November 1, 2010

My Dear Friend,

Another Halloween has come and gone and this year was full of its own moments of scariness.  We survived yet again and now have the perspective to that whatever comes our way next, we will fight back that much harder.  It's funny how you can set plans for certain things and then plans can change so quickly.  I look back after this weekend and I am grateful for patience and flexibility.

This year, Shaeler chose to be Alice from Alice in Wonderland.  I had thoughts of making her costume again this year, but felt that ordering her costume online may be the better path for myself.  I chose correctly.  Shaeler made a beautiful Alice, she is such a gorgeous little girl.  Yes, I am biased, but she is all I've got and I will dote on her if I want to.

Our festivities began Thursday as Shaeler had her school Harvest Day celebration.  I was able to attend half of it and walked into the room as Shaeler and her classmates were playing Halloween Bingo.  Her teacher walked past me with bright blue hair and it didn't take me long to figure out that she was Thing 1 from Cat in the Hat.  I sat and watched as the children were fed 2 cupcakes, a cookie, orange cool aide with dry ice and candy that would even send me into a sugar shock.  We were able to leave a little early and hurried home to watch "Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief as we finished the book a few days before." 

Brian came home with a scowl on his face.  Trying to figure out what was wrong, he said he didn't feel well and was in a lot of pain.  So, he had a hot bath as Shaeler and I finished watching the movie.  I went in to check on him, and he felt no relief.  He made the decision not to go into work the following morning and I knew that we would have to visit the doctor the following day.

As Friday approached, I was concerned about Brian and him feeling better, but also making sure that Shaeler would have a wonderful day before the Trunk or Treat.  We took Brian in to see the doctor at noon and he gave Brian 2 antibiotics and told Brian to come back Monday morning.  I did my usual running of errands and so forth and then Shae was able to play with her good friend Bayli.  We got ready for the Trunk or Treat and we headed out the door without Brian as he was still in a ton of pain.  We had a birthday party to go to later that night, in which I had to sadly decline.  So at the Trunk or Treat, I bought Reeses, Snickers, Twix, M&M's, Laffy Taffy, and skittles to hand out.  In return, Shaeler brought back Tootsie Rolls, Dumb Dumb Suckers and Pixie Sticks with a few Butterfingers and Crunches.  I felt the trade was a bad deal.  It has been a 2 edged sword that bag of candy of hers.  On one hand, I am grateful she has crap, not my favorite candy, then I won't eat it.  On the other hand, I felt jipped with the exchange!  I spent a lot of money.  Oh, well!

We returned home to find dad hungry and in pain, so we fed him and put him to bed.  The following Saturday, his pain increased much worse and by the afternoon, he was screaming and punching walls and I knew that it was time to take him to the ER.  So we went back to the hospital and I almost felt like the reception desk would yell out "Brian" like they do on the old television show "Cheers" every time Norm walked into the bar.  To make a long story short, Brian had surgery that evening, I watched the entire procedure and then he had to spend the night at the hospital.  I stayed with him until 11:30 and then returned back to the hospital that morning at 5:30 am.  Brian had the nurse call me at 5:20 to make sure that I wouldn't have a late arrival.  Thanks honey!

Sunday we checked out of the hospital around noon.  Being a bit apprehensive to leaving Brian behind because of the last time, I called his mom to come over and be at the house so I could fill prescriptions.  I sensed a bit of hesitancy to come as Brian had snapped at her to leave when they came to get Shae at the hospital, but I assured her that he was doing a lot better.

Running on 5 hours of sleep is not my forte.  I was tired and doing the best I could to be a nurse for Brian and an entertainer for Shaeler.  We had big plans to have a special Halloween party Saturday night.  I could tell the stress was wearing on her too.  So we snuggled together as a family in our bed and watched "How to Train Your Dragon" on her small DVD player.  I held her hand and rubbed her back as she fell asleep safely between her concerned parents. 

Life is getting back to normal now.  Brian was suppose to take off a week of work to heal and he made it 1 day.  If I was a betting woman, I would be rich on that bet.  It seems that the life lessons we are being taught back to back and it makes me wonder what is ahead for the future.  I am trying to be a good student and learn from these experiences so when the next round comes, I am that much stronger.  I can tell you this though, with everything that happened this weekend, I come away with this life lesson:

Nothing but pixie sticks for the Ward Trunk or Treat next year!  Ha!

Always Loyal and True,

Suzanne