My Personal Vacation???

You would think I would have had all the traveling and time away from home that a person could ever need after our very busy past few months.
But I had my very own vacation, all alone (a few visitors here and there, but I have a pretty protective hubby that kept it very hush-hush, so I would have quiet time).
This was not the vacation I would have planned (or would ever plan again), but I do have to say the service was impeccable, I was waited on hand and foot and every whim I had was fulfilled with the simple push of a button. I didn't have to cook for myself, get a blanket when I was cold, I could have even had someone else shower my body (that one I did not go for, that was a little too personal!)
The food was a little less than desirable, but they had some great ice water and orange juice and the graham crackers weren't too bad.
I had a T.V. at my disposal with the remote all to myself, no one to fight with over what we should see, no little kid shows, although I was tempted a couple of times, but thought I'd indulge in something new. I have now officially watched enough T.V. to last me for at least 5 or 10 years!!! I am happy to say that I saw programs I have never seen and watched a couple I haven't seen in a very long time. T. V. is a very rare thing in our home, just nothing good to watch, but here...I had cable or satellite or something like that, there was bound to be the greatest things ever (well, maybe for some, but I think I can now do without, again, I had my share for the next few years) But, let me share the highlights...
Food Network was pretty amazing, the Design shows were fabulous (if only I had the energy to do any of what they showed, but maybe soon I will),
I now know who Dr. Oz is, and no Momma's out there who were just like me, not the wizard of Oz, but a man named Dr. Oz. He was a pretty smart cookie from what I could tell...learned a few new things, just hope I can remember them long enough to put anything into action.
I also watched Oprah, saw Barbara Streisand sing, what a lovely voice! Saw an interview of Cher...I'm tellin' ya, that woman just does not age! Wouldn't want her life, but love her voice, too!
Let's see what else did I watch?
Well, a whole lotta news, yep, it's gonna snow and snow, if they are all right. Not really sure what the temperature might be, cause every channel had a different idea on that one, but my best guess is "Cold".
Saw, or listened to when I would doze off or when I would need to close my eyes due to content (I still need to be good, even though no one else was watching), the top 40 country songs of the decade...that was pretty good and it helped to block out all the noise in the hallway and surrounding rooms.
And finally I slept in a bed that served as a pretty great recliner...I could sleep whenever I wanted, didn't matter the time of day or night, no one really cared, in fact they were thrilled each time I went to sleep (not that they didn't wake me up every other hour, but then they'd leave me to be and with any luck at all, I'd be off in dreamland again.)

If you haven't already guessed where I spent my little vacation, yes in the hospital. How dumb is that??? Who on earth wants to go the hospital for a vacation? Who planned this? Well, I'm afraid I may be a little at fault...
Monday I was complaining that I never have any time to get to all of the things I need or want to do, had myself a little pity party and guess what happened? That very night I started getting sick. So do yourself a favor and don't complain!!! By Wednesday evening, my hubby had me in the emergency room, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, I was going downhill very fast, it was not a pretty situation.

After spending many hours in ER, I was admitted to a room.
Test after test after test...
Ruled out were Heart Attack, Blood clots in my lungs and a couple of other things I cannot remember. Thank Heaven for those results... I think this was all a little too much for my Dear Husband to be thinking about, but I am okay.
What they did find was that I had come down with pneumonia with an asthmatic exacerbation. All I knew was I could not breathe and my chest hurt like it had never hurt before. They quickly had me hooked up to oxygen, which I stayed on full time for the next 2 1/2 days. They started breathing treatments to help me to breathe and to release the pressure on my lungs. I was pumped full of IV liquids, antibiotics, steroids, and oxygen. Saturday afternoon, I was released to come home with medications to help over the next 10 days.

So after the run down of all the not so great details, I really wanted to
think of some of the great things that happened in the hospital, it was after all, my vacation and I need to relish in the good moments!
I saw the first snowfall from my room...that made me smile! It also made me a little sad that I wasn't home to enjoy my kiddos with all of their excitement of the first snowfall! But it was a magical sight! There is just something about that gently cascading snow as it falls from the sky, snow is amazing to watch fall, no matter the size or the quantity falling, I just LOVE it!

Just outside my window was the flag pole fitted with Our American Flag as well as the Flag for the State of Idaho. What a treat! On my first or maybe it was my second day, it's all a little bit of a blur, I looked out the window to see a very blustery day ~ those flags were just waving about, it was truly a beautiful sight to see. I watched them until I fell asleep again. Amazing what seeing the Flag can do for a person, well at least for me :)

I had a lot of quiet time to reflect, to prioritize, time to focus on how blessed I really am. Maybe that was the entire purpose in my getting so sick...time to slow down...to only worry about me (although I was very worried about being gone for so long, but my family all did just fine).

As Mothers I really think we get so caught up in all of our responsibilities that we get lost somewhere in the mix.
I am absolutely not suggesting that we become selfish to any degree, but I do think we need to take care of us first and that is what I have come away with. When I can make sure I am okay, then I will better be able to make sure everyone else is okay and their needs are met. But, when you are running like a crazy lady 24/7, as I have been doing for much too long, it finally takes it's toll.
It was surprising to me how the doctors and nurses reacted to my being in the hospital with pneumonia. I loved it each time they would say, "You are way too young to have this" doesn't that sound nice? Let's say it again, "You are way too young" LOVE it! Anyway, back to what I was saying, they questioned what I do and how I got myself so run down? Well, I gave them only a small sampling of what I do and they were a little taken aback. Glad I held back some of the information, I might have had a tongue lashing!

Anyway, this was all a very good lesson for me... and one that I wanted to share with all of my friends... slow down a little, it really is okay, take care of YOU ~ it really is okay and so important, and lastly, I said this a little bit ago, DON'T COMPLAIN, cause if you do, you just might end up in the hospital, too! Love you all!

For the next week or so, please send me messages on my email or here or facebook, since talking is very difficult. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and if you are traveling, please be safe!