Full House

Daddy, Uncle Bob, Uncle Vic [candid]

The above Photograph done by Christopher

Chris and Daddy

Aunt Nora trying to look innocent after stealing all of the crumbs from the crumb cake!

Daddy, Uncle Bob, Aunt Sandy, Uncle Vic, Mom, Jeremy, Chelsea, Donna (clockwise from Dad)

I left work Friday early because my lungs were starting to close again. I couldn't catch my breath. I went home, crawled in bed and slept until the noise coming from downstairs woke me up. I went downstairs and saw faces I haven't seen in years but haven't changed one bit. My father had a glow to him. He was with his two best friends in the entire world, Bob and Vic. These men are like his brothers. They've been best friends for over 40 years. Not only did Bob and Vic come down, Bob's significant other Sandy joined them as did Donna. I haven't seen Donna since I was a little girl but I knew that face immediately. The laughter coming from the table was overwhelming. In the other room our other guests had arrived. Uncle Dave, Chris and Ryan. I've seen Ryan three weeks straight! It's amazing! Chris and I ran to Target, then to Wal-Mart and were able to really talk about things going on in our life. As we've grown older and have more forms of communication we talk more than just at Thanksgiving which is really awesome. My father's side of the family is the only family we associate with. They're amazing people. We get back to the house, I decide to call it a night after taking some photos and crawl in bed. I wake up at 7:00 am not able to breath. I take a few puffs of my inhaler, go back to sleep, wake up a few hours later not able to form a whole sentence because there isn't enough oxygen in my lungs to do so. More puffs. Please work. I don't have time to be this sick. I go downstairs, my father listens to my chest. It doesn't sound good. He calls work for me because I'm physically unable to do so. It's time to make choices: back to the doctor or off to the ER. I'd rather just crawl back upstairs in bed. I take more puffs, try to shake it off. Nothing is helping. I can't breathe. We have a house full of people, my father has more on important things on his plate and he turns to me and says, "You are my number one priority. Whatever you need, wherever you need to go, we will make that happen. Dr. Tope or Rex?" "Rex. I need Rex." Mom, Aunt Sandy, and Donna all decide we're taking a trip to Rex. We drive up and they have an ER/Chest Pain Center all together! I have my very own center at Rex! Woho! I get there, I check in and I'm seen right away. Let me clarify these chest pains. It's not my heart. Its my lungs. I don't need and EKG. I get moved back to the waiting room. Cheated. Shouldn't I get an oxygen tank or something? I'm sorry but oxygen isn't making its way into my lungs I think I have priority here. They move me back into Triage Bed 6 and I'm referred to as the Respiratory patient. A nurse comes down with a bag full of tubes and asks me, "Have you used this before?" "Yeeeep." Awesome. Drugs. Steroids. Oxygen. I can't suck it down fast enough. I sound like a fiend. My hands start to shake. I hate that but I'm kind of used to it. I finish the little cup full of steroids and the nurse comes over and says, "So, besides jittery how're you doing?" I said, "Just.. -" and started coughing. She laughed and said, "That's attractive honey" I'm a fan of this nurse. She tells me to change into the gown, I'm going to get an exam and an X-ray. The doctor comes over, gets a phone call and leaves. I wait, keep shaking and coughing. This nurse has me cracking up though. I laugh and I cough. The doctor comes back and takes a listen. Not good. I get my abdomen and my legs checked. Chest X-ray time. I'm waiting for Carlos. This sounds good. The nice nurse (Karen) comes over and says, "Oh, you're still here?" "Nice seeing you too, Karen" A woman comes to get me. This isn't Carlos! She was nice enough. Saw my nape piercing and was very curious as to how I could let someone that wasn't a doctor put a needle through my spine. Trust. I "live on the edge". She showed me off to her friends. Told me I was as cute as a button. I have more holes than a button. Focus Lauren- blog about Dad- although I'm sure this will be entertaining to read! I get my results. No fluid in the lungs! I get more medicine. We leave and go home. I change into pajamas and crawl in bed. We had lasagna, salad and cheesecake for dinner. It definitely sucks not being able to be social for these special moments shared in the house. My father has ordered me on bed rest. Chris is the other family photographer. He's been taking photographs in my absence. I'm ready to be healthy!

This blog was posted by Lauren