How Our Medical Emergencies Were a Gift of Time

If you pay attention to this picture, I have no make up on and gave no bother trying to cover up the bags under my eyes and the breakout on my face. I have dry shampoo in yesterday’s washed hair and I’m in my car, surrounded by stuff that’s not mine.

In the past week, our family has had a quick knee surgery, dealt with everyone getting sick besides my husband, a couple pancreatic attacks, pink eye, a ERCP procedure for Carter, and three doctor’s appointments — not including a trip to urgent care for Sophie and myself.

Phew…. was that it?… Yep, I think it was.

I’m not telling you this for sympathy, kudos or for anything else. I’m not telling you this so I can get the, “Oh, you don’t look too well, are you OK?” Truth be told, that’s a loaded question, and honestly, depending on how much sleep I’ve gotten or my mood at that moment, the answer can vary from you leaving that question thinking, “Wow, that is just great!” to “I am never asking her that question again.”

If you’re curious about how I am doing right now: right now I am good! Life is good, my kids are happy, we’re all healthy for the most part, we have been out of the hospital with no stays, C hasn’t regressed at all yet, so we really are good!

However, this last week has been challenging and emotionally draining, but so much good came from each and every one of these challenges.

On the days that Carter had his pancreatic episodes, it meant extra cuddles. The pink eye got me to wash all our sheets and sanitize all the toys. For the days when Sophia was sick, we got to do movie days, got reading in and caught up on some girl-time and painting her toenails. Samir having surgery meant he will be a lot healthier in the future and not have another injury as sports are his life. And for me, getting sick was a reminder that I need to sometimes slow down as I tend to go until I drop.

Call me illogical, but I think all of this happening at once is a big reminder to slow down. I mean, yeah, no one likes being sick. No one wants to have surgery or be in pain, but due to all of that happening, we were able to have family movie nights on the couch and spend more time together, which is a gift in itself. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, but time is something everyone takes for granted and is something you can never get back. Life is too short to deal with any negativity, and you have to focus on the good in order to enjoy your highs and get past the lows.

Follow this journey at Carter’s Challenge.

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