Saturday night at 3 a.m., I was in the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital emergency room listening to Joe struggle for breath. The rapid, shallow breathing started up about supper time, and in spite of Vick's rub and some time spent in the steamy bathroom, it hadn't improved.
After a half dozen people poked and prodded Joe as he screamed and clung to me, we were allowed to go back home with the diagnosis of mild pneumonia and brochial spasms.
I don't deal with medical problems very well. They make me angry. How dare something mess with my child's body and leave me powerless.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Men.
We have a toilet in the unfinished space of our attic. Just like a typical man, this is Chris' favorite toilet to use. It has no sink nearby, no doors or walls to give you that secure feeling while you defecate.
Something I don't quite understand is the pride men feel concerning the size of the deposits they make into toilets. Maybe it has something to do with the ecouragement we give toddlers when they learn to poop in the potty, but I thought we were supposed to grow out of that need for acknowledgement. Anyway, I can't tell you how many times I've heard something like "I can't believe they're [his cheeks] still together after all that." Pride comes before a fall.
A few days ago, Chris went upstairs to 'do his business.' When he came down, he said, "It got stuck! [read with touch of pride] What are we going to do?"
We?
He left for work, the thing still stuck in the toilet. When he got home, he went to check on it, hoping that it had miraculously disappeared. No suck luck. He came down, asking for more advice, secrectly hoping I would bail him (and the poop) out. Would Drano work, he asked. I doubt it, I said, what about a stick? He didn't like that idea. I suggested a latex glove.
Minutes later, armed with a stick, plastic bag, and latex gloves, Chris went upstairs to take care of his problem. He soon came back down, proclaiming loudly, "Watch out! Poop on a stick!"
Men.
Something I don't quite understand is the pride men feel concerning the size of the deposits they make into toilets. Maybe it has something to do with the ecouragement we give toddlers when they learn to poop in the potty, but I thought we were supposed to grow out of that need for acknowledgement. Anyway, I can't tell you how many times I've heard something like "I can't believe they're [his cheeks] still together after all that." Pride comes before a fall.
A few days ago, Chris went upstairs to 'do his business.' When he came down, he said, "It got stuck! [read with touch of pride] What are we going to do?"
We?
He left for work, the thing still stuck in the toilet. When he got home, he went to check on it, hoping that it had miraculously disappeared. No suck luck. He came down, asking for more advice, secrectly hoping I would bail him (and the poop) out. Would Drano work, he asked. I doubt it, I said, what about a stick? He didn't like that idea. I suggested a latex glove.
Minutes later, armed with a stick, plastic bag, and latex gloves, Chris went upstairs to take care of his problem. He soon came back down, proclaiming loudly, "Watch out! Poop on a stick!"
Men.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Mr. Tidwell
When we moved into our house four years ago, we noticed this old man mowing the yard across the street. We went over to introduce ourselves, and, both being in the mowing business, Chris and he got to 'talk shop.' He was in his 80s at the time and had over 30 yards that he cared for.As Mr. Tidwell usually mows our neighbor's yard while Chris is at work, we hadn't spoken to him for a year or two.
Yesterday, Mr. Tidwell was out for the first cut of the season, and Chris jumped at the chance to reconnect. Mr. Tidwell is now 92. Yes, you read that correctly: 92.
Chris told him he was an inspiration. He returned by saying Chris was his inspiration and had made his day. Whatever, Mr. Tidwell. Nothing compares to you.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Silence
I told you earlier that I borrowed two books about Mother Teresa from the library. One is biographical, and the other written by Mother Teresa. Now known as No Greater Love, its original title was The Mother Teresa Reader, A Life For God. I am only on page 14, but I feel as if I need to stop and read the first ten pages every day for a month.
Unfortunately, I haven't read them but three times, but I had to take a quick break and read Dobson's Strong Willed Child. After a crazy few days with Finley a while back, I just needed some retooling on my parenting strategies. I'm feeling a little wiser now, and also thankful that she's not as strong willed as the examples in the book.
It is no wonder why depression, confusion, and hopelessness so easily infiltrate our lives. The news, the television, that mean guy in Kmart (God bless him), all fighting for our attention and our thoughts...
So here are a few lines from MT:
"In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself.
Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us...
Listen in silence, because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God..."
Unfortunately, I haven't read them but three times, but I had to take a quick break and read Dobson's Strong Willed Child. After a crazy few days with Finley a while back, I just needed some retooling on my parenting strategies. I'm feeling a little wiser now, and also thankful that she's not as strong willed as the examples in the book.
It is no wonder why depression, confusion, and hopelessness so easily infiltrate our lives. The news, the television, that mean guy in Kmart (God bless him), all fighting for our attention and our thoughts...
So here are a few lines from MT:
"In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself.
Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us...
Listen in silence, because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God..."
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