Urban Goes Country

Easter Sunday, rather than dressing up and going to church and getting cute family pictures taken afterwards, John and I spent the day in bed with fevers, coughs and sore throats, while the kids watched TV and fended for themselves. We were out of groceries, and John, feeling better at one point, went to pick up some of the essentials. The store we normally go to was closed for Easter Sunday, so he was on his way empty handed. I sent him a text reminding him that we hadn't done anything for the kids for Easter, and could he please pick up a couple of Easter baskets for the little ones, and some things for dying eggs. So he stopped at Dollar General and picked up dye but no eggs. ha. Thankfully there were still 5 left in the carton, not enough for everybody to dye even one egg, but at least the older kids didn't feel like they needed one. John and I were feeling too tired to hide eggs but the kids had their own little Easter party while we tried to get over our misery. I have taken two rounds of antibiotics in the last month or so for strep throat, and I'm pretty sure it's back.

Today, after I dropped Simeon off with a friend who was taking him to a birthday party, I went to pick up Ava who rides home with a friend who we carpool with. While I waited, I was trying to make some calls to the geneticist's office, where I was supposed to take Zoya an hour later. I was wanting to see if they or another doctor in the office could run a quick strep test on me so I could kind of kill two birds with one stone. All you moms know how hard it is to be sick when you're trying to run a home! There is no time for mom appointments! Might as well try to be seen along with your kids. I kept getting the runaround, or wrong numbers, or disconnection. So there I was in my car, having a pity party over all of Zoya's recent setbacks, and how miserable I felt, and I started crying right there in my car while I waited. Soon my friend arrived and noticed my red puffy eyes. She was understanding and sympathetic, although I just hate to cry in front of other people.

As if I could have felt any worse, five minutes later, I pulled into my driveway and was greeted by the dogs, as usual. They ALWAYS run up to the van to greet me, and they always get out of my way before I pull into the driveway. Well today Nellie did not move out of the way. I heard a loud yelp and I slammed on my brakes. My heart was pounding: I was certain that I was going to find my beloved dog dead under my van. Lo and behold she was bloody, shaking, but not dead. I had to physically pick her up, all 64 pounds of her, and put her in the van. I took some of the kids with me and left others at home and we rushed her to the vet. It appears that I would have completely run over her head if it were not for the thick layer of gravel that was just laid down our driveway a couple of weekends ago. Instead she was able to pull free just before the tire totally crushed her. :(((

Of course we did not make it to Zoya's geneticist follow up appointment that I was on my way to...the one that we've been waiting weeks for.

As you can imagine, I feel really horrible about this, but I am relieved to report though that Nellie is going to be fine. She is scraped up, swollen, has two broken teeth which will need to be extracted and a swollen jaw.....but she is alive.  And her tail is wagging. I was just telling John two nights ago what a great dog she has been, and how I am not looking forward to losing her someday. I am so thankful that today wasn't that day.

I love that I am blessed to know so many good-hearted people. Even before she knew about the dog incident, one friend emailed a gift certificate to Applebees with a note that said:

No sick Mama needs to be in the kitchen.  You deserve a break.  So please accept this gift as my way to make your burden lighter. <3
Galations 6:2

Another brought over strawberry shortcake. We enjoyed the loveliest dinner and dessert at home tonight, and I didn't even have to cook. It was so nice and it really made my day.

So all is well. I am thankful for so many things.....family, faith, health, good friends, but tonight mostly that our sweet Nellie is going to be OK. :)

And hopefully she's learned her lesson about cars.