Sunday, August 10, 2014

Catching up and family

This has just been a brutal week.  My poor son had a horrible time with his tonsillectomy, so you know as a Mom I had a horrible time, too.  We knew it was going to be bad, I mean really bad, but I felt with diligent care, keeping on top of the pain medication and all we might sneak through a tiny bit, but I was wrong.  The poor child was is in incredible pain, for days.  He slept in my bed for three nights so I could help him round the clock, for a 17 year old to voluntarily sleep in his mom's bed you know things are bad.  I almost took him to Emergency more times than I can count.  But as of late Friday things started to turn around a bit.  I finally got some Gatorade and ice cream in him, and he had a shower!  I almost wanted to run around the neighborhood high fiving everyone because my 17 year old son was able to take his first shower in four days! Yesterday he was awake for 11 hours straight, and even had another shower, and about 1/2 cup of super soft mashed potatoes.  We are on a roll!!!  I am decreasing the pain medication even if he feels he is not quite ready, he is on some heavy duty stuff and it makes him groggy.  The more alert you are the more you might want to eat and regain your strength.  And if he is awake I no longer have to wake him up on the hour to get him to drink fluids, I feel like I might actually be getting my life back.  Frankly I am exhausted, but I feel like complaining is ridiculous after what he has gone though.  I have learned something about my quiet boy, he is a fighter, and he fought through each and every swallow, much braver than I think I could have been.

As you know amongst this surgery we also had family visiting.  My darling niece and her family came for five whole days.  They came to visit us, see my Dad and of course meet Little Buddy, who was thrilled.  He kept pulling himself up on his walker and saying, "Come on cousins, let's go!"  And they did.  My niece was enthralled with him, taking him in the pool, walks outside with his walker and generally playing with him so I could take care of my son.  It seemed like bad timing for a visit but it actually worked out beautifully.

Here are a few pictures of their visit.


My Dad with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He has lots more but these were the ones visiting.  My three are on the left, pre-surgery of course.











I adore my niece and her wonderful family.  I have written many times about my love of being an Aunt.  This visit I was not as involved, not as much fun as I would like to have been.  But I think they had a wonderful time anyway.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and I want to thank you for all of your prayers and concern about my son.  One blogger friend of mine, took the time to reach out to me many, many times through email and helped me through this one sharing her wonderful nursing knowledge.  You know who you are and I can not thank you enough.  It is amazing how much bloggers care, taking the time out of their busy lives to help someone across the world care for her son.  Thank you.

36 comments:

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Beautiful family. So happy for you!

S
xo

kathyinozarks said...

families are just the best-big hugs to you. so glad your older son is finally past the worse, looks like little buddy had a wonderful time meeting more of his family too

Bridget said...

I'm glad to hear your son is improving.

Your family is lovely, and I'll bet Little Buddy thinks they should visit every single day. :-)

moonstruckcreations said...

Dear Meredith, so so sorry that your poor son has had such a terrible time of it in recovery, but so so happy to hear that there is some improvement now. Hopefully things can start to get back to normal for you all.

Your family look so lovely all together in the pics, at least there has been something positive going on in amongst all the cr*p (pardon my language!!)

Take care, hope you can finally get some rest this weekend.

Helenxx

Between Me and You said...

Dear, oh dear - what a tribulation for your lovely boy. It's bad enough when they're small to go through all that but much worse when they're older. Glad he's on the mend now and that you've had help around the place thanks to your lovely niece.Her family are delightful too. I love the trendy specs too! Well done, Meredith on getting through what must have been an awfully hard week.xxx

Suzan said...

Yeap!!! Family is the greatest!!! And you have a lovely family!!!
Now that your son is feeling better --- isn't it wonderful to have all your kids under the same roof!!!

linda said...

Happy family times Meredith the photo's say it all. I'm so glad your son is now on the mend, hopefully he will recover quickly from now one and you will be able to breathe one huge sigh of relief and get some much needed rest. xxx

Jo said...

Lovely family pictures there Meredith, sending you love and strength. Jo x

Jennifer Hays said...

I'm so glad your son is doing better, firstly. I remember when I had my lower wisdom teeth removed, when I was about 20 years old, it was really agony and a long recovery. I had the top ones removed about 5 years later and it was a much easier process. I don't know exactly what the difference was but sometimes surgeries just really knock us down. Your family visit sounds wonderful. I'm so glad you were able to spend time together. I notice that there is a very strong family resemblance! I think your niece and her children look a lot like your older boys and even your dad. That's always interesting to me. My kids look a lot like my husband and his father, you can really tell they're all related. Hope you have a much better week, my friend.

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for the update and for sharing your beautiful family with us, Meredith :) So glad your son is healing and that you have had some help during this tough time. Sending love and hugs your way, along with continued prayers for blessings for you and yours. I just got to my oldest sister's in CA and we plan to drive up to see Teresa's lake in OR
tomorrow! xx

Unknown said...

Beautiful family. I loved looking at the pictures. Nice to see the people you are talking about in your blog. The vivit came at the perfect time. Gave you time to do what you needed to do. I bet Little Buddy will miss them when they leave. I love the Come on cousins lets play!! So cute.
Hopefully your son is feeling even better today. It is too bad that he had to suffer so much with his operation. But it sounds like he is on the road to recovery now.

Stins said...

So glad your son is getting better!
What a great portraits of your family...
I love it that little Buddy is so enthousiastic :-)!
And hopefully you can now get some rest and a bit more time for yourself... Take care, love from Mirjam.

CJ said...

It sounds absolutely dreadful, I'm so glad he seems to be finally getting over the worst of it. Your niece is an angel, helping out and entertaining your littlest boy. No doubt he loved having cousins around to play with. I'm sending you a big cyber hug, I do your middle boy is completely healed before too much longer. Try and look after yourself too Meredith, if you can, although I'm sure you have almost no time! CJ xx

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Oh Meredith, I'm so glad your son is doing better. It is so hard to see our 'babies' hurt. I left Ashleigh on Friday and she was doing much better but the pain was wearing her down. I'm hoping the weekend of rest and she will feel well enough to go back to work on Monday. Your family is beautiful and I'm so happy they were able to visit you.
hugs,
Linda

Claudia said...

My gorgeous family. We're really missing everyone a lot!

xo
Claudia

Amy at love made my home said...

I am SO pleased to hear that he is doing better, it certainly sounds as though the corner has been turned and things are now improving. I can imagine that it has been a very long week for you though. I hope that this next week will be better and pass a little more easily. The visit from your niece was probably actually good timing as it kept Buddy busy and occupied and allowed him to expand his knowledge of his family members, it sounds as though he has been having a wonderful time. I love the photo of him sitting next to your Dad holding your Dad's walking stick as though he is going to say come on Grandad lets go for a walk! I hope that Mr Teen keeps on getting better and better every day and that you can find a few moments for yourself so that you are not too exhausted. Still thinking of you and sending hugs you know! xx

RedSetter said...

Beautiful photos of your gorgeous family and a blessing to have them all around to let you focus on your son. Take care.

Betsy said...

Happy pictures Meredith! I was so relieved to read that your son is doing better. I've had him, (and you), on my heart for several days and have even stopped in the middle of things to say a prayer for the both of you on a few occasions. I'm truly happy that he's doing better. It looks like your niece was a wonderful help with little Buddy-maybe a blessing in disguise that they came this week.? How sweet of your blogging friend to reach out to you with her expertise. Isn't that what makes the world a better place? Just being there for each other when needed. We missed you at our dinner Meredith, but you are thought of and there in spirit each and every time.
Blessings my friend,
Betsy

Kris said...

Oh Meredith, I am so glad he is over the hump now. What an ordeal! You are a devoted and loving Mama. Better days ahead now. Loved seeing all of the family photos! I bet Little Buddy was eating up all of that attention!!!
Now rest up kiddo!
xo Kris

Susanne Tyree said...

It is good news that your son is starting to feel better. I'm sure to you it feels like a load has been lifted and you can breath again. Nursing care 24/7 is draining. You have a beautiful family and nice pictures to prove it. Maybe the timing was perfect after all since they lent a hand with your smallest son. Many times I wished I could clone myself and I bet there were times you have felt the same. Hope you have a good week.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

Willow said...

Busy week here at Willow's Cottage too--so busy I didn't post anything. Hopefully next week, we will both be back to blogging mojo strength. I'm glad your Teenager is doing so much better.

Joy said...

It's wonderful news that your lovely boy is beginning his recovery dear Meredith! What a time bad time it's been but now things will slowly begin to get back to normal and he will be so happy to be feeling better and you will be so happy to see that too! Understatement! Thank you for sharing your family pics, they do look a lovely bunch, and sounds like they were so much help for you while you were otherwise occupied. I hope your week is a blessed one lovely! Hugs to you, Joy xo

Home Meadows said...

The surgery (and aftermath) sounds awful. I'm glad he is starting to feel better and you are getting a bit of a break. I love the picture of LB showing your niece his toys. So cute. Take care. Hugs, Heather

Anonymous said...

Glad you son is beginning to feel better. Hope he is back to normal real soon.

Little Buddy seems to have enjoyed all the company. You have a very handsome family!

Jay said...

So pleased that things are starting to improve, I had no idea the op could be so bad. Hopefully he'll get his strength back and you can re-charge too.
Lovely photos of the family, it certainly looks like they enjoyed their stay and meeting Little Buddy.

gaia said...

lovely family, lovely photos...

Clare said...

Glad to here he's finally on the mend, such lovely family pics too
Clare x

mamasmercantile said...

I am thrilled your son is on the mend, try and take some time for yourself now and pick up your strength. A truly beautiful family, you are blessed.

kathy b said...

Hooray the corner is turned . How wonderful that your nieces visit became a blessing. What great pictures you took while sleep deprived and worried!!!!

:)

Anonymous said...

I think I need to say "thanks for the warning" because my 20-year old will be having the tonscills out and adnoids (and fixing a small hole in his ear drum from long ago tubes)this year, and I've always heard when they're older is harder. But he's a trooper too, so I hope he'll soldier through it also. Good work!

Pammy Sue said...

Oh my, all those visitors AND taking care of your son and LB. That's a lot! I know how I would feel after all that...I'd go into my cold, dark bedroom and get under the covers and sleep a looooong time. Hard to do that when you have a little one at home though. I hope you are miraculously rested, invigorated, and inspired! You are such a giver!

gigi knits said...

Family is the best medicine!!

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Blessings to you one and all sweet friend. :)

elns said...

I'm really happy that the visit worked out in your favor with your sweet boy's surgery and recovery. I have a hard time when my kid is sick or uncomfortable, so I am not sure how I would do in your situation. I would like to think I could be like you Mere. I'm glad things are turning around for the positive and he's on the mend. I hope someone swoops in and gives you some rest now that you have your life back. All the best to you and yours.

Carla from The River said...

Wow, what a blessing to have them there when you needed. Very sweet post. I love all the photos.
My continued prayers to your son.
Keep us posted.
xx oo
Carla

Yarnism said...

I'm so glad that your son is feeling better now...what a lovely family you have...Some picture perfect moments...

God bless,
Sabrina