Sometimes I wonder what my life would have looked like had I decided to become a nun and live in a secluded convent away from people and husbands and kids and everything else that makes up my life. I probably wouldn't be on a first name basis with ER employees. I probably wouldn't have arguments with my husband over whose turn it is to take out the trash. I wouldn't have to juggle which extended family we are spending Christmas with. I wouldn't have to spend hours on the phone arguing over lost financial aid forms. I wouldn't be doing homework at 8:00pm on a Sunday night, or trying to decide which uniform goes on which child at 6am.
As it is I got married and started fighting immediately with my husband about toothpaste brands. I had 4 boys who break bones a few days before the first day of school and need bottles at 3am, and forget to do their homework and hide in the corner to suck on the babies pacifier. I have in-laws.....no comment. I have debt, and sleep in my makeup and let my kids watch TV everyday. I have a half completed degree and very little motivation. I have things growing in my fridge and I'm usually late to church.
About a week ago, I was feeling somewhat in control of my life. I had things that weren't exactly how I wanted them to be, but on that Friday I had purchased all school supplies and uniforms and had childcare lined up for the first day of Kindergarten on Monday when parents are included. I had half of my house cleaned. I was registered for my biology classes, getting me one step closer to my nursing degree. My husband and I had gone a full 24 hours without arguing and except for an impending surgery for ear tubes on the baby, everyone was well, and even the surgery was scheduled on a day that would work for everyone. We were good.
And then we weren't.
We were at a family picnic type day for Compassion, at a park. It wasn't too hot, but such a beautiful day. The baby had finally fallen asleep and the older two were playing with their friends. I was finally going to get a minute to chat with a friend. I was smiling and felt unhurried. I encouraged Kyler to race his friend to the swing. He did. He fell. He screamed.
I told him to shake it off and go play. When his face lost all color and he laid down in the grass, I told him to go show daddy. Daddy told him to stop screaming. I explained to several concerned people that he was tired. First aid people checked the mobility of his arm encouraging a wide range of very painful movement and said it wasn't dislocated. He's good he just needs a nap.
After a nap he was still screaming so daddy took him in. He had broken his collar bone.
At this point I am hoping that inhumane amounts of radiation from impossible numbers of x-rays aren't to terribly bad for a little kid!
Its amazing to me how good that shoulder feels when he wants to jump on the trampoline, yet how impossible it is to move it when its time to make the bed. And did you know that broken collar bones require lots of candy and extra hugs at night?
The two older kids started school. We are now immersed in last minute homework, running out the door, breakfast in hand, and long carpool lanes.
But just in case we foolishly think we might have life together, Kevin is going to be in Africa and the DR for the month of September and Liam is having surgery and I am frantically trying to find last minute forms to remain in my biology classes. We have bone doctor appointments and ear doctor appointments and I just remembered picture day.....
