Watching numbers on a monitor… again?

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Who would have thought that only seven months after Christopher's accident and hospitalization we would once again find ourselves watching numbers on a monitor?  But this time, the numbers are telling the story of what is going on in MY body.  On Friday night, after telling Paul that I needed to be taken to the emergency room because, as I said, "something just doesn't feel right," I was diagnosed with multiple pulmonary emboli.  I have three large blood clots and several smaller ones in my pulmonary artery.  These clots were the cause of my shortness of breath, labored breathing and rapid heartbeat.

So here I lay in a hospital bed in the ICU.  I spent 12 hours in the emergency room and was then transferred to the ICU where I've been for 24 hours and will stay for at least another 24.  I will likely be in the hospital for several days after that.   It’s just so odd to be the patient; the one lying in the bed while my family sits around me, passing the hours.  Better me than one of my children, though.

You know, a couple of weeks ago I began writing my annual Christmas letter and in it, I said that this has been the mother of all years.  At the time, I had no idea what was yet to come and that's probably a good thing.  This is not how I envisioned spending the weeks leading up to Christmas, but I will not complain.  No, instead I will count my blessings.  Oh, how I have been blessed this year!  Christopher survived his brain injury and is thriving, I have family and friends who have been absolutely amazing, showering me with love and support, and today, I am alive and looking forward to celebrating the holidays with family and friends.  THIS Christmas is going to be the best one ever!