Reality Check

Have you ever had one of those moments that make you really think about how precious life is and how every minute counts?? You know, a brush with death, a song that makes you really ponder like "Don't Blink" or "Live Like You Were Dying". Well, I had my own little reality check today..... here's the story.

My mom and Meredith came over for lunch. We have a "Tuesday Lunch Club" where my mom, myself, my siblings and sometimes spouses who can get away for lunch meet up. Every Tuesday no matter what. I have found that taking my extremely spirited little angel out is not all that easy. He doesn't love to sit still. He loves to explore everything!! So, we thought we would have lunch at my house where Warren could play freely.

Have I mentioned that my little monkey has discovered the art of climbing?? He can get himself up on our bed, pull himself up on the couch without blinking and a kitchen chair, no problem. I was dishing up my lunch when I saw Warren had made himself comfortable at the kitchen table feeding himself some peaches. I chuckled a bit thinking, my boy is so smart. He can get on the chair AND feed himself. However, he looked a little wobbly, so I made my way over to the chair to pick him up and I was one second too late. He slipped and went head first to the hard kitchen floor. He cried for one second then stopped breathing, for one second I thought he was chocking, but luckily that wasn't it. This is not the first time he has stopped breathing. When he cries hard enough he sometimes forgets to breathe until I blow in his face and it usually pulls him out of it.

This is the part where we all panicked. I was holding him and blowing in his face trying to make him breathe when he went cross eyed, then limp. My mom took him as I dialed 911. At this point I am in survival mode thinking every second counts. Within about 10 seconds (the longest 10 seconds of mt life) he came out of it and started to cry, but the visual of my baby boy just loosing all life in his little body, even for a few seconds really scared me. The 911 operator said with a baby, the paramedics insist on coming over to check them out. By the time they got there he was his normal self saying "Hi, Hi" to the paramedics and giving them big hugs and kisses. As Shawna put it... "That little shit is going to give you a run for your money, isn't he?" Oh yes, he will.

I know it may seem silly now, but it really freaked me out to see my buddy go cross eyed, then faint. Even my mom who has had 4 kids panicked and said to call 911. It made me think how every second counts. One of my first posts had this little poem that I had to go pull up and read again. Cheesy I know, but I am feeling VERY grateful right now for the health of my family and the blessing that they are in my life.

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together. Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by. Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.. Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows. Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given. I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore. And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day...