Ever noticed how things are less scary after first light?
Sure, your brother is still dead. Your daughter is still lying in a hospital bed. But when the sun comes up, things seem a little more manageable. Those first rays of light appear and it dawns on you that you might just be OK.
The Big Sister gave us an almighty fright in the early hours of Friday morning and I drove her to hospital. It’s the same 40kms that we drive to swimming lessons each week, but I barely recognised the road. She conveniently produced yet another bloody vomit as we walked through the doors into the Emergency Department and ensured we were immediately attended to. The team of medical professionals were friendly and did their upmost to make her comfortable. The cheeky little sod even found the energy to correct me and inform the Triage nurse that she is, in fact, six and a half.
Everything happened quickly after that, paediatric and gastroenterology specialists were woken and consulted. Decisions about the best place for her to be treated were made. All this help for my baby made me teary with gratefulness. (I told you the woman with the wild eyes and I are one and the same.)
The sun was just coming up as the Big Sister was wheeled out of Caloundra Hospital, it bathed her in a rosy hue as she was loaded into the ambulance for transfer to Nambour. She improved over the course of the day and we received a late night discharge later that night.
Being the Big Sister’s mum has brought me so much joy. When you think about the big moments of parenting first steps, baptisms and birthdays come to mind. But tucking my tired daughter into her own bed on Friday night was my biggest, happiest moment so far.
That said, my tired body was pretty overjoyed not to see dawn in the following day.
ever had a sick kid?
Oh you poor loves! Those Emergency Room moments are real nail biters. I’m so happy you’re home and all is well.
Thanks Sam. I hope she never sees the inside of an ambulance ever again!
Sounds hideous Amanda. I am sorry to hear Big Sister became so unwell and relieved to hear she is now home & back on track where she belongs. xx
Hats off the parents of chronically ill kids Jodie. I don’t know how they do it!
Would you believe she fell of the monkey bars the following day and gave herself a blood nose Jodie? My nerves are shot!
I’m glad to hear she was seen promptly to & discharged; I hope you take it easy on yourself this week to so you can recover from the stress.
Thanks Vanessa, I still feel like I need a little lie down!
Such a terrifying experience. Sorry to hear you all had to go through that trauma but happy to hear she’s home and recovering. Now for mama’s stress levels to recover x
Still coming back down to normal Aleney!
I am terrified of ever having to make this dash to hospital. Big hugs to you all.
Thanks Malinda – I’m hoping it’s my only one. EVER!
So scary, I’m not a fan of hospitals and not just because of all the sick kids that are there. It always gives me some much needed perspective! Big hug x
I’m feeling the same way Em. The things I was worried about last week pale in significance.
oh my the poor thing! Hope you are all on the mend – what a fright!
All back to normal here Lisa and I’m loving it! x
What a fright. Hopefully it wasn’t anything too serious. My youngest now 13, was born 10 weeks early with a hole in her heart. It hasn’t given us too much grief but last year, completely out of the blue she started having chest pains and we were raced to the hospital. Luckily for us the Children’s hospital is only 10 minutes away. Before moving to Perth, it would have been over an hours drive or a helicopter flight.
Thankfully it wasn’t anything to worry about, but it doesn’t really stop he worrying.
How terrifying. I’m glad it wasn’t anything worrying, but that said it probably wouldn’t stop me either Rachel!
Having sick kids, are the scariest times in a parents life. My boy has broken so many bones in his little 11 years, that I begin to wonder if I will know all the doctors by first names before he is an adult. So please that your big sister is doing better. Much healing strength being sent your way xx
Thanks Nicole. The Big Sister fell from the monkey bars the day after we were discharged. I was imagining what the hospital would say if we fronted up again!
Yes, I have and it’s AWFUL… hope it NEVER happens again
You and me both lovely. x
Yes, and it makes you feel pissed off when some people whinge and moan and carry on about the smallest of things.
Great to know she is feeling better.
Thanks for keeping me company on Twitter that night Claire. I was blissfully unaware of what lay ahead, but I was grateful for the advice. x
Sorry to hear you had this health scare. Life is fragile and precious. Big hugs to those you love. Xx
Thanks Cindy. x
Scary stuff, glad she’s ok!
Thanks Cate. x
The one thing (amongst many) that I wasn’t prepared for when I had my daughter was how vulnerable I feel when she’s in danger/sick/being bumped by a semi… I have never felt fear like it. For a while I wondered how on earth *anyone* with kids was functioning normally when there was fear like that. I agree with you, hats off to the parents of sick/missing kids – I don’t know how they do it.
Parenting is the hardest job I’ve ever had Beth. Even now I’m convinced I’m doing it wrong most days! 🙂
Poor little bub and poor you. That fear is primal – you want to protect your baby from the pain but you can’t. Glad to hear she’s feeling a bit better now and will have lots of time to recover on the holidays.
Yes, bring on the holidays. I cannot wait!
How terrifying! So glad to hear that she is well. I can imagine what that ambulance trip must have been like and I hope you never have to do it again.
You are right, our problems and fears are always amplified in the dark. What a terrible scare you guys have had x
Oh no. There is nothing worse than having a sick little person especially resulting in a hospital visit. Hope all is ok. V x
Oh what a terrible scare. I’m so glad she is OK.
It really is crazy- 3am absolutely terrifies me, yet I wake up around then every single night. At 3am my partners snoring is sleep apneoa (he doesn’t have apneoa) and my dog’s whiffly dreams are him crying in pain (all my imagination) 🙂
before the dawn is when dreams seem like nightmaresthe sunshine washes it away and makes everything better. glad she’s okay. x