Apollo 13 of Christmases
My husband couldn't have summed it up any better than that. The Apollo 13 of Christmases. It was no where near what we had hoped for nor any where near what we expected. In fact the reason for my delinquent blogging is due to my recovering from the holidays desasterous happenings and trying to piece back our lives to what is normal for us.
At the last minute we decided to join family in CA. We scurried about frantically trying to pack up the car with presents, necessities, electronics and kids while trying to tie up loose ends, drop off the dog at the kennel and leave the house in somewhat of an orderly manner for our return. In doing so we were pumped, we were ready to tackle the 12 hour drive across the barren, not to mention boring desert of NV in hopes of a fun filled get-a-way for our little family. And a reunion of family we haven't seen for sometime. Finally with not an inch to spare in the car we were off and on the road. Only to stop for lunch a short ways away.
And this is where it all begins, the unforseen. We were happily eating our burgers and downing our shakes quite pleased with ourselves. When all of a sudden out of no where our youngest, Isaac, barfed. Yes, we had become every parents nightmare. We were the reason so many moms take Lysol to Walmart and spray the shopping carts down before placing their own child in them. Luckily it all managed to get on the floor and him. We quickly contained the toxic spill and tried to avoid eye contact with on lookers while managing to maintain calm, cool and collective. We gulped the rest of lunch down and hit the road as fast as we could. We were too far into the trip and had put too much into it to turn back now. Trying to put aside thoughts of spending Christmas with the flu we enjoyed the ride for awhile. Much to our dismay in the middle of no where he erupted again all over the inside of the motorhome(we were carpooling behind Cameron's parents). Once again, we quickly turned into the toxic spill crew and yes, Lysoled everything and everyone down.
After a long and wearisome journey we pulled into our destination around 1am. Were we were so graciously ushered to our beds and we all collapsed til morning. I was shang-hied into going to the chiropractor with my mother-in-law and her sister. I hadn't even showered or changed yet, but off we went. I didn't notice too much because I was in heaven: the sky was blue there was greenery everywhere and a slight bit of humidity. Then we entered the office to find three tables in the middle of the lobby with chairs lined up around the walls. We took our seats, I innocently thinking I was there to observe and we ourselves observed the chiropractor work away. A nice bit of banter bounced around the room from the chiropractor to patient to observer. Then all of a sudden I was up! Whoa, wait a minute this wasn't in the plan. However, he took it easy on me banter wise and I did receive confirmation as to why I hurt so.
The day seemed to unfold effortlessly and we began to settle in with a sigh. Then it hit again. Isaac, unannounced threw up again. Out came the crew and the Lysol. We were trying to keep him contained as much as possible but with an 18 month old in a house of a dozen or so people it was on the verge of impossible. OK, it was impossible. I was dreading that we were all going to wake up Christmas morning with the flu. It lingered in the back of my mind and I couldn't think of anything more miserable. However, I was highly entertained. My mother-in-law and her sister saw to that with a live broadway reinactment of It's a White Christmas (or one of those classics) as they sang and danced across the kitchen. Later we had a real live shepherd grace us with his presence as someone had forgotten to tell him they decided against the Nativity scene that night.
Christmas Eve arrived and we found ourselves around the table with turkey and trimmings chatting away. The conversation seemed to revolve around bodily functions to body types. And apparently my in-laws have quite a variety of both. The boys realy felt at home there and warmed up to distant relatives quickly. Everest finding his match with an Aunt who could hold her own. Edison tickling everyone while singing 'jingle bells, jingle bells all aroun' town'. And Isaac was feeling much better and all seemed to be ok. We began to sigh a sigh of relief and were emmersed in the holiday spirit once again. With nativity flannel board stories and songs and other little thoughts shared by family members. Afterwards we broke out the pies and commensed in indulging ourselves with treats of all kinds.
You may say this sounds no where near an Apollo 13 experience. Well it's not Christmas quite yet.
Cameron motioned for us to come back to the bedroom where we finished some cards and a few gifts for family in preparation for Christmas morning. And once again the unforseen. Edison, after completing his artwork/signature attempted to take the cap off the back of the pen and then close it up. Only the cap was on too tight and it slipped and went straight through the eye, puncturing the cornea and pupil. I had seen him struggle and reached to help only I was too late. He screamed and I grabbed him, Cameron was able to look into his eye and we both saw what we feared. The pupil was disfigured. I motioned for my mother-in-law to come back to give us directions to the hospital. The very hospital that Cameron had been born in. We scooped him up and rushed off to the ER. There we were greeted by utter chaos. There were no hospital workers of any kind, not a security guard or a receptionist, no one except a whole lot of bewildered people in pain or oozing something or another. One oozing, coughing bystander pointed to a stack of paper and informed us we had to fill it out and slide it in the slot in the door. I was in disbelief and grew angrier as we waited there with no sign of medical help. Finally someone came and called him back. Because it was an eye injury they put him in a separate room and they had to call the opthomologist. It's now 11pm and we are rushing him over to the specialists office where he informed us he would need surgery right away. Except he had eaten a rather large dinner and had had several treats. They were afraid of aspiration during surgery(food coming back up and into his lungs). Since the iris was plugging the hole blocking anything from coming out we opted to wait in pediatric care until morning.
I couldn't sleep, I sat there by his bed the entire night and watched him. Wishng it was me and not him. Feeling hopeless and as if we had lost all control of everything and anything. I turned to prayer, it was all I could do. I hung on to the words Cameron said in the prayers and blessings he gave Edison. And then I felt impressed to count my blessings. I did, starting with my family. Then the nurse came in to check vitals. She had brought in a fire truck and a homemade baseball quilt. She had heard me say he loves baseball. He lay there peacefully and quietly as if nothing had happened.
The sun wasn't even up and we were preparing for surgery. Edison awoke to find the gifts at the foot of his bed. It helped take his mind off of his surroundings. And then we wheeled him down to the O.R. He had been so brave and so mature through this entire ordeal. Never complaining or fighting with the doctors. He just sat there while they dropped drops in his eye and shined lights at him. And now he began to grow a little worried as we stopped outside the O.R. he just held my hand close. The surgeon had been impressed with him through it all and was commenting on it when he asked Edison what he wanted to be when he grew up. Edison answered without hesitation a very profound, "ME". Which impressed us all.
A Christmas narration came over the intercome and it took me a minute and then I realized 'oh, it's Christmas, isn't it'. Everytime a nurse or doctor said Merry Christmas, I would have to remind myself, it's Christmas, isn't it.
Then they wisked him out of my arms and through the doors. Edison with his arms reached out and very heart breaking quiet innocent voice saying, "no, please...no, please" That was heart breaking. His only signs of protest that entire night and I couldn't go to him.
The surgery went quickly and well and we were reunited with a very disoriented and groggy little boy. Finally we were able to go back to the pediatric unit and wait til he fully came out of it. It had been a 4mm v shaped puncture to the cornea. He had been very blessed or lucky as they stated in regards to location being just off centered in the cornea and the iris blocking the hole... Yes, it could've been way worse but it was hard to imagine.
We packed up and headed back to the house to find that Everest had come down with the flu and had been rather sick all night. Not very many presents had been opened and no one was in a hurry to open anymore. When Edison finally came around we sat down as a family to open gifts to find that my gift to Cameron had fallen out of the car on the way to the ER and had been run over a couple of times. However, the boys managed to feel the magic of Christmas morning, gifts from santa that they had asked for, the love of family and the celebration of the birth of Christ.
The next morning we awoke to more devasting news from loved ones afar and rather than throwing in the towel as we had experienced so many trials not only in our own lives but as we witnessed it througout the tragic events around the world such as the tsunami, we all grew a little closer. The love and support that was around us was pretty powerful. So, to answer my own question in reference to Christmas,"did I miss something?", No, I still experienced the power of love and family and prayer. If anything my thoughts were turned more towards the Savior this Christmas than in any year past.
I'm proud to say that despite the Apollo 13 events that occured in our lives during those few short days we were able to walk away hand in hand, our family intact and with a smile that we did it. We made it through and we can hold our heads up high in the manner in which we did.
So to sum it up that is the CONDENSED version of our Christmas, please add turbulance, and shake well.
At the last minute we decided to join family in CA. We scurried about frantically trying to pack up the car with presents, necessities, electronics and kids while trying to tie up loose ends, drop off the dog at the kennel and leave the house in somewhat of an orderly manner for our return. In doing so we were pumped, we were ready to tackle the 12 hour drive across the barren, not to mention boring desert of NV in hopes of a fun filled get-a-way for our little family. And a reunion of family we haven't seen for sometime. Finally with not an inch to spare in the car we were off and on the road. Only to stop for lunch a short ways away.
And this is where it all begins, the unforseen. We were happily eating our burgers and downing our shakes quite pleased with ourselves. When all of a sudden out of no where our youngest, Isaac, barfed. Yes, we had become every parents nightmare. We were the reason so many moms take Lysol to Walmart and spray the shopping carts down before placing their own child in them. Luckily it all managed to get on the floor and him. We quickly contained the toxic spill and tried to avoid eye contact with on lookers while managing to maintain calm, cool and collective. We gulped the rest of lunch down and hit the road as fast as we could. We were too far into the trip and had put too much into it to turn back now. Trying to put aside thoughts of spending Christmas with the flu we enjoyed the ride for awhile. Much to our dismay in the middle of no where he erupted again all over the inside of the motorhome(we were carpooling behind Cameron's parents). Once again, we quickly turned into the toxic spill crew and yes, Lysoled everything and everyone down.
After a long and wearisome journey we pulled into our destination around 1am. Were we were so graciously ushered to our beds and we all collapsed til morning. I was shang-hied into going to the chiropractor with my mother-in-law and her sister. I hadn't even showered or changed yet, but off we went. I didn't notice too much because I was in heaven: the sky was blue there was greenery everywhere and a slight bit of humidity. Then we entered the office to find three tables in the middle of the lobby with chairs lined up around the walls. We took our seats, I innocently thinking I was there to observe and we ourselves observed the chiropractor work away. A nice bit of banter bounced around the room from the chiropractor to patient to observer. Then all of a sudden I was up! Whoa, wait a minute this wasn't in the plan. However, he took it easy on me banter wise and I did receive confirmation as to why I hurt so.
The day seemed to unfold effortlessly and we began to settle in with a sigh. Then it hit again. Isaac, unannounced threw up again. Out came the crew and the Lysol. We were trying to keep him contained as much as possible but with an 18 month old in a house of a dozen or so people it was on the verge of impossible. OK, it was impossible. I was dreading that we were all going to wake up Christmas morning with the flu. It lingered in the back of my mind and I couldn't think of anything more miserable. However, I was highly entertained. My mother-in-law and her sister saw to that with a live broadway reinactment of It's a White Christmas (or one of those classics) as they sang and danced across the kitchen. Later we had a real live shepherd grace us with his presence as someone had forgotten to tell him they decided against the Nativity scene that night.
Christmas Eve arrived and we found ourselves around the table with turkey and trimmings chatting away. The conversation seemed to revolve around bodily functions to body types. And apparently my in-laws have quite a variety of both. The boys realy felt at home there and warmed up to distant relatives quickly. Everest finding his match with an Aunt who could hold her own. Edison tickling everyone while singing 'jingle bells, jingle bells all aroun' town'. And Isaac was feeling much better and all seemed to be ok. We began to sigh a sigh of relief and were emmersed in the holiday spirit once again. With nativity flannel board stories and songs and other little thoughts shared by family members. Afterwards we broke out the pies and commensed in indulging ourselves with treats of all kinds.
You may say this sounds no where near an Apollo 13 experience. Well it's not Christmas quite yet.
Cameron motioned for us to come back to the bedroom where we finished some cards and a few gifts for family in preparation for Christmas morning. And once again the unforseen. Edison, after completing his artwork/signature attempted to take the cap off the back of the pen and then close it up. Only the cap was on too tight and it slipped and went straight through the eye, puncturing the cornea and pupil. I had seen him struggle and reached to help only I was too late. He screamed and I grabbed him, Cameron was able to look into his eye and we both saw what we feared. The pupil was disfigured. I motioned for my mother-in-law to come back to give us directions to the hospital. The very hospital that Cameron had been born in. We scooped him up and rushed off to the ER. There we were greeted by utter chaos. There were no hospital workers of any kind, not a security guard or a receptionist, no one except a whole lot of bewildered people in pain or oozing something or another. One oozing, coughing bystander pointed to a stack of paper and informed us we had to fill it out and slide it in the slot in the door. I was in disbelief and grew angrier as we waited there with no sign of medical help. Finally someone came and called him back. Because it was an eye injury they put him in a separate room and they had to call the opthomologist. It's now 11pm and we are rushing him over to the specialists office where he informed us he would need surgery right away. Except he had eaten a rather large dinner and had had several treats. They were afraid of aspiration during surgery(food coming back up and into his lungs). Since the iris was plugging the hole blocking anything from coming out we opted to wait in pediatric care until morning.
I couldn't sleep, I sat there by his bed the entire night and watched him. Wishng it was me and not him. Feeling hopeless and as if we had lost all control of everything and anything. I turned to prayer, it was all I could do. I hung on to the words Cameron said in the prayers and blessings he gave Edison. And then I felt impressed to count my blessings. I did, starting with my family. Then the nurse came in to check vitals. She had brought in a fire truck and a homemade baseball quilt. She had heard me say he loves baseball. He lay there peacefully and quietly as if nothing had happened.
The sun wasn't even up and we were preparing for surgery. Edison awoke to find the gifts at the foot of his bed. It helped take his mind off of his surroundings. And then we wheeled him down to the O.R. He had been so brave and so mature through this entire ordeal. Never complaining or fighting with the doctors. He just sat there while they dropped drops in his eye and shined lights at him. And now he began to grow a little worried as we stopped outside the O.R. he just held my hand close. The surgeon had been impressed with him through it all and was commenting on it when he asked Edison what he wanted to be when he grew up. Edison answered without hesitation a very profound, "ME". Which impressed us all.
A Christmas narration came over the intercome and it took me a minute and then I realized 'oh, it's Christmas, isn't it'. Everytime a nurse or doctor said Merry Christmas, I would have to remind myself, it's Christmas, isn't it.
Then they wisked him out of my arms and through the doors. Edison with his arms reached out and very heart breaking quiet innocent voice saying, "no, please...no, please" That was heart breaking. His only signs of protest that entire night and I couldn't go to him.
The surgery went quickly and well and we were reunited with a very disoriented and groggy little boy. Finally we were able to go back to the pediatric unit and wait til he fully came out of it. It had been a 4mm v shaped puncture to the cornea. He had been very blessed or lucky as they stated in regards to location being just off centered in the cornea and the iris blocking the hole... Yes, it could've been way worse but it was hard to imagine.
We packed up and headed back to the house to find that Everest had come down with the flu and had been rather sick all night. Not very many presents had been opened and no one was in a hurry to open anymore. When Edison finally came around we sat down as a family to open gifts to find that my gift to Cameron had fallen out of the car on the way to the ER and had been run over a couple of times. However, the boys managed to feel the magic of Christmas morning, gifts from santa that they had asked for, the love of family and the celebration of the birth of Christ.
The next morning we awoke to more devasting news from loved ones afar and rather than throwing in the towel as we had experienced so many trials not only in our own lives but as we witnessed it througout the tragic events around the world such as the tsunami, we all grew a little closer. The love and support that was around us was pretty powerful. So, to answer my own question in reference to Christmas,"did I miss something?", No, I still experienced the power of love and family and prayer. If anything my thoughts were turned more towards the Savior this Christmas than in any year past.
I'm proud to say that despite the Apollo 13 events that occured in our lives during those few short days we were able to walk away hand in hand, our family intact and with a smile that we did it. We made it through and we can hold our heads up high in the manner in which we did.
So to sum it up that is the CONDENSED version of our Christmas, please add turbulance, and shake well.
8 Comments:
Your narrative was very touching and eye opening for me. I can do nothing but thank God that everything still turned out okay for you and your family. Things could have turned out worst if Edison's parents didn't know who to call on for help. :)
God allows some sometimes painful events to occur which always seem to tap us on our shoulders and remind us to be thankful of our blessings. I know I sure have had my share. I think we all had a more genuine taste of Christmas this year. There was definitely something in the air. I'm just afraid that there aren't enough mouths on the planet to give God the thanks he deserves.
Anyway, I wish the Moll's many blessings in the days, months, and years to come.
Fernando Dunn II
http://fdiidesign.com/
How is little Edison doing? Will he be all right?
I found your blog through Cameron's, and although I'm not a mom nor I plan on being one, I like your writing a lot.
I wish you and your family the best for this new year!
Wow. Thank goodness that everyone pulled through.
We'll keep your family in our prayers.
-Kristian Walker
Praise the lord :)
I think Fernando summed it up best, so I'll try not to be too long in my comment.
I'm so sorry such a horrible accident happened during Christmas holidays. I pray Edison recovers fully from the injury. Your recounting of events reminds me, too, of just how thankful I should be. I'm still sitting here thinking "Wow..." at the whole thing. My daughter Abbi came down with pneumonia in her right lung a week before Christmas and we were worried that she would be sick on Christmas. But after visiting the doctor and getting a shot and some medicine, she recovered so quickly. My wife Amy and I felt so relieved. I could never imagine us going through what you and your family had to deal with.
Ray (www.rayandamy.com)
This is one of the most amazing blog posts I've ever read. I was literally cringing with nearly every paragraph! I think I'm better at handling things like eye injuries than the putrid horror of barf.
Isiah 61:3 -
"...and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
It looks like you nailed that one in my eyes...you guys are definately "oaks of riteousness". Well done!
- Jason G.
Hi, enjoyed your blog/site related to **Christmas** I'm going to add your
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