Saturday, March 20, 2010

Our Week


Well, we're no closer to eating our way through all the left-over ice cream, because, wouldn't you know it, this whole week was spent in the hospital.

UtHC life was put on hold when we took 2 year-old Mateo to emergency Sunday morning. Five days later, after x-rays, an ultrasound, CT scan and emergency surgery for him, we are HOME.

Oh, there was also a lot of prune cocktail served up too.

I now know words like 'Otolaryngology' and 'Retropharyngeal', and learned a few more things, which I share below just because.

Since this is a food blog, I won't discuss in detail Mateo's condition, but if you are a parent with a child under 5, I recommend you at least skim read this article that gives specifics.

I'm sure you would agree it's better to be informed....and not completely surprised, as I was, that a stiff neck could prove to be a life-threatening medical situation.



So nope, no recipe this week. My fridge is in a terrible state (as are the houseplants.) Instead, I leave you with the ramblings of a sleep-deprived mind, which I won't be at all offended if you skip altogether.

  • Mateo owes a lot to the team at the MCH, but my freezer stash of Chocolate-Chip Chili may have saved my life. It certainly was the best thing I ate over the past 5 days.
  • There are still plenty of good people in this world. I'm thinking in particular of the gift-shop saleslady who gave me diapers when I had no cash on me, yet a -ahem- reoccurring sticky situation in Mateo's pants.
  • Be thankful for those hospital delays, because I've discovered the pace tends to really pick up when a little life is threatened.
  • Librarians are pretty rad, especially the sleepy ones who unlock the computer room after hours so you can email loved ones news of an emergency surgery.
  • We don't watch hardly any TV (and no cable), so an intense sledge hockey match in this year's Paralympics, watched in the middle of the night, under highly stressful conditions, by two exhausted individuals, can be a tad surreal.
  • Nurses rule. Especially the good ones named Joanna.
  • Hospital food isn't even worth a line of space on this blog.
  • Clowns just aren't cool. Can't some hunky firemen drop by to visit the children instead? Or Mounties, or something else?

Thanks to those who stopped by the hospital and brought support (and goodies). Also thank you to those who lovingly looked after Noah the whole time. You know who you are and we are grateful.



We hope to be back to regular programming on UtHC soon; but in the meantime, visit Simple Bites for my 4-Ingredient Tomato Sauce recipe and 10 suggestions for easy meals to make with it.





28 comments:

Rose in Ohio said...

I'm so sorry about your trying week, but so very thankful that Mateo is on the mend. We adults feel so helpless sometimes when our children are ill, but children are very resilient, thanks be to God! I hope Mateo will make a complete recovery in record time.
(And welcome back!)

Two Minute Takes said...

So happy that all went well for Mateo and that your family is together once again. Wonderful that kind-hearted strangers were there when needed, from gift shop ladies to librarians, not to mention surgeons! Hopefully you can all take some deep breaths now that will be long-lasting!
I totally agree with you on the clowns...simply nightmare inducing for little ones.

Mrs. P said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry. Being the hospital yourself is bad, but when it's your child must be heartbreaking. I'm glad everything went well. Don't worry about your house- everything will come together. Do you have any family close by that can come over and help? Whether that be watching Mateo while you tidy up and/or make some frozen dinners?

Cheri said...

I am seriously tearing up. I'm so glad that everything was dealt with quickly so that there were no complications. And, I am sooo glad you guys are home. Hurray!

Julie said...

So sorry to hear about your week - glad Matteo is on the mend!

J. H. Austin said...

So glad you are home, and Mateo healing. (Thanks for the link to the NMI, too.)

Hilary said...

Very glad you're home and all is well.

Clowns are horrendous. I'm 29 and still scared of them. I can't understand why they bring them in to stress out already-stressed little ones.

And I'd like to see a celeb chef tackle hospital food like Jamie Oliver tackled school dinners.

Evelyne @ CheapEthnicEatz said...

My heart goes out to you to what I am sure was a week of pure hell. I am so happy things turned out ok in the end and send your family lots of health.

Denise said...

I'm so glad to hear that Mateo is on the mend and you are all home, safe and sound, as a family. Situations like these definitely give "normal" a new sense of urgency. Oh how to just have a "normal" day at home with no scary news to await, no tests waiting on, no pricking of our littles ones over and over and over, no middle of the night interruptions from staff that needs to "draw blood" at 5am, oh to BE HOME AGAIN!! HUGS to you!! I hope you have some good chocolate, wine or ice cream in your future this week...as well as a bit of ALONE time...even if for an hour!! ;)

I know the situation all too well, unfortunately. We've had 3 long hospital stays with little ones (one a preemie, one a 2 month old with a UTI, and most recently our 2month old born w/ a birth defect that required skull surgery). They are all okay now, and I am thankful for many drs, and nurses and my faith. But the stress of being mama through it all...whew...I'm glad you're home!! Here's to a better week, this week!!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I'm so relieved this is a post with a happy ending. What an ordeal for all of you. I'm sending good energy for Mateo's complete recovery and for your family, too.

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Oh my gosh! Poor little Mateo.. I skimmed the article and it sounds just horrible! I'm sure glad he's okay... I know that must have been a very stressful situation so take the time you need to take care of your son and family and you know we'll all be here...
I'm just glad he's okay!
My best to you all,
Leesa

Kimberly said...

Thankful your little one is fine...and all of you are home. The hospital is no fun!

LyB said...

Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad your little one is OK! Take some time to rest and enjoy just being at home. And seriously, firemen beat clowns any day! :)

TiffChen said...

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about your son. Thank goodness he's on the mend. I've been lurking on your blog for a while but have never posted a comment before.

After my teenager got sick with meningitis (another one of those stiff neck turns life threatening very quickly situations) and made a full recovery after a month in the hospital I can say that your gratitude to family and friends who helped you through it is well expressed. We always remember how lucky we are when times get rough!

Tiffany Rieder said...

Wow every parents nightmare. Did the whole emergency surgery thing with my boy when he was 3. You learn that you can really go on nothing. Hope all gets back to normal quickly and your little guy is doing well.

K E Fleck said...

So happy you are both home. You've been in my prayers and thoughts constantly ... every time I was tucking my own (almost) 2 year old into bed I was thinking of you and Mateo spending your nights in the hospital. Oh, my friend ... I'm so happy that there were kind strangers to bring a little bit of comfort to you during this horrible week.

Praying for a speedy recovery and good health!

xoxo

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It has definitely been a trying week and brought you all closer together. We are all happy to hear that Manteo is doing well and his little smile will always light up your day.

David Hall said...

Hey Aimee, so sorry to hear it has been a stressful week but thank God that Mateo is on the mend. Thanks for the link, it is registered. You all take care and speak soon. Thoughts from England.

Cheers
David x

Kelsey B. said...

I hope everyone is feeling better Aimee. We are sending you good thoughts.

Elsa said...

Aimee, I am so sorry you had to go through this. I am sending every good thought for wellness to you and your family, especially little Mateo. Take care!

Elsa

Emily said...

Oh my gosh. I am so, so sorry. This week sounds horrible for you. I wish I could do something.

I'm glad you guys are home now, and hopefully eveything is better.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

So glad that you're all home safe and sound. You're right about all those bullet points, especially nurses. A kind, caring person when you're scared out of your mind makes all the difference.

Big virtual hugs to you all!

annie said...

I'm glad to hear everyone's made it through and is on the mend. As a Montrealer who's had her share of hospital visits, personally and for other family members, I can say we are fortunate to have really good hospitals,and blessed with great doctors and nurses.Be well.

Haidi said...

Aimee, we are so glad that you are back home, facing that dirty fridge, and out of the hospital facing surgery. SO SCARY! Something I, as a parent, have never even heard of. Precious picture of Mateo. He is just kissable. Love you!

Aimée said...

Thank you everyone, for the kind words. I know I'm not the only mom whose been through extended hospital stays. Some of you have quite the stories, wow.

Also, thank you for receiving my decidedly non-food post. This space is good therapy!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Oh my goodness Aimee, you poor things. Big gentle hugs for Mateo and for Noah too who would have been feeling it. Big loves xxxx

Cheryl Arkison said...

Oh boy, it was a week, wasn't it.
Thanks for the heads-up too. We are hyper about breathing issues in our house due to hospital visits, but I've never heard of this before. Glad it has all turned out. Your poor boy, he's been through a lot this year.

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Oh, man! Glad to hear that your little guy is on the mend and home!
~ingrid

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