Dodging a Parenting-Fail!

My life is full of most embarrassing stories. 

I could go toe to toe with Bridgit Jones and her diary and I just might win. 

While at the hospital, I narrowly escaped yet another story to add to my collection.

More on that later.

First, I'm happy to say that Maddie is home and although recovery has its ups and downs, for the most part we are well on our way to being good as new.  

So, back to the story...

There are a few things we do in life only because motherhood/parenthood requires it.  

For me it's things like:

1) Donning a bathing suit

2) Sharing my secret chocolate stash

Such sacrifices as these award you that ever-pleasing self-pat on the 'ole back. 

And then there are more serious times you just have to be there for your child because that's what love is.  

You are there to hold their hand and tell them everything will be ok (even if you don't know that it will be)

For some strange reason, the hospital has this rule that only one parent can be present in the recovery room after surgery.  

I was the chosen one.  

I was ready to be there for my baby when she woke up because that's what a good mother does.  

But then...

I saw it.

The blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth.

Uh-oh.

Did I ever mention that half of all my most embarrassing moments have something to do with blood?

Like the time I passed out cold because my friend's diabetic mother had to prick her finger for a reading?  

I don't do blood.  

It's not in my parent manifesto.  

I asked the extremely pleasant nurse if this was ok and like the good mother I was supposed to be, she reassured me it was just fine. 

After a washcloth was placed on the bed to soak up all that blood (seriously, we are talking like huge, pea-sized circular stain) I fought really hard to keep things together.  

And just then, the doctor comes by to talk to me about how the surgery went.  

He had pictures. 

Yay! Pictures!

Don't pass out...don't you dare pass out.  Keep it together Sam!!

I'm not sure I made eye contact because at this point the room was spinning and beginning to feel quite small.

I stared at what else but the pictures of the insides of my daughter's trachea.  

I had no choice but to disengage.  

When I finally snapped out of it, the doctor was pointing to the last picture and I heard him say, 

"so this is definitely something we need to watch out for in the future."  

Ummm, Say what?  

Luckily, he met us up in our assigned room later that evening and explained everything once again with Kyle and I both present! 

Phewww. 

Totally dodged that parenting fail! 

I stepped up my parenting game with an organized piece of paper detailing times medications were given.  Yay, that self-pat on the 'ole back is nice.  :)