully it all turned out OK.
PS, You certainly took some beautiful pictures of your collection. The faces are certainly beautiful.
Carol: He sure does :) He's an independent kid....but at least I'm getting to be a mommy again lol
Hi William! No kidding...thankfully. I added on the first comment that they were gifts from my dearest friend William!
I really love these little figurines that you have in this post!!! Adorable!