Saturday, February 28, 2009

What a Year, Holy Crap!!

I'm sitting here in the house as Jon took the kids over to his sister's house for breakfast (hmm, it's nearly noon, already?)

Anyway, I stayed behind because I wanted to polish our floors. As I was putting down coat #3 of the worlds greatest floor product, Holloway House Quick Shine. I was thinking about the day and what we were going to do with the rest of it.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Today is February 28. It was one year ago today that Eva had her seizure in the doctor's office that sent us into a dizzying array of the world that we know now. I cannot even believe that it has been a year.

I remember it so well. Eva felt warm when I went to work. We had a staff meeting and I mentioned that I had to take her to the doctor later that afternoon because I did not want her to have the flu for a second time that month.

I had no idea the direction that I was heading that afternoon.

It's strange, when I was in the hospital with Eva the other day, most of the staff who were there, were there either the night that Eva came in the first time or the afternoon when Jack came in two days later. They all came in to talk to me about it. I told them that I could not believe that they remembered us from a year ago. The doctor told me that there are some families that they do not forget and we were one of them. They had gathered around and recounted that night and the subsequent Saturday from their perspective.

They mentioned seeing Eva toddling around (she was 16 mos at the time). Someone mentioned that she had on her Elmo dress (she did). Then, they told me that they all knew before the doctor told me. They had all seen the x-rays with the giant tumor but wanted to remain positive before they took us back for the CT to verify exactly what it was. One of the nurses told me that in all of his days, he'll never forget hearing me sob and hyperventilate from that room (funny, I won't forget that either!)

Another nurse and our doctor were the ones who were there when Jack came in. They, of course, jumped in with stories about that day and how in shock we all seemed to be.

I guess when we look back at it, we have to focus on all the blessings of the year. I mean, I have the most amazing memories of the past 366 days (LY was a leap year, remember?) :

All the outpouring of support from this blog and from my friends and colleagues
All the new friends I have made in this tiny circle of NB
Having such an amazing husband and son who just move along with every change
Having such a wonderful family who just pitched in at every turn to help us

The thing I am most blessed for, I would have to say, is watching my little Eva weather this storm with such strength and determination. I ordered a shirt for her that I'm hoping will come in in the next couple of days. I saw it when we were in Disney World last year but did not get it. It has much more meaning now. It is a picture of Yoda with a light saber and it says, "Judge me by my size, do you?" The world has to look out for this little one, trust.

Thank you all so much for your support for us over the past year. I don't know how I would have made it without you.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

we began difficult journeys on nearly the same day, so i remember your announcement of this shocking news very well. i even remember where i was. isn't that odd?

i've been so impressed how you all have confronted everything. you're inspirations. all of you.

thank you.