It was the phone call I knew would come... one I'd gotten once before. An early Sunday morning call that no one gets, unless something is wrong. My mom called me at 7:45 Sunday morning to tell me that she was taking my dad to the ER. He was up, trying to get ready to head in to church and play for Sunday morning services, but he was too out of breath from trying to walk from his bathroom back to his bed. I got the same call in 2003, also on a Sunday, after church. Mom called to tell me that dad was in the hospital with CHF (Congestive Heart Failure). At the time, I lived in Wilmington, NC- about 3 hours from home. My mom wouldn't let me drive home until the next day because she knew I was upset.

This time, I'm here and glad for that. If this had happened while I lived in Maryland, it would have been hard. It was hard for my sister to take the news yesterday in Tulsa. She decided to fly home today, and I was so glad she was able to do that. My (our- mine and Britt's) dad will be okay. He went into CHF yesterday and did the right thing by going to the ER. He was admitted and we spent all day with him yesterday and most of the day today. It's really hard being at the hospital with a baby, too- very different. Before, we could go in and out and go get coffee and now- I have to worry about keeping my baby from crawling on the hospital room floor for fear of being yelled at by a nurse.

When things like this happen, it makes me so thankful just to be alive. I have a beautiful family, and I know that... yet, I complain about all of the things we don't have. Who cares? We have a life together! My son has four grandparents, five great grandparents, one great, great grandmother and two aunts and uncles... what a lucky little man! We're lucky to have each other and I have to stop and remind myself to cherish every silly little moment- every crack my sister makes, every weird thing my dad does, etc. I love my family. I hate that it takes things like this happening to remind me how truly blessed I really am.

So, my dad will probably get to go home tomorrow and will have to be out of work for two weeks to rest and recover. Not an easy thing for him... none of us are very good at relaxing, but I will do my best to see that he does what he's supposed to do to get back to restored good health. He's had a lot of calls and visitors, which reminds me that our family extends out... our church family is amazing, and we couldn't get by with out them. We heart St. John's!

Do me a favor and give your kids an extra hug and kiss before bed or in the morning. Call your sibling and your folks- let the people you love know you love them. Never know what tomorrow holds.

This exhausted momma is going to call it a night. I didn't post a birthday review today, and I hope you can forgive me. I do have more of them to post, so I'll get back to work on that tomorrow morning. Love my Mommy Blog friends and fam, and thanks to all of you for your prayers and support during this stressful time for our family.

~Ondria~