She lives!

Howdy, y'all. That's Texan for, "Why, good evening sirs and madams." Yes, I now have a twang.

I am sitting in a Buffalo Wild Wings joint with Amos sitting near me in his high chair. I have one hour until I pick up Phil from the San Antonio airport. This week has been, to say the least, one of the most insane and emotional ordeals of my life. I apologize for the lack of words as planned, but I think you'll understand once I explain.

I could blah blah blah about it, but here are the facts. Wednesday night, we took my father to the emergency room in New Braunfels. He is now admitted as a patient, and it is undetermined how long he will stay. So far, after many tests and seeing various doctors, he is diagnosed as having congestive heart failure. It is serious. Very serious. Since Wednesday, his condition has improved dramatically, and I am very thankful for that. However, it isn't over yet, and I (and his doctors) are anticipating other things to pop up. I am dreading the moment when they say the "C" word - cancer.

I stayed at the hospital Wednesday night through Thursday morning. No sleep. Amos was with me as I stayed with my father. Yes, Amos slept, so don't go wagging your Internet fingers at me for having a baby in the emergency room and in a hospital overnight. My father has done enough to beat me up with words over this past week, so kiss off if you feel like wagging at me. And yeah, I'm a bit short tempered right now. Sorry.

I'm also taking care of my mother and her various appointments with doctors and her medication. It has been an intense week of me being the caregiver for two adults and a baby. I reached my breaking point yesterday afternoon when I finally drove back to the folks' house after staying at the hospital all night. I don't know if I've ever had as big a mental breakdown and crying fit as I did yesterday. Keeping it together has not been easy when my father was so close to dying.

It seems that sometimes prayers are answered. I asked for help, and the cavalry showed up. Aunts and uncles, brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces have swooped in after all of this to help us out. I am surrounded by love. My father has an incredible support system, and he sees that now. If only he had been more truthful so many months ago when his symptoms began. I really hope this is a lesson to my family members (and to anyone reading this) that ignoring your health will get you killed. Ignoring your health is the worst thing you can do to your loved ones. Don't be a dick.

So, I'm finally alone with Amos in a restaurant, with food and drink and anxious anticipation to see the man of my dreams step out of that airport. I don't know if I've ever needed Phil more than I do right now.

I don't know when I'll get back on the blog. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers. It looks like I'll be here for awhile.

Thanks, folks.