You may have guessed from last night’s post about my mom being in the hospital that I don’t have the mental capacity to write a supremely well thought out post this morning. I still wanted to blog though, because blogging gives me the exact outlet I need in these situations. So, what to do when you want to blog but don’t want to think too deeply? Hop on board the latest blog post trend!

I have seen Lee, Janetha, and Caitlin share this “10 Personal Questions” post idea and it is just what I need right now. Hopefully it will be fun for you too!  

1. What are you really good at? What are you really bad at?

You mean besides eating frozen yogurt???

Hmmm…this may end up tougher than I anticipated.

I guess I would have to say I’m really good at commitment. If I want to accomplish something, I know what it takes to get there and I just do it. I work hard, try to go above and beyond, and remain consistent and persistent until I achieve what I set out to do. I believe in myself and my efforts.

What I’m bad at? Relaxing!!! Probably not surprising considering my answer to what I’m good at, huh? It seriously takes so much to get me to slow down and chill. My mind goes a mile a minute and I have to remind myself to take a breather daily.

2. Have you ever been in a car accident? What happened?

I guess I can now tell you all about that crazy time I was hit by a car. Yes, me…my body…no car encasing it.

The summer before my senior year of high school my friend and I were on the way to the pool to see some friends. We came around a curve in the road where a construction crew had burst a water pipe and left it leaking…to flood the road a good couple of inches. My friend’s car hydroplaned and hit the curb, busting her tire.

We were outside of the car, by the guardrail, calling her father to let him know what happened. Low and behold, another car comes flying around the curve and hydroplanes as well. This car was speeding (65 mph) so when it hit the curb, the car actually flew up off the road, flipped three times, and hit us in the process.

I was thrown into the road where I incurred a severe road rash, a fairly severe concussion, and three gaping holes (butt, elbow, and head). Which, by the way, I was in such shock that I spent the majority of my time in the hospital telling my doctor he was a lucky man to get to see my butt. And today, Peter is the only lucky one seeing that…so I will share a shot of the scar on my elbow instead. I thought you would appreciate that.

The skin below that scar used to inhabit the back of my tricep. It’s like Stretch Armstrong. Lovely, no?

I was actually the lucky one. My friend was unconscious for weeks and had a lot of damage to her hip/leg. I still vividly remember the sound of those screeching tires and seeing the car flying towards us. I also remember my two month long trip to Europe and my four years at UGA….which the settlement from that accident paid for in full. Yes, siree. And how fitting for the next question!

3. Why did you attend your college?

You know? I’m not 100% certain on why I went to the University of Georgia. I guess it was close enough to home to still feel “safe”, but I could still go do my own thing. I also planned to pursue a teaching career, which UGA’s education program is highly acclaimed. And – let’s face it…Athens is fun! Too bad I use pretty much nothing from those four years in my “careers” today. Unless you count teaching Makenzie to say “Goooo Dawgs! Sic ‘em! Woof woof woof woof woof!”

 source
Hehehe….hate me if you will.

I guess I will have to hold the other seven personal questions in my back pocket for future posts lest your eyes go into muscle spasms. Sometimes I surprise myself with how wordy I can get. Sheesh. See you in the afternoon!

• Where did/do you go to college? Or what sports team do you love?
• What is something you are really good at?

My mom has had another multiple sclerosis relapse and is in the hospital.

Talk about a damper to a day that started off on a high note – coming off from a crazy good weekend, having a productive morning, and feeling the love from my little ones.

Then, I get a call around 9:30 this morning. From my mom, all laid back and asking how I’m doing and about my weekend…but, oh by the way – “I’m in the hospital because I had trouble breathing and they don’t know why”. What the what now?!!?! But, that’s my mom. The quintessential selfless woman always worrying about others and glossing over her own struggles.

I love my mom. And not to sound hoakey or anything, but aside from Jesus she is the biggest inspiration in how I hope to live my life and the kind of person I want to be. Every time I hear she faces another relapse or has another scare related to the MS, a little piece of me crumbles. Yet she somehow remains so strong.

She was diagnosed this past February after having some weakness in her legs and trouble walking. Her regular medicine normally helps her feel fairly normal, but it seems every two months things become more difficult on her lower body again. The treatment for her relapses typically helps her to function as normal again within a few weeks. It carries standard side effects of additional fatigue, headaches, and nausea, but my mom just acts like my mom and sails through it all as serenely as possible.

This time was different.

After three days on the treatment for her relapse, she started noticing some trouble breathing. She was advised to stay home, rest, and monitor her breathing. It became worse and she ended up in the hospital last night around 9 pm. She had to be placed on an oxygen machine and has remained on it since last night. Every time they try to allow her to breathe on her own, her oxygen levels drop significantly.

The doctors are unsure whether this is a side effect or possible allergic reaction to the treatment or separate from treatment and caused by the MS. She has received numerous tests (an EKG, X-Ray on her chest, and CAT Scan on her lungs) to help determine the cause. The uncertainty and lack of answers bother me the most. Yet, there’s my mother. Full of peace…at least outwardly…and worrying about others.

Obviously, I spent my afternoon visiting her without a second thought to the spin class I missed or the list of to-dos that would not get done. I baked her peach muffins (recipe tomorrow) instead of folding laundry. I shared Mama Pea with her instead of hoarding the laughs for myself. And the Glamour? Just in case the Mama Pea stories make my mom cry….that’s just how she is.

It’s days like today that make me so grateful to have my faith.

It’s days like today that remind me that our relationships with others and with God are the only two things that truly matter in this life.

And it’s every day that I love my mom and pray for her body’s strength, her doctor’s guidance, and her heart’s peace. Would you mind doing the same for us today?

Thank you. And I know she says it too…thank you. Just before she asks you how you’re doing and what she can do to help you, of course. Oh, mom. I love you.