Post One: Beginning of the Worst week of our Lives

Funny how when you wake up in the morning, you never know what the day will bring.

On Wednesay of last week, I attended another academic coaching meeting; this time a Science Coach meeting. Since the state of Texas is coming out with new academic Science standards next year, we were writing curriculum. My daughter Lauren had texted me earlier in the day that she had been throwing up all night, and had stayed home. She had a dr. appointment at 1 p.m. because she was feeling awful. She texted me that she hoped she could drive herself, as she felt horrible. Later, she texted me that the dr. had confirmed her fears; she had the flu – not just any flu – the H1N1 type. She asked if I could come and take care of her. I flippantly texted that her new hubby could do that. (I didn’t know he was out of town for his work.) When I realized how sick she felt, of course, I quit teasing, quickly threw some things in a bag, and drove 2 hours to College Station to take care of her. I envisioned getting lots of Gatorade in her, feeding her crackers, and helping to keep any fever in check; you know, regular mom stuff when one of your children gets a “bug.”

I could see when I arrived that this H1N1 flu was mean. She was quite lethargic, and her fever was going up. I don’t usually overreact when my children get sick; if there’s no blood, I figure “this too will pass.” However, when her fever went to 103, I called my sister-in-law and asked for help. As usual, she gave exact instructions, which I followed, and the fever broke in about an hour. I was afraid to sleep with Lauren, so I slept on her new sofa, with a listening ear. The following day, the fever was gone, but she was throwing up and in the bathroom. I actually thought, “She’ll feel better by tomorrow.” I even voiced my opinion that this flu was on its last leg! However, when she woke up on Friday morning, she had a fever again. She got up, went to the restroom, and I said, “Just sit there a minute, I’m going to the restroom.”…

You need to understand, there is a joke in that. I seem to miss important things in Lauren’s life while visiting the potty room! When her sweet husband asked her to marry him, yep…I was in the bathroom! When I came out, the room was a joyous thunder of congratulations…how did I miss it. I only made a quick trip to the bathroom???

Well, here we go again, as I was returning from the bathroom, I hear a huge noise. Oh my goodness, Lauren had passed out. How could I have left right then?? I ran to her, picked her up, and she said I slapped her.(I have no memory of that = ).
We called my sister-in law again, and the dr. The dr. (who I think was useless) said he’d write a prescription for phenagren and she’d be fine. My sister-in-law said to take her to the e.r….Thankfully, we listened to the latter. I was scared. We don’t go the E.R….I began praying as I somehow got her to the car.
I begged Lauren to “stay with me,” otherwise, I had no clue how to get to the hospital. She managed, but passed out as we arrived at the E.R. I ran in, stepped in front of people (like a good, desperate mom) and started ranting that my daughter kept passing out, and I needed a wheelchair. (I think I also used the term, H1N1 flu") Immediately, people began to take action, coming to the car, getting Lauren out, rushing her inside. By the time I parked the car, there were five people working on her, trying to find a blood pressure. They quickly moved her to a larger emergency room; and then, as they sat in the movies, “All hell broke loose.”
ACTUALLY, however, I would like to change that phrase to what happened for us, "All heaven took charge..."