I sit here with what seems like an amazing collaboration of unfortunate situations that have brought me here, to this current thought... which I'm all sure we know and think of daily but never really take the time to retain and embrace… Slow down and attend to what matters most. Attend to now.
Care to hear a good story? It entails shooting stars, fires in the desert, an anniversary, public rejection, broken bones, El Paso and a few life lessons. Intrigued? Read on, friends.
We received some news early last week of a death in the family on my husband’s side and within a matter of hours were in full-road-trip mode, set for Detroit, where the services were held.
Day 1: Car loaded to the tee with luggage, kennel, snacks, three kids and a bloodhound. We were ready and prepared for the 20-hour drive ahead of us. Then it changed. Unfortunately, due to some miscommunication, date changes and bad weather, we decided it was for the best to not head east as we would not make it for the funeral in time, anyways. My husband and I had decided that we would change route and go south to see his daughter and grandson.
Change route to Alamogordo, NM. ETA, 2:30am. Regroup. Deep breath.
I book and call our preferred hotel (we visit enough to know) to tell them we’ll be late checking in, but it’ll be by 2-3am for sure, which they state was their absolute latest time we could come.
On the road. Kids fed, dog walked (that’s fun, a dog on a road trip…pssh), music is on and the flow is well. We’re driving at night for most of the way there and I have to say, it’s DARK in the desert after the sun goes down. This night however, unknown to us, was right before a meteor show and was nothing short of amazing. We saw some great shooting stars and what would have had to have been meteors falling. Something to remember and cherish as a special moment with my husband as the kids were asleep.
The drive continues, as does the conversation when out of nowhere we came across a fire on the side of the road! It was around 12:30am and the flames were at least 1’ high. I called 911 and gave the info and location, responders were dispatched immediately. We saw the burn scar on the way back and it was about 10’-15’ long and fairly wide, probably about 6’, I’d imagine. I’m glad they were able to catch it in time!
Regroup. Deep breath.
Fast forward to 1:00am, 90 minutes away from our destination and when I call the hotel they can’t find our reservation. The night clerk rudely told me we could pay again but there was nothing in my name... (long night in car + this nonsense = one mad mom) I call Expedia (who I regularly use and love) who called the hotel and handled it within 5 minutes. Thankfully the check-in was pleasant, and the clerk apologized but holy moly… was that a great start or what?
Day 2 & 3: We woke up rested and happy, ready to see our daughter and grandson. After catching up and saying hi, we decided on family pictures with Santa and a trip to the park! It was so great seeing all the kids together, playing and laughing. We all met at the local park and then headed to Las Cruces (about an hour away), did a bit of shopping and got family photos with Santa. The baby is just the most precious thing in the world and I soaked up all the baby-love I could. We enjoyed a quick lunch at McAllister’s Deli (yum!) and headed back to Alamogordo for some recuperation and rest. The next day was a bit more hectic. The dog wasn’t so calm anymore and feeling a bit restless, so the kids and I took her to the local dog park for a bit. We arrived and saw probably 50 other dogs there and I didn’t see the need to take the kids in – you never know.
Regroup. Deep breath.
Off to the local park we go to play tag, swing and exhaust our little noodles… and 4-month old puppy!
Day 4: My husband and I celebrated our 9th Anniversary today! 😊 We started the day with breakfast at the local IHOP. I ordered an egg white and veggie omelet with a bowl of fruit. Turns out their produce truck hadn’t arrived yet (it was about 9:30am) so there were no veggies and no fruit available. I ended up with an egg white omelet with sliced serrano peppers, 3 slices of cheese and half of an avocado. Pancakes instead of fruit. We didn’t end up paying for it, but it did set the tone for the day, if you catch my drift. Day 4 was one of the harder days for us, I think. Feeling sad about missing the funeral services and overly stressed about the close quarters and walking the dog 15 times a day, we were all a bit edgy.
Regroup. Deep Breath.
We took a step back and chose to make the best of it. We all enjoyed a nice dinner out (baby fix!) and got a good night’s sleep. We had full intention of driving back home the next day, which was Saturday, but you know… that’s just not the way the cookie crumbles.
Day 5: Plan: Meet at the park, have lunch, hit the dog park, on the road again. Actual event: Met at park, our 5-year old daughter slipped and fell hurting her ankle… She screamed and cried for a few minutes, eventually calming and taking a few steps. She is ok, still walking just acting a bit sore and limping a bit.
Regroup. Deep breath.
Off to Carino’s for lunch and once we were in the parking lot, she asked for help with her shoe. It didn’t go on and she screamed in pain when we tried. Grrreeeaaat. It’s super swollen and needs to be looked at ASAP. Regroup, deep breath. She is screaming. I call the local urgent care who doesn’t do x-rays, and the local hospital would end up sending us an hour away to Las Cruces which would end up sending us to Children’s Hospital in El Paso.
… Off to Texas we go.
Fast Forward through a stop of gas and two hours of driving when we arrive at Children’s Hospital. Let me remind you that we had planned on leaving town so at this point we were all packed, the dog is loaded, and because of the injury, no one has eaten anything more than crackers since our small hotel breakfast.
We decide it’s best my husband take our daughter into the ER and I stay outside with our two boys and the bloodhound. And that’s exactly what we did. For 3 hours. Playing in rocks, walking around the parking lot, playing eye-spy, you know, making the most of it. Our 6-year-old son lost this tooth, too, while we were waiting and that was far over-do so the excitement was more than welcome!
Regroup. Deep breath.
Text from hubby comes though and they diagnosed her with a sprain and type 1 fracture in her fibula. Doctors orders: temporary splint, crutches (if she can) and see pediatrician once we’re back home. It’s now 5:00pm and we’re heading out of El Paso (you’d think rush hour but thankfully that wasn’t an issue!), everyone starving and still in a bit of pain.
We decided we’d stay one more night and start to head back to Alamogordo when our 7-year-ols exclaims, “My tooth came out!” and sure enough, it did.
In a matter of hours we broke an ankle and lost two teeth.
I text our daughter to meet her and our grandson back at the restaurant for dinner at 7, since we’d be back around then. All good and back on track!
Or so you’d think.
This part, right here, just put me over the edge for the day. I called the restaurant and was told by the hostess that there was no wait to be seated. We walk in to get a table, expecting our daughter and grandson to show up any second. I tell the hostess that there will be six of us and an infant, so we’ll need a sling or high chair if they have one. Her actual reply was, “Oh, sorry ma’am – we are out of high chairs and don’t have slings so won’t be able to seat you guys.” THIS RIGHT HERE… put me OVER the edge. I asked for a manger who came up and confirmed what the hostess was saying.
Choice words were said, many of them. Regroup. Deep breath.
I turned to my husband and said he needed to handle this because I must have been hearing them wrong. He asked the manager how long we could expect to wait to be seated, to accommodate the baby, and was told 45 minutes at the very least (the restaurant was about 40% full) to which he replied, “We just called and they said there was no wait. There is no one here and plenty of room to sit.” They said, “I don’t know who you talked to Sir but that’s all we can do.”
Regroup. Deep breath.
I again step in and ask why we can’t be seated, explain that there is plenty of room and we can just put the carrier in the booth or with us. Nope. Not happening. This, in my head, was one of those actual ‘WTF moments’ where I didn’t really understand what was happening or how to react.
Time to go. Regroup. Deep breath.
I called our daughter and we met at a cute local restaurant with delicious food, great atmosphere and very nice staff. Thank you to Si Senor’s for making our night better when we all really, really needed it.
I had booked one more night at the same hotel on our way back from El Paso so thankfully we had nothing but a night of rest and sleep ahead.
Day 6: Drive Home. Tensions are high, and the drive seems like 20 hours instead of 10 during the day. More stops, more snacks, more traffic, more stress. So, wouldn’t you know it when about two hours into the drive, our 5-year old starts complaining that her ankle is itching her bad. She tried scratching it with a pen (which we found out later that night from the ink on her leg) but it didn’t work. This lasted the entire way home. The itching did not stop.
We finally got back into Brighton around 7:30pm but of course, had to get some essentials from the store before going home. So, here’s a trip to King Soopers, who hadn’t received their milk shipment yet, so it was pretty much a trip for nothing.
Regroup. Deep Breath.
We are finally home. She’s itchy. How do I give my 5-year old a bath with a broken ankle? I opted in for a quick wipe-down and bed, instead. Or so I thought…
Around 10:00pm she wakes up screaming and crying in pain and complaining that the itching wouldn’t stop. We read the paperwork again from El Paso and it says to seek medical care if there was unbearable itching. Off to Children’s Hospital they go again.
Fast forward to 1:30am when she’s seen by the Dr. and the splint is removed to show a blister and excessive swelling. My poor baby. Apparently, this happens.
Regroup. Deep breath.
Now what? We wait and see an Orthopedic Pediatrician later in the week once the swelling has reached its maximum and she can be fitted for a cast. Ok.
Day 7: Today. December 18, 2017. Regroup. Deep breath. You are home.
Friends, this past week was a test unlike any other. I didn’t share everything with you, just the highlights… my husband, kids and I all learned a great deal about reacting, balance and strength. Our personal boundaries were pushed, limits were hit, and minds were blown. We became stronger not only for ourselves, but as a unit, overall.
This morning I woke up early and enjoyed a cup of coffee by myself and embraced the silence. I took a deep breath, counted my blessings and I regrouped. Of all the nonsense that we encountered, we made it back in one piece (kinda) and with a few really good stories.
Slow down and attend to what matters most. Attend to now. Ignore the ‘WTF moments’ and embrace the love. Teach your little ones how to be better than what they saw and understand why that matters so much in a world like ours. Attend to now.
