Family Matters

So I knew 2008 was going to be a year full of surprises, but I didn't know they would all happen so soon....and not really the surprises I intended on. I have already met my fair share of hospitals this year and now I know why I steer clear not to mention the smell...

Jared having surgery was my first encounter. two weeks ago, Jared had to have surgery on his should or more precisely, the ligaments in his rotator cuff. That hospital experience was not a fun one for me or Jared. After much arguing with doctors, nurses, and plenty of pain medication, Jared came home and is slowly recovering.

Update: Jared is doing better now that he is able to bathe! He is healing quickly is and able to get around much better on his own. I guess he really didn't have a choice since I haven't been around much. As sad as it is to say, I have been working ridiculously stressful and long hours....hours that should have been spent taking care of him. I have to admit, I have been blessed with an incredibly wonderful and supportive husband.

Last weekend I was in Dallas and returned home on Monday. Tuesday morning I woke up only to find that I had missed calls from my sisters and dad along with a text from Afton to call ASAP. I knew something was wrong. Calling Afton, I soon found out the bad news.

On Monday evening, My mom and Haley were over at some friend's house and my mom went to go down into the basement. Thinking there was a railing she went to grab it and lost her balance and fell over the edge onto the cement floor. She was rushed to the ER where they found she had fractured her skull and broken the bones on the right side of her face. Because of the severe head trauma they sent her downtown to the UPMC trauma unit to be cared for.

Being close to my mother as well as being the oldest, it was hard not being home with my family. Not to mention my dad was on a business trip so that just left my sisters to care of her. I knew I had to get home.

So here I am in Pittsburgh. While sitting on the plane, I tried preparing myself for the worst and what my mom looked like. I don't think I did very well at preparing myself...she looked so much worse than I imagined. My heart broke seeing her and knowing she was in so much pain. I have the personality of being a "fixer," so not being able to do a thing is very hard for me to deal with. I dealt with the same feelings sitting beside Jared knowing there wasn't anything I could do. I hate feeling completely helpless. Seeing my mother and Jared, I suppose kicked my motherly instincts into gear because all I wanted to do is hold them and take away all their pain. All I can do though is to just be here...and right now that is all that matters.

At the end of the day, family is all that matters.