Monday, December 12, 2005

Almost Out Of Time

What a weekend.

We were heading to Santa's Village until the big snowstorm hit, so we waited until morning when the snow plows and sunshine had made the world safe from dumb ass drivers. Sure, I have four wheel drive, but not everybody else.

On Saturday morning we packed our things into laundry baskets. We have suitcases, but laundry baskets are more convenient for one or two-day trips. Emmett fell asleep at ten in the morning, which is not like him. His eyelids were drawn irresistibly down, and his breathing was labored and shallow. For a week now he coughed and thrashed at night, but so far we thought he had a cold. Beth took him to see the pediatrician, who calmly told her to take him to the emergency room.

"Can I pick up my husband on the way?" Beth asked the doctor.

"No."

At the emergency room, Beth filled out a registration form and waited to be called. When she was finally shown to a room, and after chest x-rays from technicians, she waited for two hours for the doctor to come in. By now Emmett was dehydrated and hungry. The doctor apologized, but he didn't know she was even waiting until minutes ago.

I wish I had been there. Think Shirley MacLean in Terms of Endearment. If you haven't seen it, just watch the scene when her movie-daughter has cancer and hasn't had her pain shot, and MacLean goes to the nurse’s station to secure one. Get the shot. I'm sorry maam-- Get the shot! GET THE SHOT! GET THE SHOOOOOOT!!!!!

But it ends well--Emmett's infection is viral, a huge relief because I almost died when I was a baby from the same. Not that I can remember. Emmett "called" me from the emergency room, just to say hi. I've never heard him utter a word on the phone, not even a grunt. But I heard him clearly, "Hi dada." In the back of my mind, after we hung up, the eerie thought crept up from my unconscious, "What if that was the last time I ever spoke to him?" I scooped him up when he came home, and he rested there with his cheek on my shoulder--and I didn't tire so quickly.

Last night he woke up while the wife and I were watching the Fantastic Four downstairs. Another first, Emmett got out of bed. Mind you, he's just two years old now, so there are many firsts. The volume on the TV kept it from us for a while, but like a strange disturbance in the force, or a tickle of Spidey sense, we realized something was wrong and I paused the movie. Emmett screamed at the top of the stairs in a hoarse rasp, unique to having done so for a while, which pushed my panic button and propelled me up the stairs in three or four bounds. I scooped him up and he collapsed into my shoulder without so much as a sniffle.

Can you say melodrama?

Oh well. We brought him downstairs and he passed out between us. His sweet little angel face looked towards the heavens, and Beth and I took turns touching his face and pinching his nose, exploring the behind his ears and feeling his soft little neck. Then I thought of Jackson, older now and annoyed with such attention.

There isn't much time left before Emmett won't need us like this anymore.

11 comments:

Shesawriter said...

They grow up so fast. My 17 year old doesn't kiss me goodnight anymore. It's the little things that make you realize how the "good old days" are just about gone.

Tanya

Anonymous said...

Scott - I'm so glad he's going to be all right. How scary for you. I don't care how old they get, when the children you love (as an Aunt, that's all I have) are ill it's hard - especially after an emergency room visit.
They do grow up so fast - I took care of my youngest nephew when he was a baby and he's 16 now - too cool for hugs and cuddles. Ahhhhh, children.

mr. schprock said...

We never had very many scares like that with our girls. Daughter Number 1 fell of the top bunk of a bunk bed one time in Puerto Rico and we had to take her to the emergency room. Glad to see your little tyke is going to be all right.

Is he named after Emmett Smith by any chance?

Scott said...

Mrs T - I know exactly what you mean, but I am only just starting into the kid stage with Jackson, so I haven't been pummelled with it yet. With Emmett we are enjoying the baby stage a lot more, because we have Jackson to look at now to show us that they do get big, and quick.

Tanya - I know. I feel sad already.

Eve - Yeah, but I'm gonna steal my hugs when they get older. Guys wrestle instead.

Mr Schprock - No no no no no! I was always afraid that my friends would think that. The name Emmett was Beth's idea, and I tried to dissuade her for that very reason. And, the running back is spelled Emmitt--a huge difference and my only defense.

Chloe said...

Glad all is well with the little peanut!

Sadie Lou said...

aw, Scott.
I love when you write about your family. That was very touching. Nothing can make you worry like sick kids. To this day (and my oldest is 8) the scariest times in my life were long waits in the emergency room.
Just today I was looking into my baby's eyes and wondering what I would even do if anything happened to him. Or~What if I sent my kids to school and it was the last time I saw them?
I hate doing that to myself but I will say that it makes me live each moment with them with a little more patience and gratitude.

Jada's Gigi said...

They are so incredible when they are small...well all the way up to teens...then they "go away" for a while...:) But wonderfully, mine have all come back. They are all officially grown now :) and boy do they love their mommy and daddy. :) We get lots of phone calls, hugs and kisses...but I must say, those snuggly 2 yr olds are just yummy. Nothing like em. Eat em up now...teenagers are coming...arrrgh!

Scott said...

Chloe - Thanks for that.

Sadie - We both feel the same about parenthood--that's nice. I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

Gigi - You know what? This really lifted my spirits. I hear all the time about how kids grow up and become unappreciative teenagers, then leave the home and you never see them again. You really gave me a shout of hope. Thank you.

The Zombieslayer said...

Kids are tough. Actually, it's found that kids who got sick have better shots against cancer, because their immune system gets exercise.

Kathleen said...

Poor sweet Emmett. There really is nothing scarier than a baby in the ER or hooked up to IVs. It just breaks your heart. I hope he's feeling better.

Jada's Gigi said...

Scott,
you may be wishing they would never come back before they get to the returning stage. LOL