Glad to be alive!

Sometimes we take little things for granted...like good health, breathing, and just being alive!!! I had quite the scare a couple weeks ago--another near death experience for the year! I think I've reached my 'spare life' quota! How many extra chances does one person get!?!

Well it was the day before Halloween and I started feeling really sick. I had a fever and chills to the extreme. I hurt all over and I thought for sure it was the flu. As the week went on I felt worse and worse! Every fiber of my being was in pain--especially my back! (I thought I had hurt my back the previous weekend from moving fire wood!) I tried everything I had to get feeling better but nothing helped!

Finally I decided it was time to go see the doctor! One listen to my lungs and he knew right away my problem: pneumonia! My lungs were filled with fluid. He gave me two antibiotics and said if I wasn't better by Saturday to call him. Well the next day I wasn't any better--in fact I was worst! My face had been itchy all day and by night time my eyes were swollen and puffy. I had an allergic reaction to one of the antibiotics. I felt so incredibly terrible I thought I was going to die.

My neighbor came over and Nate and he gave me a priesthood blessing. I am grateful for the power of the priesthood and the faith I had to make me better...but I knew even the blessing I had just received wasn't going to make me better instantly and I knew I needed medical help right away. I could barely move. I could barely talk. I had zero energy or life in me. I said to Nate "I don't think I will make it though the night if I don't go to the hospital right now." He immediately called my friend who came right over and watched the kids while he rushed me to the ER.

Once I finally got checked in the doctor looked at my vitals and they were off the charts! They started running every test they could. I had x-rays, blood tests, eceo-cardio (some heart test) you name it they did it! One of the results came back from my blood work and said I had a blood clot in my lung. That really made the doctor panic so he had a CAT-scan done. When all the results were in: the blood clot was negative, but he said I had extreme pneumonia. The antibiotics I took did not even touch the surface of my illness. I was one sick little lady!

They started me on an IV with a different antibiotic and put me in ICU for the night. The doctor wanted a close eye on me and make sure my vitals started improving. By morning I felt a little better than death! I knew I wasn't going to die, but I sure didn't feel good yet!

Saturday afternoon they moved me from ICU to my own room. Meanwhile back home...

Grandma & Grandpa Lewis came to our rescue! We called them Friday night and told them what was happening and first thing Saturday morning they drove down to come and help us out! What would we do without family?! It was so comforting to me knowing that my kids were happy and all was well with Grandma and Grandpa! Grandma brought blocks to play with, stories, games, movies! They kids were delighted!

The kids loved these blocks Grandma brought. Ty made a basketball stadium with his! He told me all about it, so I was glad that daddy took a picture so I could see it!

Mara was really good at the blocks and memorized which blocks had how many numbers associated with the colors!

Sunday the kids came over for a visit. I still wasn't feeling great but I felt a lot better when they came and saw me! In fact the nurse said my oxygen levels went the highest when my kids were there! So they did help me feel better. It was wonderful to see them. Oh how I missed my kids! I think I've been away from them only when I've been to the hospital!

Monday the kids woke up to their first snow storm of the season! They were so excited they put on their snow clothes and went out and played in the snow before school!

That is the saddest face I have ever seen on my boy! Maybe he misses his mama! (Or maybe he just white-washed his brother and got in trouble!)

I was finally released from the hospital Monday afternoon. It felt like I was there a week! I was sure glad to go home. Lucky for us Grandma Lewis had the week off of work and was able to stay and take care of us while I recovered.

I am feeling back to normal. I'm still trying to get my energy levels back up but I sure feel great compared to feeling like death!

How grateful I am for great doctors and nurses that took such good care of me and got me feeling better. But most of all I am so grateful for a loving and caring husband who took a lot of time off of work to care for his sick wife and family. He played the role of mom and dad and did a fabulous job! (He even learned to do Mara's hair!) He was so loving and patient and I wouldn't have survived without him! Thank you Nate! And Thank You Grandma and Grandpa Lewis for coming down (again) to help us in our time of need! So grateful for wonderful friends and family who took such good care of us!

Life is a test. I thought my test was coming to an end last weekend! But I am still alive! I am grateful to be alive! I hope to never take life for granted! It is too precious and short!
Live. Love. Laugh.