Thursday, February 19, 2009

Taking stock of what is important

My mom hasn't made it to too many of Matt's basketball games this year. She came last Thursday with my sweet Logan to watch the freshmen Mules take on Ann Arbor Huron. Probably not the best choice--it wasn't a particularly fun game to watch. But my boys (and my nieces and their kids) are a top priority for my mom -- and me -- so I'm glad she got to watch. My dad, on the other hand, has not been able to attend, and it looks like he probably won't make it to any of the remaining home dates.

One of my New Years' plans was to visit my parents more often since they basically live around the block from me. Work and kids' schedules have been hectic though, and I've been remiss in this area. I need to fix that, and I hate that it takes trauma to make me re-evaluate. My mom mentioned that my dad wasn't feeling well, and that I needed to get over to see him before it was too late. I took that with a grain of salt because sometimes my mom can be a bit dramatic (just in case you wonder where Matt and I get it). Unfortunately, this time she was spot on. I ran over on Saturday to take some dishes back that have been sitting at my house since Christmas. My dad really was in very bad shape. It was very obvious that he had pneumonia, but he didn't want to go to the ER because he had a doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday. I was truly fearful that he wasn't going to make it until then. The only other time I've seen him that bad was when he had complications from surgery 5 years ago and we almost lost him.

Needless to say, the doctor took one look at him and put him in the hospital. He's still there and will remain there for at least a few more days. He's breathing easier, but there are some secondary issues that still have me concerned.

It's also taking a bit of a toll on the boys. The elder two really want to bury their heads in the sand and pretend nothing is wrong. The younger one is losing focus--he tries to make it seem like he's taking it in stride, but he and his grandfather are close, and he's the one who has been to see him, so I know he's distracted. They've all watched friends lose grandparents recently, so it is a life lesson that is hard.

I'm sure my dad will be fine, at least this time. It's just a wake up call for me.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Prayers go out for your Dad. Your Mom was concerned about his overall health when I saw her in January. Take the time now with them, once they are gone, it is forever.
When my Dad passed away,it was the consensus of my three boys that it was the saddest day in their lives. I know the worry you and your boys feel but know that at least you still have them with you.

my new blog is statelineconfusion.blogspot.com

rose