Laughter is the Best Medicine

Ladies there is nothing like a day in the ER. I will share briefly about ER then we'll laugh. Let me give you some background. I decidely rested for 2 days last week so I would be well for church on Sunday. I posted about my Behcet's outbreak but had failed to note that I was also battling a cough. I thought the cough was something viral with a little phlegm. It progressed to more phlegm and more deep coughing. Still not a biggie to me. The mouth lesions were the only things I was concentrating on healing. I just think I am so smart sometimes. Who needs medical school? I started to feel a little better with my Behcet's but still was fatigued and had a headache on Sunday morning. I declined to go to church. My family went but not until they put the queen on the sofa with warm blankets, laptop, books,tv remote and her Bible. I had a drink and my meds. All was well for the most part when they left at 8:30am.

About 9:45 I started coughing real bad, then came the chills, then the fever, then the nausea, then the sizzling breath sounds, and then the fluid in my lungs. I thought I was going to drown. I couldn't wait for the guys to come home. I text my husband as soon as I thought service was over. He had a meeting after service. He finally got home,called my doctor and took me to ER. I was safe at last. I would live after lots of fluids, steroids, breathing treatments and high dollar antibiotics.

Now for some laughs and smiles. I want to share some of my er experiences and some blessings that followed. Ladies it is my hope you will laugh at my candid experiences and realize again I am for real and ladies it's time for us all to learn to laugh at our selves and enjoy life's ride.

• My attire worn to ER was some black sweats complete with lint. A white Tshirt with no bra. A pink sweatshirt over the tshirt accessorized with a few splashes of orange juice spills. I had on lovely furry bright purple and pink socks on my lovely dry feet. (Thank you Rita for my socks). I had on lovely black plastic head band with my hair displayed in spikes and bunches over the top. I was over dressed apparently and they slid a lovely gray probably green at one time gown. It was at least big enough to cover me but not very comfortable.
  
• I must add my chaffuer son drove my husband and I to the ER. Kevin went in and got a wheelchair. How sweet of him. He brought a medic to help. It was a good thing. Ladies I went to sit in the chair and guess what. I had to wedge my bottom into it. The medic was sweet but you know he rolled his eyes. He huffed and puffed me to the ER room. I could of been embarrassed but I was more envious of his " breath".
  
• We took care of the paper work. Gave all the info. They hooked me up to all the machines and put my IV in and hooked me into the drip. Guess what? I had to pee. I think the male nurse wanted to shoot me. I told him I was sorry and that I am usually a good patient. He was fine. I guess. Who cares I had go. Guess what he said? You need to ride in a wheel chair. So he brings me one. I wedge myself in and off Kevin and I go. Well, when I was coming out of the rest room, Guess what? A handsome medic was standing there to assist me to my room. Kevin dutifully let him hold the chair while I ...you guessed it...wedged myself into the chair. Then the handsome little fella had to hold the chair while I pryed myself out of it in my lovely grey-green gown. Go ahead laugh!
  
• A precious friend visited me in ER. She had been calling me all week and she was there to help. This is my friend Deanna. The one I love supposedly for being so honest..brutally honest. When she came in she checked out all my meds. She fixed my headband that I had asked Kevin to fix. He had it propped on my head like a tiara! Finally a tiara. Deanna brought it back down to earth. I had asked kevin to get me a diet coke. Up until then I was only allowed sips of water. We had been there 4 hours. Kev left to go get lunch. He hadn't eaten since breakfast. The nurse walks in and my friends says "Can't she have a diet coke? She really wants one." The nurse returned with ice and a diet coke. What a friend! She also folded my clothes and situated my belongings. I asked Kev to but he just rolled them up and pushed them up against the wall. Deanna neatly folded them and placed them on a shelf with my purse. I was so grateful. I hate looking like a nasty guest. Funny how that was so important and there I sat gasping for breath. Go figure.
  
• Deanna and I got everything settled and then had a good laugh. A girl was roomed with me while Deanna was there. Only a curtain separated us. We suddenly got quiet and yes nosy. She came in cause she was in dire pain. She promptly told the nurse that she drew her own blood before she came to ER in case they needed some. I guess she was a vampire or something. She supposedly was experiencing pain associated with gall bladder problems that she had since she was 11. She looked about 30+ Now why isn't her gall bladder gone by now if she's had problems that long. The woman was strange. She was there for 3 hours or so and I never heard her in pain. They gave her something for pain and they checked her out. Deanna and I laughed because for one we are never quiet and for 2 what business of it was ours. We were like two old ladies with nothing better to do.
  
• I got two or three phones calls while in the ER. These friends didn't know I was in the hospital. I found it funny when they called that Kevin didn't answer them but instead held the phone to my ear. I was glad to hear from my friends. They called cause I had been sick with the Behcets and didn't know about the cough stuff. It was sweet and they were apologetic. I think the funny part is that I never once asked Kevin to hold the calls. Again, I was fighting for my breath. I am a woman who loves to talk.
  

Now for some sweet blessings:

• I got a phone call this morning from my dear friend Rita, she called to see if she could help with anything. It was her day off. I thanked her for her offer and asked her to continue to pray for me. I missed taking care of my family. I was quickly convicted that I needed to learn to receive help. I was embarrassed but I contacted her back and asked if she could bring my men some supper. They had eaten everything frozen and canned in the house. They had depleted funds eating fast foods for the last several days. She said she already was planning on it. It was a blessing and I am humbled.
  
• Today I went to the doctor. Kevin worked out of town. Tim was in school. Cory drove me everywhere I needed to go. We decided to join a friend for lunch. I was craving chicken soup from a local restaurant. We met and enjoyed lunch. She picked up the tab. It was a generous gift. I really didn't have much money. I took out $20 for lunch as a splurge. Cory and I had visited a thrift shop and we spent $7 of it. I am thankful for her blessing us.
  
• When I got home this evening, two precious girls called wanting to bring me supper. I told them another friend was bringing. They are delivering supper for tomorrow. I can truly rest knowing my family is being provided for and I will be okay to rest. They have touched my heart because these girls have 7 kids between them and one homeschools hers and has had a newborn. The other has her children in many activities and supports her husband while he works hard and has many church responsibilities. I can only imagine the sacrifice they are making.
  
• My friend delivered our meal tonight. I was overwhelmed. She and the boys brought in bag after bag of groceries, hot food, and drinks. I welled up in tears because Tim said "It's like Christmas" . She bought every kind of chicken imaginable, BBQ wings, fried, rotesserie, all kinds of side dishes, dessert, and groceries. The boys were tearing into the food before she left. I was a little embarrassed.
  
• I received many calls today from friends. I couldn't talk long to any of them at one time, but I felt very blessed that I have friends. It makes all the difference in the world to know you are loved and valued. God is the true source of love and these friends shine Him brightly. If you are a reader of my blog thank you!!!
  

2 more quick blessings.

• Remember the trip to the thrift store. Cory bought a hot dog toaster, new and in original package. It cooks two hot dogs and toasts two buns. He brought it home and wanted to try it. We had no hot dogs or buns of course. I told him that dad got paid on Thursday and I would buy groceries. Well, my friend bought hot dogs and buns with the groceries tonight. Yahoo for Cory.
  
• A few days back Cory and I had went to the store to buy toothpaste and deodorant. We told ourselves we could look around but just buy the basics. It was hard passing up the 75% off christmas stuff, and other mark downs. But we were sticking to the list. While checking out I picked up a magazine. I thumbed through it. I wanted it real bad, but we were sticking to the basics. Guess what? my friend added it to our groceries. Yahoo for Anna.
  

This has been a long blog again my friends. If you are still with me thank you. Tomorrow may pose to be more spiritual. It has been a wild ride this past week. Find some joy in your life today...well tomorrow...I am writing this blog very late on Monday. I will still post on Tuesday too. I've missed you. acf