A super full day, with high-highs and low-lows...

(This originally happened January, 4, 2012. I'm just now getting around to publishing it. Such is my life right now.)

Wednesday was a full day. After getting Silas off to school, I had to take Josiah and Samuel to the pediatrician for their three-year and one-year well checks. Each of them got two vaccinations at the end of the visit. Josiah's were live vaccines and the nurse told me that he would need to really run around today or else his legs would get sore. So I made a mental note to get him moving later and then we were off to the next stop.

Next, we picked up my violin from the music store where I had dropped it last week for some minor repairs. Silas would be starting cello after school, and I wanted it back so that Silas and I could play together that evening.

Samuel fell asleep in the van, so when we got home I had to keep running out to the garage when we got home. Normally, I would just carry him inside, but because of the extra stop, his nap had been long enough that if he woke up, that might be the end of it. It ended up being a really long nap, so I was pretty much on edge the whole afternoon as I sat at the kitchen table with the garage door open (brrrr!), listening should he wake up.

After naps (which did not overlap for very long), it was time to pick Silas up from orchestra. I loaded the little boys up, and then headed out a bit later than I wanted to be, which is becoming typical for me. I should also mention that Josiah had chosen to really prefer underwear to pull-ups, yet just the day before he had a BM in his underwear while we were at a neighbor's house for Bible study. So I was trying to get him to use the toliet before buckling him in for the 30-40 minute round-trip to pick up his brother. Thus, we were cutting it close.

We picked Silas up and loaded his cello in the van. Silas and I were both so excited about this new adventure. We headed home so I could pick up an overdue library and some mail for work that I had left at home accidentally. I'm pretty sure the preschool potty moment was the reason it didn't get into the van.

So now off to the post office and library. Both stops had drive-thru drop boxes, so I knew it would be a quick errand. On the way out of the library parking lot, I noticed a tent set up with a farmer selling some organic meat. He looked Amish, but turns out he's just German Baptist or something. Anyway, very nice man, but very chatty. It took over 20 minutes to finish my transaction, all the while the 3 boys were in the van, Silas occassionally tapping on the window to inform me that it was taking too long, that the cello wasn't supposed to be left in the car on a cold day for more than 10 minutes, that Josiah was screaming and saying potty words and Samuel was crying. Good times. Since the car was still running, I told him the cello would be okay, I threatened to spank Josiah if he said any more potty words, and I wiped Samuel's tears.

After I loaded my parking lot harvest into to the van, my new farmer friend, Dale, came to the window 3 times to tell me something or other. Seriously, chatty fellow.

Finally home, I just didn't feel like heading back out for dinner with daddy as we had sort of planned earlier. Silas was eager to play his cello and the weather was starting to turn. I spent the day before cooking a meal for a friend who had just had surgery, so I was contemplating leftovers (which Josiah usually refuses, no matter what they are), or Chipotle. Steve offered to pick up Chipotle on his way home from work. Thank you, Steve.

So now we were just waiting for dinner to arrive. Samuel was hungry, so I cut up some pear and put him  in the high chair to self-feed. Now I turned my attention to getting Josiah moving. He was starting to feel punky but I offered to race him around the stairwell, which happily got him moving and perked him up. And so I was racing around when I heard a choking sound coming from Samuel.

Oh, dear.

I quickly pulled him out of the high chair and patted him on the back.


Still choking and now not making any sound. His airway was completely blocked. I used my little finger to sweep his mouth, but there wasn't much in there and still he was choking. After about 10 seconds I realized that what I was doing wasn't working as quickly as I thought it should, so I picked up the phone and

called 9-1-1.

I had a feeling that everything was going to be fine, but I didn't like how long it was taking and I figured it was best to get help on the way, should I need it.

It seemed like forever, but everything happened so fast. I was praying hard, and beating Samuel on the back. He was foaming and still choking. It was all so scary.

Silas ran in the room and then ran back out. I heard a door shut. I knew he was praying. Later on, I asked him where he went and he told me Daddy's office. He went there to pray. So precious.

Finally, he stopped choking and started crying - a good sign. Oh, thank you, Jesus!! He was pretty upset for a minute or so, then calmed down and basically forgot all about it, right about the time the huge fire engine pulled up in front of our house, lights flashing, followed by the ambulance.

It was rather embarrassing for me as I greeted the paramedics and explained that Samuel had been choking but was now alright. It was awkward as they dismissed the firetruck and all the personnel that came with it. Shortly after they arrived, Steve came in. I can only imagine the terror it struck in his heart to come home and see such a commotion on his street and then realize it was at his house, someone in his family might have been in danger. I had to sheepishly explain to him in front of the paramedics what had happened. Rather humbling.

They checked Samuel's oxygen levels and said some reassuring things like "You did the right thing, Mom". Even though I didn't need any help from them, I still knew it was the right thing to call them because it just wasn't coming out quickly enough on its own and if I did need help, I wanted it to be on the way when it would still be hopeful.

Oh, my!!!

After the flashing lights were turned off and all was quiet at our home, we fell into a hushed routine. I forced myself to give Samuel more pears, peeled and cut-up smaller. He only ate a few, but I didn't want to live in fear, nor did I want him to have a bad association, not that he would have any memory of the event really. After dinner, it was bath and bedtime.

After the two little guys were tucked away, I stole away to the basement with Silas and we had a little jam session in the basement, he on his cello, me on my newly refurbished violin. We were down there way past bedtime, and Steve finally yelled down the stairs to bring me back to reality. Me, the time conscious one, had completely lost track of time! Oh, but what a joy to share music with Silas for the first time!

Too many of my days are jammed packed like this one, but thankfully, they don't have as many extreme moments. Most of the time, they are good things, like Farmer Dale and jam sessions in the basement. And when the scary things creep up, I know my God is faithful and that I am not alone in caring for these little boys.