at OhAmanda.com
Regular readers may have noticed that I haven’t been posting much (or at all) in the past week. I’ll write more about the specifics later (soon), but this week has found me mostly hanging around the hospital after my Mom had emergency open heart surgery at the end of last week. This was quite shocking for all of us (even the doctors)!
As I just rode the elevator to the cafeteria (during the late night snack hours), I decided that I just knew I had to sit down and write this top ten, as I’m quite certain I really have been at the hospital a bit too much lately.
1. I know the hours of the cafeteria, which opens for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night snacks. (My bank may very well think that my card has been stolen soon, due to so many charges in one location. This crime would have been committed by someone who greatly enjoys hospital food, of course.)
2. I have learned that if you walk around and look like you know what you’re doing (and doing it with a purpose), nobody seems to question what you’re doing. (Like when I walked into my Mom’s old room after she was moved and took one of the bedside tables, since we only had one in our new room. Nobody said a thing as I took it or wheeled it through the halls.)
3. I am not phased by people staring when I walk with my rolling suitcase through the hospital entrance, preparing to stay overnight with my Mom.
4. Some of the cafeteria staff have begun to recognize me, I think.
5. I have become immune to any shock at normal bodily functions or fluids. Sure, I still don’t want to see something like blood gushing everywhere, but to see a bit fall on the floor does not seem to phase me (except in a way of, “Hey — does this look normal to you?”)
6. I recognize family members of other patients who have also been staying quite a bit. They recognize me too.
7. Eric, who is always appreciative of me, has been having an extra special appreciation for my job as an at-home Mom while he has been with the kids pretty much constantly.
8. We have met enough of the staff in the two departments Mom has stayed in the longest to be able to form strong opinions about them. (We have been crazy about most of them, by the way. It has been a blessing to have such nice people helping my Mom.)
9. My body is actually acclimating to sleeping at the hospital. Who in the world actually sleeps soundly at the hospital? Though I did have one night where I only slept an hour, each night that I’ve stayed, I’ve managed to sleep for longer stretches at a time.
10. On one of my Mom’s walks in the hallway, I asked if she was ready to walk home now. When I said home, I meant her room.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad that she is doing better! My prayers are with you and especially with your hubby!
So sorry to hear this Angie. Hospitals are no fun. We have spent our fair share there as well.
#10 was really funny!
No fun! As a nurse, I can relate to many of these. Except not the sleeping one, since I was always working there.
I’ve been wondering where you are! (yes, I stalk you….ahem, check your blog daily!!)
May God Bless you, your mom and your entire family during this time. I pray that she has a fast recovery!
I actually found this post very sweet. You sound like a wonderful daughter. I hope to never be at the hospital so long. My uncle had strokes and spent lots of time in the hospital and my aunt told me how she knew the other families (strangers) and how they would pray for each other.
Angie, I am so sorry to hear about your mom, especially on the heels of losing your grandmother. I hope they’ve got everything all fixed now.
I sure hope she heals completely and quickly! Thank you for sharing your list…..your family is in my prayers!
I’m sorry your mom had to have surgery. I’m glad that things seem to be getting better.
I’m sorry to read about your mom’s surgery however I have to say this is a great idea for theme post – like top 10 reasons it’s time to go back to school. I know I’ll use this at some point on my own blog.
Are you still going to Savvy Blogging Summit – hope to meet you.
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