You watch the clock melt into the wall as seconds become hours. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The clock gets louder and louder - mocking you for staring at it.
Your throbbing heart has moved into your throat making it more difficult to swallow your concern. You look back at the clock. That stupid, dumb clock. Only three-minutes have passed?
You watch the door like a trained royal guard waiting for someone to enter the room. Someone who will tell you that the procedure went well and your child will be just fine.
Your mind replays all the statistics that dump water onto the flame of your fear. This is a simple procedure. He's going to be okay! And then time begins to move at a pace of sixty-seconds per minute once again.
But then doubt, just like a vulture sitting on your left shoulder, whispers worry back into your head. And time creeps again just like before.
You are reminded that you are not invincible. You know that nothing will make this more apparent than if something happens to your child today. And you cannot imagine a world without him in it. Even in your fragile state, your mind won't allow you to consider this as a possible outcome.
And you PRAY. You pray because God is the only one who loves your child as much as you do. And you know that He is in that operating room right now - guiding the surgeon's hands and protecting your baby.
And then you wait. And you wait. And you wait some more.
Twenty-minutes feels like hours when you're sitting in that recovery room.
The shortest twenty-minutes are the twenty-minutes after your child has had surgery.
The surgeon walks in and she's smiling. Her smile punches your fear right in the gut, and it quietly exits the room as if it were never there in the first place. Her happy disposition silently says that everything is okay, but it still feels good to hear the words. The procedure went well and your child will be just fine.
They wheel your sleeping son into the recovery room. You see his peaceful face and your eyes overflow with oceans of relief. You watch him open his heavy eyes and look into yours, and you wish that it was you in that bed instead. Twenty-minutes flies by as you stroke his hair just to feel closer to him.
The shortest twenty-minutes are the car ride home when your child is watching Finding Nemo in the backseat. Or the time that you spend rubbing his back to help him get comfortable. Or the time that you spend spoon-feeding him bites of jello. Or the time that you spend watching Peppa Pig just one more time. Or the time that you spend reading his favorite book over and over before turning out the light. Because now, twenty-minutes feels like no time at all.
Last week, some of these tasks might have felt inconvenient. But today, you don't consider them a responsibility. Today, you consider them a privilege.
The shortest twenty-minutes are the twenty-minutes when you're standing beside his bed that night and watching him sleep. You praise God for keeping him safe today. And you thank God for the honor of being this child's mother.
..............................
Twenty-minutes can teach you a lot.
Did you remember to vote today? One click = One vote.
Vote for me and I'll quit writing about depressing stuff. Probably.
Wonderfully written. Unless you have been there as a parent you have no idea how the fear is in every cell of your body. The statistics don't matter. It is really 0% or 100% because it is all about YOUR child. I hope each person who reads this, spends 20 great minutes with their child today. I tried to raise my children like they would live forever and die today. Everyone told me they would be spoiled. I didn't care. Spoiled was fine..as long as they were not rotten. So cookies at 3 AM? I did it! We had lots of wonderful 20 minutes. But now, I realize that there were still not enough of them.
ReplyDeleteYour 3 am cookies are legendary! I loved every minute in our house. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I found your blog on Pinterest and have been lurking. I hope all is well with your son. The only thing I can add to this post is the longest hour of my life was when my daughter was in open heart surgery, and the nurse didn't call to update like she was supposed to. For the first few hours she did, then it stopped. I held it together for a little bit, then the tears involuntarily came down and wouldn't stop. Just a constant stream. It turned out that they discovered another problem after they took her off the bypass machine, so they put her back on and fixed it. She was fine, and is thriving today, but those days were hard. I can say that the one part of it that I am thankful for is that I don't take these moments for granted. I am so thankful for all my kids, and while I wish my daughter was born with a healthy heart, I am thankful to God for carrying us through and giving me the opportunity to see all my blessings for what they are.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Karen, thank you for sharing your story! It brought tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine what you must have been going through. It reminds us to be thankful for each and every minute that we get to spend with these precious little people. Glad to hear that your daughter is doing so well now!
DeleteSO crazy I stummbled upon this because as I speak... type.... my 7 week old is resting in a hospital bed recouping from surgery earlier today. Praise the Lord that it went well! It was certainly the LONGEST hour and a half. Thank you for your blog! I found it on Pinterest tonight and love it.
ReplyDeleteJust now seeing this comment! So glad everything went well and I hope that sweet baby of yours is doing great now. :)
Deletenike free, burberry outlet online, gucci outlet, nike air max, kate spade outlet, air max, louboutin, jordan shoes, tiffany and co, michael kors outlet, toms shoes, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, coach outlet, louis vuitton handbags, oakley sunglasses, chanel handbags, nike shoes, oakley sunglasses, michael kors, longchamp outlet, coach factory outlet, michael kors, true religion jeans, coach purses, louis vuitton outlet online, burberry outlet online, prada handbags, ray ban sunglasses, coach factory, polo ralph lauren outlet, prada outlet, polo ralph lauren, louboutin, oakley sunglasses, coach outlet store, michael kors outlet, tory burch outlet, oakley sunglasses, ray ban
ReplyDeletetrue religion outlet, hogan, karen millen, yoga pants, nike free, vans, timberland, lululemon, nike free, nfl jerseys, rolex watches, lancel, new balance shoes, air max, hollister, ray ban pas cher, hermes, ralph lauren, louboutin, nike air max, abercrombie and fitch, louis vuitton, air max, nike air max, oakley pas cher, supra shoes, montre pas cher, ralph lauren, mulberry, longchamp, louis vuitton, michael kors, north face outlet, true religion, reebok outlet, burberry, louis vuitton, converse shoes, birkin bag, air jordan
ReplyDelete“It converse outlet adidas nike outlet coach factory outlet store abercrombie and fitch tommy hilfiger outlet is ugg australia christian louboutin toms shoes outlet tory burch sandals salomon ralph lauren uk a prada outlet gucci outlet rolex watches ugg boots clothing websites uggs short free run gucci tommy hilfiger online abercrombie christian louboutin lululemon 10-minute new balance cheap boots ray ban michael kors gucci outlet puma questionnaire louis vuitton outlet online nike replica watches burberry outlet online christian louboutin vans that tiffany and co jewelry ferragamo ray ban sunglasses chanel sunglasses chanel iphone 6 case assesses michael kors outlet online coach handbags factory nike shoes for women nike air max 2014 nike air max longchamp handbags how gucci sale nike roshe run woolrich jackets outlet
ReplyDeletepandora jewelry
ReplyDeletenike air max 90
toms shoes
tommy hilfiger outlet
gucci shoes
uggs boots on sale
gucci outlet
burberry outlet
kate spade uk
mcm outlet
juicy couture
ray ban outlet
kevin durant shoes
prada outlet
snapbacks wholesale
air max
coach outlet store online
basketball shoes
fake oakley sunglasses
moncler outlet
jordan shoes
longchamp pas cher
chaussure louboutin
ralph lauren outlet
gucci borse
canada goose outlet
louis vuitton handbags
fitflop uk
20151010yuanyuan
ralph lauren
ReplyDeletep90x
louis vuitton outlet stores
lebron 11
giuseppe zanotti
toms wedges
abercrombie & fitch
louis vuitton purses
cheap jerseys
cheap nfl jerseys
true religion jeans
mont blanc
cheap uggs
michael kors outlet
nike trainers uk
true religion outlet
hollister kids
ugg boots
louis vuitton outlet stores
true religion outlet
north face jackets
coach factory outlet
air jordans
ralph lauren outlet
tiffany jewelry
uggs on sale
vans sneakers
retro 11
discount ugg boots
ray ban sunglasses outlet
nike huarache shoes
michael kors outlet online
polo ralph lauren
nfl jerseys
2016119yuanyuan
fitflop sandals
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet
coach factory outlet
toms shoes
oakley vault
cheap jordan shoes
michael kors outlet
cheap jordans
mont blanc pens
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
michael kors handbags
lebron james shoes 2015
cheap jordans
nike roshe flyknit
hollister clothing
coach outlet
gucci
nike basketball shoes
nike running shoes
nike factory outlet
michael kors outlet
lebron james shoes
adidas originals
oakley sunglasses
beats headphones
fitflops
ralph lauren polo
true religion
nike free run
coach factory outlet
rolex watches
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton
oakley sunglasses
burberry outlet
coach factory outlet
coach factory outlet
ray ban
20165.19wengdongdong
longchamp bags
ReplyDeletenike air huarache
longchamp le pliage
nike huarache
nike roshe uk
kobe basketball shoes
hermes belts for men
louboutin shoes
air yeezy
adidas nmd
Replica Cheap Chloe Handbags
ReplyDeleteReplica Loewe Handbags
Replica Mulberry Handbags
Replica Bvlgari Handbags
Replica Givenchy Handbags
Replica Burberry Handbags
Replica Valentino Handbags
Replica Delvaux Handbags
Replica Bally Bags
Replica Louis Vuitton Bags Online
ReplyDeleteReplica Cheap Gucci Handbags
Replica Hermes Handbags
Replica Discount Chanel Handbags
Thank you, the article is very petrifying
ReplyDeleteTips Paling Ampuh Untuk Pengobatan Meningitis
Tips Untuk Menormalkan Kanker Kelenjar Getah Bening
Cara Mengobati Anyang-anyangan
Obat Cedera Patah Tulang
Obat Herbal Aneurisma Aorta Perut
Replica Lady Dior Bags Price,
ReplyDeleteReplica Discount Fendi Handbags,
Replica Balenciaga Discount Bags,
Replica Miu Miu New Bags,
Replica Discount Chloe Bags,
Replica Loewe Handbags
Fake Swiss Rolex Watches
ReplyDeleteReplica Audemar Piguet Watch
Replica Bell and Ross Watches
Fake Breitling Watches
Fake Franck Muller Watches
Fake Hublot Watches
Replica Discount Scarves
ReplyDeleteReplica Men Shoes
Replica Women Shoes
Fake Luxury Bedding
Don't worry, though, you don't have to be an adult all the time. One of the joys of being a new parent is dragging all your old toys, books, and video games out of your mom's basement for another generation of fun. Yeah, at first your baby's ability to interact with things is limited to "bang it on the table and/or jam it in their mouth," but you can help broaden their horizons by showing them how the toys work. (Michael Kors Black Tote Purse)
ReplyDeleteThe Broncos shut out the Bison 37 0 in a matchup of two Mid Suburban League teams that reached the postseason last year. Buffalo Grove (1 1) got off to a rough start when Northern. 27, 2018" > >North Suburban football notes: Lake Zurich shuts down FremdAnthony Mangano had a pretty uneventful Friday evening. (Michael Kors Black Sequin Purse)
That a return of about 0.5 per cent.Based on the methodology of one point per dollar spent, a one way Qantas ticket between Sydney and Brisbane through Woolworths Rewards would take two years and $18,400 to earn. Simply buying the ticket would set you back only $135.you spend $20,000, that might get a new toaster but if you were buying a car and the salesperson said, throw in a free toaster, I not sure it would get you over the line. Claimed Coles and Woolies shoppers could get back far more than 0.5 per cent if they deserted the big boys. (Michael Kors Black Leather Bucket Bag)
Coach Bags Outlet Australia, I have respect for Martin because on the opposite end of the map, he has come from absolutely nowhere and is playing out of his mind for a team that is fighting hard to win back the respect of the league. Both of these guys have been a blast to watch, and lucky for us we will get to see them mature as football players in the years to come. So let's start by talking about Andrew Luck's team right now..